JumpinJesus

Actually, this is a blog from Salam Pax who is wondering where Raed is. It is Salam who has linked to Riverbend's blog. Regardless, linking to a blog is not proof of authenticity. If I link to a blog written by someone claiming to be American, does that prove it's an American author simply because I linked to it?

Okay, let's clear something up. I'm getting the clear indication that I am being accused of claiming that foreigners cannot learn English well. That is quite a leap of assumption to make from my entry. I NEVER claimed that foreigners cannot learn to write English well.

I stated that the usage of language (more specifically, idiomatic language) indicates to me that the writer is a native English speaker. No matter how well one learns to speak English, attaining a hold of American idiomatic phrases is not learned in a classroom or on the internet, it is learned by being immersed in that language, something I don't think happens often in Iraq.

I also claimed that I could be wrong. I said I have my doubts and I still do, but my disbelief is not dogma. I am capable of changing my mind if I see evidence of its authenticity.

I stand by my statement that urban legend-style blogs designed to promote a view (no matter how much I may agree) trivializes and undermines the authentic arguments for that cause. I will never support lies, even if those lies support my own beliefs.

HarmlessRabbit, we actually agree on what's going on over there. But I can't defend and cite something that I don't feel is genuine.

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"I can normally tell how intelligent a man is by how stupid he thinks I am" - Cormac McCarthy, All The Pretty Horses