Arguments for ground war - forget it

[Brad DeLong]

>Brad DeLong:
>>  Ah, but things aren't polite and abstract, are they? The view that
>>  the U.S. has no "legitimate" steps to take to prevent the next
>>  Al-Qaeda atrocity is hardly polite. And it is certainly not abstract.
>>  I was on a panel at a conference last month. Gene Steuerle was there.
>>  His wife was on the Pentagon plane...
>
>First I wrote:
>
>   You're forgetting where I live and work.  I may have
>   more victim cred than you.
>
>   I recall some family parties with my in-laws long ago where
>   there was an older man who was literally a loud, raving
>   racist.  It was explained to me that his unfortunate habits
>   of mind and expression were justified because his daughter
>   had been raped by a Negro, and nothing could or should be done
>   to rebuke him.  I guess if you follow the logic, an innocent
>   Negro who happened to be present would be required to push
>   Mr. Grieving Dad into the pool -- civility must be discarded
>   when anything important is at stake.
>
>   Well, see?  I've discarded civility, a little; I tainted you
>   by association with a loud, raving racist, even though you're
>   most likely not a loud, raving racist.  Is that the kind of
>   game you want to play?...
>
>
>-- Gordon

It's the game you're playing. That tells the rest of us a good deal about you.

Brad DeLong