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Article: Lost in translation.(The Last Word)(international debate)
- Article from:
- Commonweal
- Article date:
- June 17, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Commonweal Foundation. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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"This house resolves that antiterrorism is the new McCarthyism." I was sitting in a classroom in Cyberjaya, Malaysia, at the annual World Debate Tournament, preparing to do battle with students from India and Malaysia.
When my opponent stood to speak, I expected him to launch into a vigorous argument comparing antiterrorist policies with Communist witch-hunts of the 1950s. Instead, I was treated to a discussion of imperialism in Japan--my opponent had confused Senator Joseph McCarthy with General Douglas MacArthur.
Once I finally had the chance to speak, I pointed out the mistake. But by that time, it was too late to alter the content of the debate. By ...