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Hello Gary,
I'm guardedly optimistic. Things can be done but clearly no instant
pudding, no check-mate strategems. The battle must be waged on many
levels in many ways.
One other thought that has preoccupied in recent days--how pivotal in
the affairs of men tolerance is. Or maybe better understood in terms
of the evil of intolerance. Freedoms of life, speech, religion are
premised on "live and let be" . Islamic fanatics clearly hav
adopted a zero tolerance philosophy. That leaves the more tolerant
cultures and societies no choice but to extreme measures. The
difference is that tolerant cultures let others live and let be after
they win. I've concluded you can't tolerate intolerance when it is a
threat to one's liberty.
Friday, September 14, 2001, 4:38:55 PM, you wrote:
>> So far Christian mysticism isn't at that level now. If Christian
>> fanatics were were bombing schools or whatever in UK, for example,
>> I would support our government in weakening them to the point that
>> were no longer a threat.
GF> Um, maybe you intended that as irony, but Christian fanatics ARE
GF> bombing schools or whatever in the UK.
GF> http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/09/05/belfast.violence.1744/index.html
>> I'm open to hear any approach and incorporate it into my views.
>> What are you thinking we should do?
GF> I have no idea. There is no simple answer to this mess. Even if by
GF> some miracle we were able to ferret out and execute each and every
GF> terrorist and terrorist supporter, it would not stop. We would just
GF> launch a whole new army of terrorists bent on destroying us for
GF> killing their fathers, brothers, etc. Cut off the hydra's head and
GF> seven more grow in its place. You can't bully these people into
GF> submission -- bullying just reinforces their beliefs and their
GF> resolve.
GF> Forcing nations to hand over terrorists and stop supporting
GF> terrorists seems like one of the few approaches that could actually
GF> do some good. But of course that just casts the U.S. (and whoever
GF> else cooperates with the effort) as imperialist thugs, and launches
GF> yet another army of terrorists.
GF> I think terrorism will not stop until the extremists get their way
GF> (which, thankfully, is unlikely, and in any case it would just launch
GF> a new army of terrorists fighting the extremists) or until all
GF> extremists decide to use less violent means to achieve their goals
GF> (also unlikely). Changes in U.S. policy might ameliorate the
GF> situation slightly, but I wouldn't count on it.
GF> It's a disaster, and I don't know how you can resolve it.
GF> Gary
--
Best regards,
Jim mailto:jejohn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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