*OT Weekend Rant* David, I knew you were capable of much more intelligent comment than a simple-minded seconding of Bernard. 'Get in behind' is a NZ expression a farmer uses to a sheep dog when it gets a bit out of hand. 'Bugger off' means go away! The difference was that I was sure you were a valuable presence and so you have immediately turned out to be.
You hadn't actually said much other than joining Bertrand; calling other's ideas 'retro', whatever retro means: "Bertrand, I'll second that. It's a little ironic that people with such foresight to invest in Globalstar can (possibly) have such retro thinking in other areas. We live in ONE world! Doesn't Globalstar prove that?"
We all know we live in one world so I'm not sure what your one world point was other than we should just gloss over the small matter of a few dead people here and there. My attitude is to not let such things go. You can call that retro thinking if you like. I have a memory designed into me by my genome and it seems to work okay though another few Terabytes would be fine by me with access times improved. I'm happy to remember that Mitterand and co were criminals. I will remember Lt William Calley and make his life bad if I can. Criminals and potential criminals of the world need to learn that the world is a small place and there are few places to hide. They need to suffer consequences which stop them repeating their crimes and dissuade others from doing similar things.
The people who bombed the Rainbow Warrior and who put them there are interesting. If people choose to put Hitler in charge of the political system, the military and the state knowing that he will use his power to conduct his avowed intent, should they be considered to be acting in accord and part of the criminal conspiracy?
France selected the criminal Mitterand who conducted his actions. So the guilty parties could be extended to those who voted for him, though of course in a very dilute sense, much as a bank robber who shoots somebody is more guilty than the getaway driver who didn't know his colleague would actually USE the damn gun! The person who sells them gasoline, knowing they are off to conduct nefarious purpose is also guilty.
This is an argument that people should extend their morality a little further.
Globalstar is in the midst of discussions about whether technology should be exported to China or Russia. Bernie Schwartz has been accused of treason or something or other. This discussion is not totally off topic you know! The ITU is deciding 3G standards and is involved in allocating spectrum and forming international agreements so that Globalstar can operate properly. Nationalistic interactions are increasingly important in the modern world. International rules are increasingly needed. Nationalism, patriotism, collectivism and tribalism are getting in the way.
Good for you that you stood by your own morality and refused to take certain actions although the gang therefore court-martialed you and evicted you from the army.
A shame, because military activity in a way is the highest calling and the most capable people are needed to protect a community. I've read 'Stars and Stripes' and been impressed by the intelligent content. The old joke about Military Intelligence has a peculiar dichotomy about it - we see the most absurd, criminal and horrific actions by military people and we see the most honorable, courageous, intelligent and moral actions by other military people.
It would be much better to do away with the need for them altogether. That can be achieved by making the world look more like a federal system of autonomous countries, than outright sovereignty and power which prevails right now. I think the human genome is increasingly capable of it. But the UN constitution is not.
Maurice |
