Klarinet Archive - Posting 000126.txt from 2004/11

From: "Forest Aten" <forestaten@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] 'Acquisitive'
Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2004 10:08:02 -0500


On 4 Nov, "Forest Aten" <forestaten@-----.net> wrote:

> I was just thinking today about a post you made recently about the
> possessive nature of the "American". I remember being in the Cairo =
Museum
> of Antiquity (several times now) and having the docent address the =
group
> saying time and time again, "the original is in a museum in London" =
:-)

Interesting. I never ever thought of the quote as being to do with =
material
things at all.=20

"The Americans are a cheerfully acquisitive race; much is given to them, =
and
the rest they take."

I always took this to refer to ideas or techniques, rather than objects =
or
territory, and to be ruefully admiring rather than denigratory. Perhaps =
it
was the context I first heard it in.

Though I do see that it could apply in the other sense, and quite take =
your
point about the British Museum;-) =20

Tony
--=20

Tony,

I did understand what sense the offered quote related, but isn't it
interesting that when taken out of context, the first thing that came to =
my
mind was the relationship between "Americans" (vs. the world
currently)(unfortunately) and "the rest they take". The middle part (out =
of
context) appears on the surface to be a group of words that promote sour
grapes and denigratory in nature, "much is given to them"....almost a
resentful vent.

I wonder what the Egyptians thought, at the time...or even now, about =
the
loss of the icons representing their greatest moments in history? I do =
not
have to wonder how musicians feel about the intellectual property =
"taken"
(as a result of modern technology).=20

Things "taken", whether it be a statue or an idea, are losses to a =
culture
or individual. It seems that in many cases the lost item or idea remains
intact and continues to have some kind of impact on society. After the =
theft
the object or idea just doesn't (necessarily) benefit the owner/creator.

The world has always been full of two groups of people; those who =
contribute
and those who don't. I don't think this observation is limited to =
Americans
was my point. I believe that in every culture or society, both kinds of
people exist.

Thanks for your contributions. They always make me think.

Forest

And now for some of the life we live in the good old U.S.A......bahhh,
baahhhhh, baahhhhh I've been run into the flock by the dogs.

"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of =
the
country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to =
drag
the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a
parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people =
can
always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you =
have
to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists =
for
lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."
-- HERMANN G=D6RING AT THE NUREMBERG TRIALS

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org