Vince wrote I think saying that what Lori said was "snide, obviously exaggerated and non credible comment in the context of what is a very important topic that deserves more sincere and respectful treatment." is most unfair to Lori, who was not snide, not exaggerated, and very credible.
I am afraid we disagree about this. I repeat the quote for others inspection > You think we're going to say nice things about Bush and his ilk, all > clearly hawks who want nothing more than to (paraphrasing Fred Simon) > waive our big American dick around the Middle East? (Is it a > coincidence that Bush and Cheney are oil boys? I think not.) The only > sane person in the bunch *seems* to be Colin Powell. You continue I think, IMHO, you are very unfair to Joni when you say she is "not widely regarded to this day as an expert on national or international affairs" You think that she is so widely regarded ? I think of Joni as being very well informed on current events. That may be. I would not know. It is not inconsistent at all with my statement. She was the one who wrote Ethiopia, Tax Free, Tea Leaf Prophecy (care to quote those lyrics?), Beat of Black Wings, Sex Kills.... I think Joni is one of the most astute observers around. I agree with you. She is a great artist, whose political statements are so artistically presented that one cannot help but admire them regardless of one's views on the matter that she treats in her art. For example, i love Tea Leaf Propecy, and am sympathetic to the message. But I find "study war no more" to be a noble, pretty sentiment that was untenable during WW II (the setting of that song), and is untenable now in almost anyone's opinion. I see it as a statement of ideals to be striven toward over time; does it mean that we should not study how to defend ourselves now, today ? You say The Borderline quote: to whom does that apply? You are using it, it seems to me, in a one-way fashion, as if this is a rebuke of Lori. But the lyrics, as all that Joni writes, cuts a wider swatch than we think. It doesn't apply to "others" - it applies to all of us. I agree, and meant it that way. Yes, I focused on Lori's quotes, but later I stated that I found it distasteful when coming from the right (Grant, Limbaugh, Hannity) as well to others who have posted in opposite directions - I did not us all. It applies to me too, of course. And I think it applies to the thread of this discussion You said: I sincerely challenge that half the country is "right". Or "left" The self identification of most Americans would be squarely in the middle, neither right nor left. I agree and stand corrected. Those in the center, whether right of dead center of left of dead center, were no doubt not the object of Lori's comments. You said I think it is unfair to try and slam Lori with a Joni quote, trying to lay a guilt trip on her like that. Nothing personal, Lori. In fact I enjoy your posts as lot (including most of the ones I disagree with). I just feel that Borderline offers us all something to think about when posting. Bob S .
