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Phil et. al.<BR>
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Phil wrote on 9/12/05:<BR>
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"The next time you call me a liar in public, old son, I will feel not simply <BR>
miffed, but required to seek that satisfaction required by those of us with <BR>
old roots in Idaho.<BR>
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In the mean time, I will gather the requested information so that perhaps <BR>
the truth will indeed set you free and then I will expect an apology in <BR>
full from you at that time."<BR>
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OK.<BR>
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I apologize to Phil. But not for calling him "a liar." I never stated this.<BR>
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The following is what I stated:<BR>
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Ted wrote on 9/11/05:<BR>
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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.<BR>
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And again on 9/11/05 I wrote regarding some of Phil's comments:<BR>
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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?<BR>
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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.<BR>
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Again, bending facts and presenting falsehoods does not make someone "a liar," unless this is done deliberately and self consciously to deceive others.<BR>
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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.<BR>
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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. <BR>
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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.<BR>
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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?<BR>
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"The next time you call me a liar in public, old son, I will feel not simply <BR>
miffed, but required to seek that satisfaction required by those of us with <BR>
old roots in Idaho."<BR>
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Ted Moffett</FONT></HTML>