Xref: utzoo sci.space.shuttle:2068 talk.politics.misc:18060
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!twltims
From: twltims@watmath.waterloo.edu (Tracy Tims)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle,talk.politics.misc
Subject: Re: Internationalist posturings.
Summary: Response to Steve Ryan's posting of private mail.
Message-ID: <22411@watmath.waterloo.edu>
Date: 26 Nov 88 17:52:32 GMT
References: <1969@garth.UUCP>
Reply-To: twltims@watmath.waterloo.edu (Tracy Tims)
Distribution: na
Organization: U. of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 41

I hate it when undersocialized kids get access to the net.  Please read this
carefully, Steve, and have your mom or dad explain the difficult words to you:

	1)  Please don't post private mail to the network, unless you have
	    been given permission.  This is called "courtesy".  Courtesy is
	    something that lets people of differing values and opinions to
	    communicate with each other without ripping each other's lungs
	    out.

	2)  It's OK for you to be American.  It really is.  You don't need
	    to feel so defensive about it.  One day you will find a sense of
	    inner confidence within yourself that will let you accept the
	    differences of others.  Trust me.

	3)  When you respond to comments made by other people, your response
	    will have greater effect if you address the issue.  My comment
	    contained two major points:

		1)  There are countries in the world who have a similar levels
		    of freedom to the U.S..  The people who live in them are
		    pretty comfortable and are not looking to the U.S. to
		    provide a shining example.  This doesn't mean we don't
		    like you.  See point 2 above.

	    	2)  The implicit statement you made concerning the superiority
	 	    of the American system in ensuring freedom of speech is
		    perceived by some people as an example of typical American
		    ideological arrogance.  An unfortunate perception, but true
		    nevertheless, and one that us big people have to deal with
		    in a productive way.

	    Now while your response was sort of clever, it didn't really say
	    anything about my comments.  I think that now is a good time for
	    you to start practicing reason and discourse.  If you don't start
	    now, you might never be able to.  (Sort of like crossing your eyes
	    and getting them stuck.)

Good luck with this, Steve, and I hope Santa brings you something nice for
Christmas!

Tracy Tims