Message-ID: <32CE9E39.1E3@mind.net> Date: Sat, 4 Jan 1997 18:15:21 +0000 From: "B. Diamond" <mailto:bdiamond@MIND.NET> Subject: Re: pushing development--or pushing the status quo? To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
mailto:EUNSteve@AOL.COM wrote: >
> Brett Diamond is quite right in insisting that any paraphrase of his message
> be close to the spirit of his original.
>
> Here is the contested paraphrase:
Steve,
Myself and others on this list have much more important things to do than argue about who said what, when. The bottom line is that you still believe that you are "helping" people by "helping those without cash learn how to earn some." This is a naive and overly simplistic approach to solving complicated problems--in essence little more than a band-aid. Sadly, not only does this approach not help them, in the long run it hurts them--and the rest of us as well--as we continue to fool ourselves that an exponentially increasing world population and unfettered consumerism are sustainable.
> What is important is not our differences, nor Brett's request for my
> credentials for disagreeing with him, but the story of Western ignorance,
> insensitivity, and evil that he insists on telling over and over again.
Your continued refusal to accept the idea that more is NOT better does more to support the notion of western ignorance, insensitivity, etc. than any argument I could make....
> This story of Western duplicity looting and despoiling was old and somewhat
> tired before the novel and the movie The Ugly American made it a worldwide
> cliche.
Your arrogance and callousness seem to know no bounds!!! I have spent years working here, and abroad, with people who continue to be exploited by the world's wealthy nations. I can assure you steve, that to the victims of this world-dominance, their oppression is very real; to dismiss their plight as nothing more than a "cliche" is reprehensible!!!
> I have, however, met and encountered hundreds of "rebels" here and
> abroad--often Marxists of the "pedagogy of the oppressed" school of
> liberation theology--who tell and retell the story of Western evil in the
> same tones and with the same kinds of examples Mr. Diamond uses.
Ah yes, I wondering when you'd go here. C'mon steve, why not just call me a communist? After all, anyone who questions the ends of capitalism IS a commie, right? The historical record is full of the types of examples I cite steve, perhaps a refresher course in world history would help you with your denial on this subject. I'd suggest Howard Zinn and Michael Parenti for starters.
> I personally drive an auto, have an air conditioner, go to the shopping mall
> and buy hamburgers, and in general consume far more than my per capita share
> of the world's resources.
> In all probability so does Mr Diamond: in my experience very few of the
> advocates of sustainable life styles and cashless economies choose to leave
> their US lifestyles.
Ah yes, the second common argument against change--if I (or others who share my views about the dearth of capitalism) don't live in a sod hut and grow our own food, we're hypocrites who have no right to question the status quo. WRONG! At least we are willing to acknowledge that change is needed, and many of us devote our lives to seeing it through. We're not afraid of change, are you?