Green Energy
Maryam Namazie on cultural relativism:
Please read it yourselves.
Cross posted at Liberty and Justice
- An Unseen Error In The Multicultural Ethos
Defenders of indiscriminate multiculturalism see criticism of Islam as a kind of ethnocentrism, and therefore consider the criticism a moral crime and an error of cognitive simplemindedness. Ethnocentrism means judging another culture based...
- Obama, The Postmodernist
Protagoras, the father of Relativism I just came across a nice little piece by Jonah Goldberg of Liberal Fascism fame where he describes the dangers of Obama's post modernism. I like to call a post modernist a post toastie, by the way. Here's...
- Storm Track Infiltration: The Myth Of Multiculturalism
From The Gathering Storm Last week I had Pastorius from the IBA on my Gathering Storm talk show. We spoke of many things but one bit of conversation clarified something about the myth of multiculturalism. Both of us being recovering Liberals, we spoke...
- Winds Of War: “if You Believe In Nothing, You Believe In Everything”
From The Gathering Storm This was said by G.K. Chesterton about a hundred years ago: "When people stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing, they believe in anything." If we substitute the word ‘culture’ for God, an we have the state...
- The Left And The Cartoon Intifada
From The Astute Blogger: Photo by Zombie Post-modern Leftists in Europe are critical of the cartoons and supportive of the Islamic reaction to the cartoons. Their reasoning is simple: they say the cartoons were too provocative, and all cultures shoud...
Green Energy
The Mistake Of Cultural Relativism
Maryam Namazie on cultural relativism:
Cultural relativism and its more seemingly palatable multiculturalism have lowered standards and redefined values to such depths that not only are all cultures and beliefs deemed equally valid, they seem to have taken on personas of their own blurring the distinction between individuals and beliefs (whether theirs or imputed).
As a result, concepts such as rights, equality, respect and tolerance, which were initially raised vis-à-vis the individual, are now more and more applicable to culture and religion and often take precedence over real live human beings.
This is why any criticism and ridiculing of or opposition to beliefs, cultures, religions, gods and prophets are being deemed racism, disrespecting, inciting hatred and even violence against those deemed believers. Moreover, the social inclusion of people into society has come to solely mean the inclusion of their beliefs, sensibilities, concerns and agendas and nothing more.
The above is particularly applicable to and spearheaded by Islam and political Islam as it is a religion in state power like in Iran or vying for political power in the likes of Britain and Canada. Cultural relativism has become the channel through which it and its apologists have sought to deflect criticism of its inhumane nature and at the same time undermine the very fabric of society here and elsewhere.
Needless to say, cultural relativists have it all wrong.
The distinction between humans and their beliefs is of crucial significance here. It is the human being who is sacred, worthy of the highest respect and rights and so on and so forth not his or her beliefs.
It is the human being who is meant to be equal not his or her beliefs.
Of course, people have the right to their beliefs no matter how absurd they may seem but that is a different matter. Having the right to a belief, culture, or religion does not mean that the belief or culture or religion must be respected or that those who disagree, oppose or choose to mock said beliefs must refrain from doing so because it is unacceptable to believers. (As an aside, given that much is unacceptable to the Islamists – including holding hands and dancing to music - there wouldn't be much left to say or do if they had their way.)
The demand of cultural relativists for 'sensitivity' and 'responsibility' (whilst thoughtfully reminding us that we have the right to mock and criticise - at least for now - in the west) are savvy attempts at actually restricting expression on and opposition to religion and culture and its adverse effects on people's lives. After all, cultural relativism is brisk business for the many self-appointed cultural and religious 'leaders' working hand in hand with the state.
Please read it yourselves.
Cross posted at Liberty and Justice
- An Unseen Error In The Multicultural Ethos
Defenders of indiscriminate multiculturalism see criticism of Islam as a kind of ethnocentrism, and therefore consider the criticism a moral crime and an error of cognitive simplemindedness. Ethnocentrism means judging another culture based...
- Obama, The Postmodernist
Protagoras, the father of Relativism I just came across a nice little piece by Jonah Goldberg of Liberal Fascism fame where he describes the dangers of Obama's post modernism. I like to call a post modernist a post toastie, by the way. Here's...
- Storm Track Infiltration: The Myth Of Multiculturalism
From The Gathering Storm Last week I had Pastorius from the IBA on my Gathering Storm talk show. We spoke of many things but one bit of conversation clarified something about the myth of multiculturalism. Both of us being recovering Liberals, we spoke...
- Winds Of War: “if You Believe In Nothing, You Believe In Everything”
From The Gathering Storm This was said by G.K. Chesterton about a hundred years ago: "When people stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing, they believe in anything." If we substitute the word ‘culture’ for God, an we have the state...
- The Left And The Cartoon Intifada
From The Astute Blogger: Photo by Zombie Post-modern Leftists in Europe are critical of the cartoons and supportive of the Islamic reaction to the cartoons. Their reasoning is simple: they say the cartoons were too provocative, and all cultures shoud...