<!--QuoteBegin--Sizer+Dec 24 2003, 07:18 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Sizer @ Dec 24 2003, 07:18 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Funny how South Park "republicans" view the hippy generation as a bunch of selfish and irresponsible adults, when libertarianism, and especially Randian philosophy, are all about the individual, selfishness, and lack of accountability (we don't have to answer to anybody, gov't regulation can take a hike, etc).
Really, South Park is 90% strawmanning issues, 5% making fun of retarded people, and 5% comedy. I wouldn't want to mold myself after a group of children who have not had to look at real world issues, only strawman versions of them. The indian medicine shtick that Sullivan mentioned is a perfect example of it. It's SO easy to knock an argument or idea down when you simplify it to the extreme, or even when the argument is almost completely made up (as in this case. When have you EVER heard of someone using the Indians' past plight as a justification for taking ther medicine?). In the world of South Park, feminists are evil and never accomplished or fought for anything, history be damned. Social responsibility is "g4y" in South Park, as it is entirely appropriate to destroy property, manipulate and take advantage of the retarded, the elderly, etc. If they just tried to portray this as a bunch of naughty kids having fun and attacking the odd PC BS, it wouldn't be something to worry about. However, all of it is packaged together as a twisted moral argument against authority and social responsibility. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> Of course South Parks blows things out of proportion, but that is only to make the inherent flaws in ideas blatantly obvious. 'Cherokee Hair Tampons', the episode you are referring to, exaggerates hollistic medicine to show that, although herbal and natural remedies have their uses, Western medicine is still the best source for serious medical <b>CARE</b>.
Give me an episode, I shall defend it! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
Hmm, I think there is no real political direction that I would really fit in, that's mainly because I see politcs the same way I see religion: every side has (more or less) something to offer and I adept what apeals to me (althought it's not very much in religion, but that's another story, don't want to turn this into a debate about religions). Also I think that a political "side" and the connected political party are two different sides, and I tend to not trust a political party that changes their oppinion twice a year when they see the pupblic oppinion chances. Of course I also don't trust in parties that stand for a different oppinion than my own.. so there isn't really much left to choose from. If there was a "party of individualistic and evil wannabe-imperators that are nice and romatic guys if you know them better" than I might start doing some political work, but chances are low arent they? <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
The thing that I think is the best point in the article is that people become sick of political correctness. There are several threads about that topic in this forum, I even wrote one myself. If that makes me conservative so be it... there are some things I'd really like to "conserve", because I can live with them just fine. I think the main issue is that people are sick of over-regulation; what's the use of equal rights and almost limitless freedom for everyone if you have to check 126123157 law books to make sure your freedom does not invade somebody else's freedom and he might sue you. It's not a movement back to one special political side, it's rather a movement against governments/parties/politicians making our lifes unnessecary complicated and regulated. A simple "If it's not broken, don't fix it", state of mind... with an addition " get our economy going instead!".
I see myself as "individual open-minded part-time-conservatists" (batteries not included) <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
Comments
Really, South Park is 90% strawmanning issues, 5% making fun of retarded people, and 5% comedy. I wouldn't want to mold myself after a group of children who have not had to look at real world issues, only strawman versions of them. The indian medicine shtick that Sullivan mentioned is a perfect example of it. It's SO easy to knock an argument or idea down when you simplify it to the extreme, or even when the argument is almost completely made up (as in this case. When have you EVER heard of someone using the Indians' past plight as a justification for taking ther medicine?). In the world of South Park, feminists are evil and never accomplished or fought for anything, history be damned. Social responsibility is "g4y" in South Park, as it is entirely appropriate to destroy property, manipulate and take advantage of the retarded, the elderly, etc. If they just tried to portray this as a bunch of naughty kids having fun and attacking the odd PC BS, it wouldn't be something to worry about. However, all of it is packaged together as a twisted moral argument against authority and social responsibility. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Of course South Parks blows things out of proportion, but that is only to make the inherent flaws in ideas blatantly obvious. 'Cherokee Hair Tampons', the episode you are referring to, exaggerates hollistic medicine to show that, although herbal and natural remedies have their uses, Western medicine is still the best source for serious medical <b>CARE</b>.
Give me an episode, I shall defend it! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
O_o So hair from Western people is better than that of Indians???
The thing that I think is the best point in the article is that people become sick of political correctness. There are several threads about that topic in this forum, I even wrote one myself. If that makes me conservative so be it... there are some things I'd really like to "conserve", because I can live with them just fine.
I think the main issue is that people are sick of over-regulation; what's the use of equal rights and almost limitless freedom for everyone if you have to check 126123157 law books to make sure your freedom does not invade somebody else's freedom and he might sue you. It's not a movement back to one special political side, it's rather a movement against governments/parties/politicians making our lifes unnessecary complicated and regulated. A simple "If it's not broken, don't fix it", state of mind... with an addition " get our economy going instead!".
I see myself as "individual open-minded part-time-conservatists" (batteries not included) <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->