>>PS Since you seem to indicate you believe in Peace, tell us how you think it can be achieved. <<
I'm glad you asked. My theory is that peace will occur when it is to the advantage of all the parties. The single biggest method is world trade, when we becdome economically interdependent upon one another. When I was young, it was a truth that Germaqny and france will always be at war, and now, given the huge trade between them, war is unthinkable. I felt much safer when MacDonalds opened in Moscow and Stoly vodka was sold in the States.
That is also why I am sick of the corruption and greed of most, if not all arab leaders. It is not advantageous of people who do not share in the wealth to participate in the creation of wealth. Reform is urgent, and Iraq can prove an example of reform. Certainly, the next regime will be an improvement over Saddam.
Another way peace becomes the best alternative is when countries know very clearly that aggression, genocide, and crimes against humanity will have terrible consequences. Strength is a deterrent. When my older son, who is very mild, weight lifted in high school, word of his strength got around. He reported the toughest kid in school was nicer to him, and my son declared, "I no longer believe in unilateral disarmement!". That is precisely why I'm so pissed at the UN for making resolutions without enforcing them. And for not giving the clear warnings that international law will not be enforced. Altho I was furious at John Foster Dulles for his "massive retaliation" policy during the cold war, I was contradicted by the fact that we had peace. Force is a deterrent.
If the UN did its job, this current mess, IMO, would have been averted. Altho I don't like the way Bush has handled this, he is lower on my list of shit-heads than either Saddam and the UN.
The exception to my case is religion. We cannot give a better alternative than paradise. Here, given a group of people who have a sole objective of killing infidels, we cannot be passive and we must be relentless in pursuing them. I have read your posts on civil liberties and find that they do not match my priorities given the magnitude of the current threat. We have a choice between civil liberties--something we all value, and security-- another genuine value. There is a conflict in some situations between these values. My priority, given the current situation, is to compromise civil liberties. After all, the dead cannot be resurrected. Your righteousness on this topic, IMO, ignores primary safety needs.
Now, Sun, I am interestd in your way of gaining peace. Please share your ideas with us.
fred |
