But gee whiz, Ralph, don't words just mean what we want them to mean? :Angry3:Originally Posted by Ralph
Thank you. I get sick of explaining this, and it's mostly to folks who haven't bothered to learn the actual meanings of words, and thus probably will find your incredibly eloquent explanation equally opaque.
No, Batty, they don't. The idea of rights; the concept of rights -- that comes from philosophy.
Rights come from guns, so to speak. The Magna Carta did not exist because of philosophers scribbling treatises in their parlors. It came about because the commoners, in sufficient numbers, were no longer willing to live without it, and were willing to use violence to assert themselves.
As much violence is abhorrent to you leftist softies, it nevertheless reigns supreme historically. Where people retain the capability for violence against oppression, there will be freedom. When government holds the sole ability and will to use it, there is slavery. And you goddamn well know it, if you have half a brain.
My people fought a war for independence. Blood was spilled to get those certain rights we have enumerated on a document that government is supposed to obey, but now only pays lip service to, if that. We'll no doubt have to do it again.
But I sure as shit ain't gonna depend on philosophers to protect my rights. Rights are imaginary without force to back them up. If you wouldn't risk your life, or take another, to defend them, then rights don't mean much to you.
