Introduction
Recall that one aspect of my new Random Thoughts series is to think about the conflicts between my beliefs (or Conservative beliefs in general) versus the beliefs of the Progressive 'elites'. This is not due to a lack of confidence in my own views.... however, I have come to think that hardened views should be reconsidered from time to time.
The Progressive narrative of white-guilt and self-loathing screams that Western Culture is inherently racist because it originated in Europe and that it is inherently evil because it expanded from Europe to the New World through colonization and conquest.
graduateprojects.com.ng/2022/11/21/decolonizing-the-white-colonizer-2/
aninjusticemag.com/7ffc4c1cd05f
In this segment, I'll state my view and then explore whether it is correct... or at least rational.
My View of The United States
I believe that The United States of America is not only the greatest nation that has ever existed, but it is also diverse, empowering and abundant. I also believe that our prosperity (and the prosperity of the entire world) is a direct result of the Industrial Revolution which happened to emerge first in Europe.
Recall that one aspect of my new Random Thoughts series is to think about the conflicts between my beliefs (or Conservative beliefs in general) versus the beliefs of the Progressive 'elites'. This is not due to a lack of confidence in my own views.... however, I have come to think that hardened views should be reconsidered from time to time.
The Progressive narrative of white-guilt and self-loathing screams that Western Culture is inherently racist because it originated in Europe and that it is inherently evil because it expanded from Europe to the New World through colonization and conquest.
graduateprojects.com.ng/2022/11/21/decolonizing-the-white-colonizer-2/
aninjusticemag.com/7ffc4c1cd05f
In this segment, I'll state my view and then explore whether it is correct... or at least rational.
My View of The United States
I believe that The United States of America is not only the greatest nation that has ever existed, but it is also diverse, empowering and abundant. I also believe that our prosperity (and the prosperity of the entire world) is a direct result of the Industrial Revolution which happened to emerge first in Europe.
Colonialism and Conquest
The Progressive View
Progressive elites have been on a very long campaign to criticize and denigrate the United States as an illegitimate nation of European (aka white) Colonizers. Hypocrites like AOC pretend to be People of Color (POC) but she is of Spanish (European) heritage and is, therefore, a Colonizer herself.
The other bewildering aspect is basing their argument on People of Color. African-Americans are not indigenous people. Asian-Americans are not indigenous people. It seems that they, too, must be Colonizers... just like me and AOC.
However, deciding that AOC and Elizabeth Warren are hypocrites is not a sufficient defense of my views. Just because they are dishonest does not make my perceptions correct.
So, I have to think about colonization and Western culture without being distracted by the likes of AOC.
To Colonize Is Human
Our pre-human ancestors originated somewhere in Africa or China (depending on whose experts are making the claims) over 1 Million years ago..
The location is irrelevant to this discussion. Our distant ancestors began somewhere... in one single place. And they colonized vast areas prior to (and during) the great Ice Age (perhaps prior to several Ice Ages).
Expansion was very slow and the distances were vast. Multiple, different pre-human species evolved. We know, for example, that Neanderthals and Cro-Magnon both existed in overlapping regions of Eurasia during the last great Ice Age and disappeared afterwards. Both species walked upright, mastered fire and made simple weapons and tools. The Cro-Magnons are also known for their haunting cave paintings.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal_extinction
www.britannica.com/topic/Neanderthal
www.britannica.com/topic/Cro-Magnon
Given that there were several different species only 40,000 years ago, it is remarkable that there is only one, single human species today. No pre-human species survive anywhere (unless you believe in Bigfoot).
Humans (i.e. homo sapiens with our DNA) interbred, conquered and eradicated all of their pre-human competitors and colonized every habitable place on Earth.
Humans (as well as our pre-human ancestors) are explorers, colonizers, hunters and conquerors. I conclude that Western culture is no worse than every other culture that came before.
The Fate of Empires
The Progressive View
Everything about Western (especially American) culture is racist and oppressive. Musical notation (i.e. notes on a scale) is oppressive because it was developed in Europe. Calculus is white supremacy because it was conceived by Sir Isaac Newton.
Science itself (i.e. a discipline for understanding the truth of nature) is racist because it emerged in Renaissance Europe. (This one is particularly perplexing since Progressives are always screaming 'Trust The Science' when it's convenient).
The Progressive Elites wish to convince us that the world was wonderful and tolerant and peaceful before the rise of despicable 'Western' culture. They wish to convince you that the prosperity created by the Industrial Revolution is oppressive.
There Is No Supremacist Culture
I will now challenge that lie. Please indulge my rambling tale. I promise that it is relevant.
Sir John Glub wrote a relatively short paper in 1976 titled The Fate of Empires and the Search For Survival. (It is only 24 pages and you can find the PDF here people.uncw.edu/kozloffm/glubb.pdf )
He chronicles the rise and decline of several Eurasian empires over the last 3000 years (all after the decline of Egypt).
I shall start with Egypt because it is the oldest 'Superpower' though Mesopotamia may have been concurrent. (Sir Glub places Assyria after Egypt but he does not mention Babylon).
Knowledge and Power
Sir Glub does not mention the importance of technological advances in the Fate of Empires. He only talks about social energy and social decline. (Sidebar: The Fourth Turning, written much later is also based on a theory of social decline).
I will go out on my own limb and talk about advancing knowledge... Egypt became the first great civilization (not considering China/India) because it was the birthplace of the Agricultural Revolution. Blessed with fertile soil and reliable spring floods from the Nile, agriculture and domestication of animals evolved rapidly.
The previously worthless floodplains were rapidly colonized and the population expanded. Trading villages spontaneously popped up along the Nile.
Humans have been apex predators for thousands of years. Farmers and shepherds who beat their swords into plowshares become the serfs to thugs and warlords who kept and sharpened their swords. Towns and 'Lords' emerge.
But the aristocracy is never, ever satisfied. Lords do battle. Towns and Lords fall and cities and Kings emerge. Then the Kings do battle. Cities and Kings fall. And Empires and Pharaohs emerge.
This is how every Empire develops.
Culture vs Empire
OK... I said there might be some rambling... LOL.
Sir Glub concludes that an Empire or a Dynasty will last only 200-300 years before it is replaced by a rival. I do not challenge his view.
Often the dominant culture is absorbed and transformed. The Persian Empire swept aside Assyria and Egypt by 560 BC. The Persians are racially and culturally distinct from the Egyptians. The Persian culture, however, took ideas and technology from regions as different as Egypt, Macedonia and Northern India. Thus, the Persian culture became more rich and diverse than any of the territories it conquered.
The Progressive View
Everything about Western (especially American) culture is racist and oppressive. Musical notation (i.e. notes on a scale) is oppressive because it was developed in Europe. Calculus is white supremacy because it was conceived by Sir Isaac Newton.
Science itself (i.e. a discipline for understanding the truth of nature) is racist because it emerged in Renaissance Europe. (This one is particularly perplexing since Progressives are always screaming 'Trust The Science' when it's convenient).
The Progressive Elites wish to convince us that the world was wonderful and tolerant and peaceful before the rise of despicable 'Western' culture. They wish to convince you that the prosperity created by the Industrial Revolution is oppressive.
There Is No Supremacist Culture
I will now challenge that lie. Please indulge my rambling tale. I promise that it is relevant.
Sir John Glub wrote a relatively short paper in 1976 titled The Fate of Empires and the Search For Survival. (It is only 24 pages and you can find the PDF here people.uncw.edu/kozloffm/glubb.pdf )
He chronicles the rise and decline of several Eurasian empires over the last 3000 years (all after the decline of Egypt).
- He does not review the amazing history and cultures of India and China. However, the examples in Europe and the Near East are sufficient for this discussion.
I shall start with Egypt because it is the oldest 'Superpower' though Mesopotamia may have been concurrent. (Sir Glub places Assyria after Egypt but he does not mention Babylon).
Knowledge and Power
Sir Glub does not mention the importance of technological advances in the Fate of Empires. He only talks about social energy and social decline. (Sidebar: The Fourth Turning, written much later is also based on a theory of social decline).
I will go out on my own limb and talk about advancing knowledge... Egypt became the first great civilization (not considering China/India) because it was the birthplace of the Agricultural Revolution. Blessed with fertile soil and reliable spring floods from the Nile, agriculture and domestication of animals evolved rapidly.
The previously worthless floodplains were rapidly colonized and the population expanded. Trading villages spontaneously popped up along the Nile.
Humans have been apex predators for thousands of years. Farmers and shepherds who beat their swords into plowshares become the serfs to thugs and warlords who kept and sharpened their swords. Towns and 'Lords' emerge.
But the aristocracy is never, ever satisfied. Lords do battle. Towns and Lords fall and cities and Kings emerge. Then the Kings do battle. Cities and Kings fall. And Empires and Pharaohs emerge.
This is how every Empire develops.
Culture vs Empire
OK... I said there might be some rambling... LOL.
Sir Glub concludes that an Empire or a Dynasty will last only 200-300 years before it is replaced by a rival. I do not challenge his view.
Often the dominant culture is absorbed and transformed. The Persian Empire swept aside Assyria and Egypt by 560 BC. The Persians are racially and culturally distinct from the Egyptians. The Persian culture, however, took ideas and technology from regions as different as Egypt, Macedonia and Northern India. Thus, the Persian culture became more rich and diverse than any of the territories it conquered.
The mighty Persian Empire only survived for about 200 years before it was conquered by Alexander the Great. Greek philosophy and culture expanded and added to the culture(s) of the Persian Empire.
Following the death of Alexander The Great (at age 32) the Greek Empire fragmented with the Seleucid Empire occupying most of the older Persian territory from Iraq to Northern India and the Ptolemic Dynasty taking Egypt and the Eastern Mediterranian.
The Roman Empire superseded the Greeks and the Ptolemic Dynasty. The Romans inherited the Greek pantheon, the Greek concepts of Democracy and the Western portion of the Greek Empire. The Romans expanded primarily to the West and North and absorbed cultures from France, Germany, Spain and Britan.
When the Roman Empire collapsed, Europe entered the Dark Ages and Arabia became the hub of knowledge and culture for hundreds of years. But note that the Arabian Empire encompassed much of the earlier Persian, Greek and Seleucid Empires.
The important point of this discussion should be clear. Different regions and different peoples have each had a period of prominence.
In my view, there is no 'oppressive' culture because each has been built on those that preceded it.
The Industrial Revolution
In the 1400's, advances in sailing and navigation allowed European nations to expand beyond the Atlantic and also circumnavigate Africa. Although the European nations were relentlessly fighting among themselves, European culture then had the ability to expand globally.
The Industrial Revolution, starting in the late 1700's, changed the world as profoundly as the Agricultural Revolution thousands of years earlier. Western culture became preeminent and remains so today.
Conclusion
Western (aka European) culture did not emerge in a vacuum. It arose from the ashes of the Roman Empire and from the Arabian Culture that was dominant during the Dark Ages. The origins of 'Western' Culture go back over 3000 years to Egypt, Assyria and the Agricultural Revolution.
American 'culture' is inclusive. We have embraced (and assimilated) people, religions, language, cuisine, art and literature from every corner of planet Terra. We are a nation of immigrants (aka colonizers) who can celebrate ethnic traditions while also embracing a shared dream of liberty and prosperity.
I leave you with a closing thought... Progressives will claim if I enjoy or accept something that is distinctly 'Western' (such as science) then that is proof that I'm a racist, oppressive Western colonizer. On the other hand, when I admire aspects from a 'non-Western' culture then I'm guilty of 'appropriation'.
For example, a fascination with quantum physics or chaos theory is Western oppression. While, admiring the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads or traditional Japanese architecture is Appropriation.
www.worldhistory.org/Bhagavad_Gita/
The Progressive 'elites' cannot perceive me as an individual with nuanced interests and beliefs. I can only be seen as an irredeemable, deplorable, ignorant semi-fascist.
I do not accept their revisionist history or their hatred of Human culture. America is not perfect but America is good.
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