A Response
A Response
“We are here to preserve democracy, not practice it”
"Crimson Tide", Gene Hackman (CO SSBN Alabama) to his XO, Denzel Washington
Amos bro posted a little quote from this week’s Monday mega movie. I’m not exactly sure of the context where and when this statement is actually used because I did not watch it, but there seems to be a subtle fault here.
Well, of course, to preserve something is one thing while practicing it is another. This much is pretty obvious when the words are used separately in different contexts.
However, I think the words ‘preserve’ and ‘practice’ have quite a special and complementary linkage when used in conjunction.
Technically, the word ‘preserve’ is a (simple) transitive verb. To ‘preserve’ something, whether it is an abstract political ideology such as Democracy or a tangible object such as a human foetus, implicitly implies that ‘something’ must be present to be ‘preserved’. Therefore, the almighty CO of SSBN Alabama’s preclusion is that there is Democracy to begin with.
But let’s face it. Democracy is not bestowed to us poor humans by heavens. It is a concept. It is a construct of the human mind. It is a political cause. It functions and serves as an end. It is an ideology which takes legislative regulations (paradoxical as it may sound), efforts of a nation’s individuals and maybe even wars to take shape.
Here is where the ‘practice’ part comes in. ‘Practice’ gives Democracy form. If to say a function (amongst many others) of Democracy is to give individuals the freedom and liberalism to choose their leaders by voting (as opposed to a dictatorial regime); then perhaps it is the holding of elections, it is the act of citizens going to the voting booths, it is the putting into power of the victorious leaders and the various other ‘practices’……that actually gives form to ‘Democracy’.
Now, this really sets me thinking. Can Democracy be preserved without practising it? In my humble opinion, no.
‘Democracy’ is an end, and there is no way to achieve it without means of practising it. Without practising it, ‘Democracy’ (as intangible as it already is), will no longer have form. Gene Hackman, in using the word ‘preserve’, claims that there is Democracy, but this very ‘Democracy’ he so refers to will cease to exist if it is not practised. I know the logic of this sounds rather circular (I was confused myself), but how can he preserve something that is not even there in the first place?!?
Let’s work it out.
1) Hackman is here to preserve Democracy.
2) Hackman implicitly claims there exists Democracy when he says he wants to preserve it
3) Hackman does not want to practice it.
4) Something must exist for it to be ‘preserved’
5) Democracy as an ideology is an end without form in itself.
6) ‘Practice’ is the means to Democracy as an end.
7) From (5) and (6), The existence of Democracy is through ‘practice’. I.e. Democracy does not exist unless put into ‘practice’.
8) From (3) and (7), Hackman preserves ‘nothing’
9) From (4) and (8), CONTRADICTION!
10) From (2) and (3), CONTRADICTION!
I must admit that Hackman (and a whole bunch of many manipulative people) has a very clever choice of words. (I’ve seen a girl who spoke in the same manner) Personally, I think his statement is erroneous even though I might not have convinced anyone else.
I’m just glad I’m not his XO…I’m sure he would have put a bullet into my head for mutiny and defiance.
“We are here to preserve democracy, not practice it”
"Crimson Tide", Gene Hackman (CO SSBN Alabama) to his XO, Denzel Washington
Amos bro posted a little quote from this week’s Monday mega movie. I’m not exactly sure of the context where and when this statement is actually used because I did not watch it, but there seems to be a subtle fault here.
Well, of course, to preserve something is one thing while practicing it is another. This much is pretty obvious when the words are used separately in different contexts.
However, I think the words ‘preserve’ and ‘practice’ have quite a special and complementary linkage when used in conjunction.
Technically, the word ‘preserve’ is a (simple) transitive verb. To ‘preserve’ something, whether it is an abstract political ideology such as Democracy or a tangible object such as a human foetus, implicitly implies that ‘something’ must be present to be ‘preserved’. Therefore, the almighty CO of SSBN Alabama’s preclusion is that there is Democracy to begin with.
But let’s face it. Democracy is not bestowed to us poor humans by heavens. It is a concept. It is a construct of the human mind. It is a political cause. It functions and serves as an end. It is an ideology which takes legislative regulations (paradoxical as it may sound), efforts of a nation’s individuals and maybe even wars to take shape.
Here is where the ‘practice’ part comes in. ‘Practice’ gives Democracy form. If to say a function (amongst many others) of Democracy is to give individuals the freedom and liberalism to choose their leaders by voting (as opposed to a dictatorial regime); then perhaps it is the holding of elections, it is the act of citizens going to the voting booths, it is the putting into power of the victorious leaders and the various other ‘practices’……that actually gives form to ‘Democracy’.
Now, this really sets me thinking. Can Democracy be preserved without practising it? In my humble opinion, no.
‘Democracy’ is an end, and there is no way to achieve it without means of practising it. Without practising it, ‘Democracy’ (as intangible as it already is), will no longer have form. Gene Hackman, in using the word ‘preserve’, claims that there is Democracy, but this very ‘Democracy’ he so refers to will cease to exist if it is not practised. I know the logic of this sounds rather circular (I was confused myself), but how can he preserve something that is not even there in the first place?!?
Let’s work it out.
1) Hackman is here to preserve Democracy.
2) Hackman implicitly claims there exists Democracy when he says he wants to preserve it
3) Hackman does not want to practice it.
4) Something must exist for it to be ‘preserved’
5) Democracy as an ideology is an end without form in itself.
6) ‘Practice’ is the means to Democracy as an end.
7) From (5) and (6), The existence of Democracy is through ‘practice’. I.e. Democracy does not exist unless put into ‘practice’.
8) From (3) and (7), Hackman preserves ‘nothing’
9) From (4) and (8), CONTRADICTION!
10) From (2) and (3), CONTRADICTION!
I must admit that Hackman (and a whole bunch of many manipulative people) has a very clever choice of words. (I’ve seen a girl who spoke in the same manner) Personally, I think his statement is erroneous even though I might not have convinced anyone else.
I’m just glad I’m not his XO…I’m sure he would have put a bullet into my head for mutiny and defiance.
posted by sUmmEr heAt at 1:28 AM
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