Comments on: On Buckley’s Civility http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:43:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: 2b01269e27dd http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/comment-page-1/#comment-152797 2b01269e27dd Sun, 11 May 2008 11:25:47 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/#comment-152797 <strong>2b01269e27dd...</strong> 2b01269e27ddbd946b70... 2b01269e27dd…

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]]> By: John http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/comment-page-1/#comment-134937 John Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:29:55 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/#comment-134937 I thought he was in favor if the Iraq war before it predictably went bad. I thought he was in favor if the Iraq war before it predictably went bad.

]]> By: David L. Wilson http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/comment-page-1/#comment-134919 David L. Wilson Sat, 01 Mar 2008 11:47:59 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/#comment-134919 Mr. Henderson, I appreciate your insight into WFB. Although your commentary focuses on a facet of Buckley's behavior, the larger point for me is the highlighting and validating of my impression of Noam Chomsky. I have seen hours of videotape of Chomsky discussing, debating, and fielding questions. Chomsky is unflappable--he simply does not allow emotion into the verbal exchange. He is cogent, logical, and articulate. He is the calm in the storm. His reasoning holds its own quiet strength, and does not need to throw its weight around the room. His demeanor is not defensive; it needs no adrenaline. This trait is remarkable to witness. It makes Chomsky unique among American speakers. Mr. Henderson, I appreciate your insight into WFB. Although your commentary focuses on a facet of Buckley’s behavior, the larger point for me is the highlighting and validating of my impression of Noam Chomsky. I have seen hours of videotape of Chomsky discussing, debating, and fielding questions. Chomsky is unflappable–he simply does not allow emotion into the verbal exchange. He is cogent, logical, and articulate. He is the calm in the storm. His reasoning holds its own quiet strength, and does not need to throw its weight around the room. His demeanor is not defensive; it needs no adrenaline. This trait is remarkable to witness. It makes Chomsky unique among American speakers.

]]> By: Weston http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/comment-page-1/#comment-134846 Weston Sat, 01 Mar 2008 08:05:29 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/#comment-134846 David, I hesitate to open the discussion again, but I went and watched the Buckley/Chomsky debate and I must say I came out thinking very highly of Buckley's civility. I'll concede your point that Chomsky had him on the ropes for most of the interview, largely due to Buckley's relative ignorance of the facts, and I'll concede that Buckley frequently interrupted Chomsky, possibly for rhetorical purposes. But it was a casual debate between two men who disagreed passionately, and no matter the winner, both restrained themselves as well as can be expected in a public forum. I have witnessed hundreds of similar arguments between trained academics and this one was unremarkable, except for the eloquence and conviction displayed on both sides. I agree that ideally opponents should "admit the point" when they have been beaten, rather than changing the subject. But as I am sure you're aware, such exchanges are partly performative acts: they aim to enlighten the audience, not to convert one or the other participant. Changes of mind and heart occur between debates, not while they are going on, and Buckley's stammering replies should be enough to satisfy his ideological critics. Calling him uncivil for failing to publicly humiliate himself, and then (here I am not speaking to David) calling him names after he's dead strikes me as beyond the pale. David,

I hesitate to open the discussion again, but I went and watched the Buckley/Chomsky debate and I must say I came out thinking very highly of Buckley’s civility. I’ll concede your point that Chomsky had him on the ropes for most of the interview, largely due to Buckley’s relative ignorance of the facts, and I’ll concede that Buckley frequently interrupted Chomsky, possibly for rhetorical purposes. But it was a casual debate between two men who disagreed passionately, and no matter the winner, both restrained themselves as well as can be expected in a public forum. I have witnessed hundreds of similar arguments between trained academics and this one was unremarkable, except for the eloquence and conviction displayed on both sides.

I agree that ideally opponents should “admit the point” when they have been beaten, rather than changing the subject. But as I am sure you’re aware, such exchanges are partly performative acts: they aim to enlighten the audience, not to convert one or the other participant. Changes of mind and heart occur between debates, not while they are going on, and Buckley’s stammering replies should be enough to satisfy his ideological critics. Calling him uncivil for failing to publicly humiliate himself, and then (here I am not speaking to David) calling him names after he’s dead strikes me as beyond the pale.

]]> By: Weston http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/comment-page-1/#comment-134652 Weston Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:36:39 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/#comment-134652 No. Other things count,too. No. Other things count,too.

]]> By: Tim R. http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/comment-page-1/#comment-134619 Tim R. Fri, 29 Feb 2008 23:29:35 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/#comment-134619 Yep, you are both correct. I need to work on myself and to become much less judgmental. But hey, two wrongs don't make a right. Yep, you are both correct. I need to work on myself and to become much less judgmental. But hey, two wrongs don’t make a right.

]]> By: Kenneth http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/comment-page-1/#comment-134614 Kenneth Fri, 29 Feb 2008 23:23:36 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/#comment-134614 I believe Jesus also said "Blessed be the peacemakers". Inconsistency is the hallmark of the authoritarian mind. I believe Jesus also said “Blessed be the peacemakers”. Inconsistency is the hallmark of the authoritarian mind.

]]> By: anon http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/comment-page-1/#comment-134609 anon Fri, 29 Feb 2008 23:05:52 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/#comment-134609 @ Tim R amazing that you do not apply this to yourself -- many here will see your hypocrisy come out in such a post @ Tim R

amazing that you do not apply this to yourself — many here will see your hypocrisy come out in such a post

]]> By: Kenneth http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/comment-page-1/#comment-134568 Kenneth Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:31:31 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/#comment-134568 It wasn't just civility he lacked, but intellectual honesty, morality, and a conscience. A true establishmentarian who availed himself of the ample opportunities for apparatchiks in America doesn't deserve any sympathy, least of all from us. It wasn’t just civility he lacked, but intellectual honesty, morality, and a conscience. A true establishmentarian who availed himself of the ample opportunities for apparatchiks in America doesn’t deserve any sympathy, least of all from us.

]]> By: Elaine Supkis http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/comment-page-1/#comment-134524 Elaine Supkis Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:36:01 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2008/02/28/on-buckleys-civility/#comment-134524 Goldwater did the same...too late. What counts is to do it while in power, not just before meeting the Goddess of Justice at the Gates of Death. Goldwater did the same…too late. What counts is to do it while in power, not just before meeting the Goddess of Justice at the Gates of Death.

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