Mark Steyn: Victor Victorians. A Lesson in Real Morality

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | March 18, 2007 | Mark Steyn

[Tom D.]

Mr. Steyn hits another one out of the park.

[sageb1]

bookmark

[Wilhelm Tell]

Great editorial. I'm tired of leftists who say that slavery was somehow an invention of Christian Europe when in fact the Christians ("evil" white Anglo-Saxons, no less) were the first to abolish slavery.

Victorian England was mostly a force for good in the world. Now it is taboo to mention anything good that the British Empire did and yet it is expected for one to excuse or deny the crimes of Mao or Stalin. Every time the literacy rate in Cuba goes up .1% or whenever there is a rare good harvest in a communist country we are supposed to be estatic. Whenever there is moral or material progress in a free country we are supposed to ignore it or even condemn it.

[Pablo64]

Excellent article. Steyn gets it and, as usual, puts a fine point on it.

Sadly, I think we as a society/culture are fast approaching the "bread and circusses" mentality that went along with the fall of Rome. We want to be fed and entertained, and anything beyond that just requires too much effort.

[GBA]

Victorian bump

[Logophile]

Sadly, I think we as a society/culture are fast approaching the "bread and circusses" mentality that went along with the fall of Rome. We want to be fed and entertained, and anything beyond that just requires too much effort.

Sometimes, we conservatives get too wrapped up in politics, when what we should be worried about is the culture. Take back the culture, and the political victories will follow.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Something else may be missing. Typing on a message board on the internet isn't changing anything. Volunteering and helping others will...

[AmishDude]

The last paragraph is really a home run. I am amazed by Steyn. He's not only a great writer, but an excellent thinker and yet he doesn't get the recognition that would be given if he were liberal.

[webstersII]

Did you read the article?

The point is that the Victorian society wasn't so exemplary after all, and in many ways, our society is more moral.

The people that say our society has gone to hell in a handbasket are not really correct.

[Popman]

Take back the culture, and the political victories will follow.

... but, but, but the moonbat left tells us the religious right wants to change the culture to impose an Theocracy

[Popman]

slave trading........Saudi Arabia until it was (officially) banned in the '60s, and it persists in Africa and other pockets of the world to this day.

Steyn should have pointed out it still persist in predominately Muslim countries

[Tom D.]

You say, "I am amazed by Steyn. He's not only a great writer, but an excellent thinker and yet he doesn't get the recognition that would be given if he were liberal."

Consider though that if he were a liberal, he almost certainly could not be an excellent thinker.

[Pokey78]

Steyn ping!

Message to all Steyn list members: Sorry not to have pinged Steyn stuff for a few weeks. I had a household accident and was layed up for 2 weeks. All better now.

[DCPatriot]

Hope all is well with you.

You piqued my curiousity. A household accident that rendered you unable to Freep?

What? Two broken arms?

You could have used your toes with a #2 pencil to tap the keys....ya slacker!

Thanks for the ping, Pokey!

[Alexander Rubin]

Thought you fine folks might appreciate this.

[Smokin' Joe]

Sometimes, we conservatives get too wrapped up in politics, when what we should be worried about is the culture. Take back the culture, and the political victories will follow.

Well put.

[irv]

Glad to hear you're okay now.

Thanks for the ping.

[Pokey78]

Slipped exiting the shower. Concussion, bruised ribs & sprained knee. My right side was one giant bruise. Nasty looking.

[mylife]

Glad to hear you are better

[denydenydeny]

Wow.

I know I often run out of superlatives when I talk about Stein, but this might be his best column ever.