Re: Eliot Spitzer, antismoking leader, self-destructs

"Judson McClendon" <judmc@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
news:X0DEj.23901$dT.19269@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> "Pete Dashwood" <dashwood@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>> "Judson McClendon" <judmc@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>> "Pete Dashwood" <dashwood@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>>> "Judson McClendon" <judmc@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>>>> "SkippyPB" <swiegand@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>>>>> "Judson McClendon" <judmc@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>>>>>>"Howard Brazee" <howard@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>>>>>>> "Judson McClendon" <judmc@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
Most of this response was so lame I see no point in commenting on it, so I

just snipped it instead. Masochists can consult the thread if they want to

see the crazy non-sequiturs, unsupported inferences, and plain stupidity 
that passes for sparkling repartee in your mind.

However, there are a few things which you ascribe to me that are so far
off 
the beam I guess I SHOULD make SOME comment:
>
> No, let's do as you spparently want, let the world self-destruct

Having respect for the rights of others and not interfering in their
lives, 
is NOT letting "the world self-destruct", even though you see it as 
"hogwash". Resolving differences by dialogue rather than force, may be the

only chance we have to PREVENT the world from destructing, especially as 
more small states acquire nuclear weapons.

>while
> philosophizing and telling ourselves that "people are inherently good."

I defined what I meant by "good" but you conveniently ignored that and 
decided to just misquote what was actually said, out of context, and throw

it in as part of NATO policy on Kosovo...  nice going.

This approach is every bit as justifiable, on the observable evidence, as 
your bleak alternative, based on a 3500 year old superstition, of people 
being born in sin and therefore inherently evil. As people tend to live up

to the labels applied to them, the outcomes from my philosophy are 
infinitely better than the outcomes from yours...

> Europe tried that in the provinces of former Yugoslovia.

You know nothing about what happened in the former Yugoslavia. (I was
there 
during some of it...). I can assure you it had nothing to do with my 
philosophy. There is a big difference between invading a state to protect 
your interests (like oil wells..), and invading a state because the 
legitimate government has requested your assistance to prevent a genocide.

The shameful thing in that particular instance is that outside
interference 
took so long to arrive. (If they'd had oil, it would've been much
faster...)

>Worked well,
> didn't it?

Much better than the solution in Iraq is working. Life is returning to 
normal and it hasn't required long term occupation by foreign forces.

>
> You apparently do not realize the limitations of human understanding.
>

Perhaps...  But I believe I may have insight into the limitations of YOUR 
understanding...:-)

Pete.
-- 
"I used to write COBOL...now I can do anything."