Topic Actions

Topic Search

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests

Daniel Webster on Political Fanaticism

The Management is not responsible for the contents of this forum. Enter at your own risk.
Daniel Webster on Political Fanaticism
Post by Howard T. Map-addict   » Mon May 06, 2013 3:04 pm

Howard T. Map-addict
Rear Admiral

Posts: 1392
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:47 am
Location: Philadelphia, PA

from Daniel Webster's speach, March 7, 1850

"... there will sometimes be found men with whom everything is absolute: ab. right, or ab. wrong.
They deal with morals as with mathematics;
and they think [that] what is right may be distinguished
from what is wrong with the precision of an algebraic
equation. They have, therefore, none too much charity
towards others who differ from them.

They are apt, too, to think that
nothing is good but what is perfect,
and that there are no compromises or modifications
to be made in consideration of difference of opinion
or in deference to other men's judgement.

If their perspicacious judgement enables them to detect
a spot on the face of the sun, they think that a good
reason why the sun should be struck down from Heaven!
They prefer the chance of running into utter darkness
to living in heavenly light, if that heavenly light be
not absolutely without any imperfection."

Daniel Webster, March 7, 1850

Quoted in America's Great Debate, by Fergus M. Bordewich

Howard True Map-addict
Top
Re: Daniel Webster on Political Fanaticism
Post by Daryl   » Mon May 06, 2013 9:14 pm

Daryl
Fleet Admiral

Posts: 3607
Joined: Sat Apr 24, 2010 1:57 am
Location: Queensland Australia

Yep I hate the "Rules are Rules" crowd. If they had been in Germany in 1940 they would have obeyed the rule that all Jews had to be reported, because "that's the law". As I mentioned on the next thread if you have been involved in writing rules/laws you don't hold them in as high a regard, knowing that the writers are fallible and times change. Go back far enough and many of the christian countries had close equivalents of sharia law. Stoned any unfaithful wives lately?
Top
Re: Daniel Webster on Political Fanaticism
Post by Howard T. Map-addict   » Tue May 07, 2013 4:04 pm

Howard T. Map-addict
Rear Admiral

Posts: 1392
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:47 am
Location: Philadelphia, PA

It is ironic that, after the Compromise of 1850 passed,
Webster became the Northerner most insistant on
enforcing the Fugitive Slave Act.
He had given his word, and The Law was The Law.

HTM

Daryl wrote:Yep I hate the "Rules are Rules" crowd.
If they had been in Germany in 1940 they would have obeyed the rule that all Jews had to be reported, because "that's the law". As I mentioned on the next thread if you have been involved in writing rules/laws you don't hold them in as high a regard, knowing that the writers are fallible and times change. Go back far enough and many of the christian countries had close equivalents of sharia law. Stoned any unfaithful wives lately?
Top
Re: Daniel Webster on Political Fanaticism
Post by KNick   » Tue May 07, 2013 8:08 pm

KNick
Admiral

Posts: 2142
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 1:38 am
Location: Billings, MT, USA

Since I can't think of anything that is perfect that is made and used by man in the arena of human interaction, the perfectionists are always doomed to disappointment. The fact that they refuse to recognize imperfection as a viable alternative simply shows that they need teaching in the ways of real people.

I once read the people could screw up anything if they put their mind to it. From everything I've ever seen, that is a true statement.
_


Try to take a fisherman's fish and you will be tomorrows bait!!!
Top
Re: Daniel Webster on Political Fanaticism
Post by biochem   » Thu May 09, 2013 12:19 pm

biochem
Rear Admiral

Posts: 1372
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2010 8:06 pm
Location: USA

Since I can't think of anything that is perfect that is made and used by man in the arena of human interaction, the perfectionists are always doomed to disappointment. The fact that they refuse to recognize imperfection as a viable alternative simply shows that they need teaching in the ways of real people.


There are a lot of University professors out there who really need to learn this.
Top
Re: Daniel Webster on Political Fanaticism
Post by KNick   » Mon Jul 08, 2013 7:08 pm

KNick
Admiral

Posts: 2142
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 1:38 am
Location: Billings, MT, USA

biochem wrote:
Since I can't think of anything that is perfect that is made and used by man in the arena of human interaction, the perfectionists are always doomed to disappointment. The fact that they refuse to recognize imperfection as a viable alternative simply shows that they need teaching in the ways of real people.


There are a lot of University professors out there who really need to learn this.


Whomever told you that an University Professor could learn anything after he received his tenure LIED to you. I found (in three different states, at four different schools) that you could argue successfully with an instructor hired to teach a specific subject. If you brought enough data you could sometimes change the mind of a TA or associate prof. But nothing would change the mind of a full Professor once he made a statement.
_


Try to take a fisherman's fish and you will be tomorrows bait!!!
Top

Return to Politics