From: maedhros@yabbs
To: honkfish@yabbs
Subject: re: Militarism
Date: Mon Jan 24 20:47:25 1994

>Ponder on these few passages...

>The basic problems facing the world today are not susceptable to a
>military solution. --John F. Kennedy
...the executive Government of the United States, including the military 
and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of 
said persons...  --Abraham Lincoln

>And as everyone knows, the army is a poor training corps for democracy,
>no matter how inspiring its cause. --Pierre Elliot Trudeau
The Sudentenland is my last territorial claim I have tomake in Europe.
--Adolf Hitler

It's intersting rhethoric, but it's rather easy to shell out quotes for 
either side of the argument, and to quote my first philosophy teacher'
"Being dead doesn't make you an authority on anything, just a corpse".
I really didn't see a need to juxtapose anything against the Patton quote, 
what can I say, if it's his job there's no law against liking it.

As far as the quotes themselves go:
1.  Kennedy was right in my opinion.  Unfortunately, you've used him 
completely out of context.  The problems of "today" are now about two 
decades old.  It might have applied to the Cold War, and it might even 
apply now.  However, it isn't what HE meant.  If he were alive today he 
would have the option of bringing you up on charges of slander.  It might 
apply now, but if so, YOU must validate the connection.  You've expressed 
no valid reasoning, only quotes from famous people who aren't alive to 
make any kind of judgements regarding anything that's happened this decade 
(actually, I don't know anything about Trudeau, so he could be alive for 
all I know, but I doubt it- they're not nearly as effective to wuote in an 
argument).  

2.  Once again I have to agree with the quote at face value; the military 
is indeed a poor training ground for democracy.  Few hills would be 
conquered if everyone got to take a vote (I'd opt to forget about the 
damned hill, and go for tacos).  Fortunately, this is a bit irrelevant, 
since most politicians and government officials are businessmen and 
lawyers, not tank drivers.

  Quite simply, if you speak rhethoric and don't back it with reasoning, 
it's propaganda.  Mussolini tried win a war with it, to not much avail.  
Where are YOUR thoughts and YOUR words?
Raven    /\
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