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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!eagle!allegra!alice!rabbit!jj
From: jj@rabbit.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Sure it's ... <Defination of * wing>
Message-ID: <1929@rabbit.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 14-Sep-83 13:26:13 EDT
Article-I.D.: rabbit.1929
Posted: Wed Sep 14 13:26:13 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 15-Sep-83 00:43:10 EDT
References: <2810@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Murray Hill
Lines: 45

Right Wing-- Popular defination:
	An epithet referring to anything that is opposed to the 
personal philosophy or personal aspirations of the writer, regardless 
of philosophical intent.

Left Wing-- Falwell defination:
	Anything proposed by a person who uses the words
"right wing".  Also often used as an epithet.

The correct wing--Popular misconception:
	Anything referred to as left wing, regardless of
value--Ted Kennedy
	Anything not referred to as "right wing", regardless of
value-- Alan Cranston
	Anything not referred to as "left wing", regardless of
value--Ronald Reagan
	Anything referred to as "right wing", regardless of
value-- Jerr(k)y Falwell
	Anything that will help pay for college and keep him/her 
out of the army--Joe College  (I've been there myself.)


I don't think philosophy has anything to do with the common
person's definations of right and left wing.  

Both terms have been used in a perjorative sense for so long that
they no longer seem to carry any meaning, other than to inform
the reader of the writer's (usually unsubstantiated) opinions.

Both right and left wingers should notice that there is no place
on this scale for Ayn Rand's ideas.  The idea that left wingers are
altruistic and right wingers are selfish is bull promoted by the
currently popular left wing.  The view that left wingers want
to live off the fat of the productive people is likewise bull
promoted by right wingers.  

As far as I can see, selfishness (both foolish and enlightened)
and altruism know no political bounds.  

This discussion has gone on long enough in net.flame for the flames
to die out.  Does anyone else want to suggest a good, emotionally
loaded new topic for argument?

Support Personal Responsibility!
rabbit!<yawn>jj