COLLECTIVE MADNESS


“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Cedarford, Cedarford, Come Forth and Debate



Walking through the streets of a lovely medieval French town in Provence.....You know what it looks like, cobblestones, narrow streets, ancient doors, pedestrians only, winding rambling parts of old Europe. Lovely, lovely , lovely. I should have been munching on a baguette, but I wasn't. I enjoy looking at architectural details and one particular tiny street caught my attention. Halfway down this alley, a stone arch was built over the street connecting houses on opposite sides of the same street. Built over the arch was a house, so that the only way one could get through the area was to walk under this charming stone arch. On the other side of the arch were a small series of dead end streets and when you carried on walking for another seventy five yards and around the corner was built another arch connection.

The sign says "Street of Jews", a Jew Rue. I was in a small old Jewish Ghetto in a prosperous little town in French wine country. It was explained to me that when times got difficult, this tiny group of homes, maybe thirty, could brick in both arches, and this little part of town became refuge for the local Jewish merchants. They had food and provisions stored and could wait out the storm. They would often hire some mercenaires to provide additional protection from the rabble that would attempt to breach the walls. This became an accepted part of their life and culture.

Culture, architecture, history all help make us all who and what we are. The relationship between Christian and Jew often bubbles below the surface on most of C-4's excellent, well thought out and argued posts. Debate is limited at the BC, but things are different at The Elephant. C-4 has an opportunity to respond and engage in an open and frank debate , a no holds barred challenge to argue and convince or go down trying. The trunk of the Elephant is raised and the trumpet calls. Cedarford, Cedarford, Come Forth and Debate.

22 comments:

  1. Very nice post! A little travel show. Wish I was there.

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  2. Thank you Whit. It has been suggested that we are too prolific in our postings. We need to pace ourselves better. See Quig at end of previous post. Thanks for your support. Maybe we are on our way to being Evans and Novak or more likely Laurel and Hardy.

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  3. Do you really think C4's lurking out there?
    There were many time I'd agree with him, then he'd start in on the Conspiracy that crosses time and space. Making the Freemasons and the Shull & Boners look like the chumps of Conspiracy Land.
    Just to much, even for me.

    But Mr Allen, now the we've discovered his Roots, which side of the Conspiracy is he on?

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  4. I have no idea DR, but if anyone sees him, tell him 2164th says hello....wait, a thought,I appears by some affirmation I have become "deuce". In the spirtit of my most recent Mediterranean trip, let me make a slight modification. Tell him "il duce" says, "shall we chat?'

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  5. il duce, dreams of Empire, or should I say empire?

    There is a very interesting piece by Bernard Lewis
    "Bring Them Freedom, Or They Destroy Us"

    Very informative, with an appropriate word count for the subject.

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  6. Veri interesting link DR....it ends:

    ..."So there is a good deal of pro-Western and even specifically pro-American feeling. But the anti-American feeling is strongest in those countries that are ruled by what we are pleased to call "friendly governments." And it is those, of course, that are the most tyrannical and the most resented by their own people. The outlook at the moment is, I would say, very mixed. I think that the cause of developing free institutions--along their lines, not ours--is possible. One can see signs of its beginning in some countries. At the same time, the forces working against it are very powerful and well entrenched. And one of the greatest dangers is that on their side, they are firm and convinced and resolute. Whereas on our side, we are weak and undecided and irresolute. And in such a combat, it is not difficult to see which side will prevail.

    I think that the effort is difficult and the outcome uncertain, but I think the effort must be made. Either we bring them freedom, or they destroy us."

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  7. "... The West is caught in a similarly dysfunctional cycle of extortion and intimidation with Islam, but on a grander and far more violent scale. Whether it's the pope's comments or some Danish cartoons, self-appointed spokesmen for the Islamic street say, "You have offended a billion Muslims," which really means, "There are so many of us, you should watch out." And if you didn't get the message, just look around for the burning embassies and murdered infidels. They're not hard to find.

    In response, the West apologizes and apologizes. Radical Muslims, who are not stupid, take note and become emboldened by these displays of weakness and capitulation. And the next time, they demand two pounds of flesh. Meanwhile, the entire global conversation starts from the assumption that the West is doing something wrong by tolerating freedom of speech, among other things.

    This week, French President Jacques Chirac explained that everyone in the West must avoid everything that sparks tensions. In other words, we must forever be held hostage by the tactical outrage of a global mob. There's nothing funny about that. ..."


    It seems that more and more people are coming to the conclusion that these Mohammedans are not live and let live kinds of folk.
    All except Mr Bush and his core team at State and in the DoD. The scale of the real conflict to hard for them to imagine.
    The lack of an Insurgency in Iran is proof enough of US not really being in the game.

    Anyway the above quote is from Jonah Goldberg piece titled
    "Jihad Enablers"

    Wonder how Steve Centani's knees feel, now that he's kow towing to Mecca five time a day.

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  8. Buddy will argue that madness bubbles up in the aforementioned C-4 posts, and who are we to argue, give Bud's intimate bond with same?
    ---
    I was glad to be greeted by the righting of the Good Ship Elephant, especially so since I was a awakened by a nightmare of houses exploding into flame all around me.
    (probably some premonition of what would have resulted had I been called on my foolish offer to help bail the ship)
    Given the ship is afloat and under power, my only task is some (peaceful) sleep.
    Full Speed Ahead!

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  9. at least he wasn't grabbed by the Whirling Dervishes. *That* would really suck, for an older fella.

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  10. No, doug, it's not you thinking I think madness bubbles up in C4's posts, it's me thinking you think there's no madness bubbling up in doug's posts.

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  11. Caught in a swell?
    Take Benadrell.
    Burma Shave.

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  12. Help, I'm next door to Thailand!
    Burma

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  13. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  14. Dr. Karridine!
    Calling Dr. Karridine!
    Ignore the Flu.
    We Gotta Coup.

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  15. haven't yet gotten a read on the Thai coup. Didn't hurt the Baht overnite, as much as feared. Could've jarred the Indonesian Pupee & Phillipine Peso, too, far worse than it did. So far.

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  16. "Pupee" --now doug will be giggling uncontrollably

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  17. In Terminal Decline,
    Cassius Clay practices
    the Pupee Dupe.

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  18. Karridine must practicing the Coupie Dupe.
    Pray all is well.

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