[DiogenesLamp]

The better analogy is Pearl Harbor, since both Pearl Harbor and Fort Sumter aroused Americans in the conviction that war was the only answer. And both events were the deliberate choice of the military power which attacked the United States.

This is one of your oft repeated loony toon ideas.

I've recently devised a different method for illustrating this sort of absurdity.

This:

Versus this:

[rockrr]

That's a difference between scale and momentary magnitude. Sure there's a disparity of relative tonnage but the principle remains the same.

But this is illustrative - we know that when the chips are down you're the first to leave the table...

Reminds me of a song...

SINGERS: Brave Sir Robin ran away.

ROBIN: I didn’t.

SINGERS: Bravely ran away, away.

ROBIN: No, no, no.

SINGERS: When danger reared its ugly head,

He bravely turned his tail and fled

Yes, Brave Sir Robin turned about

And gallantly he chickened out

Bravely taking to his feet

He beat a very brave retreat

Bravest of the brave Sir Robin

Petrified of being dead

Soiled his pants then brave Sir Robin

Turned away and fled.

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

So basically you’re admitting that there’s no consistent underlying principle, just a subjective opinion of importance.