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To: ArGee
"The nation is more than a collection of individuals. The nation exists as an entity in its own right."

"The purpose is to uphold the rights of the individual as given by G-d."

What an interesting set of principles. The first has collectivist overtones; the second sounds resolutely individualistic. With them, I think you have captured nicely the essence of modern conservatism -- sometimes collectivist, sometimes individualistic... but always conflicted.

93 posted on 02/25/2002 5:36:44 PM PST by Yardstick
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To: Yardstick
What an interesting set of principles. The first has collectivist overtones; the second sounds resolutely individualistic. With them, I think you have captured nicely the essence of modern conservatism -- sometimes collectivist, sometimes individualistic... but always conflicted.

The truth often walks in a delicate balancing act between two lies, which are extremes. One extreme is socialism. The other extreme is individualism. We are social beings and require society. We do not exist in fullness as individuals, and we are crushed when we surrender our individuality to the collective. We are meant to exist individually together.

Isn't it awesome that Jefferson captured this concept so eloquently in the Declaration of Independence? But he wasn't operating in a vacuum. Why do you suppose that the Pilgrims, after a long and harrowing ocean voyage, refused to set foot on land until they had signed the "Mayflower Compact?" Or did you learn about that in history. (I didn't. I had to wait until I was homeschooling my children to learn about the most important parts of American history.)

Shalom.

101 posted on 02/26/2002 6:03:30 AM PST by ArGee
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