Sam Harris explains why Trump is a dangerous candidate.

[Soundwave]

StarDoor said:

Soundwave said:

Why is liberalization such a bad thing? There's no 'movement' needed for it, it's simply the natural evolution of reasoned thought. Yes we don't treat women and minorities like second/third class citizens anymore. That's a good thing. 

If the entire world was liberalized it would be a great thing (and it will be eventually, you cannot live in the 18th/19th century forever, sorry Saudi Arabia and etc.). 

Sure there is always a balance to be had and there are random nuts who go to far to the left, but by and large we live in a better society today. 

Hell, even for me in my 30s, I look at kids today and find in some cases at least they're far more enlightened about things than my generation was in high school in the late 90s. If we had an openly gay student at school, that kid would've been bullied unmercifully, probably even physically beaten up, and certainly would have next to no shot at being embraced by the school community. 

Even if you disagreed with that behavior you would shut up and not say anything because it wouldn't be popular to do so. But today I look at kids and this is much less of an issue and treating someone like that today you would encounter big push back. Which is good. 

Cultural Marxism is not the same thing as liberalization. In fact, the ultimate goal of Cultural Marxism would destroy any sort of liberal values you support.

One of the key tenets held by the modern Left is multiculturalism, which asserts that no culture is objectively better than any other, and that is is immoral to prefer one culture over another. Global inequality is the reason why Westerners are told that they have a duty to allow millions of immigrants into their countries in the name of diversity and justice, but then they are simultaneously told that Western culture is no better than any other culture and that it would be racist to ask immigrants to assimilate into society by learning the language and following Western customs. Liberalism is included in these Western customs; logic, reason, science, and tolerance of other ideas are very Western virtues. You don't see any non-Westernized countries advocating the rights of women, LGBT, minorities, etc.

But Cultural Marxists believe that there is no difference between cultures, no difference between sexes, and no difference between races, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. They've taken over debate in Western countries, and now anyone expressing such ideas is publicly ostracized. It's not rational in any sense; these accusations of racism and sexism are attempts to shut down critical analysis and debate.

Traditional liberals in the United States support the Democratic party and mass immigration, but they don't realize that their liberal goals are incompatible with such a diverse society. As a community becomes more multiracial and multicultural, social trust among the population erodes. Without social trust, support for welfare programs erodes, especially when people believe (correctly, in many cases,) that people of some races are benefitting far more from these policies than people of other races. And the majority of these recent immigrants come from countries with very 'conservative' social values: Muslims are generally even more anti-gay than white Christians. You won't get a tolerant, equal society like this; instead, you'll have a self-segregated, unequal mess with frequent riots and significant social unrest, which is exactly what we're witnessing today.

Personally, I think Western civilization has created the most functional and progressive societies in human history, greatly advancing science, liberty, and human wellbeing. I don't want to see all of it undone.

Firstly, I do think people have to learn to live together. That is a liberal idea. Locking yourself in your country and saying 6/7 of the world's population has to live in poverty is morally reprehensible. 

We have a responsibility to allow a reasonable flow of immigration. Beyond that, it's needed in the first place, the only reason America is able to lead is because they import half their PhDs from India and China, otherwise it's a pretty stupid country (of developed countries, America almost always puts up mediocre eductional rankings compared to other developed countries). 

By and large MOST people are able to co-exist. Yes they are different, but even most Muslims in the West are not raving fanatics, they're just regular people. Have a conversation with one. They're not the boogeyman they're painted out to be. 

Yes, there are always going to be issues, but before the West pats itself on the back too hard for "progressive" liberal ideals like gay rights and minority rights, 20-30 years ago many in the West felt the same as the average Muslim does today. Progress takes time, it isn't done overnight. 

We cannot hide behind borders forever, the world is changed, we have access to technology and eductation and information and are tied together with a global system of capital no matter what. If this existed for humans 500 years ago, the way countries are made up would be vastly different. 

And honestly I simply don't fear some kind of "Islamist" state in the West, no one (including most Muslims here) want to live like an 18th century goat herder. 

Hyper-religiousism (if you want to call it that) will always fail in a modern society. 

Yes sure for that particular religion perhaps more thoughtful integration policies are required, but thoughtful is the operative word there.