Mail Call
Date: Mon, 03 May 2004 21:22:18 -0700
From: JHR
Subject: Good (and Evil) May be in the Eye of the BeholderDan -
--To thoroughly mix my metaphors.
You wrote: "Perhaps it is through self-awareness of our failings that we can be on guard and therefore avoid these situations in the future."
This implies that there exists a standard definition of "failings" that is not only accepted, but taken for granted by all of humanity. IMO, that is hardly the case. What we may consider horrendous failure on the part of Moslems, Nazis, Red China, the Inquisition, to name a few, had the approval of Church or Government or both at the time they occurred. A devout Moslem sees no failure in murdering or enslaving infidels (you and me). In fact, he/she/it is praised as devout and courageous by Moslem nations and religious leaders.
I have no solution to offer. I only think we should be very careful of ill-defined terms; those subject to many differing valid interpretations. (The word "fair" is another one of my pet words in this category. Obviously - what seems eminently fair to one may be as legitimately UNfair to another. that's why Civil Courts do such a thriving business!)
Yet such behavior as exemplified by the Military in question cannot be ignored because there is no perfect solution. Such is life. We would diminish our personal humanity by ignoring it.
Other than this criticism, I applaud your post.
Regards,
JHR
--
Aloha!