28-04-2010, 10:39 PM
John Kowalski Wrote:Paul - fundamentally you seem to believe that differences of interpretation are the result of malign influences.
Fundamentally, John, er, no. But I do so admire ad homs, they're so much more interesting than stuff like evidence. Which, I have to say, you're very wise to avoid.
John Kowalski Wrote:Yes, difference of opinions are to be expected and it should not be assumed that they are the result of CIA meddling.
A generality of quite surpassing banality. I thank you for it.
John Kowalski Wrote:Some of the opinions expressed about Chomsky in this thread are reminiscent of Joseph McCarthy who saw communists everywhere.
Copyright Leslie A. Fiedler, circa 1955. Always nice to Encounter a blast from the passe.
John Kowalski Wrote:I do not believe that there is a CIA agent under every bed, and do not believe that they are influencing every opinion that I do not agree with.
Nor do I. Nor, I suspect, does any sane individual. But as a straw man, it does, I suppose, have a crass kind of utility.
John Kowalski Wrote:George Bush's "you are with us or you are against us" mentality should not be the criteria against which a writer's opinion should be evaluated. Many board member would no doubt agree with many of his views regarding US foreign policy and other issues relating to corporate power, so let's not write him off and label him just because he does not care about conspiracy theories.
Revisit the above paragraph, it makes no sense. I assume the second half refers to Chomsky, not Bush, but that's only a guess.
Paul
"There are three sorts of conspiracy: by the people who complain, by the people who write, by the people who take action. There is nothing to fear from the first group, the two others are more dangerous; but the police have to be part of all three,"
Joseph Fouche
Joseph Fouche