Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-lymph!arndt From: arndt@lymph.DEC Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: To /Joe re. communication Message-ID: <1017@decwrl.UUCP> Date: Fri, 8-Mar-85 17:57:54 EST Article-I.D.: decwrl.1017 Posted: Fri Mar 8 17:57:54 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 10-Mar-85 06:19:24 EST Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP Organization: DEC Engineering Network Lines: 50 I enjoyed your posting on the problems of communication. I think you made some good points. However, I take exception to one thing you said. Something to the effect that the swing back to 'traditional values' somehow holds back or dampens communication. I think quite the opposite is possible under the 'traditional values'. I presume you refer to the concept that because those who hold a set of values as opposed to another set must of necessity dominate the other set of values if they can. Ergo, Jerry Falwell runs the U.S.of A., etc., if we turn back to the moral majority values. I see that as a slander put forward by those who have little or nothing in the way of values to offer other than the lame idea that there are no values to which all should subscribe (which is a value they hold that all should subscribe to!!!!) Of course I may have your position all wrong. Granted that there are times, places and persons who HAVE abused being in the place of holding the majority values by holding captive the beliefs and practices of the minority. That has happened in all countries in all times and goes on today around the world. Certainly it has been practices by Christian and non- Christian alike. I would like to point out however that the record in our country, while not perfect of course, has by and large been one of the best, if not the best of any time or place or people on record. I refer to the religious freedom we have had in our country under our system of government as founded over 200 years ago. That record gives the lie to the slander that somehow if we, as a nation, return to some of the 'traditional values' held to in the past that it would lead to some sort of religious state. And thereby cutting back on communication. It seems to me that we as a nation have long since passed the point of any one religion being THE religion of our country. Sociologicial studies have made a large point of that. Berger's PROTESTANT, CATHOLIC, JEW comes to mind. However, all three of these 'mainline' religious views of our country do hold certain common 'traditional values'. In fact all three are well represented in Falwell's Moral Majority movement. You know of course that the Moral Majority is not a religious movement per se. But a POLITICAL movement. More to the point. Traditional religious systems in our country have always stressed the value of communication, if now with each other always, at least as a value to be practiced on the level talked about in this net. Therefore, I see your comment as one that is off-handed, not well thought out, and needing to be redefined. Comments? Regards, Ken Arndt PS The misspellings above are what I deserve for not being in an editor. Sorry.