[Vision2020] I Did Not Call Phil "A Liar"

[Tbertruss at aol.com]

Phil et. al.

Phil wrote on 9/12/05:

"The next time you call me a liar in public, old son, I will feel not simply 
miffed, but required to seek that satisfaction required by those of us with 
old roots in Idaho.

In the mean time, I will gather the requested information so that perhaps 
the truth will indeed set you free and then I will expect an apology in 
full from you at that time."
--------------------------------------

OK.

I apologize to Phil.  But not for calling him "a liar."  I never stated this.

The following is what I stated:

Ted wrote on 9/11/05:

Phil clearly demonstrates he is bending statements of facts, or not bothering 
to check his facts, to suit his agenda in his comments on Louisiana Governor 
Blanco's conduct regarding the Louisiana National Guard and response to 
Katrina, and the possible impact of the absence of Louisiana National Guard 
resources in Iraq.

And again on 9/11/05 I wrote regarding some of Phil's comments:

After some of the falsehoods you presented to this list regarding the 
Hurricane Katrina preparation, rescue and aid effort, perhaps you can pardon my 
skepticism?
------------------------

We all have tendencies to misstate or bend facts to suit our bias, and 
sometimes people just make mistakes because we are flawed humans.   Just because 
someone misstates facts or "bends" them to suit their bias does not make someone 
a self conscious liar.  I have posted misstatements of facts numerous times to 
Vision2020, and sometimes I have corrected these mistakes, other times not.  
But I do not think these errors render my Vision2020 posts in these examples 
expressions of "lying" on my part.  And I appreciate others pointing out my 
mistakes, though it may bruise my ego, because I am interested in the truth 
beyond personal bias as far as this sort of truth is possible.

Again, bending facts and presenting falsehoods does not make someone "a 
liar," unless this is done deliberately and self consciously to deceive others.

If every time I uttered a falsehood I was declared "a liar," I would be lying 
every day of the week, because at one time or another every day I make a 
mistaken statement or bend a fact in some way that I later realize was in error, 
even to a small degree, when I contemplate what I stated.

Everyone presenting information to Vision2020 should expect to have that 
information challenged.  And everyone should have the humility to admit mistakes 
when they make them, or at least admit the possibility that their overall point 
of view on one issue may be in error to some degree.  

This self correcting mechanism of questioning of fact and theory from 
numerous points of view is one of the benefits of an open list serve.  In theory this 
helps all of us come closer to a balanced view of issues under discussion.

I trust this comment below from you, Phil, was spoken without due 
consideration of the full implications, or should I inform law enforcement that you are 
making veiled threats?

"The next time you call me a liar in public, old son, I will feel not simply 
miffed, but required to seek that satisfaction required by those of us with 
old roots in Idaho."

Ted Moffett
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