VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, [5], 6, 7, 8 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 13:01:35 05/04/07 Fri
Author: Antônio de Oliveira Sette Câmara
Subject: TASK 2 - Antônio Sette Câmara

ANTÔNIO DE OLIVEIRA SETTE CÂMARA - 2007 / 01
INGLÊS: PRODUÇÃO DE TEXTOS - PROFESSOR: ADRIANA TENUTA
TASK 2 - CLASSIFICATION ESSAY /Theme: Language and Culture


FORMS OF RADICALISM

There are many types of radicalism. Here we will attempt to undertake a general, simplified classification of the most familiar types, per order of importance and impact.

First there is the political radical type. Generally concerned with changing the world by the implantation of the “perfect political system” which best suits his or her fantasy, this type is always a lunatic and will not stop until he’s responsible for millions of casualties, or until he’s himself dead, whichever comes first. Along with the religious fundamentalist, this is the most dangerous type. Outstanding examples would include George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden, but they have historically had brilliant company: Caligula, Hitler, Stalin, Mao Zedong, Pol Pot and so many others. The political radical type comes in two different colors, the so-called “rightist” and “leftist” subtypes, which are really the same under different guises. There are no radicals at the center of the political spectrum, and this moderate position is thus recommended.

Another important type is the religious fundamentalist, concerned with saving our souls. Notable examples: Savonarola the Inquisitor, Osama bin Laden (who has the dubious honor of belonging to two types), Mullah Omar, Jim Jones, the Reverend Moon, etc. This type was more important in the past, especially during the Inquisition period, but has been returning to fashion lately. A curious subtype is the atheist radical, whose mystical fervor in negating religion matches that of the most violent religious fanatics in promoting their faith.

Then there is the social welfare radical type, concerned with helping others, even against their will. A subtype of these includes, for example, those who want to force us to have better health by giving up indulgence in our favorite vice, such as eating at McDonald’s, smoking or drinking. We could call these the health radicals. Another subtype is the ecological romantic, concerned with saving whales and gorillas while children beg, starve and die on the streets. Famous examples include the likes of Prince Charles, Madonna, Greenpeace, etc.

A further type is the fashion-craze radical, possessed by the idea that he MUST be in line with the latest fad, whatever it is. Subtypes include the intellectual faddist, who is always up-to-date with the most recent French theories; the fashion nut, whose happiness requires being in line with the latest fashion statement from Paris or Milan; the behaviourist radical, preoccupied in mimicking the attitudes of role models from the world of cinema, music or sport; and the mechanical radical, who would die for the latest hot car model.

All these types have some features in common. First, the ingrained idea that they MUST save us, either from ourselves or from some other evil. Other characteristics are that they seem incapable of self-criticism, and lack any sense of humor. Finally, all radicals are equally mistaken in that they seem unable to grasp the basic fact that human beings are all unique and different from each other. If man is indeed a political animal, unable and unwilling to live by himself, it is essential to empathize and see the viewpoints of others. And that’s what radicals, whatever their ideology, are unable to do.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]
[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT-8
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.