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| quote: | Originally posted by MisterOpus1
I know what you were sayin' - no need to go into it. I won't speak for Krypton, but I think your argument holds up only to a certain degree. If you are going to hold this position, then I think you have to be logically consistent and hold that position for ALL islamofascists and ruthless dictators in the Middle East and elsewhere, and not just the Hitler-branded flavor of the month.
Does the Iranian douche deserve his outright criticism from the school President and everyone else? Damn straight he does. He comes into our land and walks on our turf, then he'd better face the fucking music that not too many people like the things that he does. But in the same token, should we not be holding ALL dictators in the same light, rather than do business with them, hold their hands as we walk side by side, and rarely bring up their names when we refer to big meanie dictators?
That's the part that gets me. Either we hold EVERYONE in the same light and the same principles, or we don't. And it's obvious that we simply do not. We decide who is the eeeeevil dictator for the short term goal, and discard the logically inconsistent as if it never existed. I'm sorry but it doesn't hold water. The truly scary thing to me is I'm becoming more and more convinced that the true neoconservatives left out there have never even bothered to examine their inconsistencies. I used to think they willfully ignored it, but nowadays I'm more convinced that they've truly convinced themselves of the doublespeak.
Finally, one quick word about the Iranian president speaking in our country on college ground. I was initially against this idea without actually examining the situation in detail. But now that I've thought about it more I think it would have been absolutely wrong of us to deny his voice. The academic institution is the pinnacle of voicing all viewpoints as well as being prepared to support those viewpoints when confronted. Our country was founded on these principles of free speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment, and though it applies to American citizens I think it would be highly hypocritical at best if we not demonstrate those same principles to others around the world, no matter how disgusting or how much we may disagree with those views. Our country was not created to quell such voices, but rather for those who hear it to decide on their own what is right or wrong (provided it doesn't incite a riot, of course).
We cannot simply decide when and where that free speech principle applies arbitrarily to those voices that we merely like most, can we? If that were the case, we wouldn't be hearing all those lovely voices from, say the KKK or even my Topeka "God Hates $%^#" Phelps neighbors. Now wouldn't that be a tragedy?
Seriously, these disgusting voices are guaranteed because the principle of free speech is not arbitrarily applied to whoever we choose. Most people can listen to the Phelps (well, try to at least) and realize within a few seconds that they are plain batshit crazy. In the same token, most folks can listen (and should listen) to the entire event yesterday, hear the Columbia U. President take the little shit to the woodshed, and see how he steadfastly refused to answer any of those critical points made against him, and come to the conclusion that the little turd is a chickenshit coward in a true spotlight.
That's a basic conclusion that is difficult for anyone to miss, and I think THAT is worth giving him a voice. And I would take that situation any day of the week versus refusing to allow him to speak because I just don't like him much. Have some faith in the people. It's what our country was founded on - hearing ALL voices and letting the people decide what's best for themselves. We simply can't take that principle away on any grounds. |
ok, sure but i'm not really talking about A-Jad or Iran. i'm talking about people like Krypton who can't see that embracing the logic and allegations of murderers is just as irrational as the reasons they give to murder his own people.
i believe we have Iran right where we want them for the moment. and barring anything ridiculously overt and stupid on their part this game will be played for several more years.
for the sake of the Greater Middle East and Israel we have to be able to keep international focus keenly on what Iran says and, more importantly, keep what they do as evident and transparent as possible.
it's the "ridiculously overt and stupid" part the next Administration will have to be fully aware of though.
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. You know Bush is the worst president of our generation. Even worse the Nixon or Carter. But you love him, and you will blindly follow him. A good president does not split his people. A good president does not start unpopular wars. That is everything Bush has done.
