Stephen, I don't want the "last word" in that sense, and I certainly don't want
to leave a bitter feeling in anyone's mind. I think our problem is that we're
talking past each other. It happens often -- it's human nature. Human language is
ambiguous by nature -- it's not like a programming language. If I may be so bold,
I think what you see me doing is persisting in making an argument in
contradiction to what you have read in my earlier posts. From my p.o.v., what I
see is that try to tell me what I said, rather than ask what I meant.
May I suggest an approach for future bouts of "intellectual arm-wrestling"? I'll
try not to keep pushing the issue if you, when you think I've contradicted
myself, *ask* for an explanation rather than confronting me with your
interpretation of what I wrote.
This works the other way around, too. When you made your comment about liberals
and referred to "America and elsewhere" my immediate, instinctive response was to
remind you that the rest of the world ("elsewhere") doesn't necessarily use words
the way they're used in the U.S. It was only later, upon reflection, that it
occurred to me that the term "elsewhere" might have been intended to mean that
people outside the US might not understand that idiosyncratic usage, the way you
and a fellow national were using it. I should have asked what you meant instead
of instinctively responding the way I did. I'm sorry for that.
As for the other points, I don't know what else to do. I am not anti-U.S. I think
I've explained that well enough and don't know what else I can say. I certainly
don't mean to offend anyone, and apologize if that's been the case.
Stephen Beecroft wrote:
> Marc, this back-and-forth between us has long ago degenerated into
> name-calling and accusations from your part, to the point that I am no
> longer enjoying the correspondence and find myself tempted to respond to
> you in kind. That's silly, of course; there is no point in being on a
> discussion list that raises bad feelings. So go ahead and have The Last
> Word in the discussions. Claim you meant the opposite of what you said.
> Claim you said the opposite of what you said. Say that black is white,
> up is down, and Canada is south. Whatever. I've had more than enough of
> this discussion. Congratulations! Your perseverence has won you yet
> another round.
>
> But don't think this means I won't respond any more to your comically
> anti-US remarks or point out glaring flaws in your logic. I'll just try
> to be nicer about it, and not to care too much when you refuse to admit
> to what you said and do a 180 while claiming you're facing the same
> direction as always.
>
> Stephen
>
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--
Marc A. Schindler
Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada -- Gateway to the Boreal Parkland
“We do not think that there is an incompatibility between words and deeds; the
worst thing is to rush into action before the consequences have been properly
debated…To think of the future and wait was merely another way of saying one was
a coward; any idea of moderation was just an attempt to disguise one’s unmanly
character; ability to understand a question from all sides meant that one was
totally unfitted for action.” – Pericles about his fellow-Athenians, as quoted by
Thucydides in “The Peloponessian Wars”
Note: This communication represents the informal personal views of the author
solely; its contents do not necessarily reflect those of the author’s employer,
nor those of any organization with which the author may be associated.
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