the babel or babble of Democracy

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:15 am

the age old argument of the rights of the individual vs. the needs of the state, or common good.

the extent of which freedom of expression ends at the tip of one person's nose.

we have the right to be who we want to be, do what we want to do and say what we want to say as long as it does not harm anyone elses right to do the same.

the common good comes into play when it is necessary to avoid harm to the community as a result of inherently destructive and or dangerous behaviour that will affect others and their rights or safety.

Democracy can be a slow, agonizing process, with much starts and stops, stammers and slips, but it does work, eventually, or so it seems.

the pendulum of public opinion and activity swings predictable back and forth as a reaction to the events at the time, and how we and our leaders handle them.

it may seem like a tower of babel, or babble, based on the cacophony that arises from many voices at the same time, but even thru the mixture of sound, a community song is sung.

each city has its own tune...we are a city, we are a metropolis in the dust, a city in the playa that rivals other cities with it's people and activities and i think the noise noise noise noise noise is what makes us so vibrant.

Democracy and Freedom are double edged swords.

With them come great rights, but also great responsibilities.

Our City is Our home, if only for a week, but for many of us, we live there, spiritually all year round.

How can we Evolve and improve Our Tower of Babel?

just like this, by engaging and participating in discussions and by being both an Individual, AND a member of a larger entity.

it is a fine line to walk, but with practice and determination, i think we can do it, and do it really fucking well.

what?....you knew i couldn't get through an entire post without throwing in the word fuck....i'm east coast, deal with it.

Thanks Risky for your cartoon this morning about Freedom, it inspired this thread and it jump started my brain, and i didn't even have coffee yet...

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:33 am

Jeebus Simon, you did it now.

do you really want AIIZ to start posting in your threads ?

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:51 am

even the nazis have a right to march thru Skokie...

you can say what you want to about the ACLU and its origins and the cases they have taken on, but it has always been, in my eyes, to protect ALL of the peoples opinions, even the most heinous, and therefore a very valuble watchdog in the protection of "Freedom & Democracy".

let him have his say, just like Speakers Corner in London, the idiots dont have anyone listening around their soapbox unless they pay them.

the Good ones have crowds who listen, learn and interact.

the truly bad ideas and memes just drift off into the dark ugly fringe, where they belong.

after a while they are ignored.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:17 am

Taller! Taller! The tower of Dabble!
Excelsior!

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 7:45 am

a little dab'll do you!

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:52 am

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:18 am

Is that a baguette or are you just happy to see me?

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:52 am

What an appealing aperture you have.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:55 am

there's a church like that in the Czech republic, Dougly........