[Vision2020] Parting shots

[Walter Smith]

First, I want to again say thank you to those willing to participate in this
forum, and for the welcome I have received from most, despite the "drive-by
posting" nature of my own recent semi-participation. Your taking part in
this forum, despite the personal dangers, is courageous and demonstrates
that there may still be hope for democracy. Thank you Debi, in particular,
for staying with it, even after facing the indignities some on here are
willing to hurl your way. Despite this, I do not believe I will actively
participate, for a number of reasons. I do not feel comfortable posting here
under my own name (nor do I believe it would be appropriate for me to do so,
at this time), but I dislike anonymous bomb-throwing. My reason for posting
here in the first place was anger, anger in particular at the recent
treatment afforded Mr. Johnson and Mr. Butler. In all truth, the only
reaction I have to much of what takes place on vision2020 is anger, and
anger is not something I need to promote in myself. It isn't good for my
blood pressure, nor for my soul. I may from time to time reply on here
again, probably as some new Moscow-special-powder-keg blows up once more.

I was going to post some of the more offensive responses to my initial joke
as a sort of skin-thickness test; but decided not to, based in part on the
fact that the authors did not decide to make them public themselves, and
that while I would get some visceral pleasure watching the reactions, no
real purpose would be served. I also avoid it, because while intended as a
jab at over-sensitivity, I am about to display my own (perhaps over-)
sensitivity on a particular matter, and the irony would simply be too much.

On to that sensitivity...

Mr. Simpson would like to know what exactly he said that I find "disgusting
and un-American", and so I will respond to him here, once only. In truth, I
mis-used the term "un-American," as there is really little that is more
American than arguing politics, particularly with the vehemence Mr. Simpson
demonstrates. What I meant by it is that his posts generally argue a
position I find diametrically opposed to the true greatness of our American
way. He consistently supports an administration that is undermining our
basic freedoms, exemplified by the recent loss of habeas corpus, although
there are many other examples. He supports the authoritarian imposition by
government force of his own personal beliefs, such as denying women the
right to make their own reproductive choices, denying due process to those
accused of terrorism, and denying homosexuals the basic human dignity of
marriage. He also seems to enjoy employing a favorite tactic of the
white-supremacist, that being the tactic of attempting to redefine racial
epitaphs. Tony says "raghead" only applies to terrorists, he has no problem
with Arabs (while also being willfully ignorant of fact that his term
actually targets entirely different groups); The vile hal turner says
"nigger" only applies to gang-bangers, he has no problem with blacks; "spic"
only applies to illegal immigrants, he has no problem with Mexicans; Yeah,
right... More sick fantasies please. These are the things I find
"un-American." While I would not attempt to stop them from saying what they
will, their words do cost them my respect.

Any right you would deprive others of without due process, is a right you
yourself do not deserve. This is the same basic problem I have with what J
Ford has been saying of late.

As for what amongst Mr. Simpson's comments I find "disgusting", above and
beyond what I have already said, and the fundamental reason I have little to
no respect for the man: There is really only one thing, that being Mr.
Simpson's comparison of Prof. Gier to mengele. I tend to agree with Godwin,
that anytime a comparison to nazis is made, there is no longer any hope of a
rational conversation. I do understand that in the heat of argument,
inappropriate things will be said, and can certainly be forgiven, even
something so base as a nazi comparison, even something so evil as a
comparison to mengele. But Mr. Simpson did not seek forgiveness after
cooling down, nor did he even recognize the evil he had committed (and yes,
I do consider saying what he said to be an act of evil,) rather he decided
to stand by his guns and reiterate his vile comparison. The things the nazis
did are near always beyond compare, we have thankfully not seen the like for
over half a century, and hopefully never will again (current events,
particularly the actions of our current "leaders", do give me pause,
however.) But the things mengele did go far beyond even typical nazi filth,
he was one of the greatest evils this world has ever faced, and in my
opinion far worse even than hitler himself. Short of the actual re-creation
of his atrocities (may that such a thing never comes to pass,) nothing can
compare. Any comparison to anything in our modern world is inappropriate,
only diminishes our collective memory, and serves to legitimize mengele's
deeds. Comparisons to serial killers, to terrorists, to dictators, to
rapists, or to anything else, can only weaken our understanding and our
rage. To make such a comparison to a person who simply supports a woman's
right to make her own choices (even if one were to consider such a thing
murder,) is beyond disgusting. Nick is not kidnapping women and vivisecting
them in the name of science, nor is he even performing abortions, he is
simply pro-choice. Mr. Simpson's words in actuality say nothing about Prof.
Gier, but they do show grave disrespect to those who were tortured and died
at mengele's hands, insult those who laid down their own lives to stop him,
risk legitimizing his crimes (thus putting all our descendants futures at
risk,) and reveal Mr. Simpson himself as a degenerate.

Sincerely, and at least for now, finally,
Anon
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