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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!alice!jj
From: jj@alice.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.flame
Subject: Re: On forgetting and forgiving
Message-ID: <3686@alice.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 2-May-85 16:19:01 EDT
Article-I.D.: alice.3686
Posted: Thu May  2 16:19:01 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 3-May-85 05:18:22 EDT
References: <1432@cornell.UUCP>
Organization: New Jersey State Farm for the Terminally Bewildered
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Xref: watmath net.politics:8817 net.flame:9671


It's unfortunate that many people cannot understand
the difference betweeen forgetting and forgiving.

They two concepts are utterly unrelated, one essential
to the continuted health of the human race (forgiving), and
one pathalogically damaging to same (forgetting).

mf's article on "lest we forget" completely misses the point that
NOBODY is asking anyone to forget what happened. FORGETTING
enemity is something else, since what it REALLY means
is forGIVING those alive today who were NOT responsible, not
forgetting what happened. (I think this syntatic point is
clear to everyone, it's just that it makes nice fodder for
people who want to cry wolf and/or make unfounded allegations.

By the way, congratulations to mf for the first piece of
NON-offensive propoganda I've seen in a very long time.
I don't agree with the point, even though the examples are true,
because the point is flawed by a specious base, namely that
one is being asked to forget, rather than forgive.
Asking one to forget would be, as far as I'm concerned, 
offensive at the very least, and more likely suspect.

_______________
Aside to Ken...

I see you've made the same preemptive assumption about the
Reagan Administration as others, namely that the whole collection
of individuals is stupid.  I think that prevents you from seeing
the questions of honor and responsibility that are evident
(even though undoubtedly misguided) in the Bitburg visit.
If you do NOT assume that the administration is stupid (since
they DO disagree with you), and rather assume that people
who disagree can do so without being stupid and idiotic,
then you may find different conclusions.

______________
Note: To the anonamous person who suggested that the JDL should
bomb my house.  I thank you, my SO thanks you, etc.etc.

It's amazing, the hate mail that I've gotten from posting a letter
asking people to forgive and !not! forget.  It seems that a lot
of well known (and less well known) net personalities are
totally incapable of giving the other guy a break, after asking
for many breaks themselves.  I think those of you who deliberately
slandered me during this exchange have finally shown your true colors
as hypocrites who will take any advantage that they think
they can get away with.  In the future, I shall regard your
arguments solely as deliberately misleading sophistry, and without
any redeeming value, perhaps except as sophistic literature.
The deliberate lying in articles posted to the net by people
who defame me for no other reason than asking  them to 
help create a minimum of peace is astounding.  I guess that
while it's OK to propose war and revolution, it's absolutely
unforgivable to post a message suggesting that people should
(of their own free will), try to make the world a better place.
(Sigh, whatever happened to the 60's?)

I guess the watchword of the '80's is destruction.  I think
I want to move to another planet.

The attitudes (not the ideals, the ATTITUDES) presented in 
this newsgroup are entirely unnecessary, I guess I'm starting
to be glad that the net is collapsing under it's own weight.
Where will you rave when the net is gone, folks?
-- 
DO TEDDY BEARS HAVE OPINIONS?  ASK YOURS TODAY!
"My mind is clearer now, at last, all too well, I can see, where we all,
soon will be.."

(ihnp4/allegra)!alice!jj