Monday, March 29, 2004
Meet William Safire, Unethicist
"An opinion may be wrongheaded, but it is never wrong. A belief or a conviction, no matter how illogical, crackbrained or infuriating, is an idea subject to vigorous dispute but is not an assertion subject to editorial or legal correction." --- William Safire
Mr. Safire is unaware--or has forgotten--two important things. First, the word "opinion" is based on the word "opine," which means "to think." In other words, Mr. Safire is asserting: "What you think can never be wrong." If that is true, then it is a contradiction to say that "an opinion may be wrongheaded."
Second, Mr. Safire is unaware--or has forgotten--the concept of "the ethics of belief." This concept was introduced by W. K. Clifford, way back in the 19th century. Clifford said that it is unethical to believe something on the basis of insufficient evidence. William Safire says you can believe anything you wish and never be wrong. What Mr. Safire is reflecting is the widespread notions that "Every person is entitled to his/her own opinion" and "My opinion is just as good as yours."
William Safire, of course, doesn't really believe this. He no doubt believes that what he opines is superior to what you opine and that you are entitled to his opinion. He only says this because he sacrificed his intellect long ago to the God of Political Partisanship.
Even the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan got it wrong. He once said: "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." No one is "entitled" to their own opinion. What he should have said is: "Every fact is entitled to become an opinion."
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Chicken Fried Rice
Condoleezza Rice: even her given name is a harbinger of something bizarre, because there's no other name in the English language that contains two e's followed by two z's.
But that's just the beginning of the catastrophe we now know as George W. Bush's National Security Advisor.
Condoleezza Rice: even her given name is a harbinger of something bizarre, because there's no other name in the English language that contains two e's followed by two z's.
But that's just the beginning of the catastrophe we now know as George W. Bush's National Security Advisor.
The Blood on the Chickenhawk-in-Chief's Hands
As of today, March 25, 2004, 589 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq. If you add to this number the 3,362 American soldiers who have been wounded, that's close to four thousand Americans who have paid the price of Dubya's Folly.
As of today, March 25, 2004, 589 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq. If you add to this number the 3,362 American soldiers who have been wounded, that's close to four thousand Americans who have paid the price of Dubya's Folly.
Sunday, March 21, 2004
"Protecting the Sanctity of Life:" What Does This Mean?
There's a young man in Pennsylvania running against Arlen Specter for a seat in the U. S. Senate. His website says that his #1 issue is "protecting the sanctity of life." What does this mean?
Does it mean that all life has been sanctified and he is going to defend and protect it? Well, no, it doesn't mean "all life," because as his website says, "Congressman Pat Toomey believes that the most fundamental responsibility of government is to defend and protect innocent human life--including the lives of unborn children." So, apparently, the only life that has been sanctified is human life. But not even all human life has sanctity: only "innocent human life" does. And that's the only life Mr. Toomey is willing to defend and protect. So when does "innocent human life" begin? According to Congressman Toomey, it begins with "the lives of unborn children." And when does "innocent human life" end? He doesn't say.
There's a young man in Pennsylvania running against Arlen Specter for a seat in the U. S. Senate. His website says that his #1 issue is "protecting the sanctity of life." What does this mean?
Does it mean that all life has been sanctified and he is going to defend and protect it? Well, no, it doesn't mean "all life," because as his website says, "Congressman Pat Toomey believes that the most fundamental responsibility of government is to defend and protect innocent human life--including the lives of unborn children." So, apparently, the only life that has been sanctified is human life. But not even all human life has sanctity: only "innocent human life" does. And that's the only life Mr. Toomey is willing to defend and protect. So when does "innocent human life" begin? According to Congressman Toomey, it begins with "the lives of unborn children." And when does "innocent human life" end? He doesn't say.
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Justice Scalia Tries to Fuck a Duck, Then Tries to Duck a Fuck
In a 21-page memo, Justice Antonin Scalia of the United States Supreme Court has explained why he won't recuse himself from a case involving his duck-hunting partner, Vice President Dick Cheney. "I never hunted in the same blind with the vice president," Scalia said. "Nor was I alone with him at any time during the trip, except, perhaps, for instances so brief and unintentional that I would not recall them — walking to or from a boat, perhaps, or going to or from dinner. Of course, we said not a word about the present case," Scalia continued.
In a 21-page memo, Justice Antonin Scalia of the United States Supreme Court has explained why he won't recuse himself from a case involving his duck-hunting partner, Vice President Dick Cheney. "I never hunted in the same blind with the vice president," Scalia said. "Nor was I alone with him at any time during the trip, except, perhaps, for instances so brief and unintentional that I would not recall them — walking to or from a boat, perhaps, or going to or from dinner. Of course, we said not a word about the present case," Scalia continued.
