[lit-ideas] Re: SUNDAY POEM
- From: "Lawrence Helm" <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2006 18:37:10 -0700
Irene,
I don't think you are Jack Sprat.
As to the subject I get most upset with you about, let me say that I am
regularly considering a number of different points of view. My mind isn't
made up about what we ought to do in the Middle East or in regard to
Militant Islam. I am still reading books that say the threat isn't as
serious as some say it is, for example Olivier Roy's Globalized Islam. He
didn't convince me that the hostility against the West and the Infidel was
any less, but he did convince me that the Sayyid Qutb idea of a unified
ummah, a worst-case scenario as far as we are concerned, is never going to
happen.
I don't have a vested interest in Liberal-Democracy being exported to Iraq.
I can sympathize with Bush's wanting to do that. It is very Wilsonian of
him, but I see that elsewhere in the world nations are fragmenting into
their component parts and that may occur in Iraq as well.
I see our efforts as succeeding from a strategic standpoint. Before 9/11
there were several nations that posed a strategic threat to our interests in
the region. Now there is only one. The squabbling going on in Iraq is a
nuisance, but not a strategic or even a very serious tactical threat. At
some point the Iraqi government is going to be able to say, "We've got the
military force to handle things," and we can leave
Or, Iraq will proceed to a Civil war. In which case the Kurds will be our
best Middle Eastern allies after Israel and they can avoid being embroiled
in the Civil War. They can declare their independence. The Shiites will be
able to control the rest of the nation and the Sunnis will be lucky to hang
onto anything. They will be reaping the harvest of the insurgency they've
been sowing; which will be interesting. But from a strategic standpoint,
whatever happens will not move Iraq into the category of a nation that
threatens us.
I seek out the best publications to keep me informed about these matters so
I get on your case, and Andreas', when you don't know these things but
instead indicate that you believe really bizarre things about the US and
about matters in the Middle East. I am considering, as I said, a number of
different points of view, but not the bizarre, and not conspiracy theories.
I recently jumped on you only after you had been presenting some of your
bizarre Leftist views in several notes with no one countering you. I felt I
could let this go on only so long, but I'd really rather not debate Leftists
views. There are so many really interesting things I'd rather talk about.
I had high hopes for Jack Sprat, but alas . . .
Lawrence, feeling temporarily benign
-----Original Message-----
From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Andy Amago
Sent: Monday, September 04, 2006 5:00 PM
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: SUNDAY POEM
Oh my flagging spirit needed that. I'm sure they're always thinking of me.
Hmm, let's see, is this tomato rotten enough for her? No, this one is
squshier. Perfect. Yeah, they're always thinking of me. I wish they'd
stop thinking about me. Okay, Stan, since your kindness is so unexpected,
I'll give it another shot. I honestly was going to throw in the towel.
> [Original Message]
> From: Stan Spiegel <writeforu2@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: 9/4/2006 7:46:04 PM
> Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: SUNDAY POEM
>
> >No matter what I say, I get attacked. Mike, Carol, you, >Phil, Robert
> >Paul. I'm really tired of this. Now this crap >from Eric. M.A. Stone
was
> >me, Cassidy Dann was >me. Now Jack Spratt is me. Maybe that's your
> > >punishment for being evil. Every time some unfortunate >comes on the
> >list, accuse him of being me.
>
> Irene -
> Frankly, I think you should feel honored. People think of you all the
time.
> You're an important part of this listserv. Stop kvetching. Your sense of
> humor is needed now. Use it.
>
> Stan Spiegel
> Portland, ME
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Andy Amago" <aamago@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: "lit-ideas" <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, September 04, 2006 6:44 PM
> Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: SUNDAY POEM
>
>
> >> [Original Message]
> >> From: Paul Stone <pas@xxxxxxxx>
> >> To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> Date: 9/4/2006 4:02:54 PM
> >> Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: SUNDAY POEM
> >>
> >> At 10:21 PM 9/3/2006, you wrote:
> >> >Erin -- silly girl -- would like this. Too bad she's not around to
> >> >give a cheer or two! Your German's over my head, you know. It was
> >> >hard enough to learn what "sitzfleisch" means,
> >>
> >> Isn't that what Phil accused Irene of being?
> >>
> >
> >
> > No matter what I say, I get attacked. Mike, Carol, you, Phil, Robert
> > Paul.
> > I'm really tired of this. Now this crap from Eric. M.A. Stone was me,
> > Cassidy Dann was me. Now Jack Spratt is me. Maybe that's your
punishment
> > for being evil. Every time some unfortunate comes on the list, accuse
him
> > of being me.
> >
> >
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