[lit-ideas] Re: The Leftist Claim

Without getting into specifics of Iraq war and its opposition, in general the 
idea that people opposing something must by association  in opposition  share 
some other beliefs is so absurd Podhoretz's editor ought to be publicly flogged 
for it. Even people pro something tend to have a wide range of agendas.

Let's take a less charged issue as an example. Where I live, there is a debate 
whether a car tunnel should be dug under the city of Helsinki. Some opponents 
do not want it, because it encourages and increases private car usage, some 
simply balk at the cost, others point out that the same amount of money could 
be used to improve public transportation, then there are those who want it used 
for other  roads,  people living near proposed tunnel exits fear increased 
traffice,  etc. And this is an extremely simple issue compared to a war.


Cheers,
Teemu
Helsinki, Finland

----- Original Message ----
From: Lawrence Helm <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Lit-Ideas <Lit-Ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 8:03:45 PM
Subject: [lit-ideas] The Leftist Claim



 

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Of course Leftists, including Lit-Ideas Leftists, wouldn't portray 
themselves as Podhoretz and Cohen have done.  Podhoretz address this on 
page 100:

 

"Of course, the claim was that most such people were neither pro-Saddam nor 
anti-American: all they wanted was to 'give peace a chance.'  But this 
claim was belied by the slogans, the body language, the speeches, and the 
manifestos of the 'peace' party.  Though hatred of America may not have 
been universal among opponents of American military action, it was obviously 
very widespread and very deep.  And though other considerations (pacifist 
sentiment, concern about civilian casualties, contempt for George W. Bush, 
faith 
in the UN, etc.) were at work, these factors had no trouble coexisting 
harmoniously with extreme hostility to the United States."

 

Lawrence

 






       
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