Posted by Dr. Bob on April 7, 2003, at 10:57:11
In reply to Re: please be civil? » Dr. Bob, posted by OddipusRex on April 7, 2003, at 6:03:04
> > > > Here's a paradox: Terrorists in our society are supposedly evil. The definition of a terrorist is a person who plots to kill an innocent civilian. Yet our allied forces conspire to kill the same number of `enemy' human beings who died in the World Trade Towers.
> > > > Our allied forces are not terrorists?
> > > > http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030401/msgs/216284.html
> > >
> > > Just don't tell me our troops are evil and mindless and that one American life isn't worth saving.
> > > http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030401/msgs/216663.html
> >
> > Did someone say our troops are evil and mindless and an American life isn't worth saving?
> > http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030401/msgs/216892.html
>
> I don't think [the first] statement was sensitive to the feelings of others. It was also logically flawed. I would call it an overgeneralization. It equates innocent civilians with enemy human beings.It's hard to discuss something controversial and still be sensitive to the feelings of others, and isn't always easy to know where to draw the line. I know I'm not perfect, but I'm doing my best to be fair and to do what I think will be good for this community as a whole.
Logically flawed is one thing, uncivil is another.
IMO, it doesn't "equate" innocent civilians with enemy human beings, or terrorists and allied forces, it suggests (note the question mark) parallels.
> I don't think there is any factual support for her claim that there is a "conspiracy" to kill a particular number of enemy .
I think "conspire" may have been used in the sense of "to act in harmony toward a common end":
http://m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?conspire
Hoping we can get along with each other,
Bob
poster:Dr. Bob
thread:216901
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20030404/msgs/216970.html