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<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I
agree with Rick that there should be no whitewashing of
dictators.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>There
is a significant difference between NPOV and "moral relativism", just as there
is a difference between NPOV and "political correctness".</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Moral
relativism says that there are no values. NPOV does not say this, but as a
practical matter insists that no article be used to take a stand endorsing or
opposing any values. I hope this is not too subtle a distinction for everyone to
grasp. Indeed, I'm sure it's not.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Political correctness is a little tougher nut to crack (partly because
some advocates claim it doesn't exist!) Perhaps they should read Lynne Cheney's
book about the hundreds of academics who were silenced or fired in America for
making "politically incorrect" statements. (Book title supplied on request,
let's not go off on a tangent here.)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>In
general, political correctness means suppressing ideas or their expression on
the grounds that someone "might" be offended, or because the ideas run counter
to liberal orthodoxy. A raging controversy has been brewing, the last ten years
or so, over whether PC even exists, let alone what should be done about it.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Our
Wikipedia article about it never got even close to describing the phenomenon,
due to what I regard as censorship. I can't fight every battle, so I left
it alone. Better a lousy peace than a really horrible war, I
guess.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Neutrality at Wikipedia does not mean asserting that all views are okay,
or that no POVs are important or true. It does not mean avoiding any mention or
description of controversy.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>NPOV
simply means not using the clout of the Wikipedia to endorse or condemn any
concept, action or person. We don't take sides. We just report the facts; and if
we can't determine the facts, then we report what the various sides SAY the
facts are.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>All
conclusions are left to the reader.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=043183016-12022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Ed
Poor</FONT></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>