I said something about Robin Williams Peace Plan in a comment to this post on michele's blog, a small victory. In one of the following comments to that post, I found this entry:
Whatta maroon. Anyone actually sitting and watching the events of September 11 with even the smallest "undercurrent of optimism" is a despicable human.First of all, I am actually thankful that someone found the scoop on this. When I first posted about this supposed Robin Williams' Peace PLan, way back on April 24, 2003, I said:On a side note, that's the second time today I've heard someone touting the "Robin Williams Peace Plan" like it's some real thing. It's not.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/williams.asp
Posted by Solonor at August 27, 2003 10:25 PM [emphasis added]
Now I am going to attribute this to Robin Williams, as it was attributed to Robin Williams when I found it in a group I belong to. I actually did a search using one of the phrases from the following to see if I could confirm it was actually from Robin Williams, and what I did find was that it was posted in several places, but no one attributed it to Robin Williams. Finally, thanks to my friend from the group who originally posted it, I was pointed to this link which will take you to the google cached page for WECR 102.3. That radio station does not seem to have much interest in archiving previously posted things on their site, I discovered by trying to locate their original version of that cached page. OK, now that I have cleared up the attribution, let me give you the plan:I do not blindly post things without doing some cursory check as to the accuracy of such. I found what I suspected was a reputable source and posted what I believed was a wonderful idea.
OK, so maybe this was not composed by Robin Williams and was written by some Harley rider after riding through the Black Hills of North Dakota with the wind blowing through his locks and his thoughts on what in the heck to do about all the unAmerican sentiment that seems to be barraging our compassionate and sympathetic country from far away places. It could be that his momma wrote it while sitting on the toilet. All I know is that I did not write it, but I wish I had. As for it not being real, I challenge that statement because it is untrue. The damn thing exists and has been widely published. I cede the point that it might be wrongfully attributed to Robin Williams.
Of course, it could be that snopes is wrong. Since their purpose is to debunk Urban Legends, I cannot believe that to be true, but it is possible.
Am I pissed at having been publicly called on the carpet for my error? I already have my own Spelling Police agent who publicly points out my misspellings. I appreciate the unjaded eye looking over my stuff and seeing what I miss. No, I am unconcerned about having been found to have misstated a fact. I can admit when I am wrong. To speak truthfully, I am so appreciative that someone took the trouble to do my fact-checking, that I invite Solonor* to read my entries regularly and to feel free to point out any errors in my fact reporting as he can find.
As for the plan, it still makes sense, whoever composed it:
*I would like to thank Solonor for the head's up on the opening up of the BBC archives, and would like to publicly inform him that his blog entries ride under the left hand column when viewed in 600x800 resolution. I am supposing he never thought to check such.
[UPDATE: In the comments, Solonor said the problem I experienced visiting his site was a temporary glitch. I confirm that such glitch has been corrected. I retract my statement about his not having thought to check such and sheepishly apologize. I am unsure what the deal is with the BBC Archives that he discussed. I still hope they are available for free downloading at some point.]
ThePosted by Tiger at August 30, 2003 08:58 AMRobin Williams'plan...(Hard to argue with this logic!) I see a lot of people yelling for peace but I have not heard of a plan for peace. So, here's one plan:1) The US will apologize to the world for our "interference" in their affairs, past & present. We will promise never to "interfere" again.
2) We will withdraw our troops from all over the world, starting with Germany, South Korea and the Philippines. They don't want us there. We would station troops at our borders. No more sneaking through holes in the fence.
3) All illegal aliens have 90 days to get their affairs together and leave. We'll give them a free trip home. After 90 days the remainder will be gathered up and deported immediately, regardless of who or where they are. France would welcome them.
4) All future visitors will be thoroughly checked and limited to 90 day visits unless given a special permit. No one from a terrorist nation would be allowed in. If you don't like it there, change it yourself, don't hide here. Asylum would not ever be available to anyone. We don't need any more cab drivers.
5) No "students" over age 21. The older ones are the bombers. If they don't attend classes, they get a "D" and it's back home, baby.
6) The US will make a strong effort to become self sufficient energy wise. This will include developing non polluting sources of energy but will require a temporary drilling of oil in the Alaskan wilderness. The caribou will have to cope for a while.
7) Offer Saudi Arabia and other oil producing countries $10 a barrel for their oil. If they don't like it, we go someplace else.
8) If there is a famine or other natural catastrophe in the world, we will not "interfere". They can pray to Allah or whomever, for seeds, rain, cement or whatever they need. Besides, most of what we give them gets "lost" or is taken by their army. The people who need it most get very little, anyway.
9) Ship the UN Headquarters to an island some place. We don't need the spies and fair weather friends here. Besides, it would make a good homeless shelter or lockup for illegal aliens.
9b) Use the buildings as replacement for the twin towers.
10) All Americans must go to charm and beauty school. That way, no one can call us "Ugly Americans" any longer.
Now, ain't that a winner of a plan.
"The Statue of Liberty is no longer saying 'Give me your poor, your tired, your huddled masses.' She's got a baseball bat and she's yelling, 'You want a piece of me?'" - Robin Williams
God has an ironic sense of humor, I think. I had to follow the very post that you pinged (in which I whoop and holler about the BBC opening up its archives) with a semi-retraction, because I didn't check my facts closely enough! :)
I didn't intend any disrespect toward you in my comment. I had just seen that Robin Williams thing so many times that very day that it made me crazy. Sorry if it appeared as such.
As for the merits of the plan, one of the things that makes it appealing to be passed around the 'net is its defiant, "bite me" attitude (plus the association with a popular comedian). It makes zero practical sense, but it's fun to imagine when the rest of the world seems so thankless for our help.
(And normally my posts don't ride under the right-hand column in 800x600. That was a temporary glitch. All better now. Thanks.)
Posted by: Solonor at August 30, 2003 09:16 AMThanks for the apology and for for clearing up the attribution as not belonging to Robin Williams. Yes, the mere cheekiness of THE PLAN does make it more likely to have been something off the cuff originated on USENET. Sill, I like its isolationist ideals to a point.
As you can see in the update, I retracted the resolution problem statement and confirm such was back in order.
Now, let us smokum peacepipe. ;)
Posted by: Tiger at August 30, 2003 09:52 AMSpelling Police huh?
Is this on commision, or can I charge an hourly rate?
Posted by: Cherry at August 31, 2003 07:36 PM