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anti-war == disloyalty
From: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 05:47:37 -0500
------ Forwarded Message From: Leni Mayo <leni () moniker net> Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 21:33:51 +1100 To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net> Subject: anti-war == disloyalty Dave - The topic of "anti-war == disloyalty" isn't new. I happen to be reading a book at the mo which touches on this issue nicely - "The Age of Proppaganda" by Pratkanis and Aronson (ISBN 0-7167-3108-8). Chapter 23, titled "Protagoras' ideal: one-sided puffery versus two-sided debate" begins: "The Greek historian Herodotus tells the following tale about the origins of the Persion war. In 480 BC, Xerxes, the Persion leader, had decided to go to war against the Greek city-states in retailation for the humiliating defeat of the Persians ten years earlier at Marathon. Artabus, Xerxes' uncle, argued against the war on the grounds that the Greek army and navy could easily defeat Persia. He began his speech with these words: O king, it is impossible, if not more than one opinion is uttered, to make choice of the best; a man is forced to follow whatever advice may have been given him; but if opposite speeches are delivered, then choice can be exercised, In like manner, pure gold is not recognised by itself; but when we test it along with baser ore, we perceive which is the better. Artabus' words, at first, fell flat. Xerxes was filled with rage and publicly condemned Artabus for his disloyalty to Persia. However, after a period of "cooling off", Xerxes came around to Artabus' position and canceled the attack." It's fascinating sometimes how little changes in human affairs! Cheers - Leni PS: of course, Xerxes did end up going to war against the Greeks, with unhappy results. ------ End of Forwarded Message ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as interesting-people () lists elistx com To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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- anti-war == disloyalty Dave Farber (Mar 17)