Originally Posted by
Drummond
Gunny, you're trying to defy the saying 'No man is an island'. Fact is that none of us are immune to being influenced by what we see, hear, learn about the world we live in. Everything has its input. And there are those who understand this, and try to be opportunistic on the back of it.
In my society, Socialists are forever preaching in some form or other, trying to set parameters of what they say are 'decent beliefs and standards' ... which is how our NHS is so well respected (despite the many disasters it's visited upon us), or why so many not only shun the idea of carrying guns, but even consider the very notion of it 'uncivilised'. Or how to be critical of Muslims, or Islam, or not believe that 'Islam is a religion of peace' means that you're bigoted or racist, or both.
They've worked on this process for decades and have done much to shape attitudes here. The principle is tried and tested: 'plug into society, and society plugs into you'.
Americans place a greater value on freedoms, liberty, etc ... so are protected from massive excesses of what I'm talking about. But nobody is immune. Can you guarantee to watch or listen to a debate programme, or news item, or current affairs broadcast, and know it cannot possibly shape any view of yours, or sway you even a little ?
You say you can't be labeled. But you carry SOMETHING of what has been fed to you through the media. We all do.
Your 'Ask FJ' suggestion, by the way, is meaningless. FJ professes to be something he's not .. he identifies with labels, deliberately so, but FALSELY. He'd have me believe he's a Thatcherite (he is not) and a Libertarian, both at the same time. That males zero sense ... Margaret Thatcher was no Libertarian, she FOUGHT Libertarians in the UK, and did it through State machinery.