The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #131313 Message #2962939
Posted By: Bill D
11-Aug-10 - 12:14 PM
Thread Name: BS: A Cardinal with sense - Scotland UK
Subject: RE: BS: A Cardinal with sense - Scotland UK
I have been reading 'most' of the various BBC links at the bottom of the page noted above as a 'citation'. It seems there is a wide divergence of opinion, even in England and Scotland, about what should have been done with al Megrahi and whether medical records should be released.
PeterK... I'm glad to hear you were NOT "being entirely serious" about the prospect of the US bombing Scotland, but it IS hard to read body language in such texts. I was not prepared for even a partial joke in serious discussion. You say "... I am more interested in whether differences exist... and "... this would not mean his generalisation was unfair."
Of course differences exist, but they exist even in Scotland and the rest of Europe, which is why most generalizations are deceptive, unless carefully documented and context explained. The one the cardinal made, and now promoted and rubber-stamped even by some on this thread, tends to ignore that many others, like myself "... may not conform to the cardinal's stereotype.. There is an amazing amount of "USA bashing" going on these days...perhaps because it is easier to proclaim a stereotype than to type a detailed critique of various issues with citations. ((I'm sure that every country and culture can easily be stereotyped in various negative ways. I saw a LOT of 'variety of culture' in the recent World Cup that worried me. I do question the usefulness of the practice, though.))
and Joe... while I do appreciate the personal 'pacifist' view, and truly admire anyone who can hold it in todays world, I still am curious about how various people (not just yourself) who DO take the Christian Bible seriously can 'decide' which of the many contradictory views of killing noted in the Bible to espouse. I suppose in the end it IS just a 'personal attitude'....but if so, that would make those who DO allow capital punishment just as 'righteous' as those who do not. I spent 130 hours of college Philosophy courses struggling with every possible answer to such questions, and I guess my attitude of trying to keep an open mind about it all is what leads me to long discourses like this....