Well... since I would define "intellectual laziness" as someone willfuly ignorant, and secondly since I made the comparison intentionally, let's review on the merits.
Brownshirts had two roles: imposing fear through physical intimidation of their opponents (not the charge that I would make here), or disruption of opposition activities (precisely the charge I would make here).
People in monkey and banana costumes? Tasteless -- though you certainly don't offer a defense. Sending someone to ambush Senator Allen by verballing harassing him at an event?
Protesting is one thing. That kind of activity is deplorable, and yes it is reminiscent of the activity one would expect out of a "brownshirt".
Back to the issue of "intellectual laziness" -- why would anyone find this kind of behavior acceptable in any format? Were the actions of Webb's supporters decorous or no? Were they indicative of the type of people running his campaign?
Intellectual laziness ultimately isn't the issue. Intellectual dishonesty most certainly is.
It is nice to see you be more specific in your charges here (i.e. less intellectually lazy). However, when you state "Reminds me of the behavior you read about with brownshirts in the 1930's..." you are painting with a broad brush and without refinement of that statement you are intentionally using an ugly smear.
"disruption of opposition activities" - If people in silly costumes/asking him questions can run George Allen out of town he is not fit to be a US Senator (and certainly not President). Also, this activity IS protesting, which you seem to have no problem with unless the protesters are wearing costumes. (Huh?)
Is it stupid to dress up like a banana? Of course it is! But it is pathetic for a sitting Senator to be scared of someone dressed up like a banana.
As far as being verbally harrassed, will you call Tim Russert a "brownshirt" when he asks Allen the same question posed to him by the "harrasser"? When are legitimate questions acceptable to ask our public servants?
Finally, I don't even know what you are implying by intellectual dishonesty unless you are admitting that your intent in comparing protesters in silly costumes to Nazis was to be dishonest and not lazy. I was going to give you the benefit of the doubt.
But, I reiterate, you have run out of things to say if you compare people to Nazis.
So all your response managed to do was make excuses for the behavior of Webb's supporters?
Would you categorize that as intellecual laziness, or intellectual dishonesty?
:)
There is a distinction between protest and disruption. Webb activists continue to cross that line. Making excuses for their behavior doesn't make it any better.
"disruption of opposition activities" - If people in silly costumes/asking him questions can run George Allen out of town he is not fit to be a US Senator (and certainly not President).
Let's turn this around for a moment ... If George Allen is running for office, and the voting public runs around in monkey and banana costunes, perhaps they are not fit to be led by one who would rise above such shenanigans. It is the costumed fool that "apes" the political realm, not the other way around.
Well... since I would define "intellectual laziness" as someone willfuly ignorant, and secondly since I made the comparison intentionally, let's review on the merits.
Brownshirts had two roles: imposing fear through physical intimidation of their opponents (not the charge that I would make here), or disruption of opposition activities (precisely the charge I would make here).
People in monkey and banana costumes? Tasteless -- though you certainly don't offer a defense. Sending someone to ambush Senator Allen by verballing harassing him at an event?
Protesting is one thing. That kind of activity is deplorable, and yes it is reminiscent of the activity one would expect out of a "brownshirt".
Back to the issue of "intellectual laziness" -- why would anyone find this kind of behavior acceptable in any format? Were the actions of Webb's supporters decorous or no? Were they indicative of the type of people running his campaign?
Intellectual laziness ultimately isn't the issue. Intellectual dishonesty most certainly is.
It is nice to see you be more specific in your charges here (i.e. less intellectually lazy). However, when you state "Reminds me of the behavior you read about with brownshirts in the 1930's..." you are painting with a broad brush and without refinement of that statement you are intentionally using an ugly smear.
"disruption of opposition activities" - If people in silly costumes/asking him questions can run George Allen out of town he is not fit to be a US Senator (and certainly not President). Also, this activity IS protesting, which you seem to have no problem with unless the protesters are wearing costumes. (Huh?)
Is it stupid to dress up like a banana? Of course it is! But it is pathetic for a sitting Senator to be scared of someone dressed up like a banana.
As far as being verbally harrassed, will you call Tim Russert a "brownshirt" when he asks Allen the same question posed to him by the "harrasser"? When are legitimate questions acceptable to ask our public servants?
Finally, I don't even know what you are implying by intellectual dishonesty unless you are admitting that your intent in comparing protesters in silly costumes to Nazis was to be dishonest and not lazy. I was going to give you the benefit of the doubt.
But, I reiterate, you have run out of things to say if you compare people to Nazis.
So all your response managed to do was make excuses for the behavior of Webb's supporters?
Would you categorize that as intellecual laziness, or intellectual dishonesty?
:)
There is a distinction between protest and disruption. Webb activists continue to cross that line. Making excuses for their behavior doesn't make it any better.
"disruption of opposition activities" - If people in silly costumes/asking him questions can run George Allen out of town he is not fit to be a US Senator (and certainly not President).
Let's turn this around for a moment ... If George Allen is running for office, and the voting public runs around in monkey and banana costunes, perhaps they are not fit to be led by one who would rise above such shenanigans. It is the costumed fool that "apes" the political realm, not the other way around.
ShaunKenney.com is one of Virginia's
oldest political blogs, focusing on the role of religion and politics in public
life. Shaun Kenney, 30, lives in Fluvanna County, Virginia.
5 Comments:
This is officially the worst Nazi comparison I have ever heard in my life.
People in monkey and banana costumes = Nazis?
My God, can people do anything that other people disagree with without being compared to Nazis anymore?
When you compare people to Nazis (unless they are actual fascists committing actual genocide) you have officially run out of legitimate things to say.
Here's a comparison for you:
Comparing people to Nazis = intellectual laziness.
Brownshirts had two roles: imposing fear through physical intimidation of their opponents (not the charge that I would make here), or disruption of opposition activities (precisely the charge I would make here).
People in monkey and banana costumes? Tasteless -- though you certainly don't offer a defense. Sending someone to ambush Senator Allen by verballing harassing him at an event?
Protesting is one thing. That kind of activity is deplorable, and yes it is reminiscent of the activity one would expect out of a "brownshirt".
Back to the issue of "intellectual laziness" -- why would anyone find this kind of behavior acceptable in any format? Were the actions of Webb's supporters decorous or no? Were they indicative of the type of people running his campaign?
Intellectual laziness ultimately isn't the issue. Intellectual dishonesty most certainly is.
Regards,
"disruption of opposition activities" - If people in silly costumes/asking him questions can run George Allen out of town he is not fit to be a US Senator (and certainly not President). Also, this activity IS protesting, which you seem to have no problem with unless the protesters are wearing costumes. (Huh?)
Is it stupid to dress up like a banana? Of course it is! But it is pathetic for a sitting Senator to be scared of someone dressed up like a banana.
As far as being verbally harrassed, will you call Tim Russert a "brownshirt" when he asks Allen the same question posed to him by the "harrasser"? When are legitimate questions acceptable to ask our public servants?
Finally, I don't even know what you are implying by intellectual dishonesty unless you are admitting that your intent in comparing protesters in silly costumes to Nazis was to be dishonest and not lazy. I was going to give you the benefit of the doubt.
But, I reiterate, you have run out of things to say if you compare people to Nazis.
Would you categorize that as intellecual laziness, or intellectual dishonesty?
:)
There is a distinction between protest and disruption. Webb activists continue to cross that line. Making excuses for their behavior doesn't make it any better.
Let's turn this around for a moment ... If George Allen is running for office, and the voting public runs around in monkey and banana costunes, perhaps they are not fit to be led by one who would rise above such shenanigans. It is the costumed fool that "apes" the political realm, not the other way around.
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