Sowell On Intellectuals

It's a wonderful discussion.

One in particular applies to Quebec. Sowell discusses how David Hume encouraged his fellow Scotsmen to learn English in order to pull itself out of the fringes of European civilization. Scotland soon contributed, despite being one of the poorest and backward nations in all of Western Europe, some of the finest businessmen and intellectuals to Western culture. Pound for pound they truly punched above their weight. Cultures learning from others is nothing new in history.

They all borrowed from one another. To borrow but one precious example, England too was backward in comparison to Italy during the Renaissnace. It was only when they began to import Italian thinkers, artists, musicians, merhchants, architects, chefs etc. did it become a part of the progress propelled by the Renaissance.

Quebec is falling behind once again in the knowledge based, globalized world. Its political and intellectual classes (weak as they are) seem incapable of grasping the basic notion of harrassing free citizens on the basis of language is counter-productive, and futile (to say nothing of discriminatory). Stubborn, pig headed nationalist sentiment looks to preserve a shell of culture that will not partake or contribute to the larger world around them. They will be worthless. It's a choice they're making. Everyone around them is pleading to not do so. It's an obvious mistake, yet, they do. A Scottish revelation is far behind.

We have to appeal to sensible Quebecers who understand shutting itself down is cultural and economic suicide. The people want to learn English. Its IMMORAL for its politicians to prevent them from doing so. That means allowing them to go to the schools of their choice, that means pulling the plug on the OLF, that means putting an end to linguistic warfare they feed off.

While we move forward, they'll have to wait for their 'Second Quiet Revolution.'

And then well say, "told you so." Again.