<p>Just read this on another thread:</p>
<p>“So why keep changing the subject? If we’re talking about Bush, what do Clinton, Carter, et al have to do with it? Again, it’s the he did it too mentality.”</p>
<p>Interesting…it would seem that EVERYONE is very good at this tactic…not just the republicans—LOL!</p>
<p>Gee, I feel better knowing that GWB and Co. are just following “treacherous actions of Muslim extremists and their State sponsors” in their disinformation campaigns.</p>
<p>Geesh, a new low!</p>
<p>I guess that’s what separates me from the GWB supporters. I expect more out of our government. More honesty, even more taxes if that means we avoid catastrophes like NO. I think the Bush supporters will settle for less of everything: honesty, integrity, revenue/taxes etc. That sure seems to be what some of the posters here imply.</p>
<p>Okay Poetsheart, I was waiting for someone to say that. The difference-- I am asking to talk about what we do, not what others do. What our gov does is important to me, and what our present gov does is the most important. turning the story to what the Democrats did does not absolve Bush (I"m certainly no Democrat, and I frankly don’t care to defend them) and harping on what other countries do does not absolve us; we can’t control it, we can only control what we do. </p>
<p>Thank you for the opportunity to clear that up.</p>
<p>So explain how it is a tactic in this case.</p>
<p>“Gee, I feel better knowing that GWB and Co. are just following “treacherous actions of Muslim extremists and their State sponsors” in their disinformation campaigns.” </p>
<p>Huh…?! (scratches head.) Geez
Newsmassdad, did you read my post AT ALL? Did you in any way ascertain the point I was trying to make? I’m not a GW supporter. Nothing in my above post indicated support for the Bush Administration. As I’ve stated in other posts, he gets no high marks from me! But This thread was NOT about the Bush administration, and certainly not about the Gulf Coast disaster—there are PLENTY of other threads on the board dedicated to that issue.</p>
<p>THIS ONE is about the reputed intentional, whole-cloth invention of the a news event by French journalists, which may have served to greatly fan the flames of conflict in the Middle East, AND about the myopic, and somewhat distorted resolve FROM AMERICANS that America is THE great evil on the planet (certainly must feel that way, since they show a dogged refusal to even acknowledge the evil perpetrated by other countries or their institutions). </p>
<p>Quite frankly, I am sick beyond sick of the oft repeated, and nauseatingly santimonious declarations of, "I hold America/Americans to a “higher standard”, as if you and you alone hold the definitive moral authority to dictate those “higher standards”, and as if these same standards excuse the rest of the world from the responsibility to adhere to ANY standard.</p>
<p>I encourage you to go back and re-read my first post in this thread, and indeed, the OPs opening post. If, after doing so, you still lack the ability or willingness to respond ON TOPIC—well…I guess there’s nothing more to say… Or, as the kids would say, “Whatever…”</p>
<p>Well Garland, THIS THREAD, which is, after all posted in The Cafe, where “non-college related” threads are supposedly allowed, is about the actions of certain FRENCH JOURNALISTS—not even about the French government. But somehow, you and certain others were loath to allow it to be about anything other than America and the Bush Administration’s shortcomings (which I think we all, with certain exceptions, agree exist to an unacceptable degree). </p>
<p>“I am asking to talk about what we do, not what others do. What our gov does is important to me, and what our present gov does is the most important.”</p>
<p>So let me get this straight: You are “asking” to basically hijack this thread and make it about “what WE are doing”, since what our government does is “most important” (I guess I see your point, since we ARE the center of the universe…), and since obviously, there aren’t already enough threads on this forum dedicated to “what we are doing”. Furthermore, you are saying that what the other countries do is of little consequence, given the fact that you show an unwillingness to allow a thread to be about anything BUT US…</p>
<p>Ok…</p>
<p>“turning the story to what the Democrats did does not absolve Bush”</p>
<p>When did I "turn the story to what the Democrats did? When did I “absolve Bush”. I re-read my post. I didn’t see it. Maybe you can point it out to me. </p>
<p>“and harping on what other countries do does not absolve us;”</p>
<p>Was I trying to “absolve us”? I don’t think so. I was merely musing about some of our CC citizens’ penchant to demonize our government, while insisting that the actions of other governments, and their entities, are of no conseqence worth acknowledging or addressing. I just find that curious.</p>
<p>“So explain how it is a tactic in this case.”</p>
<p>I’m sorry—and I truly mean that, but I don’t understand the above question. Can you re-word it?</p>
<p>PH–I understand you didn’t turn anything toward the Democrats. The words you quoted of mine were addressed to someone else. You seemed to know that when you quoted them.</p>
<p>I had no attention of hijacking this thread. I am certain that what FF said is true, and I was adding another instance of the same thing. For me, it is more compelling because it refers to what we do. Others may feel otherwise. You all keep discussing my reference, not FF’s. Otherwise, this thread would continue to be about what the title denotes, Media Fictions. </p>
<p>You ask for explanations of my previous posts, and then assume the my explanations are directed at you, not at the conversations my posts came from. I don’t understand why.</p>
<p>My last words did harken back to the idea that you accuse me of using a “tactic” in making the reference I made at the start of this post. It’s a tactic when it’s used to defend someone’s actions by saying someone else did it to. I have no intention of defending anyone’s actions by posting the link I did, but rather to further the conversation on the posted topic. I find media fictions reprensible in all circumstances, and have no quarrel with FF’s posts.</p>
<p>So I think we should let this thread get back to it’s stated topic, don’t you?</p>
<p>Poet,</p>
<p>OK. Got it. The middle east situation is deplorable. - on both sides. Of course, why am I not surprised that the French get into the middle of the situation? Just go back a few years…</p>
<p>Now, why is the other stuff relevant? Context. The French are not alone, for example. </p>
<p>"Quite frankly, I am sick beyond sick of the oft repeated, and nauseatingly santimonious declarations of, “I hold America/Americans to a “higher standard”, as if you and you alone hold the definitive moral authority to dictate those “higher standards”…”</p>
<p>Gee, a nerve? Who’s dictating standards? Not me. I just said what I believe. You are perfectly entitled to advocate for “lower standard” or whatever else you want. Sheesh, never thought I’d have a discussion here regarding whether or not we should expect honesty out of our government. I realize we’ll never get much honesty out of it, but can’t we still expect more? </p>
<p>I’ll sign off here and go somewhere where I can have a more intelligent discussion without the thread police. </p>
<p>so poet, if you want, maybe you can get a moderator to delete my comments so you can get back on topic…your topic.</p>