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Ideas? Human Defined: Earth's ChoicemakerReader comment on item: Bush the Radical Submitted by James Fletcher Baxter (United States), Nov 12, 2003 at 09:31 Dear Dr. Pipes,Many of us agree that 'ideas' represents an anemic effort by the U.S. in dealing with Iraq, Iran, and other Middle East countries -- and others. Pushing a concept of 'democracy' is rightly perceived as merely 'political,' not humanly foundational, and thus appears unacceptable by their philosophical and religious criteria. It is shallow compared to America's true potential offering to the world out of our unique founding and creative-growth values and inventive productive experience. The definitive in human nature is the Individual ability to make choices. (Is there any other kind of human? 'Groups' are verbal conveniences - not Reality.) ALL humans share in this true depic- tion of our nature. The human being is earth's choice-maker. Such a valid assertion undercuts every man-made alien opinion and is verified everywhere on planet Earth -- DAILY. Thus, nature itself has laid the foundation for every human relationship, institution, and social act. After all, the creative process is a choice-making process and functions best in an environment of opportunity - Freedom. What are our leaders waiting for? Mr. Jefferson's statement, "all men are endowed by their Creator with...Liberty" says the same thing. ( Liberty is internal - the ability to choose. Freedom is external - the opportunity to choose. ) In public, private, and Christian schools, I taught my 5th graders for over 30 years that it is as natural a requisite for Earth's choice-maker to need Freedom as for a gold-fish to require water. [ My choicemaker-based civics workbook (Gr. 5-8) won numerous awards in the '60's and was placed in the Eisenhower Presiden- tial Library, Abilene, KS, by "Ike," himself. ] Isn't it time for a universal "Season of Generation-Choice- maker" to flower world-wide and bear fruit? Cyrus the Great and Mr. Jefferson would both choose to agree. I trust you and others will also choose to agree. Please take part in placing this humanly foundational concept before our nations and before your Pipes readers for the youth of this generation -- and of the coming days. Always Faithful James Fletcher Baxter Santa Maria, CA For the complete statement, see: "What is man...?" Earth's Choicemaker http://www.choicemaker.net/ http://www.geocities.com/James-Baxter/ Peace is not a Cause -- it is the Effect.... * * * * Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments". << Previous Comment Next Comment >> Reader comments (69) on this item
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All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes (The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998. For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.) |