it goes both ways
DISCLAIMER: This entry is not intended to slam anyone for comments they've made about this topic. I'm just sayin'.
I have heard that several complaints about how the Republican party endorses this "If you're not with us, you're un-American" mentality, especially as far as the war in Iraq goes. This is not just in the LJ/blogosphere but in personal conversations, on TV, everywhere. I'm not disagreeing with that point - so long as it's degeneralized a bit since not ALL Republicans or Conservatives have or contribute to that attitude.
However.
I'd like to point out that the people of the Right-wing persuasion are not the only ones who use bifurcation, a well-known logical fallacy. Allow me to point out a statement by the recent Democratic Candidate for President in 2004.
It was right to dissent in 1971 from a war that was wrong and could not be won. And in 2006 it is both a right and an obligation for Americans to stand up to a president who is wrong today,
Now, this is admittedly a bit ambiguous. If by that statement he meant "It is your obligation to stand up to a president if he or she is wrong." Then hear, hear Mr. Kerry (something I never thought I'd say). If however, my suspicions are correct and he is saying, "The President is wrong and it is your obligation as an American to stand up to him." - is that not every bit as divisive and every bit of an either-or fallacy as the "War protesters are un-American" mentality? Is that not, in effect, saying that "Bush supporters are un-American"?
Discuss.
I have heard that several complaints about how the Republican party endorses this "If you're not with us, you're un-American" mentality, especially as far as the war in Iraq goes. This is not just in the LJ/blogosphere but in personal conversations, on TV, everywhere. I'm not disagreeing with that point - so long as it's degeneralized a bit since not ALL Republicans or Conservatives have or contribute to that attitude.
However.
I'd like to point out that the people of the Right-wing persuasion are not the only ones who use bifurcation, a well-known logical fallacy. Allow me to point out a statement by the recent Democratic Candidate for President in 2004.
It was right to dissent in 1971 from a war that was wrong and could not be won. And in 2006 it is both a right and an obligation for Americans to stand up to a president who is wrong today,
Now, this is admittedly a bit ambiguous. If by that statement he meant "It is your obligation to stand up to a president if he or she is wrong." Then hear, hear Mr. Kerry (something I never thought I'd say). If however, my suspicions are correct and he is saying, "The President is wrong and it is your obligation as an American to stand up to him." - is that not every bit as divisive and every bit of an either-or fallacy as the "War protesters are un-American" mentality? Is that not, in effect, saying that "Bush supporters are un-American"?
Discuss.