Posted by akc on September 17, 2001, at 15:00:21
In reply to Re: Too much for me to bear, posted by Greg A. on September 17, 2001, at 14:26:19
>Maybe, while we recoil from the violence and the tragic results, we also recoil from more killing as a way to feel better. A lot of people and a lot of ‘leaders’ seem to feel that stamping out evil is what must be done.
I can only hope that we will somehow recoil from more killing, but know deep inside that is not what will happen. This concept that we Americans with our allies are going to stamp out "evil" is almost amusing. As if evil could be stamped out -- in trying to do so, we may just breed more. Sigh.
> While I cannot say that I sympathize with the terrorists, a lot of violence has been perpetrated throughout history by those who would stamp out evil. Usama Bin Laden thinks western ‘culture’ is evil. He wants to stamp it out. We say, “But we are on the other side of the world. Why does he target us?” He sees all facets of western civilization creeping into his world and does what he thinks he must to stop it. Who is right and who is wrong? I know little of Islam. I know a little more of western religion and philosophy. But, for the life of me, it seems clear that whoever kills is wrong. It makes no difference if you kill first or in retribution.
My knowledge of other cultures is weak at best. And I have, like some I am sure, been trying to beef up on it. To truly understand for the first time the mind of someone who would commit such an act. It is so hard to see things through the eyes of one who is in my own culture, so it is virtually impossible to do it in another's. Bin Laden's upsetness with American troops being in Saudi -- because they "taint" holy ground. With my christian background and all, that just seems silly -- and I mean no offense when I say that. It is just such a different way to think. Then add to the fact that his way to deal with it is to attack over here -- it would make more sense to me if he targeted those in places he did not want them. His crusade similar to the medivial crusades. So my head spins and spins.
> I don’t advocate waiting to be slaughtered. I don’t want to be killed for my beliefs, or lack of them. I have never been a big fan of Jesus’ turning the other cheek but there has to be a better way to enforce the idea throughout the world that terrorism and killing of innocent people is wrong, than by killing other innocent people. I worry that in a couple of thousand years, we have not found any answers to this question.
I guess I am a pretty big pacifist. I might go as far as defending myself -- that is, someone shoots at me, I shoot back. But I am not even sure of this -- except to say that if someone was physically attacking me, I think I would fight back -- but there would have to be no innocents hurt because of it. That is probably my biggest issue. We are going to go slaughter a lot of people -- and become the aggressor. And the cycle will continue on and on. So at some point I wonder, does it not make sense to turn the other cheek?
> Sorry for the long diatribe. I have to stop now ‘cause I’m making myself miserable.
> Hang in there akc. I will if you will.I'm doing a lot better today -- thanks for writing.
akc
poster:akc
thread:11388
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010915/msgs/11496.html