something we ignore in the stats

[Don Laird]

----- Original Message -----
From: telebob x <telebob98@hotmail.com>
To: <austin-ghetto-list@pairlist.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 2:10 PM
Subject: something we ignore in the stats


the PR heat, >
USA haters >
> critics want to bitch >
> ...maybe we should all go back to being Zen saints like Jon or retired
> millionaires like Roger?
>
> telegrump
>
> _________________________________________________________________


There are some problems with the above excerpted phrases.  First, "the PR
heat."  The public relations industry, founded and developed in the U.S., is
an industry focused on persuasion, self-serving goals, and deceit.  The PR
industry does not attack the U.S. - it tends to promote the U.S., as when
Edward Bernays helped the U.S. deceive the American public about the U.S.
overthrow of Guatemala's democratically-elected government.

"USA haters."   To cite negative facts about or to criticize one's
government is not to demonstrate hatred for one's government.  Such an
emotion-based phrase seems to reflect an emotional intolerance for freedom
of speech, combined with a generalized attack on a select group of people.
The phrase seems to demonize its target.

"critics want to bitch."  Another example of an emotion-laden phrase.  Note
how this phrase, like the previous examples, is general rather than
specific.  It also projects desires to the general group, the group that
"wants to."

Finally, the personal references.  While the names are specific, their
nature or condition is rather general.  I'd imagine the implications are
negative.  Unfortunately, I can't see any relevance of Zen or millionaire
status to the rest of the message.  Its best characterization may already
have been made:  grumpy.

                                           ---------------------------------
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The topic of the Taliban doing nothing wrong in harboring bin Laden and his
training camps reminds me of history, the history of piracy.   While piracy
is an international crime and is not governmentally-authorized robbery and
killing, profiteering is.  Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress could issue
"letters of marque" and therefore make use of privateers during wartime.
That is, pirates who preyed on the civilian and military-related commerce of
the enemy.  Privateering was carried on during the American Revolution, the
War of 1812, and by the confederacy during the Civil War.  The U.S., having
failed to support the Declaration of Paris of 1856, which abolished
privateering, renounced privateering during the Spanish-American War.

Since the privateers were similar to terrorists and engaged in "crimes
against humanity," we can consider whether or not it would be appropriate to
characterize the U.S. as harboring terrorists during that era.

The piracy of Jean LaFitte eventually allowed him to fight under General
Andrew Jackson.  After that war (of 1812), LaFitte moved to Galveston and
returned to piracy.  He remained there with his 1000 followers for years,
unmolested, until he attacked an American merchant vessel.  LaFitte was
allowed to leave peacefully.

Don