"Among a few unlucky words in the American political vocabulary the word IDEOLOGY is perhaps the unluckiest one."
Why the Nation is armless in struggle with ideological enemies
by Boris Tiraspolsky
In his article
'Day of Reckoning': A Review of Pat Buchanan's Latest Book' Tony Blankley writes: "As my friend always does in his books, brother Patrick combines shrewd analysis and his own crisp and passionate words with wonderful quotes from others. He quotes George Orwell's observation that "ideology animates 'the streamlined men who think in slogans and talk in bullets.'" That description remains as fresh as this evening's cable political talk shows and news reports. I cite that quote because, for me, one of the strongest elements in "Day of Reckoning" is Buchanan's remorseless assault on ideology -- whether being used by imperialists, free traders or cultural manipulators. This may sound surprising to some because these days, many people both on the left and right proudly support their respective ideologies. But like Buchanan, I was educated in an age when conservatives proudly asserted that conservatism was, by definition, the absence of ideology. Ideology was -- and remains -- the product of intellectuals who substitute for the wisdom of the ages, the organic unfolding of their institutions, the teachings of their faith and common sense their own fanatical belief that their ideas can (in Russell Kirk's words) convert our world "into a terrestrial paradise through the operation of positive law and positive planning." Or as Pat writes: "Ideology has one foot grounded in reality, but the other is ever on quicksand. For no one can know the future. Yet the True Believer has moral certitude, for his ideology foretells a future certain to come if the sacrifices are sufficient and the anointed leaders are faithfully followed." And with that bit in his teeth, Pat runs riot through the ideologies of free trade, Bushian wars-for-democracy arguments and open borders theories. It is not only honest, solid historic reporting but also splendid, angryprose."
The following is not a review on the review by Tony Blankley. The quote from the article by Tony Blankley clearly defines three major general categories of the American people:
1. Those who minds are being infiltrated with “wrong ideologies“;
2. Those who are preaching “ideology of no ideology”;
3. Those who are choosing between “wrong ideologies” and “ideology of no ideology”.
I tend to think that this definition is more precise then a simple and commonly accepted division on "liberals" and "conservatives".
The only problem is that neither of the defined above categories of the American people is able to develop superior anti-terrorist Ideological Instruments, nor become Ideological Force necessary for “ideological struggle of the 21st century” - global battle with Islamic jihadists waged total war against the United States.
(Read more...)Among a few unlucky words in the American political vocabulary the word IDEOLOGY is perhaps the unluckiest one. A recent book by Pat Buchanan just adds another drop in already full basket of negative connotations related to the word IDEOLOGY.
The problem of misunderstanding and misinterpreting the word IDEOLOGY by the American intellectuals and consequently by the majority of the American people results in a lack of general ideological awareness of the Nation. Consequently, it causes the current ideological defeat of the United States in global battle with Terror.
Let me define again the word IDEOLOGY. “The original meaning of the word “ideology” is “the Science of ideas and ideals“. Ideology specifically identifies practical usage of ideas that originate from the Progress of human Ethics - principles of moral conduct, and Esthetics - perception of beauty and ugliness. Needless to stress that both, Ethics and Esthetics are literally shaping a civilized society.”
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There is no doubt that a massive misuse of “principles of moral conduct” and abuse of “perception of beauty and ugliness” in the modern History are among major contributors to a negative perception related to the word IDEOLOGY.
However, misusing and abusing Ethics and Esthetics have nothing to do with IDEOLOGY, but with men lacking PRINCIPLES of Ethics and Esthetics, and more precisely - absolute Ethics and perfect Esthetics.
For anyone who still thinks that such PRINCIPLES do not exist I highly recommend to read works by Abraham Lincoln and the text of the Constitution of the United States being a full embodiment of absolute Ethics and perfect Esthetics for the last more then 200 years.
The latter makes the Constitution of the United States the most powerful Ideological Instrument of the modern History in battle with Terror
(Read more... ), and the People of the United States responsible for the further Progress of the Ideology of the U.S. Constitution.
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