Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 23:28:42 -0700 From: Terry Lambert <tlambert2@mindspring.com> To: Piet Delport <siberiyan@mweb.co.za> Cc: Technical Information <tech_info@threespace.com>, FreeBSD Chat <chat@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: Helping victims of terror Message-ID: <3BAC2F9A.9DEE0775@mindspring.com> References: <4.3.2.7.2.20010921173959.02994178@threespace.com> <20010922032042.A29963@athalon>
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Piet Delport wrote: > Terry's posting claimed at length that the American nation was very > sorry about its mistakes, whereas the terrorists probably don't feel any > remorse at all (unless i completely misinterpret his closing sentence). > > I was only trying to point out that the Americans don't feel even > remotely as soul-struck with guilt as Terry painted them[1], and > (obviously) the terrorists feel even less guilt. Do not confuse "guilt" with "remorse". Many in the U.S. feel remorse over the actions we have been collectively forced to take in the past. This does not mean that we would not do the same thing again, were the circumstances identical. If this turns into a 10 year war, as some have predicted, I suspect we will see a U.S. willing to act far more terribly than anything any nation has done in the past in defense of its continued existance. If this happens, the people of the U.S. will feel remorse, but only a few will feel true guilt (as Oppenheimer felt guilt over the atomic bomb). There is such a thing as necessary violence in defense of oneself, when faced by a violent and implacable foe. > In fact, arguing merit on the basis of how much guilt one expresses is > pointless to begin with IMHO. Once you're involved in a war it's a > matter of Us versus Them; you destroy them before they destroy you. > Does this make one's actions right or justifiable? No. Does it make > them avoidable, and worthy of guilt? No. You do what you have to do. The U.S. has not engaged in the doctorine of "total war" for a very long time now -- it has been since before the U.S. signed the Geneva Convention. Even in times of war, the U.S. has not discarded what can only be called "gentlemanly rules of conduct". > Actually, i don't think you're wrong at all to want Bin Laden's group > (or whoever is responsible) eliminated. The WTC disaster was > inexcusable, and i agree emphatically that the organsation responsible > for it should be utterly destroyed, as they're a threat to the human > race as a whole. > > Ideally, this should be done as surgically as possible, but > unfortunately a lot of people all over the world seem to be calling out > for another big, messy war, and i believe that is *not* the way to go > about it. An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind, as Ghandi > said. I don't think that anyone wants a messy war, except perhaps the terrorists responsible for the act. But as you point out, the responsible organization must be neutralized, if we are to avoid future repetitions, either in the U.S. or elsewhere. -- Terry To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message
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