Subject:
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Re: Preaching to the Choir
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Sun, 8 Aug 2004 13:34:47 GMT
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Viewed:
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1510 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, John Neal wrote:
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Chris Phillips wrote:
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I’ve noticed that o-t.d seems to be populated largely by people who will
never change their minds about the issues being discussed. There are a lot
of us on the left who seem to be pounding the same arguments into the ground
against a small conservative fringe on the right, who rarely seem to back up
their arguments with fact.
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Well, I doubt I’m in the choir to which you are referring in your subject
line; you probably have me in mind when speaking about the “small
conservative fringe on the right” (BTW, what does that mean, exactly?). So
let me tell you about my particular participation here.
First, I don’t try and change someone’s mind or opinion. I’d much rather
clarify positions. I have been on the Left, so I am pretty familiar with the
mindset, and thus there really isn’t any amount of “pounding” that would
ever change that.
Secondly, the time I have to spend here is sporatic at best. I would love to
be able to make a dedicated effort to engage in this NG on a regular basis,
but my life/workstyle just doesn’t allow it, which is too bad (for me).
There have been many times where I have so wanted to respond in a complete
manner in particular threads, but time just didn’t allow it. It is
unfortunate for me, because I value many opinions offered here, though I may
not share them.
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Most everyone else seems to stay out of the fray, probably
never even reading our diatribes.
It recently occurred to me (when someone told me to “get a life” instead of
whining about bley) that it would be more productive for us to spread out,
find some conservative blogs, and start injecting common sense into the
one-sided discussions that happen there. I recently found one such blog
that seems to be run by a relatively open-minded person whose politics I
happen to disagree with. I have spent a lot of time over the past two weeks
rocking the boat there, not letting the crowd that hangs out there get away
with the typical hypocrisy that seems to dominate “debate” on the right. It
has been quite a satisfying experience, and I feel that I am accomplishing
something by providing a counterpoint to the pro-insanity agenda being
preached.
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Now you are sounding like some sort of crusader, which is fine I suppose, but
not exactly the kind of attitude I think is mutually beneficial to either
side. (BTW, review your language in the previous paragraphs describing the
right. You sound about as closed-minded as you seem to believe they are)
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Anyone who has read my LUGNET posts has seen countless occasions where I have
retracted my own statements and/or evolved my opinion about one topic or
another. And unlike George Bush, I try to never make a statement without
backing it up with fact. If a subsequent post calls my opinion into question, I
clarify what I have said.
I am not sure that you could say the same thing. (How many words have you
personally expended claiming that same-sex marriage will destroy the institution
without any backup other than endless sidetracking about whether our society is
or is not founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs?) I have seen many examples where
the conservative voices on this board make unsubstantiated arguments and then
shift the subject in apparent attempts to dodge calls for proof. I hate
generalizations as much as the next guy, but I’ve seen it happen quite a few
times.
Furthermore, I believe that o-t.d is a place where a number of articulate,
well-informed voices congregate to run in circles with one another. I fear that
this board has become a tarpit that expends all of our energies where they have
the least possible effect. Hence my call to everyone here to take the message
and the honest debating style out beyond our insular community.
John, I encourage you to do the same. Vigorous debate is the foundation of a
democratic society, and all voices should be heard.
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I still read LUGNET, and I don’t mean to suggest that anyone should stop
posting here, but this is an important time for us to get the good word out
beyond our small sphere.
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What is that “good word”? Are you talking about Liberalism in general?
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I have spent a lot of time over the past four years examining the
neo-conservative takeover of the US government. I am terrorized by the
deception and scare tactics that have been used as excuses to erode personal
liberties and to ignore international law. If Bush/Cheney take the election in
November, I’d move to Canada except they’ll likely invade there next. There has
never been a more important time for people to engage in enlightened debate
about the direction our country is taking.
The “good word” to which I refer is the Truth. The Truth which the Bush/Cheney
administration seem to hold in contempt, and which the American People deserve
to hear. The only way to find Truth is to shine a light into dark corners,
wherever they might be found. We’ve shone a lot of light (and thrown a lot of
heat) here, so perhaps it is time to take that light out from underneath the
bushel, as it were.
- Chris.
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Preaching to the Choir
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| In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Chris Phillips wrote: (snip) (...) This only indicates that you hadn't considered all of the ramifications of a particular issue. Most of the issues I argue I have examined to the Nth degree; my only hope here is to (...) (20 years ago, 8-Aug-04, to lugnet.off-topic.debate, FTX)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Preaching to the Choir
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| (...) Well, I doubt I'm in the choir to which you are referring in your subject line; you probably have me in mind when speaking about the "small conservative fringe on the right" (BTW, what does that mean, exactly?). So let me tell you about my (...) (20 years ago, 8-Aug-04, to lugnet.off-topic.debate, FTX)
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