[MD] Intellectual activity

[Arlo J. Bensinger]

Just back from Hawai'i, catching up on missed discussion and am so delighted to
see Platt's usual rhetoric in my inbox. I noticed, of course, that nothing
actually addresses anything I say, rather in a typical "just right wing
politics" way, its nothing but ad hominem, distraction and distortion.

While this is never a surprise, having spent 10 days talking philosophy,
culture, language, art, music, geography and history with others generally
interested in dialogue, while viewing the splendid majesty of the Hawai'ian
isles, I must say it hits slightly more saddening than normal.

But I suppose I should address these lunatic (and insulting) remarks while I am
still somewhat jetlagged.

[Platt] 
Arlo must be feeling guilty for taking advantage of the fuel supplied by Iran or
some other dictatorial country to fly his plane to and from Hawaii. No telling
how his trip has affected the oppressed citizens of those countries so he can
watch mongoose frolic.

[Arlo]
Arlo verified that all the fuel used to fly his jet was dug up by good ol' boys
down in The Great Nation of Texas. By purchasing this ticket, he guaranteed
that Lone Star and Garth Brooks will make some more money.

[Platt]
What's the "we" business? I don't own a pair of Nike shoes nor would I  be
influenced by some athlete endorsing them. For Arlo, always the  collective.

[Arlo]
Sorry. I mispoke. Celebrity endorsements do not affect sales at all. I wonder
why they use them then? If its ineffective, its certainly a gargantuan waste of
money.

[Platt]
I'd argue they have gotten better since high button shoes and the Edsel.

[Arlo]
Yes, our lives are so much more enriched because we wear Nike and drive
Corollas.

[Arlo previously]
This is what makes the evening news, with its latest Manufactured Nightmare of
"Illegal Immigration", so fun to watch. Isn't it?

[Platt]
One wonders what part of "illegal" Arlo doesn't understand.

[Arlo]
Always the Party Jester. Look at the archives to find where Arlo agrees that
illegal immigration is an issue that we have to address. It's the Manufactured
Nightmare of the Party that is absurd. 

[Platt]
Yeah, like I'm going to go to Walmart to pick up a box of Wheaties and worry
about how the product got to market. 

[Arlo]
Why not?

[Platt]
What medical benefits General Mills provides its employees or whether  the
company is integrated into the community is the last thing on my  mind when I
buy a box of Wheaties. Should I feel guilty on that account?

[Arlo]
No, not at all. Nothing matters but Platt getting a low price on his cereal. 

[Platt]
If I ever have the privilege of having lunch with Arlo, I'm going to  watch very
carefully to see what he orders. Every item on the menu  probably has some
awful human rights violation associated with it in  Arlo's mind.

[Arlo]
This week you would have seen Arlo order Lualua, poi, poke with ogo, several
varities of Ahi, tons of Pad Thai, shrimp, and more sushi than I've had in
years (including sea snail and roe). Hawaii is a culinary paradise. And the
Kona Brewing Company... delicious red ale.

But, this does not address the issue. Purchasing lettuce whose price is low
because of the use of illegal immigrants is a vote for illegal immigrants. Same
with Weaver foods. Now, if you always choose to pay for higher "non illegal
immigrant" lettuce, you'd be absolved, but since you say above that you never
pay any mind to how a product got to market...

[Platt]
The difference is those coming here are illegals. Are you proposing we  open the
borders to all comers?

[Arlo]
I'm asking, why do we care that "America jobs are being taken by foreigners"
only when those foreigners happen to be inside our borders? If we sent them all
back, and then also sent ALL the factories and farms and businesses that use
them also to Mexico, would that make you happy?

[Platt]
Arlo climbs on his moral high horse called "human rights" and whatever other
moral high horse he can find to tell us all how we have sinned, are sinning,
and will continue to sin.

[Arlo]
Arlo was pointing out that the self-describe "moral party" is anything but. Its
a good example of Orwellian rhetoric, but nothing more. Or, in Straussian
terms, its a nice myth, but that's all it is.

[Arlo previously]
OK, the mongoose are chasing birds and I am going to the Polynesian cultural
center to talk about Hawai'ian language revitalization. 

[Platt]
Why? Hope the taxpayers aren't paying for that boondoggle.

[Arlo]
Hey, I tried to tell everyone that the only language that matters in English,
but they had some absurd attachment to their traditional cultural values. Seems
they hold some anger at the west for criminalizing (and punishing) the use of
Hawai'ian in business and education for many years after occupation (you know,
just like we did to the Native American tribes). Wa'awa'a Haole.

More soon...

Arlo