Spring Break
Don't fall to trappings of Godwin's Law
Bill Bradford
Issue date: 10/29/08 Section: Forum
"I have heard this argument from many of my Obama-loving schoolmates. While I agree that the man cuts a graceful figure on stage and on camera, I do not believe that these are qualities that automatically make a great leader."
For example, Adolf Hitler was quite the public speaker in his day. He even convinced the German people that it was socially acceptable to massacre six million Jews as well as countless Polish Catholics, gypsies, retardates, homosexuals and political dissidents.
"Vladimir Lenin moved thousands of Russians with his speeches against the Imperial Czarist regime in the early 1900s ... If charisma and eloquence are the most important characteristics of a leader, then we might as well elect our presidents from the ranks of Hollywood actors."
Ironically, Wozich is a history major, which begs the questions: How about a certain Hollywood actor named Ronald Regan? What about other inspiring personalities such as John Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi, FDR or Martin Luther King Jr.? Charisma, combined with decency, makes a great leader.
On a side note, I found myself pondering the word "retardate." After Googling the term, what I got from Merriam-Webster's online dictionary was, "Often offensive: a mentally retarded person." As a person with a disability, and as one who advocates for physically and mentally challenged adults, I was taken aback by its usage in Wozich's column. Sure, the Nazis may have used it in their day, but do we have to use it now?
As disappointing as Wozich's column was, Druckenmiller's was more troubling.
In the Oct. 22 Forum, Drunkenmiller railed against Obama's plan to give a tax break to 95 percent of Americans, calling it a "redistribution of wealth" and "class warfare." He claims that since 32 percent of Americans don't make enough money to pay income tax, giving them a rebate check is tantamount to welfare. I won't go into great detail about the logical fallacy of this line of reasoning (hint: people pay more than just payroll taxes, such as property tax, gas tax and sales tax). Suffice to say, Druckenmiller lifted his argument right off the McCain website. A pint glass serving of NeoCon Kool-Aid.
For example, Adolf Hitler was quite the public speaker in his day. He even convinced the German people that it was socially acceptable to massacre six million Jews as well as countless Polish Catholics, gypsies, retardates, homosexuals and political dissidents.
"Vladimir Lenin moved thousands of Russians with his speeches against the Imperial Czarist regime in the early 1900s ... If charisma and eloquence are the most important characteristics of a leader, then we might as well elect our presidents from the ranks of Hollywood actors."
Ironically, Wozich is a history major, which begs the questions: How about a certain Hollywood actor named Ronald Regan? What about other inspiring personalities such as John Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi, FDR or Martin Luther King Jr.? Charisma, combined with decency, makes a great leader.
On a side note, I found myself pondering the word "retardate." After Googling the term, what I got from Merriam-Webster's online dictionary was, "Often offensive: a mentally retarded person." As a person with a disability, and as one who advocates for physically and mentally challenged adults, I was taken aback by its usage in Wozich's column. Sure, the Nazis may have used it in their day, but do we have to use it now?
As disappointing as Wozich's column was, Druckenmiller's was more troubling.
In the Oct. 22 Forum, Drunkenmiller railed against Obama's plan to give a tax break to 95 percent of Americans, calling it a "redistribution of wealth" and "class warfare." He claims that since 32 percent of Americans don't make enough money to pay income tax, giving them a rebate check is tantamount to welfare. I won't go into great detail about the logical fallacy of this line of reasoning (hint: people pay more than just payroll taxes, such as property tax, gas tax and sales tax). Suffice to say, Druckenmiller lifted his argument right off the McCain website. A pint glass serving of NeoCon Kool-Aid.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
morgamic
Mike
posted 10/29/08 @ 8:10 PM PST
Good post, and I hope those other guys learn that when discussions, even when driven by an agenda, deteriorate completely when you jump to extremes to support your arguments. (Continued…)
Tim Foekema
posted 1/03/09 @ 9:38 AM PST
All true, but beware of the fact that i can now do anything as a Nazi would have. When commented on, i can just refer to godwin! Agreed, he does make a good point and in some cases (obama) discussions go waaay to far. (Continued…)
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