RE: Am I dishonest? (was RE: How best to spend US$200 billion?)

From: matus@matus1976.com
Date: Sun Jun 15 2003 - 14:47:40 MDT

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    Spike said:

    Matus asked:
    <<Does anyone else on the list feel that the current communist vietnamese
    government is a legitamate one? Note I will not be attacking those who
    express this opinion, I am just curious how prevealent this opinion is on
    this list. Samantha, do YOU feel the current communist government of
    Vietnam is a legitimate one? Does anyone on this list (besides Jeff) feel
    as much?>>

    "They are "legitimate" in the sense of the fact that ARVN did not want to
    fight. Now, are they the kind of government, I would wish on a dog, hell no!
    But just like Iran and Iraq, there was something in the people that
    tolerated these types of governments, promoted them, allowed them to take
    their sons in the military and security forces, and that their sons
    voluntarily oppress the rest. Easy for me to say, yet the lack of
    counter-revolution is evident. I am assuming that the current anti-Mullah
    fever will soon be swept away in Iran."

    More South Vietnamese soldiers died fighting north Vietnam then French
    soldiers died fighting Hitler, it is a popular myth the people of the south
    did not fight the communist north invaders. I think the clearest indicator
    of that myth is the fact that 1 million people took off in boats into the
    south china sea instead of face the communist 'paradise' that awaited them.
    If they were motivated enough to leave their entire lives behind to face
    near certain death at sea instead of face communist enslavement and forced
    peasantry, its seems reasonable that they were also motivated enough to
    fight before the soviet backed communist victory.

    In either case, do I take your answer to be 'No, the Vietnamese govt is NOT
    legit'

    <<Secondly, Jeff makes various assertions about my debating abilities,
    including claiming that many of my 'facts' are inventions of my idealogy, I
    am dishonest and insulting, incoherent, I am not qualified to discuss
    political topics, undisciplined, lack effort..>>

    "Look, when people whine about debating methods, its just so much empty
    writing that is better ignored, rather then addressed. Them's that dishes it
    out, must also taketh - Book of Yog Sothoth, Chapter 6, verse 211 Now let
    us all prey!"

    I agree with you for the most part, however Jeff's comments seemed to be
    very sincere on his part, which Is why I would value the opinion of other
    extropes on this question. Since we rarely partake in debate (if ever) do I
    take your answer to be that you disagree in general with Jeff's description
    of my extropian mailing list qualities?

    Regards,

    Michael Dickey



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