Re: Imposing the US Dollar on Canada

["Alan G. Isaac" <aisaac@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sat, 21 Apr 2001, Lawrence Boland wrote:
> Following up on Stephen Blocks discussion of American's lack of a wider
> perspective, I would like to pose two empirical questions for those critics
> of Henry and Paul P. -- particularly for Alan I. and John G. as follows:
> 1. Of the 535 members of the US Congress, how many hold passports?

As a first approximation, I'd guess about the same number that have
had an important influence on U.S. foreign policy.  I.e., not many.
Could you please point to a specific argument I have offered that
this bears on.

> 2. Of the critics of Henry's view of mainland China, how many have spent
> any time in _mainland_ China in the last 10 years?

I'm shocked an academic would offer this kind of empty rhetorical
question as if it is a response to something.  At the very least,
please indicate *which* criticisms you think this is relevant to.  For
example, do you really mean to imply that I should hesitate to condemn
the Tiananmen massacre by the People's ``Liberation'' Army because I
wasn't there?  If so, I condemn your view as morally bankrupt.  Does
it follow from your point of view that I should not criticize Henry's
unwillingness to unambiguously condemn the massacre and his
unwillingness to allow that the student protests show that the desire
for individual freedoms and democratic reforms are not just Western
impositions but are fully present and brutally suppressed in China?
Does it follow from your view that I should not condemn the Taliban
treatment of women?  Does it follow from your view that I should not
have condemned the Kent State killings because I've never been to
Ohio? What on earth are you trying to say??

Alan