Is America Really The Greatest Country In The World?

[AKid2]

Admittedly, I did not read all 50 pages of this mammoth thread, so forgive me if this has been mentioned.

There's a trade off between tradition and freedom (as we know it). I wish America put a bit more stock in tradition.

If you claim that freedom is in itself a tradition, well, maybe you have a point.

[Smokey D]

What's so good about tradition.

[Iskandar]

Tradition can be good.

But tradition isn't necessarily good just because it's tradition.

Also tradition and freedom don't always conflict.

[Pastorius]

i bet you one jewish dollar that that secretly agrees with everything bill o reilly says

[JohnXDoe3]

Originally Posted by Smokey D

What's so good about tradition.

thats like saying whats so good about history. sort of silly. tradition is something that is and will always be. even when it changes

its consistent....and guides us to some extent

[mph4ever]

tradition can inhibit development

[JohnXDoe3]

true. but it can also spur on development. societies working together, going in a focused direction, growing a community. sure its a double edged sword, but so are a lot of things

and of course their are different kinds of traditions. i suppose when it comes down to it traditions are the things we do and also a way of being. it can be both good and bad

[Pastorius]

it can prohibit development

like the taliban and that

[JohnXDoe3]

well they're just dumb

[mph4ever]

Originally Posted by Pastorius

it can prohibit development

like the taliban and that

its just as bad in so called developed countries. there is little chance of change when politicians base their policy along traditional party lines

[Pastorius]

sounds conspiracy theory-ist, but i hate that the objective of government is to stay in power and maintain the status quo rather than help the people and develop

[mph4ever]

Originally Posted by Pastorius

sounds conspiracy theory-ist, but i hate that the objective of government is to stay in power and maintain the status quo rather than help the people and develop

thats the conspiracy that is democracy - vote for change me arse

[Smokey D]

Originally Posted by JohnXDoe3

thats like saying whats so good about history. sort of silly.

That wouldn't be silly at all. History has no intrinsic value.

tradition is something that is and will always be. even when it changes

its consistent....and guides us to some extent

Its value as a constant can be outweighed by its adverse consequences.

But the important questions to ask when you say 'tradition is good' (and it's the same question you should ask if you're talking about history) is 'whose tradition are we talking about?' and 'why do I think it's good?'

To say we should trade liberty for tradition is mildly terrifying.

[Light Flantastic]

Originally Posted by Iskandar

If we called the country Holland and that was the common name for it, it wouldn't be an error.

its still an error no matter how common it is

if everyone started calling me sarah they're all wrong no matter how many of them do it

because my name is tamantha

[2muchket!]

you look more of Derrick to me.