Posted on 07/07/2017 7:18:56 AM PDT by Ouchthatonehurt
In his speech in Poland on Thursday, Donald Trump referred 10 times to “the West” and five times to “our civilization.” His white nationalist supporters will understand exactly what he means. It’s important that other Americans do, too.
The West is not a geographic term. Poland is further east than Morocco. France is further east than Haiti. Australia is further east than Egypt. Yet Poland, France, and Australia are all considered part of “The West.” Morocco, Haiti, and Egypt are not.
The West is not an ideological or economic term either. India is the world’s largest democracy. Japan is among its most economically advanced nations. No one considers them part of the West.
The West is a racial and religious term. To be considered Western, a country must be largely Christian (preferably Protestant or Catholic) and largely white. Where there is ambiguity about a country’s “Westernness,” it’s because there is ambiguity about, or tension between, these two characteristics. Is Latin America Western? Maybe. Most of its people are Christian, but by U.S. standards, they’re not clearly white. Are Albania and Bosnia Western? Maybe. By American standards, their people are white. But they are also mostly Muslim.
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
The professor’s own attitude towards Western Civilization demonstrates that Trump is not paranoid, but is responding to a genuine threat emanating from the likes of the professor.
Bingo.
This is the question they will not answer. Indeed they do not have an answer to it so they avoid it at all cost.
The West is not a geographic term.
Very apt. I’ve read LOTR 14 times.
Actually, to be clear, by “cultural”, I really meant Western civilization, including economics and society in general.
As opposed to places that are predominantly Muslim. It really is “civilization” vs the huns.
Not the way I see it, or most people see it. Japan, for example, is civilized and embraces free markets, but is not considered part of Western Civilization.
That cat has been out of the bag for decades, at least. See James Burnham's esssay, "Suicide of the West" from around 1961.
Peter Beinart is speaking as a member of the liberal elite journalist tribe. He ‘feels’ his tribe is superior to traditional Americans who support President Trump. He will drag up anything and everything to prove that point to members of his own tribe...he preaches to the choir.
I experience him as a person who hates my tribe... very deeply hates me and mine.
.... (continued) racism, racism, racism, western civilization racism, racial, racism Christianity, racism, racial, racism, racism nationalism, racism...
The West = enlightenment, the scientific method, religious freedom, individual rights and capitalism
formerly northern Europe, now neo-liberalism or liberal-conservatism (the word liberal means something else in Europe from what it means in the US)
originally, the west was opposed by Catholic and Orthodox Christianity. Things changed for a time with the rise of atheistic communism. Now, with the demise of communism, the church is in flux. But, “the west” is not fundamentally a race or a religion.
Japan became a western, albeit East Asian country some time ago
The tigers of East Asia more recently
Poland and other eastern European countries became western after the fall of the Berlin Wall
Ukraine is seeking to join the west
India is in transition, so are parts of Latin America
Southern Europe has a choice to make
There are promising signs in Africa, Mauritius, Botswana and Ghana in particular. Black Africans are today authentically African and authentically Christian. The marketplace has long been part of Africa. Communism was as alien to Africa as it was to China. Africa will embrace free enterprise long before the African diaspora will.
Haters of the left increasingly resort to violence because they have lost and they know it. They are on the wrong side of history. Socialism was a rest stop on the road to a better tomorrow.
We knew this would happen. President Trump gave one of the greatest, most inspiring speeches of all time. He warned us about the dangers our civilization faces, and the urgency of fighting those forces which undermine our values. These zombified media enablers are so far gone they don’t even read the words or comprehend the danger. That’s dysfunction.
You're right - this is an out and out attack on white people, Christians, and those who value Western Civilization. The guy's a hater.
When it comes time to decorate her own apartment, look at what Christiane Amanpour chhoses to hang on the wall.
The painting is called "Day of Jubilation". It was painted by an Iranian abstract artist, and Amanpour has said it gives her great joy every time she looks at it.
This is what we are dealing with.
If Mr Beinart doesn’t like it he should move to another country preferably outside of the West.
Abstract?!?!??
Those are the twin towers, no?
OMG!
Beinart is a supreme bigot who is anti-Christian, anti-white, anti-freedom, anti-American and anti-capitalist. His comments are filled with many errors. Japan has been considered part of the West most of my life. It is an advanced first world country even though they are not white and not Christian.
Another distinguishing characteristics is that nations of the West are democracies, believe in free markets and human rights. Beinart is a bigot in search of a meme and he dismisses all contrary evidence to reach it. He makes no attempt to understand the role Christianity played in bringing the West into prominence and fostering a climate where democracy and freedom could flourish.
Also, there are nearly all-white Christian countries in Latin America, which he dismisses as being outside the West because he paints Latin America with a broad brush. Especially Argentina and Chile. Argentina once had one of the highest standards of living in the world before they embraced Peronism, a form of socialism. Chile has done a better job of throwing off the reins of socialism. When white countries were under Communist rule they were not considered part of the West.
Beinart is distoring Trump to portray him as a bigot. Nothing new here. That’s what leftists do. Deceive distort and lie. Like CNN.
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