The Witless Battle Over General Boykin

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By David Kelley

"The problem here is not intolerance, divisiveness, or extremism. It is rank
irrationality. The whole exchange is another tiresome example of a false
dichotomy: dogmatism vs. relativism. Conservatives are right that liberals are
afraid to assert the truth of their convictions. Liberals are right that
conservatives are claiming truth for sectarian religious dogmas—and rightly
alarmed that they invoke those dogmas to justify war.

"What both sides ignore is the alternative of reason and rational certainty. When
Islamic terrorists attack us out of hatred for our secular way of life, our
pursuit of happiness, our wealth and productive achievements, it is reason, not
Jesus, that tells us they are viciously wrong. And reason does tell us that they
are wrong, objectively wrong, and that we are objectively right in responding
with force."

The next two paragraphs begin with these phrases: "Earth to General Boykin..." and
"Earth to Ellen Goodman...." Read the whole thing.