On Apr 6, 2006, at 1:27 AM, Ray Saintonge wrote:
Not to belabor this meta-debate, but it's a simple matter of historical fact that communists have committed large-scale mass murder. Tacit implications that communism is "okay" is as offensive to many people as implying that fascism is "okay". Since neither question is of direct relevance here, let's just agree, for the sake of avoiding conflict, not to say nice things about controversial political ideologies.
But I was not the one to introduce communism into the discussion with an offensive comment.
Nor was I.
Now, in a pretence of innocence, you admonish those who would say "nice" things about controversial political ideologies, but do not apply the same standards to those who wouild say offensive thingsa about the same ideologies.
Ideally we should drop the subject entirely.
Then you want to drop the issue when you feel that you are ahead in the damage. The historical fact that some communists have committed large-scale mass murder does not justify your innuendo that all supporters of a communistic economy have done so.
We could say the same thing about fascism, but you don't find anyone playing apologist for *that* ideology.
To whatever extent I feel that communism may be "okay" I can express myself directly; I don't need to rely on tacit offensive implications. I know that this site abounds with anti-communist ideologues, and I can keep busy enough in unrelated areas without needing to actively promote ideologies. Be that as it may, I won't be bullied, and I feel quite justified in rising to the occasion when someone trolls the list with an ignorant comment.
As do I.