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Comedian and Screenwriter John Cleese reminds us that ‘race doesn’t matter, but culture does’: “And we should not be frightened to say so,” he added.
American Thinker ^ | 05/03/2024 | Olivia Murray

Posted on 05/03/2024 10:28:16 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

One need only look at the most prominent elements of traditional Western Civilization (architecture, music, education, representative governance, civic life, the relationship between the sexes, family structure, Judeo-Christian morality, etc.) to know that it’s far superior to any other that has ever existed—but state such a politically-incorrect truth and you’ll find yourself a target of the progressive left, because they’re intolerant and ignorant, and they’re willing to use violence to make a point.

But John Cleese, an English national treasure has never been one for political correctness, and in a recent interview, Cleese reminded us that the West’s culture and way of life are the most superior, and absolutely worth persevering; here’s what he said, via a Daily Mail item out yesterday:

Speaking to The Oldie magazine, Cleese said: ‘Race doesn’t matter, but culture does.

‘I think that some cultures are superior to others, and we should not be frightened to say so.

‘A society that goes in for female genital mutilation is abhorrent and I happen to think that if people come to live in Britain, they should accept and adhere to our values.’

‘I understand that some 20 per cent [sic] of Muslims in the UK would like to see Sharia law and I believe that's wrong.’

He’s exactly right, because all cultures are not equal. Who would argue that the culture of a NAMBLA convention is not “inferior” to the culture of a pro-life conference, it’s just different? (Well, now that I think about it, a sizable portion of Democrats probably would argue that.) Would anyone argue that Third Reich culture trumps the culture of 1930s Paris?

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: culture; johncleese; race
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To: Reverend Wright

Perhaps you and I are arguing semantics. I apologize for saying your comments were stupid. This is obviously a hot-button issue.


41 posted on 05/03/2024 3:25:29 PM PDT by RoosterRedux (A person who seeks the truth with a closed mind will never find it. He will only confirm his bias.)
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To: RoosterRedux

No worries.

I am not easily offended.

I do get annoyed when people refuse to see that by adopting Progressive premises and framing, they are trapping conservatives into inevitable defeat.

Especially when they go with “you’re the racist”, which is the ultimate Progressive attack.


42 posted on 05/03/2024 3:34:44 PM PDT by Reverend Wright ( Everything touched by progressives, dies !)
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To: SeekAndFind
We should emphasize this: CULTURE MATTERS, disparate impact means the impacted community have in the large part, inculcated a different culture which is harmful to their overall well-being.

Blacks who speak good English or do well in school or get married and have a traditional family are derided as "acting white" because we're seen as a different culture.

Do you remember The /Cosby Show? (Yes, I know.) Do you remember how the Huxtables were criticized for being "not really black enough" because they were a doctor and a lawyer?

Note the Vietnamese. They came, established businesses, practiced their trades, worked, learned English, and essentially assimilated (while introducing us to pho.) That's culture, not race.

43 posted on 05/03/2024 3:45:07 PM PDT by TBP (Decent people cannot fathom the amoral cruelty of the Biden regime.)
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To: Reverend Wright
I'm not a progressive in any way...and have also been accused of being a racist just for telling the truth.

That said, I have known many, many black people (some close friends) and, though they are different in many ways, I am unwilling to admit that their race or racism is to blame for their problems.

White people have problems too...and it isn't due to our race.

As Candace Owens says, "Life's tough, get a helmet."

44 posted on 05/03/2024 3:46:12 PM PDT by RoosterRedux (A person who seeks the truth with a closed mind will never find it. He will only confirm his bias.)
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To: RoosterRedux

it’s not their race ... it’s their culture ...


45 posted on 05/03/2024 3:49:15 PM PDT by bankwalker (Repeal the 19th ...)
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To: SeekAndFind
That doesn’t mean that this culture can’t be changed with better education and positive influence. You cannot change your race, but you can change your culture.

This is the reason liberals are so opposed to good education, intact families, safe neighborhoods, and good jobs for minorities -- especially blacks, whom they still view as their property -- because if we can change the culture in those communities, they'll succeed on their own without the help of their white liberal saviors, and that will disprove everything the liberals say about them, including their claim that they care.

46 posted on 05/03/2024 3:49:44 PM PDT by TBP (Decent people cannot fathom the amoral cruelty of the Biden regime.)
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To: bankwalker

I completely agree. See my comments up thread.


47 posted on 05/03/2024 3:52:55 PM PDT by RoosterRedux (A person who seeks the truth with a closed mind will never find it. He will only confirm his bias.)
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To: RoosterRedux

48 posted on 05/03/2024 3:53:21 PM PDT by TBP (Decent people cannot fathom the amoral cruelty of the Biden regime.)
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To: RoosterRedux
Do you know any black people?<.I>

Some of his best friends?

49 posted on 05/03/2024 3:55:29 PM PDT by TBP (Decent people cannot fathom the amoral cruelty of the Biden regime.)
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To: TBP
Heheh.

Many years ago when I lived in NYC, my personal doctor was a black man. He went to medical school long before affirmative action and was a great family doctor (Dr. Adrian Edwards). He was actually pretty famous back then and I was lucky to be a patient of his.

50 posted on 05/03/2024 4:02:42 PM PDT by RoosterRedux (A person who seeks the truth with a closed mind will never find it. He will only confirm his bias.)
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To: RoosterRedux
Do you know any black people?

Some of his best friends?

51 posted on 05/03/2024 4:10:44 PM PDT by TBP (Decent people cannot fathom the amoral cruelty of the Biden regime.)
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To: TBP

Yep. I knew that’s what you meant.


52 posted on 05/03/2024 4:17:23 PM PDT by RoosterRedux (A person who seeks the truth with a closed mind will never find it. He will only confirm his bias.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Lower IQ on average combined with higher testosterone on average contributes to difficulties with delayed gratification on average which affects culture.


53 posted on 05/03/2024 6:10:30 PM PDT by TexasKamaAina (The time is out of joint. - Hamlet)
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To: RoosterRedux

“And everyone who says it does (race does matter) is doing what exactly?”

For one thing, it’s saying that politicized, federal government programs mandating “diversity”, and shifting demographics will always be at the least counterproductive, inevitably causing more problems than they ameliorate.


54 posted on 05/04/2024 3:11:13 AM PDT by 1756-L85E
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To: Reverend Wright; RoosterRedux

Gentlemen,

to me, it has always seemed that “racism” is just the neo-Bolshevik synonym for “bad”. A simple-minded slur with just a vague meaning.

Just like six-year-olds, who call everything “stupid” with which they don’t agree.


55 posted on 05/04/2024 2:08:48 PM PDT by Menes
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To: Menes; RoosterRedux

Yes, the Left uses accusations of racism - partially because the BoomerCons cave so quickly to avoid them.

But the Left set a trap when the BoomerCons agreed with the idea that there were no distribution differences in ability between races, and ethnic groups.

That is obviously wrong, as we all know, but the civil rights law is set up so that any unequal outcomes becomes “disparate impact” even if the procedures of that organization are scrupulously race neutral.

My late father attended the American Physical Society Conferences for 30 years. In that time he saw one black physicist. Lots of Jews, of course.

Now according to disparate impact, that outcome has to be a consequence of systematic racism, because we are required to pretend there are no group distribution differences in intellectual ability between Jews and Blacks.

That’s complete nonsense, of course, but it establishes the legal predicate for civil rights intervention.

The government now has the basis for intervention to correct the “systematic racism”. Which will always fail, but become grounds for even more draconian intervention.


56 posted on 05/04/2024 4:35:54 PM PDT by Reverend Wright ( Everything touched by progressives, dies !)
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To: Reverend Wright

Unfortunately yes. Undeniable facts are used as a pretext by the Powers That Be to make the lives of the citizens even more of a living heck than they already are.
Say one word which they don’t like, and you are done for. Orwell says „hello again“.

One would hardly think that the lyrics to a song of Judas Priest‘s called „Some heads are gonna roll“ were written forty years ago:

„The power-mad freaks who are ruling the earth
will show how little they think you’re worth;
with animal lust they will devour your life,
they‘ll slice your words to bits like a knife“

It seems so much more fitting for these days…


57 posted on 05/04/2024 8:57:35 PM PDT by Menes
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To: Menes

I actually think we are being shown what it always was.

People went along willingly for decades, so the Regime got what they wanted, and was nice about it.

Now, as things get really bad for the formerly middle class, the Regime is turning to more overt repression rather than just trickery, propaganda, media manipulation.

They are getting weaker though. And the credibility of institutions has totally collapsed.

Prior to the Kennedy Assassination, say, every institution in the USA had tremendous credibility: government, business, politicians, military, security services, bureaucracy, churches, police, unions, courts, judges, schools, universities... you name it, they all had high approval ratings and public support.

Now it’s over for all of them. Even police and the military have hit rock bottom.


58 posted on 05/04/2024 9:07:48 PM PDT by Reverend Wright ( Everything touched by progressives, dies !)
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To: Reverend Wright

Terrible, but the left has been working on it for decades.

After the collapse of every institution, the leftists, however, may one day come to realize that „people freed from every constraint“ are not noble savages, but absolutely evil. „The End justifies the means“ will be the case everywhere.

I am afraid. Very afraid. Yes, I admit it☹️


59 posted on 05/04/2024 10:57:18 PM PDT by Menes
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To: Menes

It is very disturbing. But always remember that:

“The Lord works out everything to its proper end. Even the wicked for the Day of Disaster”.

By the Hand of the Lord, the evil Regimes of the West will fall, and the wicked ideas and philosophies of the enemies of the Christian West along with them.


60 posted on 05/04/2024 11:12:49 PM PDT by Reverend Wright ( Everything touched by progressives, dies !)
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