----- Original Message ----- From: "John D. Giorgis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2002 8:11 AM Subject: Re: [Brin-l] Re: Attack Iraq, Alone If We Must
> At 09:46 PM 9/22/2002 -0500 Dan Minette wrote: > >Actually, I think you missed the real unwritten rule. It is assumed, by > >most folks here, that it is a truism that anyone with any political power > >at all is fair game for any criticism. > > I find this to be a curious moral standard. First, this moral standard > does not comport with my view of Christianity, which does not distinguish > between gossip/insults of public and private figures. I would be > surprised if this moral standard comported with your view of Christianity. I was pointing out the social norm. If I meant me, I would have said "including me." I do think public figures are, by their nature, more open to criticism than private figures, but I do not care for smear tactics by either party. >Additionally, this moral standard that you are > proposing does not comport with legal standards of libel and slander, which > expressly identify that *some* things cannot be said about certain people - > *especially* public persons. Well, Rush has been getting away with it for years. All the BS about Clinton ordering the killing of numerous Americans to cover up his seecrets. The reality is that you can say pretty much what you want about a figure as public as Bush or Clinton. It's not right, but its there. > > >The worst things you can say about > >Bush are probably true. > > Finally, if you seriously believe that above statement, and I find it > nearly impossible to believe that you do, then it may be that we simply > have no common ground on which to pursue this discussion. I don't. I was commenting on what I see as the general understanding of the list; which I do differ with. Indeed, I pointed out how I think that we both differ from the list in that we tend to be loyal to large groups. I think Kat's pride in always voting for people who don't get elected is a reflection of a rather cynical view of politicians, but she's free to correct me. I also get the feeling that many on the list are extremely individualistic and think that loyalty to party, church, civic groups is for chumps. Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
