Hey jbo206...

Some times the best exchange of thought can be found in a debate most dare not partake of. Where would Oscar Wilde be now had he not been an extraordinary provocateur in his day. With that as an opener, and given your propensity to blow a gasket, I remain cautiously optimistic and none the less willing to challenge your "interpretation" of the Colonel's thread.

I too found Col-Burton's words disagreeable and though his comments are annoyingly insensitive and poorly delivered, I did not read them the same way as you.. . In his opinion, he did state that's all it was, he doesn't offer any thing that suggests the promotion of servitude or slavery, indentured, forced or otherwise. I believe the focus of his thread was targeted on the subliminal. I base my perspective on 2 of the things he stressed. First in the way he steers the reader away from assuming physical strength is involved...and secondly, he states his Greek Orthodox heritage. If that is his brand of Christianity, it would be spiritually impossible for him to promote or condone any kind of real human slavery.

Simply put, the dude is merely professing to his belief in survival of the fittest... and as long as he is cock of the rock you need to go work your own problems out cause he ain't about to foot your bill .

Hey, you know what they say about opinions............ and if you disagree with mine, I'll listen to opposing ideas provided they're civilly proffered .

@ IMP,

I read your post and then re-read the Colonel's. My opinion still hold's. Here is why.

1. All his words (& not just the two items you take out of context) - His words "those who are strong should dominate those who are weak" and "it is un-natural to obligate the superior to aid the inferior". The article in question list's out the "inferior or weak" as mostly women and children. It also shows that when given hope, and help they become role models of industry and strength.

2. You believe that the Colonel is anti-slavery. He merely states that he does not own slaves and is not a slaver himself. After stating his orthodox heritage he states that he regards "Nietzsche's ideas as being very accurate, on an intellectual level" (I will refer you back to the ideas he chose to stress from bullet 1).

3. He states that his position is equally valid to others, then does nothing to back it up. We need to accept and validate his world view? because he is Christian? because he is Nietzschean? (what is it with pseudo intellectuals affinity for equal but apposing viewpoints? It is laziness to assume that every topic has to have two valid, apposing viewpoints)

Finally, I am all for provocateurs (which is why I am choosing to respond to you :) yet still satisfied that I have a "propensity for blowing a gasket" when idiots proclaim that it is the natural order of things for slavery to exist in the USA (I too think he is a provocateur...but not one with the lofty aims you interpreted).

Hey jbo206...back at you...

I'm most appreciative of your response, and wish more folks on TDB would engage in the like. Since you opted to compartmentalize your rebuttal in to bullet points, I'll do the same by responding to each of yours with one of my own.

1) I didn't take out of context what was said, as a matter of fact I believe I've interpreted the Colonel's words literally. I too am a Greek Orthodox parishioner so I know it's spiritually impossible for a true believer in my brand of faith to promote or condone "real" slavery.... not to mention the Greek's history over the last 2000 years is riddled with servitude and degradation at the hand of an invader. I also want to point out if a person is following the Greek Orthodox version of Christianity it usually means that person is Greek. With that revelation exposed, it's not hard to understand how our Greek Colonel is infected with some kind of superiority complex. Trust me on this one, walk a day amongst my landsmen and you'll see what I mean.(laugh now, cause I'm making a joke here ,,,, come on laugh at my humor)

2) Yes, I most certainly do believe the Colonel is "not" a slaver..."nor" do I believe he promotes slavery. I do, however, think he is interpreting Nietzsche in the most literal and fundamental of terms. I base this on the way the Colonel stresses his regard for the Nietzsche philosophy on an intellectual plain. Nietzsche believes those who truly see themself as inferior, do purposely enter in to a lifestyle that will reinforce the lowly opinion they have of themself... and in time they find it impossible to break away from .... In other words, and I know it sounds weird, they have grown comfortable in their own misery. We see it every day in our society.... How some individuals select a spouse,,,,,then soon after are victims suffering at the hand of spousal abuse, yet remain unwilling to break free from his/her abuser.

3) I think this is where I believe your contempt for the dude forced you to hit a brick wall before you could see what either the Colonel or myself are saying( believe me I am not at all attempting to liken my ideals to those of the Colonel). Remember for the record I did say how poorly I thought the Colonel made his case, but you've not expressed your position well either. You accuse him of not backing up what he says with anything substantive, but my friend, you too are not offering a strong factual case by merely stating your adversarial position. How can you be taken seriously if you continue to offer nothing substantive to support the accusations you make.If you want to launch a successful blow you need to quit referring back to Lynn Sherr's words. We've all read what she had to say,,,, so come up with some thing of your own.

Finally: Black-and-white photos of slums are starkly juxtaposed with color images. Though on the surface the color be the most factual, which of the 2 is less relevant in it's essence. I think both warrant investigation.

You proclaim it's laziness to assume every topic can have 2 valid viewpoints placed or dealt with close together for contrasting effect. I again disagree with you and suggest not willing to acknowledge the possibility is just plain old stubbornness.

ImNoPUNK

I am gratefull for your efforts to clarify my point. I admit it was poorly worded. However, in the spirit of clarification, I must admit that I am not Greek. I converted to Greek Orthodoxy for numerous reasons that do not merit inclusion in this discussion.