----- Original Message ----- From: "Nick Arnett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 11:18 AM Subject: Re: Br!n: Re: more neocons
> On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 10:21:00 -0500, Dan Minette wrote > > > Then what is morality? A long list of rules? My basis for morality > > is "love neighbor as self" > > There's a commandment that comes ahead of that for me, which has to do with > loving God. Actually they were not necessarily taught as #1 and #2. I'm not sure how to apply love of God > As for the Golden Rule, I believe that when asked, "Who is my neighbor," the > great teacher told a story about how the rich and powerful were too busy to > come to the aid of a victim of violence, but the despised and lowly were not. Yes, that did happen. Being great and powerful can lead to blindness of others. So, if I am understanding correctly, you are so sure that rich people blind themselves, you do not trust the analysis of Americans because we are clearly the most powerful nation on the earth and thus probably doing things for the wrong reason because we are powerful? > How do we apply that knowledge to our international intervention decisions? > Does it imply that the rich and powerful have a tendency to get their > priorities wrong, to "help" only when it furthers their wealth and power? And those less powerful have a tendency to get their priorities right? My view is that the less powerful are also looking out for their own interests, it's just that they aren't as capable as the powerful to promote their own interests. > The story of the Good Samaritan is a beautiful expression of why it is > critical for the rich and powerful, when considering action, to listen to the > priorities of the weak and powerless. > Surely it is possible to be rich and powerful while keeping one's priorities > on a good moral course, but the presumption is against it in the story you > cited. Do you know why the story was taught that way? Do you know what the theological arguments were at the time? If I get you correctly, thinking doesn't help because we are so blind we can't think straight. Thus, listening to and following the views of countries like France and China and Russia is essential. If the consensus is against us, the bar for thinking we are right must be set very high? Well how high? Are we totally incapable of answering questions because we are the most powerful country on the earth? Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
