> (Admittedly off AJ topic but I choose to reply to the public comments
> in public).
>
> First off, I don't want your admiration. Second, the feeling you got
> about my patriotism is wrong, I don't identify with "fellow
> Americans", I identify with fellow human beings. Third, I agree, that
> criticism is good, but condescension is destructive.
>
> Now, you don't think Elson was condemning anyone? Jesus Christ, he
> wrote point blank that Americans "... are not intelligent enough to
> make any relevance to our lives here." Then you write that he
> "certainly didn't stoop to calling anything or anyone 'ignorant'" when
> in the penultimate paragraph of that post Elson wrote in parentheses
> "read ignorant Americans'". I have no idea whether Elson feels this
> way daily, but his _comments_ were snide and damaging, and since they
> were made in public I pointed this out in public and will continue to
> do so.
>
> Mark
Ok...let me backtrack...I apparently was NOT keeping careful track of
the "ignorant's" being used.
The problem here probably arose because I basically agree with Elson.
Perhaps some might view his opinion strongly, but it is JUST an opinion.
You have to at least give him the respect of allowing him his opinion. If
you don't agree with it, post your rebuttle (though this isn't a debate
forum..it's a music forum!). Your post basically attacked him for voicing
his own opinion. Something I failed to point out initially, but was
striving for in a round 'about way. Not to say that you blatently called
Elson ignorant, but your post was much closer to attacking an individual
than Elson who was simply generalizing about the American
attitude...something you obviously took personally. That's fine, but
let's not have this degrade into a flame war. I think Elson has a valid
point, unless you really think our country/government and the general
direction of both are headed in the right direction... many do not, and
Elson was pointing that out.
In closing, perhaps we should drop this thread from the mailing list
since it really doesn't pertain to Acid Jazz anymore....
Tim (tca@cerfnet.com)