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From: msb@sq.uucp (Mark Brader)
Date: Tue, 24-Jan-89 21:07:45 EST
Message-ID: <1989Jan24.210745.17806@sq.uucp>
Newsgroups: tor.general
Subject: Re: Defaming the Dead (was Re: presumption of innocence)
References: <157@aimed.UUCP> <4674@hcr.UUCP> <1989Jan20.201648.20385@lsuc.uucp> <4712@hcr.UUCP> <8901240223.AA03286@gerrard.csri.toronto.edu> <1989Jan24.181741.12072@lsuc.uucp>
Reply-To: msb@sq.com (Mark Brader)
Distribution: tor
Organization: SoftQuad Inc., Toronto

Sean Doran the Younger (sean@lsuc.UUCP) writes:
> It would be indecent of someone to speak ill of the dead, for the dead
> have no means of self-protection.   The quote in the Summary line
> (from Voltaire's _Lettres sur Oedipe_ no. I) is one of many warnings
> to be kind to the reputations of those who have died.

The quote in question was:

> On doit des e'gards aux vivants; on ne doit aux morts que la ve'rite'.

of which the last part may be translated: "to the dead we owe only the truth".

But speaking the truth is exactly what this thread is about.  The word
"murderer" means, not one who was convicted of murder, but one who commits
murder.  In the case of a person who died before any trial could occur,
we are left to our own devices in determining what we believe to be truth.
If we are sure about the facts, "murderer" *is* the thing to say.

Mark Brader				"'Taxpayer' includes any person
SoftQuad Inc., Toronto			whether or not liable to pay tax."
utzoo!sq!msb, msb@sq.com		-- Income Tax Act of Canada, s.248(1)
