On Wed, Mar 02, 2011 at 03:43:16PM -0600, Lee Huddleston wrote:
>
> I think that the interest in the u-505 has to do with it as a machine, a
> boating machine. I certainly would not want to shoot someone, but I can
> appreciate the beauty of a well-designed and made gun. Nevertheless, it is
> good to be reminded that this was a killing machine.
Oh, I'm not in the least bothered either by the designed purpose of the
505 or for that matter of any weapon or other tool; there are good and
bad uses for almost anything, and it's up to us humans to make the moral
choices. I've mentioned being an Army vet; I've also taught pistol-based
self-defense in the years past, and am quite a fan of well-made
firearms.
However, stories about how "decent" or "honorable" the Nazis were -
especially stories that have no more basis to them than some TV show -
strike at the very meaning of decency and honor. There is no decency or
honor possible in the service of a homicidal maniac and a vile
philosophy - and no act of kindness (which I'm certain that individual
German soldiers performed) can make up for it, or even balance the
original monstrosity of that service in the slightest.
The average person, even though their purpose and intent may well be
utterly good, will make mistakes - even horrible ones. I'm no angel
myself, despite doing my best to cleave to what I believe is right, and
so try not to judge people too harshly. But justifications such as
"well, in war, both sides do horrrible things" - and justifications they
are, in the original meaning of the word - go beyond what is reasonable.
> For some reason I have always been interested in submarines. Consequently,
> I have visited several American submarines as well as the 505. One thing
> that struck me about the 505 was how much more wood and other trim there was
> in the interior. In the American subs the interior was as sterile as it
> could be.
I'd find it fascinating to visit the 505, actually. As an engineer, I've
always found it interesting to see how people deal with what Arthur
Clark referred to as the first stage of technological progress (the "can
barely do it" stage.) Often, the frustrated desire to improve things
technologically results in artistic improvements (which is why, as I see
it, the old railroad switching systems were all gorgeous polished brass
and crafted mica separators; lots and lots of examples of this kind of
thing.) Unfortunately, that artistic end is forgotten once you reach the
third stage ("cheap and ubiquitous"). But then, we have our
counter-culture movements; thus, steampunk with its fun gadgets (e.g.,
the gorgeous "Victorian" laptop -
http://www.toxel.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/steampunk05.jpg
and the mouse/USB dongle combo here -
http://www.toxel.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/steampunk01.jpg ).
More steampunk at Toxel:
http://www.toxel.com/tech/2009/07/12/12-steampunk-gadgets-and-designs/
Ben
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