[thechat] protests?
Madhu Menon
webguru at vsnl.net
Mon Mar 24 05:46:47 CST 2003
At 04:55 PM 24-03-03, Drew Shiel wrote:
> If it's allowed for one side, it MUST be allowed for the other ... Or
> am I missing something here?
Yes.
The world doesn't work that way. If I kill your [relative], you don't get
an automatic right to kill my [relative]. The law doesn't accept that as a
defence. Protesting against something by doing exactly what you accuse the
other side of doing isn't terribly intelligent. There are some trade-offs
you make in a democracy. You don't approve of Bush's actions? Vote him out
in the next election. Until then, he remains the elected leader of the
nation, even if the system that elected him sucks. That democratic system
gives him more power than you. (Fix the system too, btw.)
I don't support Bush, just for the record. But you can be damn sure that if
I were to miss an important sales meeting or my son's school play or my
grandfather's funeral because of some protestors *intentionally* screwing
up things, my thoughts will be "the fucking bastards screwed up my life"
(to put it mildly), not "hmmm... they have a point".
Preaching concern for the lives of people in Iraq by showing no concern for
those in your own neighbourhood isn't a great strategy. How are you any
different from Bush and co.? And if you are no different (which you might
be thinking on arguing), why should I listen to you instead of Bush?
>If Bush & Co. stop dropping bombs, then I'm sure the protests and traffic
>stoppages will stop too.
Just like Greenpeace and PETA would stop if... [insert condition]
Doesn't mean I support them.
> No, you don't. Which is kind of sad, really. It'd be a more honourable
> way of life...
Probably not, because the world is full of nuts. When someone brings up
"Jewish conspiracy" or "the aliens are landing" or "John Edward
communicates with the dead", I'm so glad I don't have to listen.
Regards,
Madhu
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Madhu Menon
Internet User Experience Consultant
e-mail: webguru at vsnl.net | Yahoo messenger: cold_logic
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