Scott Adams, o criador de Dilbert, é só o meu cartoonista preferido de todos os tempos. Nos últimos anos tem dividido o seu tempo entre as notáveis tiras e o comentário político, que eu sigo quotidianamente no YouTube (Real Coffee With Scott Adams). Geralmente, concordo com o que diz o homem, mas hoje cometeu uma argolada de todo o tamanho, que deveras me surpreendeu. A argolada é esta aqui (primeiros três minutos):
Scott Adams está evidentemente equivocado sobre a natureza e a propriedade da Civilização Ocidental. Procurando esclarecê-lo, deixei no post correspondente este comentário em baixo.
I'm a great fan of your coffee, dear Scott, but it seems, to my
surprise, that in relation to Western Civilization you're the one who is
really desinformed, man.
To my knowledge, Plato was not an american, Jesus never dreamt with a
hot dog and Kant never left Königsberg. And as it happens, these three
extremely bright guys we're truly the founding fathers of our
civilization.
What you call Capitalism (in its modern sense) was in fact
invented in the late stages of the medieval era (we in Europe call it
the Commercial Revolution) and it was later enhanced by the protestant
reformation, that allowed people to earn money and still expect to go to
heaven (you should read Max Weber about this very important issue).
The
civil rights and liberties you now assume as an american product result
directly from two typically british events: the Magna Carta (1215) and
the Glorious Revolution (1640-1688). The French Revolution, which,
despite the radicals, the heads off and the complete lunacy, was key to
your own independence (your founding fathers freakin' loved it) and to
the republican ideals you surely treasure, did not, obviously, take part
in your beloved federation.
As culture interacts in great extent with the concept of civilization,
you must recognize that Homero, who invented literature as we now know
it; Bach, who invented music as we now listen to it; and the guys from
the Italian Renaissance, that defined beauty as we now appreciate it,
were not american types.
I could write an essay on your blatant error alone, but just think about
this: where would the western civilization be (and what of the
Pentagon) without Alexander the Great, Julius Caeser, Charlemagne, The
Habsburgs, Admiral Nelson, Winston Churchill and all the non-american
war lords (in the good sense of the word) that secured our ancient
values and virtues by fiercely fighting barbarism, tiranny and
corruption as well as extending the geography of the west?
So, you see, just because you are reading this one book, it is perhaps a
little premature to teach that the Western Civilization is all about
America. Don't get me wrong: America is great. A great country. Probably
the greatest country in History. But you will never walk alone.
Thanks for the coffee.
