[MD] Bill's Intellectual Level

[Arlo Bensinger]

[Plattman]
How about lying to a judge in court of law? Is that your idea of honor?

[The Jarloker]
Let's face reality here. Clinton committed adultery. When evidence of this 
surfaced, it should have been brought to the attention of his wife, first 
giving Clinton himself an opportunity to tell her himself. Then the matter 
should have been left to the family. Instead, politicos used this family 
tragedy to embarrass Clinton by making him answer a question in public 
court that had nothing whatsoever to do with any criminal investigation, 
and whose only purpose was to bring ridicule, hurt and humiliation. That is 
as shameful, and dishonorable, as what Clinton did in having an affair... 
if not moreso.

And, yes, personally Platt, I feel that protecting the reputation of those 
who would otherwise be hurt by pointless and politically-manuevered 
personal questions to be more 'honorable" than not. The tragedy is not just 
the affair, its how others have used (and still use) the situation to 
ridicule, hurt and publicly humiliate others just to advance a political 
agenda.

[The Jarloker previously]
Ah, what the hell. Two more. So, why do we not condemn Rush (for one 
example) for lying about being addicted to drugs over and over on his radio 
show? Why is that "evidence of dishonesty" not also enough to make you 
despise him? Or is lying only "bad" when democrats do it?

[Plattman]
You compare Rush to a President of the U.S.? Your comparison holds out hope 
for you after all.

[The Jarloker]
I compare a man to a man. I compare a lie to a lie. Deceit to deceit. Why 
one is unforgivable, while the other is dismissed is for you a matter only 
of which Party they belong to. Nice duck and run, though.

And speaking of duck and runs... in another thread I had written...

[The Jarloker asked]
But, let me ask you this. If I, as a scientist, discover a means 
of  producing a catastrophic biological weapon by using water and olive 
oil, and publish that on the Internet, does this make me a "man of honor"? 
Do I possess "integrity"? I've been "honest", to be sure. I haven't 
"faked"  anything. I've told nothing but the "truth". So, do I possess 
honor and  integrity?

[Plattman]
Is a scientist obligated to publish his discoveries on the Internet? Of 
course not. Is a scientist obligated not to fake his data if he publishes 
his discoveries on the Internet? Of course.

[The Jarloker]
Why does the venue where I publish have anything to do with the decision 
making me someone with honor and intergrity? You align these two things 
with "truth" and honesty, so I ask again, if I do this, I've told no lie, 
faked no data, and been nothing but honest. Do I possess honor? Integrity?

I propose this. "Honor" is really "duty towards others". The flipside of 
"virtue", which is "duty towards self". Other than the use of "honor" to 
refer to an award, every time we speak of someone doing something 
"honorable", or "acting with honor", we tie that to a selfless act that 
benefits others, often at risk to oneself. When a marine runs back onto the 
field to retrieve an injured friend, he is acting with honor. When the 
protagonist of The Long Black Veil takes a murder rap rather than besmirch 
the honor of his friend's wife, he has acted with honor. But, I'm willing 
to listen if you can think of examples of "honor" where the act/person is 
not taking self-risk to help an other.

Arlo