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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!masscomp!trb
From: trb@masscomp.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Sephardim - Ashkenazim
Message-ID: <253@masscomp.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 4-May-84 00:49:19 EDT
Article-I.D.: masscomp.253
Posted: Fri May  4 00:49:19 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 4-May-84 06:43:53 EDT
References: <972@hou5e.UUCP>
Organization: MASSCOMP, Littleton, MA
Lines: 54

I now have something to get off my chest, I don't like the cheap shots
Ellen Bart took at your friend and mine, Yehoyaqim Shemtob Martillo.

She says that he shouldn't be taken as an authority, and I don't
recall that anyone claimed he should be.  To make such a statement is
only to sling mud at him.  She then says that she disagrees with him -
"not so much ... his facts ... but his interpretation ... and
philosophy."  Is he not entitled to his opinion?  Is he not entitled to
share it?  Would your rather have him give us your opinion?  She says
"his interpretation ... and philosophy ... is decidedly warped."
Using the passive voice (WHO DECIDED?) is really low class here, she
didn't even have the guts to say that she decided.

Then she says:

	I post this mainly as a way of saying  HEY NETLAND not everyone (and I
	almost want to say no one...) agrees with what Mr. Martillo is saying.

Ellen, why not just say "I don't agree with what Martillo is saying?" I
can respect that.  I don't agree with (many of) Martillo's opinions.
So what? What if hardly anyone agrees with what he says?  What if no
one does?  Should we have a rule that you have to be seconded before
you can present an opinion?  I hereby offer a standing second for
Martillo.

Ellen concludes with:

	It pains me to see a fellow Jew informing the world of much
	that is nonsense.

Gee, I find that Martillo is quite lucid.  Hardly nonsensible.
Disagreeable maybe, nonsense, no.

It pains me to see a fellow Jew taking unsubstantiated shots at
another.  Ellen, if you want me to believe that much of what Martillo says
is nonsense, then show us that with lucid examples.

I'll say this for the second time in 24 hours (see my note in
net.motss): when one person calls another person an asshole, that is
the act and responsibility of the caller, not the callee.  Ellen, the
burden of proof is on you, and you've already lost points in my book
for having taken shots at Martillo without evidence in hand.

I'd prefer to see discussion of Jewish issues in this group, but
I find that people taking potshots at Martillo is far more offensive
that people making fun of gays or women or Jews in general.  (Certainly
far more offensive than Martillo's odd viewpoint.)  For one thing,
Martillo is an individual, and second, people with common sense in
today's society know that it's a "bad thing" to belittle women or gays
or other popular minorities.  On the other hand, it seems to be ok to
sling mud at people you disagree with, especially if you're in the
company of people who share your viewpoint.  Feh.

	Andy Tannenbaum   Masscomp Inc  Westford MA   (617) 692-6200 x274