Posted by Bob Marks on 11/12/2001, 12:53 pm
      152.163.197.72

      That is because he shows us how errors in logic can be used to make seemingly plausable arguments. Here is a list
      of Zak Martin's top five errors.

      1)The Shifting Sands Argument: also known as the argumentum ad hominum (circumstantial). Whenever anyone
      criticizes something, accuse them of doing the same thing. Of course, that doesn't refute their original argument, but
      they will so busy defending themselves, they will probably forget their original point.

      2)The Argument by Insult: this is the argumentun ad hominum (abusive). When someone quotes a newspaper, just
      say that the paper is a propaganda sheet and unworthy of comment. This releaves you of having to actually discuss
      any facts being presented. And BTW, "propaganda" comes from "probagate" and simply means "any organized or
      concerted effort, or movement to spread particular doctrines, information, etc." This says nothing whatsoever
      about the doctrines being false.

      3)Oversimplification: Take a complex situation and say that you have the one and only reason why something
      happened. Hitler's rise to power? Simple. It was due to the humiliation that Germany suffered with the Versailles
      treaty. The fact that before the Great Depression and subsequent unemployment, the Nazis were a minority party
      that never got more than 10% of the vote is ignored. The Communists also got 10% of the vote. So why didn't
      THEY take over instead of Hitler?

      4)Blame the Victims: Zak claims to be against ALL terrorist acts against civilians. Ah, but he then claims that US
      policy was at least partly responsible for the World Trade Center bombing. Now he an have his cake and eat it
      too. He can still claim to be against ALL terrorism and blame it on the USA! This is just another way to blame the
      beeding victims. But this has deeper philosophical roots, namely...

      5)Determinism: in other words, the terrorists were nothing more than stimulus-response machines and their
      response was PREDETERMINED by US policy. Forget the FACT that these terrorists MADE MURDEROUS
      CHOICES OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL. You know, Mexico has suffered at the hands of the US too. How
      come there has neer been a Mexican terrorist group that targeted the US? Because they made different
      CHOICES. We can also turn this around here and claim that the US response was PREDETERMINED by the
      terrorist actions. Hey Zak, you want to know why the US is bombing Afghanistan? Its the fault of the terrorist
      bombing. We just couldn't help ourselves.

      Bob Marks

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