Edited by author 10-17-2003 08:31 PM
On topic:
Discourse theory is in the same vein of discussion and understanding as the whole nature-nuture dialog. Its so cyclical it makes me want to know less about it. I try not to think about these grand overarching dialogs alot, because in the end it just leaves me with a slew of satisfactory thoughts and unsatisfactory answers. If
one is familiar enough with the topics, and can understand both sides of a debate, it can be fun. In discussions you can constantly play devils advocate and leave other discussers constantly off balance so they are forced to think through positions they are presenting rather than simply proselytize from thier own personal political rap.
Thats what I take away from these deep/core dialogs. Party tricks. :/

Unrelated:
An article from Seth Stevenson at Slate related to Yasukuni a shortways down the page.

Linked thru Gen Kanai's Blog about Debunking and Rebunking Japanese cliche's. I just gobble up anything related to Yasukuni as its such and interesting and relatively unheard of (in the west) topic. I thought you might be able to gleen some pleasure from this series too.