David Buchanan wrote:
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Dan Glover [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > Sent: Sunday, October 24, 1999 11:22 AM
> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Subject: Re: MD Dropping things
> >
> > Hi Dave
> >
> > In modern warfare, means justify ends. In as much as Truman was faced
> > with ending WWII as expediently as possible I still believe he chose
> > Dynamically and therefore morally when he ordered dropped atomic bombs
> > on Japan, if circumstances of that time are considered. It's all part
> > of
> > giving "The Devil" his due, I suppose. If Truman looked to God for
> > answers, it was The Devil who responded.
> >
> > Dan
> >
> [David Buchanan] Don't you mean "the end justifies the means"?
> That old saying is one I disagree with entirely and your reversal simply
> makes no sense.
Hi David
Remember Pirsig states A does not cause B, rather B values precondition
A. So, ends do not justify means, rather means value prejustification of
ends.
>
> In what way was Truman's choice Dynamic? I really don't see any
> reason to think is was dynamic.
David, since we are unable to define Dynamic Quality it is hard to
answer your question directly.
>
> How could his choice be dynamic AND demonic at the same time? It
> seems contradictory and it seems to defy logic.
David, suffering is negative "face" of Quality.
>
> I think anyone can understand the desire for revenge, the desire
> to give the devil his due, the wish to end the war on our terms and to
> save as many American lives as possible. No one says this stuff is wrong
> or untrue. But there is a difference between murder and self-defense.
> Destroying a civilian population is entirely different from destroying
> an enemy's army.
>
> Isn't it a case of social level values ruling over intellectual
> level values? The United States is supposed to be one of the world's
> leaders in terms of recognizing the rights of individuals. Spreading the
> idea of human rights has gone a long way toward establishing and
> supporting international laws governing the rules of war, the rights of
> prisoners of war, the rights of civilians and other non-combatants, laws
> against torture and a whole host of other laws. Dropping the bomb
> violated our own intellectual principles. To answer war crimes with more
> war crimes is a case of eating the cannibals.
David, please remember we are talking about something that occurred over
50 years ago. I was not alive but from stories I've heard, this was a
time when patriotism was extremely high and individual human rights were
relegated to Good of country. To try and judge what occurred in 1945
according to our standards of morality today is improper, in my opinion.
Dan
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