Shaun Kenney | Politics and Religion in Virginia's Public Square


Sunday, November 26, 2006 Barticles: Who Can Speak Yet another excellent post from Bart Hinkle at the RTD, this time effortlessly destroying the "chickenhawk" argument: Those who have served in the military have a valuable perspective and should be listened to. But it is nonsense to say that only they should be listened to. For one thing, the Founders went to some lengths to ensure that in the United States the final authority over the military would be civilian. For another, to suggest that only veterans can weigh in on military matters is akin to saying only policemen can weigh in on questions of law enforcement. Just as everyone in a community has a stake in the maintenance of law enforcement, everyone in a nation has a stake in the maintenance of national security. (What’s more, those flinging the Chickenhawk ad hominem usually are trying to undercut the moral authority of advocates of military force, and thereby implicitly undercut the case for using military power. But they overlook the fact that veterans tend to be more hawkish than average, not less—so the Chickenhawk argument, to the extent that it works, only reinforces the case for military aggression.) Outstanding. Go read it all. posted by Shaun Kenney \| 11/26/2006 12:07:00 PM \| 2 comments 2 Comments: At 12:35 PM, Doogman said... Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt. At 12:52 PM, Shaun Kenney said... Perhaps so, though I tend to give my fellow human beings a bit more credit than most. Post a Comment Home
	RedStormPAC $ JEFFERSONIAD POLL: Whom do you support for Virginia Attorney General? 1) John Brownlee 2) Ken Cuccinelli View Results About 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. Contact E-mail RSS/Atom Feed The Jeffersoniad Archives March 2002 April 2002 May 2002 June 2002 July 2002 August 2002 September 2002 October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 April 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009