Dear friends,
Much as I feel a strong desire within this forum, I note that all our
various differences are still there. If the horrific terror attak last
Tuesday has any meaning, it should help us shape our view of the MoQ.
I already expressed my dislike for the simplistic formula of Intellectual
values (us) vs. Social values (the terrorists). Tony Blair said something
yesterday that shook me up for its metaphysical implications: "We believe in
reason". I'm sure that he didn't think much about it, but what he said, to
put belief before reason, is very MoQish and very unSOMish. It might be said
that our adversaries too believe in reason. Since, they identify the USA as
the great Satan. their attack on the USA is entirely rational. It is thus
important to understand that reason is much more than rationality. If you
start with a bad ethic and then apply logic, monstrosities are created, such
as these terror movements with their immoral social values and their
subsequent intellectual perversions of it.
The other issue that makes me uncomfortable is the DQ=good formula that
keeps appearing in this forum. As far as the USA (and most of us) are
concerned, the terror attack was very dynamic, coming completely
unexpectedly out of the clear blue sky (literally). When those planes hit
the Twin Towers, they rocked . . . with catastrophic results. The potential
was there and the terrorists brought about its realization. For the victims
of the attack, this dynamic event was a catastrophe - just like the
meteorite that supposedly ended the reign of the dinosaurs.
However, these people were not dinosaurs. They offered an alternative
potential that has now been eliminated. Think of all the stories that will
never be told, books never written, children never conceived. Unfortunately
there is no going back. The realization of DQ always brings about a new
reality and comes at the expense of the alternatives.
Now, lets come back to pragmatic issues. I now realize how much of our
society relies on trust. Just a short while ago, I was driving safely on the
correct side of the road, just like all the other cars on the road. We all
trusted each other to follow this simple rule, yet it would be so easy for
someone to break that rule and cause a horrible accident. Last Tuesday, the
normal rules of airline travel were broken. Even the "normal" etiquette of
hijacking was broken - no demands, no hostages. It's scary how easy it was
to do such damage armed with just airline tickets and knives. Presumably,
people who would do this would have no qualms about using any means at their
disposal to kill and maim.
President Bush has called for revenge and this is something I oppose.
Revenge is a motivation from the past - futile when you realize that there
is no going back. HOWEVER (in very big capitals), I will remind you all of
what I wrote to Platt a few weeks ago:
Real defense PREMPTS the threat - it is PREaction, not reaction. The world
must take action NOW to ensure that similar terrorist acts do not happen in
the future. If the USA finds Bin Laden to be responsible and succeeds in
eliminating him and his cronies, many of us will breathe easier. Had someone
eliminated him a year ago, maybe New York would look a little different
today.
Jonathan
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