Theos-Talk Archives (December 2002 Message tt00431)

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Bart Lidofsky <bartl@s...> wrote:
> There are differences of opinion, and there are matters of fact.

Absolutely true. Regrettably most people are unable to distinguish 
between the two.

A
> group of philosophers known as the Frankfurt School and founders of 
the
> concept of political correctness have pushed a philosophy that 
matters
> of fact are irrelevant when pushing their political philosophy.

That is actually not a philosophy but a rationalization of an 
opportunistic strategy. The current feeding frenzy on Trent Lott 
(whatever his faults or merits may be) has nothing to do with fact 
and that by desgn. It also has nothing to do with sophisticated 
philosophies.

If the
> facts don't fit their ideas, then it is the facts that need to be
> altered, not their opinions.

Give the parlous state of education in this country, that is 
opportunism and not philosophy. It used to irriate me but now I find 
it funny.

created out
> of whole cloth, and Western Civilization and Christianity were 
designed
> by the wealthy and powerful to oppress the poor and powerless.

That this is true has been tacitly admitted by the wealthy and 
powerful. Read Barruel's comments in which he frankly states his own 
motivations for taking the position he did. Yes, I know his take on 
everyone else's motives is wacky.

In their
> mindset, it is only through the destruction of Western Civilization 
that
> their Communist Paradise can occur

In fairness, I don't think there is any numerically significant 
communist presence in states which lack a long feudal history. 
Because of their feudal past, communism is popular in Asia and Europe.

, and that it will happen naturally,
> in spite of the fact that, in the past, anarchy has always led to
> feudalism.

That was one of Barruel's points, that the only alternative to 
feudalism was anarchy. He wrote his book in response to the 
overthrow of the Bourbon monarchy.

> These ideas are the major guiding force of a highly influential 
sector
> of the far left wing in the United States

Where did you find this? This is all new to me.

, and is every bit as dangerous
> to freedom of Theosophical thought and far more insidious than the
> Religious Right

It is not obvious to right wingers but the Religious Right is the 
most dangerous politicl force in the US today, and one of their 
targets is religious minorities, especially Jews, but including 
Muslims and Theosophists as well. There have been articles in their 
press to that effect. The reason the RR shouild worry you (despite 
their right wing credentials) is that they have so damn many menbers 
and can cause presidents to tremble when they threaten to energize 
their bloc voting power.

It is the philosophy of
> the Frankfurt School in particular that George Orwell was writing 
about
> in his novel, 1984.

Not true, Bart. Orwell was writing about Stalin's Russia and was 
kicked out of the British Labor party for not kissing Stalin's rear. 
The book was wrtten in 1948 and Orwell came up with the title by 
reversing the last two digits of 1948.

statements like,
> "The United States is a Christian country" make statements like,
> "Scientific method is a thought-form pushed by Western culture for 
the
> purpose of persecuting minorities."

Who said that? Is that what they are discussing at your study group 
in New York?

> The so-called political "left wing" and "right wing" are actually
> groups of many opinions translated onto a single axis.

That is probably true. Someone implied on this list that ULT members 
are trying to establish a single axis, but Theosophy incorporates 
many different opinions as well.