Ideals are a two edged sword
5/08/2004 | Share this article:
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by A Uiet BhorThe three greatest events in recent western history was the English civil war, the American Revolution, and the French revolution, all three were sparked by ideals, eternal and great, without which the west would be a tyrannical hell, but idealism brings its own tyranny.
First off there was the English civil war, the first fought against an absolute monarch, for democracy and liberty, the Leveller ideals of equality and the parliamentary concept of no taxation without representation. This was however quickly engulfed by the tyrannical dictatorship of Cromwell’s Puritan party. The ideals were lost, but not forgotten and England learnt an important lesson, which is why it still has a monarchy, to prevent any party, from taking too much power. The Queen my never use her power, but the army, air force, navy, and even postal service all swear an oath to her, not the party in power. English democracy is unique, rather than coming into existence through the epiphany of Greece or the revolution of America, it grew through the slow gradual process of reform. We are the nation of the cautious tinkerer, and this has proven to be the best method, as sudden change has no control and no one can predict were it will end. The radical new ideal becomes the justification for many horrors. Moderation in all things.
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