mark@uf-csv.UUCP (mark fishman [fac]) (12/04/84)
<this blank left intentionally spacey> >> In article <266@uf-csg.UUCP> mark@uf-csg.UUCP (mark fishman [fac]) writes: >> These tirades are a bit long-winded. I think it's inappropriate to >> characterize Ronald Reagan as 'homophobic.' This is just a manifestation >> and a side-effect. What he is primarily is: inimical to human life. >> The fact that he's a jerk, a bigot, a racist, a sexist and a moron is >> scarcely germane. >Noting the landslide victory (electoral votes) and large margin >(popular vote) of Ronald Reagan in the recent election, I can only >assume that US voters prefer Reagan to Mondale. If you truly believe >the crap (excuse me, very negative ideas) you state above, perhaps you >should be living in some other country. If you choose to live in the >United States, which I believe to be the most desirable country in the >world, despite her faults and shortcomings, perhaps you could talk >about substantive issues and work in a positive way to promote >alternative policies and points of view that improve life for all of >us rather than indulge in profitless mud-slinging. > >-- > Blessed Be, > jhull@spp2.UUCP Jeff Hull > trwspp!spp2!jhull@trwrb.UUCP 13817 Yukon Ave. > Hawthorne, CA 90250 Noting the landslide victory (election to the Reichstag) and immense popularity of Adolf Hitler, then I can only assume you would have counselled German malcontents to go "live in some other country." (Which mightn't have been a bad idea, actually.) The Ayatollah is (or was, at the time of his ascension) wildly popular in Iran. I'm sure you don't mean to suggest that personal popularity guarantees moral rectitude, because if you do, then the world is chock-full of genocidal thugs whom we must deem moral. Now, I don't consider Reagan a "genocidal thug," but I do think him insensitive and ill-informed, and the contrary opinion of the American voter does not *guarantee* that he isn't. Mr. Hull, I *will* apologize for my original *ad hominem* attack on Reagan, for I do think it might have been stated in a more productive way, and, if truth be told, I *did* cancel the article shortly after I'd posted it (though only in part because I thought I'd been intemperate; I was concerned also that I might inadvertently have offended some gays with their own legitimate gripes against Reagan, and if you fall into that category, then I apologize to you, as well). 'Twixt posting and cancellation, though... Now, having apologized, I must go on to say that I consider impugning the patriotism of those who disagree with you (even those who may viscerally dislike the president, and may express that dislike -- which in this democracy you find so "desirable," we are enfranchised to do) and advising them to leave the country...simply contemptible. Obviously, I hold political views that are widely disparate from yours, but I believe yours must be sincerely held, and I would never question your patriotism or tell you to "leave the country," no matter what you had said. I will mention also that I HAVE WORKED AND DO WORK "in a positive way to promote alternative policies...that improve life," that I have been active politically for fifteen years, and that I contribute substantial sums to organizations that have this goal. What basis have you for suggesting otherwise? Mr. Hull, it is easy to be intemperate on an electronic network, and I do regret my comments, but at least what mud I may have slung was directed at a public figure. I see nothing whatever "blessed" about calummniating private individuals. Mark Fishman Computer & Information Sciences University of Florida, Gainesville
mark@uf-csv.UUCP (mark fishman [fac]) (12/04/84)
<this blank left intentionally spacey> >> In article <266@uf-csg.UUCP> mark@uf-csg.UUCP (mark fishman [fac]) writes: >> These tirades are a bit long-winded. I think it's inappropriate to >> characterize Ronald Reagan as 'homophobic.' This is just a manifestation >> and a side-effect. What he is primarily is: inimical to human life. >> The fact that he's a jerk, a bigot, a racist, a sexist and a moron is >> scarcely germane. >Noting the landslide victory (electoral votes) and large margin >(popular vote) of Ronald Reagan in the recent election, I can only >assume that US voters prefer Reagan to Mondale. If you truly believe >the crap (excuse me, very negative ideas) you state above, perhaps you >should be living in some other country. If you choose to live in the >United States, which I believe to be the most desirable country in the >world, despite her faults and shortcomings, perhaps you could talk >about substantive issues and work in a positive way to promote >alternative policies and points of view that improve life for all of >us rather than indulge in profitless mud-slinging. > >-- > Blessed Be, > jhull@spp2.UUCP Jeff Hull > trwspp!spp2!jhull@trwrb.UUCP 13817 Yukon Ave. > Hawthorne, CA 90250 Noting the landslide victory (election to the Reichstag) and immense popularity of Adolf Hitler, I can only assume that German voters must have preferred him to sanity, and that you would have counselled German malcontents to go "live in some other country." (Which mightn't have been a bad idea, actually.) The Ayatollah is (or was, at the time of his ascension) wildly popular in Iran. Actually, I'm sure you don't mean to suggest that personal popularity guarantees moral rectitude, because if you do, then the world is chock-full of genocidal thugs whom we must deem moral. Now, I don't consider Reagan a "genocidal thug," but I do think him insensitive and ill-informed, and the contrary opinion of the American voter does not *guarantee* that he isn't. Mr. Hull, I *will* apologize for my *ad hominem* attack on Ronald Reagan, for, yes, I think it *might* have been stated in a more productive way, and, if truth be told, I *did* cancel that article shortly after I'd posted it (though only in part because I thought I'd been intemperate; I was concerned also that I might inadvertently have offended gays on the net, who have, Lord knows, their own legitimate gripes against Reagan, and if that's part of what irritated you, then I apologize to you, as well). 'Twixt posting and cancellation, though... Now, having apologized, I must go on to say that I consider impugning the patriotism of those who disagree with you (even those who may viscerally dislike the president, and may express that dislike -- which in this democracy you find so "desirable," we are enfranchised to do) and advising them to leave the country...simply contemptible. Obviously, I hold political views that are widely disparate from yours, but I believe yours must be sincerely held, and I would never question your patriotism or tell you to "leave the country," no matter what you had said. I will mention also that I HAVE WORKED AND DO WORK "in a positive way to promote alternative policies...that improve life," that I have been active politically for fifteen years, and that I contribute substantial sums to organizations that have this goal. What basis have you for suggesting otherwise? Mr. Hull, it is easy to be intemperate on an electronic network, and I do regret my comments -- as I regret having offended you -- but at least what mud I may have slung was directed at a public figure. I see nothing whatever "blessed" about calumniating private individuals. Mark Fishman Computer & Information Sciences University of Florida, Gainesville