Much as I accept Prof's Weichmann's Concern, and emotionally appealing as it
may seem to many,
I remember years ago John Campbell, then editor of Analog SF magazine, pointing
out the
difference between culture models and our inability to see our own culture and
what it does. We
may imagine we're civilisaed, but are we reallY. What about Bush and his war
on terrorism, and
the long list of injustices and cruelties practiced by Americans on American.
The Muslim community has a tribal taboo system and the USA preaches middle
class values. The
two cannot be compared and to insist the Muslim conform to USA values and
beliefs. What about
USA exploitation of other countries, called sweat factories where people are
made to work at
below poverty style wages. Not one but many countries. What about African
countries where the
"natives" were taught western style farming practices which don't suit Africa
or its culture.
It resulted in more poverty, starvation, etc than before. I could carry on for
quite a list.
But because it is not shown on the news, does it therefore not exist? Bush and
cohorts are
manipulating public attitudes to yahoo negative attitudes towards "the enemy".
I find that
quite objectionable. What about America wasting natural resources far in excess
of its natural
share?
I find all political systems objectionable because it controls the lives of
people to the
advantage of a small elite. You cannot have more than others without depriving
those others to
make them survive on less than their all too human needs. That's ok is it? Do
you actually know
how many sweat factories the USA has contrived? What about oil companies and
drug companies
exploiting a market for profit without a care for what happens to people?
No, I cannot get worked up about the prisoner's exchange, because if I
concerned myself with
that I could not ignore it to a juncture of being concerned with any and all
kinds of cruelty,
inhumanity, exploitation, etc. So like the Buddha I feel compassion for all
people deprived of
their humanity, even their most humble needs. And since I cannot do much about
this I focus on
problems right in front of my nose. If as Martin Luther King preached = which
got him shot - to
have a care for all fellow creatures, yes this world would be much better
world. As it is it is
still closer to hell than I like. I cannot insult other people as some members
of this group can.
""“To have one's individuality completely ignored is like being pushed quite
out of life--like
being blown out as one blows out a light.” Evelyn Scott
So here is my list of ten commandments, I made up decades ago. It's a checklist
to score
yourself for how you treat others. And no, I don't jump on pop bandwaggon
stuff. And No. I am
not "perfect" I'm just working on it. It's an ideal to aim for, not a condition
to impose,
especially on others. For the more we push for goodies the more baddies we'll
create. And if
you cannot see that, I can pity you. But I won't try to make you. And, Yes, I
lived through
WWII in the Netherlands as a child. My second Father spent years in a german
prison, in chains,
thank you. My eldest brother was imprisoned in Germany, because as a chemist he
sabotaged his
work as a chemist in a bomb factory. If it had not been for a kind German
doctor he's be dead
long ago. And all because people are brainwashed into being obedient, for what
reason?
I attended a conference on creativity once, in Melbourne. They wanted
us to play a game. We
were in a life boat, it was sinking, we were running out of food. Whatever the
excuse we had to
get rid of some people. So I got up, said, I'd jump overboard because nowise
would I be
responsible for murdering other people. And, haha, all those in that group had
to be counseled
and I was in the bad boy category. Nobody talked to me at all. And imagine the
dirty looks I
got. I don't know what the stupid organisers intended people to learn, but not
my kind of
lesson. And would it not be wonderful if "everybody" lived in so Utopian a
fashion. I know dang
well they don't, causes and reasons included.
1: There is but one law: the power to change and adapt.
2: Honour Life, it is your Father and Mother.
3: We are all equal in our needs.
4: Hear what people mean, not what they say or do.
5: Lead your own life and let others lead theirs.
6: Whatever is agreeable between people is acceptable, to them.
7: Neither curtail nor take advantage of another being.
8: When You find a wrong first check your own beliefs and actions.
9: It is better to be human than perfect.
1O: We have only one spaceship: Earth, let us cherish it.
11: Practice what you preach?
adrian.
Guantanamo, yuck!
========
Georges Metanomski wrote:
>
>
> --- On *Fri, 8/29/08, yayad /<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>/* wrote:
>
> From: yayad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: Fw: PROFESSOR WICHMAN EMAIL
> To: "Georges Metanomski" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED],
> "??? ?????" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "????? ????" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], "???? ???" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "??????? ????"
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "???" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "??? ???????"
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "???? ?????" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "????
> ???? ?????" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "ruthi beker"
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "????? ?????? ?'???" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
> "???? ??? , ?'???" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Date: Friday, August 29, 2008, 8:06 AM
>
>
>
> You may have seen this before. Right to the point. If only we had
> more professors like him.
>
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