At 09:14 PM 10/19/2002 -0700 d.brin wrote:
>>At 11:16 PM 10/19/2002 +0200 J. van Baardwijk wrote:
>> > Why is it seemingly impossible for you to answer the question of why
>> >countries would insist on UN support if they consider the UN to be a
>> >discredited body? (And yes, you may consider that the *fourth* time of
>> >asking the question.)
>>
>>I give up.
>>
>>If anyone else would like to try explaining my answer to Jeroen, please
>>feel more than welcome to try.
>
>
>This is a great example of the 'paraphrase challenge". If you are
>arguing fairly with another person, you should be able to paraphrase
>what they believe they mean, not the caricature of their meaning that
>makes you feel good.
>
>John, before you contemptuously assume that you have answered
>Jeroen's question, how about paraphrasing it in your own words to
>verify, for us all, that you actually understand what he's asking?
>
>It does not seem to me you have.
O.k., I must admit that I am honestly shocked that even you, Dr. Brin, did
not understand my answer.
Thus, I can only conclude that the polite approach to answering this
question has not worked, and so I must move to the non-polite approach.
Please note, this will not be a flame-ridden tirade, it will simply be
impolite. And I am only answering in this way because a non-EMU resident
Brin-L'er asked me to.
Jeroen's question carries two premises:
1) The UN is discredited
2) The Europeans (and many liberal Americans, et al) are insisting upon UN
authorization for a US strike on Iraq.
Thus, there are two answers to the question of "why?"
1) The Europeans are ignorant, and don't realize that the UN is
discredited. (But, this answer is rejected because of Jeroen's premise #1,
which specificallty states that, quote, "they believe that the UN is
discredited.")
2) The Europeans are stupid.
Like I said, Jeroen, who's insulting Europeans?
JDG
_______________________________________________________
John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED]
People everywhere want to say what they think; choose who will govern
them; worship as they please; educate their children -- male and female;
own property; and enjoy the benefits of their labor. These values of
freedom are right and true for every person, in every society -- and the
duty of protecting these values against their enemies is the common
calling of freedom-loving people across the globe and across the ages.
-US National Security Policy, 2002
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