[sassysocks]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I'm not saying that we aren't comparatively lucky to live comfortable lives and have a higher degree of personal freedom than most. I am aware that the majority of the world's population have it "worse" in many ways (although not in every way, in my opinion, but that's another debate).

All I'm disputing is the reasoning for it. We are not comfortable and free because we joined hands and stood up to the minority of rich / powerful people and demanded respect. We are comfortable and free because it benefits that rich and powerful minority for us to be comfortable and free. As soon as it stops being beneficial for those people (hopefully it won't, but if it does) then we can wave our comfort and freedom goodbye. Because whilst we have comfort, and we have freedom, and we (mostly) have a large degree of control over our own lives and decisions, what we certainly don't have is any power or control on a grander scale. We have what we are allowed.

I don't disagree with much of what you say but I think we can't go backwards and we (Westerners) are now too educated and free-thinking to accept anything less than what we have and will always stand up and demand certain rights and never wave our comfort and freedom goodbye quietly. I simply don't believe that could happen now.

Which is why such religous dictatorships deny the majority an education and don't allow them the power of free-thought thus denying them a voice and stripping them of any power. They end up totallly brainwashed and believing all the garbage they have been spoon-fed since birth.

I think the reasoning behind our way of life. although not perfect, is less brutal, less controlling and more respectful and compassionate than that of religous dictatorships. What we do have it more control over our lives and more power than those confined by enforced religous doctrine.