Yes, we can.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Here's a top contender to be McCain's Mid East envoy if he's elected stating that "talking to an enemy is not, in my view, appeasement."

http://www.jedreport.com/2008/05/james-baker-tal.html

[wendybeth]

Good one, GD.


I find it interesting that simply leaving the potential for diplomatic options on the table can be twisted into 'appeasement', a la Neville Chamberlain. We need to look at our own actions at the outset of WWII- we didn't exactly come rushing to anyone's aid until we were drug into the war following the attack at PH. (Btw, we were engaged in talks with Japan hours before that attack).

Let's say a co-worker is giving you a hard time. You're angry, so you:

a). Go to Human Resources, or a supervisor, etc, and discuss solutions for the problem at hand, such as mediation or directly confronting the troublemaker.

b.) You ignore the asshat and hope the problem just goes away.

c). Load up the 9mm and go rabbit hunting at the workplace.

We've been very busy hunting rabbits, and I don't think our problems have been alleviated in the slightest. We've only hurt ourselves- maybe it's time to try a new tactic? At least try?

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Let's say a co-worker is giving you a hard time. You're angry, so you:

a). Go to Human Resources, or a supervisor, etc, and discuss solutions for the problem at hand, such as mediation or directly confronting the troublemaker.

b.) You ignore the asshat and hope the problem just goes away.

c). Load up the 9mm and go rabbit hunting at the workplace.

We've been very busy hunting rabbits, and I don't think our problems have been alleviated in the slightest. We've only hurt ourselves- maybe it's time to try a new tactic? At least try?

Here's a twist (just playing Devil's Advocate here):

Let's say that co-worker is certifiably crazy and is often seen reading gun magazines.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Here's a twist (just playing Devil's Advocate here):

Let's say that co-worker is certifiably crazy and is often seen reading gun magazines.

Even so, "A" is still the only option that can lead to a positive resolution. All "C" does is increase the odds that a bunch of innocent people will be killed in the crossfire.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

Even so, "A" is still the only option that can lead to a positive resolution. All "C" does is increase the odds that a bunch of innocent people will be killed in the crossfire.

Tell that to the kids at Columbine. One armed teacher? Who knows.

[wendybeth]

Bad example there, Scaeagles. Those kids were ignored, bullied and ostracized by the jocks and popular kids. Most school shootings are by loners, mentally ill and outcasts- one could argue that some form of intervention might have helped prevent many of these events. Before you go off on a tangent about libs just wanting to send terrorists into therapy, that is not my meaning or intent here. I think terrorists should be hunted down and neutralized before they harm anyone, but when dealing with states that sponsor or are suspected of supporting terrorism we first need to attempt to handle things diplomatically. At the very least, such attempts will cover our asses should we have to respond more forcefully later on, or should we happen to react violently and later discover our intelligence was faulty.

[wendybeth]

Well, killing him/her first would certainly work out well for a person. I mean, you'd go to jail, lose everything you own and your life would be over, but you'd win because you hit first!

You don't sit back and wait to be killed- it's good to be proactive, but it's the degree that you operate on that's critical. A dangerous person or country is always going to be problematic- that's where creativity is really called for. Personally, I would try to work through all the legal channels, and pack my 9mm around just in case.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Here's a twist (just playing Devil's Advocate here):

Let's say that co-worker is certifiably crazy and is often seen reading gun magazines.

You make them your best friend.