To: K-list
Recieved: 2001/09/15 10:16
Subject: [K-list] Re: My lgnorance
From: Gcwein1111
On 2001/09/15 10:16, Gcwein1111 posted thus to the K-list:
In a message dated 9/14/01 3:02:11 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
CLEOCATRAsATnospamaol.com writes:
<<
I am not a person who discriminates - thank GOD/dess for that!!!
See my other posts about judgement and labels and prejudices and separation
from ALL THAT IS... these are the things that cause wars.
(J): lf you don't understand my usage of the word "discrimination" then
you might consider that it is of the most important aspects of the spiritual
path. This term has been used by nearly all great masters to refer to the
exercise of sound judgment, toward the development of wisdom. lt has nothing
at all to do with prejudice.
Jerry, you have not been doing your reading about the peoples' sentiment of
the USA and how governments do not always represent public sentiment.
Extremely so in the Islamic countries, and even in Europe, the people do not
have the same opinion as public policy. Terrorism is a grassroots war coming
from the people.
I feel we are bullies. Half the world feels we are bullies.
(J): First, l venture to say that l've read a helluva lot more
than you have about the Middle East over the past 35 years, and l think l
have a fair understanding of the complex dynamics involved. Although l'm half
Jewish, l have gone through long periods of being critical of many of
lsrael's policies and have always sympathized with the plight of the
Palestinians. l have many close Arab American friends, and one of my biggest
concerns is that they will suffer from this.
But l find your statements rather amazing, coming at a time when the world is
showing more support for the US than l can ever remember. Two hundred
thousand people gathered in Berlin yesterday -- a place that was destroyed by
US bombs not so long ago. This was typical of what happened in every European
capital, including places like Poland and Hungary which have no history of
alliance with the US. lt happened in every Asian country l know of. Even
Yassir Arafat gave blood as a gesture of support. Even countries like
Libya,Syria and lran have sided publicly with the US over this.
This unprecedented showing of
solidarity -- from friends and adversaries alike -- is not because everyone
agrees with all of US policies. Anyone can disagree with some of the things
we've done. Just because the mantle of world stewarship has been forced upon
the US, this doesn't mean our goverment is wiser than others. We know how
fallible it is.
What people recognize is that all of civilization is threatened by such
massive acts of unprecedented terrorism that strike at its very heart. That
when it comes to such horrific acts, foreign policy differences become almost
irrelevant. lt doesn't matter all that much what legitimate grievances may
have helped launched these fanatics on the road to becoming terrorists. ln an
imperfect world there will always be grievances. But no matter how imperfect
the world is and no matter what mistakes in policy might have been made,
civilization must survive. You can't blow up the world's largest office
towers and target tens of thousands of innocent civilians for destruction.
l saw the
poet Maya Angelou interviewed on tv last nite and found her comments
worthwhile. She talked about how healthy it was to feel angry about this huge
injustice. She herself was obviously deeply agitated and moved. Rightfully
so, she said people should focus on getting justice, not on getting revenge.
The question is what is the best means with which to achieve
this. ln spite of what l've said in this forum, l think a war against
terrorism would be incredibly difficult and fraught with danger -- a sea
filled with icebergs and sharks. There's surely the risk of escalating
existing feelings of hatred and vengeance against the US and inviting even
more acts of terrorism. l'm not at all sure such a war can succeed.
lf
Afghanistan and other countries would be willing to simply hand over bin
Laden and his fellow terrorists for trial here in the US, l would be
thrilled, and the country as a whole would accept this nonviolent resolution.
But this won't happen, and not only Americans but the world community
recognizes and fully expects the US to use force, both to bring these
terrorists to justice and to defend civilization itself. lf we didn't use
force, our credibility as a defender of freedom and civilization would be
irreparably harmed. And make no mistake about it, as much anti American
feeling as there may be in the world, they look to us when they need help.
l would like this to be my final post in this exchange. jerry
>>
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