----- Original Message ----- From: "Baardwijk, J. van DTO/SLBD/BGM/SVM/SGM" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2001 4:05 AM Subject: RE: Profit RE: World Attitude (was: Re: Down Under Attitude)
> > Your doubts are completely unnecessary. I do not understand why you would > have those doubts in the first place. I do not believe that an all-out war > against Afghanistan is the right approach, but that does not mean I do not > grieve for the WTC/Pentagon victims. > > I fail to see, BTW, what your grieve for the victims has to do with some > people not being able to correctly interpret my writings. > >From my perspective it has to do with violation a social convention that I have observed in more than just English speaking cultures. When someone is shocked and devastated by death, a death they feel connectiveness to, the polite thing to do is to first offer condolences and then be careful about criticism for a while. If one does criticize, one is sure to offer polite personal affirmations in the same sentence. Your eschewing of this convention in your posts can reasonably be interpreted as a lack of sensitivity towards the deaths involved. You may claim that anyone who does so misinterprets your intentions. However, I'd argue that the writer of a post has a responsibility for what they write. If, most people, by applying the conventions of the language and the society to a post, consistently parse a given meaning from the post, then it is reasonable to assume (to first order) that that indeed is the meaning of the post. Now, I'll be happy to accept an occasional mistake in writing that conveyed a significantly different meaning than intended, particularly if someone is writing in a second language. But, if the writer otherwise shows a mastery of the language and even feels confident enough in their command of the English language to correct my use of that language, then I become very skeptical of the repeated use of the "me no englesh speek good" defense. Particularly, if the "accidents" have a consistent bias. To quote an old Texas saying "that dog won't hunt." So, if most posters who respond to you have a consistent interpretation that is different from what you later say the meaning is, it would seem more logical to look at why your write things like that instead of why a number of people all twist your words. > > I thoroughly resent that scathing remark. It suggests that because I > criticise the US, I also must feel an intense hatred of the US. Exactly > where, when and why did you get the idea that I would prefer some dead > monument and say the things that you think I would say? > Oh, little things like "God Blast America" comes to mind. Was that a Freudian slip, or don't you know what "blast" means? It means blow up, explode, damage, or even wipe off the face of the earth. That ""quip" reminded me of the horrid pictures of the planes hitting the WTC that I can't get out of my mind comes to mind. > > > I honestly wonder at the depth of your hatred of America. > > I do not hate America. If I did, why would I have spent so much time trying > to get our 5th Anniversary Party organised, a party that was to take place > in the United States? And why would I have planned a three-weeks vacation in > the US and Canada around the time the Party was to take place, if I feel > such an intense hatred of the US? > Personally, the word I would use would be loathing, instead of hatred. But, given that, I have no idea at all why you would want to come to the US. Most of your posts seem to be replete with your disgust with Americans and everything American. I'm guessing that you know our country is physically beautiful and rugged. Also, perhaps, having been here, you will be able to speak authoratively on how stupid, coarse, arrogant, and uncultured all Americans really are to your friends who haven't been here. But, I cannot imagine yourself being happy surrounded by Americans. Unless you think you can enjoy yourself holding court and telling us all what's wrong with us. But, I admit that I'm speculating here. I just have no way of reconciling your posts with the thoughts of anyone who does not view everything American in a phenomenally negative light. Dan M.
