One or the other, eh . . . ?

Philosophy’s cool!

Are politics a science or an art?

Um...

I would have to say an art, but will condone it to be as much a science as putting on a play would be.

Do we better know the present than the past?

The past. You can hide the dirt in the short-term, and sometimes even completely destroy it, but lingering evidences will always raise the question and force investigations. Some experiences are gone forever, but there’s a lot of past out there that is being revealed even today.

Defending one's rights is it the same as defending one's interests?

No.

Interest could equate to pleasure, or happiness. The Founding Fathers of the United States of America came to the conclusion that rights are inalienable, one of which is the pursuit of happiness. It’s not guaranteed, but you’re allowed to look for it.

Is language diversity an obstacle to understanding the people?

No.

It’s one of the charms of understanding people. It’s an experience of shared learning. The only real obstacle to understanding people is the people themselves.

Dan