Re: NATO nonsense
Reply #337 –
Occasionally things get emotional because I feel genuinely insulted how dumb Americans are. But more often I take it as a wonderful opportunity to teach. I'm an old school type of teacher, with dunce hats, spanking and naughty corners in my arsenal. [underlining added]
(Okay, okay... Okay — I think I've stopped laughing now! )
Feeling embarrassed for another's gaffes is presumptuous. Feeling insulted by another's presumed shortcomings is the epitome of hubris!
I guess I've found another example of the old adage: Those who can, do. Those that can't, teach.
Kantian metaphysics aside, determining fact from fiction, fact from opinion, is a real-world skill, my friend. And the ways one can go wrong making such determinations are myriad.
The appeal to authority is the most common. (When that authority is public opinion it is still unreliable...) The more sources one can use, the better — of course. But group think is a hazard; and -you'd agree?- most of what "everybody knows" is woefully unsupported by argument and agreed-upon premises (if not actually demonstrably wrong!) to guarantee discord.
To take our recent example:
You (somehow) found the video interview conducted by that (what did you call him? ) "half naked YouTuber" and posted it... Perhaps you had a point to make? I'll not likely seek out other videos by him; but I assume his guest relayed his own impressions accurately. and I found his story interesting. (Not enlightening, because it wasn't surprising in any way.)
IIRC, you posted it right after I posted Dave Bowman's "First Strike" episode... (Although you could learn about the man himself via that internet-thingy, I'll mention that he spent most of his time in the U.S. Navy as a fire-control officer aboard a Boomer... He's not just some YouTuber.)
I take it your ire came from my observation that Fox News has a real news division. Just like, say, CNN used to have a real opinion division!
Sarah Palin said in her interview with Couric that, yes, as the governor of the U.S. state in closest proximity to Russia, she had occasion to interact with Russian officials...on trade, and other matters. (You do know, most of our presidents have been state governors?) And, yes, that was likely more experience than most state governors (or senators!) had in dealing with the Russians.
But you like the caricature so much, you'd never admit it, eh?
I honestly didn't know SDI was the source of your "moral" outrage... I didn't know you were capable of such naivety! But, live and learn. (I well remember the Soviets' first response: How dare you try to defend yourself? It was almost considered an act of war!)
It did play a part in the regime's demise. Good enough for government work, I say.
About USSR I have known since birth that it is evil. It did not require any figuring whatsoever.
Imbibed with your mother's milk, eh? But your penchant for hyperbole is legendary! I take your point though: Anyone at all familiar with the Soviet regime would find all avenues of estimation would lead to that sad conclusion.
I trust you can distinguish between the regime and the people? I never hated Ruskies, and I don't hate Russians now. I do think Putin is an unnecessary hardship — for Russia, and its neighbors.
Likewise, I don't idealize Ukraine... (We'll hear more about that, when the Republicans re-take the House of Representatives.)
BTW: If you have an infallible source, you're delusional!
A wise Commander Spock once said "Understanding is not approval..." I'd add: Disapproval is not understanding...
Another example of your bias obviating your perception and your argument:
I remember -way back when- you scoffing at the movie Independence Day, because the heroic duo hacked the Alien ships using (gasp!) a Macintosh... But, since the alien ships had coordinated their attack using Earth's radio communications signals, any computer would have done the job, provided the hacker had the requisite knowledge of the system. Jeff Goldblum's character was -according to his mother- a glorified TV repairman!