Andy Ylikoski schrieb:
> >> >From: peter at baileynm.com (Peter da Silva)
> >> >Subject: Re: Time Magazine: Man of the Millennium
> >> [snips]
> >> >Leonardo da Vinci is the most likely MotM, politically and socially.
> >> >
> >> >Though a lot could be said for Malthus. *sigh*
> >>
> >> My suggestion is the head of the American Revolution, George
> >> Washington. He is the man who did the most for the benefit of the
> >> human race.
> >
> ><flame type=ridiculous>
> >Damn, and what about Rousseau, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Locke, all these,
> >the whole Lumières crowd, Kant, whoever, what the fuck about THEM?
> ></flame>
>> ;;; FLAME
>> Why ridiculous?? My opinion is that you are simply not fully aware
> what the followers of Washington have done for this world.
>> The Americans were the first to send men on the Moon. How many of our
> readers have greatly benefitted from the masterpieces of Voltaire??
>> ;;; FLAME OFF
Hmm... simple. Voltaire was, with Montesquieu and I don't know who else
(Berkeley and Locke come to mind IIRC), among those who developed modern
democracy.
I suppose about every single one of our readers has benefitted from these guys
in some way.
> >Or are you implying that George Washington's leading of the American
> >Revolution had some other benefit than just creating the first "modern"
> >(this can be argued) democracy in the world?
> >If yes, are you suggesting that the American hegemony has done us any
> >good?
>> To us and to me it has.
Hmmm... has it done any good that could have been achieved without American
hegemony? Go tell me.
> >If no, are you realising George Washington has invented neither
> >democracy nor sliced bread? If this was "Man of the Last Three
> >Millennia", I'd have a hard time deciding between Solon, Cleisthenes and
> >Pericles.
>> I recommend reading the newsgroup alt.politics.org.cia.
>> The Central Intelligence Agency has been said to have saved one
> billion human lives.
How? Proof please. Oh, don't tell me that's because they have helped prevent a
nuclear war. The people who have done that are too numerous to mention, as are
the people who have nearly triggered one.
> How many ones did Solon save??
A lot, since there wouldn't be democracy without him. FWIW, did you know
anything about the names I had mentioned at all when you posted back? Did you
just think "oh, novel author" and "oh, Greek guy"?
mawa
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