Rule of Analogies
Bruce Tomaso, on The Dallas Morning News Religion blog, passed along a survey by Gallup that indicates that Iran and Alabama rank about equally high in the percentage of their populations that regard religion as important. Gallup headlined their story, "What Alabamians and Iranians Have in Common." Tomaso included photos of the Ayatollah Khomeini and Governor George Wallace. That's when the sh*i hit the fan. Who didn't see that coming?
Reader "corinne" commented, "shi'ite bap'ists." Reader "Mike Bratton asked if the juxtaposition of photos was Tomaso's "tacit equivocation of the totalitarian political system/religion of Islam with Christianity?" Even NewsBusters.org chastised Tomaso , making him feel like he was called a "a condescending, secular, elitist lefty putz."
This thread illustrates a corollary to Ed Cognoski's Rule of Analogies: "Don't use 'em." The corollary is: "Two incendiary topics will spontaneously combust if brought anywhere near each other."
P.S. I learned the Rule of Analogies ("Don't use 'em") from long experience. Your debate opponent will inevitably latch onto any differences between the subjects and ignore the similarities. And there are always differences. Otherwise it would be an equivalence, not an analogy. Before you know it, you're arguing the analogy, not the original subject, and the point is lost. Hence the Rule of Analogies: "Don't use 'em."
P.P.S. Segregation still sucks.
Dealing with Electoral Grief
Now that that the $800 billion stimulus bill stands on the verge of passage, the GOP rearguard is fighting delaying actions. Mike Hashimoto, on The Dallas Morning News Opinion blog, wants more time to read the bill, as if he just might support it if only he can study it a little longer.
I'd say we're clearly at stage two of the Kübler-Ross model of grief:
- Denial: "Voters rejected Bush, not true conservatism."
- Anger: "It's not fair. They didn't vote for my amendment."
- Bargaining: TBD
- Depression: TBD
- Acceptance: TBD
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