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Article 6720 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: tp0x+@cs.cmu.edu (Thomas Price)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy,rec.arts.sf.misc,alt.cyberpunk
Subject: Re: _The Turing Option_
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Date: 28 Aug 92 15:04:39 GMT
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>>As a wise man said about 2000 years ago: "The poor will always be with you".
>>
>>Unfortunately, the thing that is easiest to do, namely, give money to the
>>poor (or whatever charity you wish) doesn't help in the long run.  What
>>probably helps most (at least in the third world) is spreading the idea
>>of capitalism and a free society.
>
>This sounds like a R*p*bl*c*n attitude, and a typical distortion of
>the original meaning.  I find it difficult to believe that anyone
>could believe that Jesus REALLY meant "the poor will always be with you"
>to be a recommendation NOT to help the poor!  YES, try to build a stronger
>economy so more people can have jobs and not be poor, but NO, don't
>abandon the poor in the meantime!!!!!

Context: Very soon before his crucifixion, while Jesus sat eating dinner, a 
woman came in and washed his feet and anointed him with very expensive 
ointment. Judas sniffed about what a waste it was, and how the ointment
could have been sold and the money used for charitable purposes. (Judas
was the treasurer of the little group and embezzled from their common 
purse.) Jesus said, "The poor you always have with you, but me you don't."

My understanding of his meaning is this: his life and work were a very special
event, creating new possibilities. It was proper to celebrate and experience 
them fully. This doesn't take away from the fact that it's appropriate to 
perform acts of charity under ordinary circumstances.

>>In general, there are more people living in prosperity and freedom than there
>>have ever been throughout human history.

I don't understand the significance of this at all -- there are more people 
living, period, than there have ever been throughout human history. 

Tom

******************************************************************************
 Tom Price  |  Obscure Dropout  |  tp0x@cs.cmu.edu  |  Simplicity, simplicity
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