Property
The game of logical deduction
November 7, 2000
is won by setting rules --
"either/or" is favored
among the sophist's tools.
"If/then" is its companion,
for in one sweeping claim
it decrees other perspectives
unworthy of the name.
The deck is stacked from the beginning
if the one who's taking odds
sets all the stipulations
and deals out all the cards.
Reducing fine abstractions
to a simple argument
does not create a dialogue
or foster shared consent.
Copyright © Amy Belding Brown