Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : High Tolerance Plasticity -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Bruce L who wrote (21162)	8/22/2004 12:57:28 PM
From: cnyndwllr	Respond to of 23153

Hi Bruce. I haven't even finished replying to your long, thoughtful post yet, and here you are asking for a debate. Do you think that my "try[ing] to respond to every perceived 'enemy' on this thread" somehow answers your question concerning whether I have the "courage to debate?" You should listen to yourself sometimes. The petard I was referring to was your propensity to point our, correctly I might add, that often those who are so upset about partisanship do so using very partisan language. The quote that you liked from Kodiak was a quote that seemed partisan and broad-brushed in labeling the "common democrat." You then stated that you regretted that there was a deep partisan divide that was bad for the country. I then changed that language of the quote to blast republicans instead of democrats in order to illustrate the partisan slant of the quote. That was the petard. Of course the attacks on Bush are poisonous. Of course we are harmed as a nation when we question the motives of our leaders. The same is true of those who question Kerry's motives. I believe that Bush and Kerry are both interested in what's best for America. I also believe, however, that forming and repeating straw man caricatures of "common democrats," or "right wingers," is very dangerous. Despite that fact, I think that for a decade or more that kind of thinking has been encouraged on the right and now it is being encouraged on the left. My point was simply that those who have bought into the caricature that demonizes and demeans the motives and intellect of the "other side," and repeat it or approve of those who repeat it, ought to recognize that their "common wisdom" may be based more on oft repeated half truths than it is on reality. They should also recognize, as you have so often and so astutely noted, that such a divisive approach is bad for the country. You also characterize my postings by saying; "Bluntly, you have a romantic, "Frank Herbert" type vision of a courageous Iraqi people, united in a jihad against the United States. You speak of a "hive" that has been riled, of people "who bleed and sweat their lives away," of Bush's disdain for the "power and pride" of the average Iraqi people. You stated that if a Fatwa were issued tomorrow to kill Americans and force them from Iraq: "I believe it would be a bloodbath and the number of Shiites that would take up arms would be remarkable." I believe, Ed, that this is crap; that this is one of those "emotional ideas" that enslave you." I think you have given a good account of my thinking. I think the things I point out are very powerful and that Bush and his people were so unconnected to the reality of "little people" that they had no appreciation for the strength of the opposition that they would face over time. I think that's one of the reasons they were so "wrong" in their actions and their projections of where those actions would lead and what they would cost our troops and this country. Now I'd be happy to "debate." Why don't we start by your making some intelligible statement of disagreement with the points you listed, instead of just saying that I'm "emotional" and that "this is just crap?" Or is it enough to just label ME and then ignore the statements. PS. It doesn't take much "courage" to debate. I think I can muster that much. g. The real "courage" is that which our men and women who are facing death must muster every day while they do our bidding in a very dangerous place.