“I don’t understand this. You just said one way in which the good Judge’s opinion carries more weight is because he has “demonstrated intelligence and wisdom” and now you are saying that talent doesnt count?”
I don’t understand your objection. Are you saying that talent, as in Billy Blythe’s talent for deceiving people or Monica Lewinsky’s talent for being a stupid, ignorant slut are the same thing as intelligence and wisdom? You must be using some definition of “talent” with which I am not familiar.
“By “demonstrated intelligence and wisdom” does that mean “believes something I do”?
There you go again. If you’re going to be conservative, or even hang with them, you’re going to have to stop doing that. It is the hallmark of the leftist who seeks to avoid discussion of the issue by discrediting the opponent.
“I have a few problems with that”
The language is too namby-pamby, true, but FR has rules.
“Unfortunately, in the common parlance in use today calling someone ignorant equates to calling them stupid i.e. not knowing something AND not having the mental facility to acquire that knowledge.”
That may be, but as I recall, I didn’t use that word. As I recall, I said that you lacked information on one particular subject, which does *not* equate to calling you stupid.
“Very true. Unfortunately, elected representatives and governments change. And there is no guarantee that the men who follow will have the same vision or stature.”
That is also true. The safeguard is education, historical and religious. In America, we have allowed the minions of Satan to destroy education and drive religion out of the public square.
“…your superior knowledge and experience in this matter.”
I didn’t claim superior knowledge and experience; I claimed some knowledge and experience.
“I don’t understand your objection. Are you saying that talent, as in Billy Blythe’s talent for deceiving people or Monica Lewinsky’s talent for being a stupid, ignorant slut are the same thing as intelligence and wisdom?”
Not at all. I find it very hard to believe you are not being deliberately disingenous in saying this, especially as you are so swift in condemning others for putting down people rather than their arguments. The point at issue is whether superior experience, intelligence, wisdom etc affords greater weight to someone’s arguments - which obviously it does, IRRESPECTIVE of your political affiliations. I didn’t mention Billy Blythe (who he?) or Monica Lewinsky, you did.
“There you go again. If you’re going to be conservative, or even hang with them, you’re going to have to stop doing that. It is the hallmark of the leftist who seeks to avoid discussion of the issue by discrediting the opponent.”
Well I could argue that that statement in and of itself is an attempt to discredit me, but I won’t. Actually I think my observation is a perfectly valid one because your argument is so completely specious. You can’t say “this persons opinion is better than yours because he has demonstrated intelligence and wisdom”, and then when challenged to say what this demonstrated intelligence and wisdom actually is, the answer is “he holds such and such opinions!” That is a circular argument. In the same way, you can’t argue such and such a person has no talent or wisdom JUST because his experiences have led him to a different conclusion than the one you hold. Unfortunately, you have to argue that his conclusions are wrong because of points a, b and c that he has overlooked, or assumptions d, e and f that are not valid. In some cases, it may just come down to a judgement call.
“I didn’t claim superior knowledge and experience; I claimed some knowledge and experience.”
I’m afraid you did claim superior knowledge and experience. “I lived for twenty years in a country that was only 2% Christian, of all denominations. I think I know a little about being in a minority. And one thing I know is that driving religion from the public square is not the same thing as protecting freedom of religion.” very certainly trumps “Unlike you I live in a nation with a state religion. It doesnt work. I am a baptist in a country with very few baptists. I AM in a minority, and yes it does change your opinions (actually it just brings some opinions more to the fore).”
But that’s ok. You obviously know more than me on this subject, so I rest.