Here is a famous quote by George Kennan, an elder Statesman of the USA, after WWII:
we have about 50% of the world's wealth but only 6.3% of its population. ... In this situation, we cannot fail to be the object of envy and resentment. Our real task in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which will permit us to maintain this position of disparity
Ouch. Reading what our top leaders say can be harsh. This is proven to be taken somewhat out of context and the fuller quote is less damning, but to star with the facts is useful. And here is a clarification...
So when you read the original it is a little less bad, but still pretty bad. and being a thinking person, Kennan evolved in his thinking... but once you've released a 1000 braves hard to call them back.
The real problem here with the misquote is it is damned awful. it is abjectly evil and invites total condemnation. Better to quote the original (read at the link) and thena rgue against what the man actually said.
The error is his premise that envy is the natural result of 50% v 6%, and that this is something to be maintained. Really? How? Why? To what end?
So on the one hand we have the low-circulation insider marching orders, and on the other side we have the mis-quote, neither serves us well. What is really going on needs to get wide circulation, and then wide discussion. What we have is even more secrecy and more spying.
Do we want that?
Feel Free To Email This To Three Friends.
we have about 50% of the world's wealth but only 6.3% of its population. ... In this situation, we cannot fail to be the object of envy and resentment. Our real task in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which will permit us to maintain this position of disparity
Ouch. Reading what our top leaders say can be harsh. This is proven to be taken somewhat out of context and the fuller quote is less damning, but to star with the facts is useful. And here is a clarification...
So when you read the original it is a little less bad, but still pretty bad. and being a thinking person, Kennan evolved in his thinking... but once you've released a 1000 braves hard to call them back.
The real problem here with the misquote is it is damned awful. it is abjectly evil and invites total condemnation. Better to quote the original (read at the link) and thena rgue against what the man actually said.
The error is his premise that envy is the natural result of 50% v 6%, and that this is something to be maintained. Really? How? Why? To what end?
So on the one hand we have the low-circulation insider marching orders, and on the other side we have the mis-quote, neither serves us well. What is really going on needs to get wide circulation, and then wide discussion. What we have is even more secrecy and more spying.
Do we want that?
Feel Free To Email This To Three Friends.
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