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Thomas wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid457F2DAD.2070903@thomasoliver.net">
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Lee Corbin wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid018f01c71de5$ac72cef0$6801a8c0@homeef7b612677">Hi Thomas,<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid018f01c71de5$ac72cef0$6801a8c0@homeef7b612677"> Well---no, I
don't think that it is too likely<br>
that we will or can do better. We already<br>
have achieved history's highest behavior<br>
to date as a superpower. Why don't you<br>
agitate instead that our enemies "do a little<br>
(or a lot) better?" instead of always<br>
criticizing our side?</blockquote>
</blockquote>
My criticism applies to both sides.
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid457F2DAD.2070903@thomasoliver.net"><br>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid018f01c71de5$ac72cef0$6801a8c0@homeef7b612677"> "Violence is sub-human".
There you go again. You have<br>
far too exalted idea of what "human" is. Human is as human<br>
does. </blockquote>
You're probably right. Unreasoned violence is sub-human. I'm calling
for something better than purely brutal reaction. I understand that retaliation
may be considered just. I doubt that it's wise in most cases. Yes, deal
with brutes as brutes, but don't become one. I didn't have to bite my dog.
He understood when I said "no biting." You can train people to be human
when they're not being violent. It's up to the less beastly among us to
encourage improvements. I certainly don't favor them killing us off while
we try to educate them! I wouldn't even want an occupation in rehab, but
it's a better way than escalating evil for evil.<br>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid018f01c71de5$ac72cef0$6801a8c0@homeef7b612677">Humans are by far
the least violent primate---the<br>
ethologists will confirm this per thousand hours of observation<br>
---but naturally, by your standards (as compared to what?)<br>
people are unacceptably violent, and nations that are only<br>
a little violent are just as bad to you as those whose violence is<br>
thoroughgoing---or so it would appear.</blockquote>
Yeah, how about those house cats? Good thing they don't have nukes!<br>
<br>
<i>Some</i> people are unacceptably violent. Lee, it's amazing that you
know my standards when I don't. I had trouble deciding whether to shoot
the pigeons that defecate on my car but I know I would not hesitate to throttle
anyone who posed a threat to the life of a loved one. I'm very suspicious
of the idea that superior force is the only way to deal with force.
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid018f01c71de5$ac72cef0$6801a8c0@homeef7b612677"><br>
<blockquote type="cite">For example: Some said Iraq might turn out like
Viet Nam.<br>
</blockquote>
Yes, it did. Thanks in part to Rumsfeld not using<br>
enough force, and thanks to the Left that has kept<br>
pounding away just as they did during Vietnam.</blockquote>
I agree that both sides were wrong. One for pursuing immoral war and the
other for permitting it.
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid018f01c71de5$ac72cef0$6801a8c0@homeef7b612677">
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">[ . . . ]<br>
</blockquote>
Hardly pardonable when you persist with the venom. -- Thomas<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
[ <i>More "strongly put" off list statements]</i></blockquote>
[ . . . ] <br>
I think your fear of evil outweighed your respect for reason. <br>
<br>
I appreciate the challenges that encouraged me to clarify. I think the
puerile gives way to maturity in time. -- Gently, Thomas <br>
</blockquote>
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