Flame — HabitableZone

Flame » in reply to re: Nothing cute about it.

How many "typical academics" do you actually know?
Mary Anne — (archived)

I mean, to talk to, not just to read about in blogs?

I can't think of a single one of my many associates who think that the Soviet Union was a toothless bear. On the other hand, I don't know that many people who think that Reagan belongs on Mount Rushmore, either, but that's because he doesn't. He aided and abetted the dissolution of the Soviet Union -- which was already on its way to collapse, we now know, because of economic and social reasons, and as a result of decades of unrelenting pressure by the West -- by using what had been our most potent weapon: money. He spent them to death.

You want me to describe a "typical engineer" using the geek image promoted in the popular media? It's the same type of thing.

The point here is not that those who describe themselves as our enemies (and who, yes, prove their self-identification with their actions) are only misunderstood friends. The point is that, in order not to become like them, we must not allow their actions to drive our actions, and we must not redefine our character to conform (inadvertently) with their descriptions of us. We are currently doing this. We're better than that, and need to cut it out.

If you want some interesting opinions on the Palestinians, I suggest you listen to some of the debate going on in Israel. The Palestinians have been treated badly, for over half a century. They have behaved badly, too. If someone shoots your brother, does that entitle you to starve his family? Do you get an allowance for hurting others if someone else has hurt your family in the past? How long does it take to set a new pattern in the face of half a century of mutual brutality? If you think this is only a leftist concern, spend more time in church.

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