X-Message-Number: 18039 Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 19:14:43 +0900 (JST) From: "Matthew S. Malek" <> Subject: Re: CryoNet #18035 - #18038 >----------------------+------------------------------------------------- > QUOTE OF THE WEEK: > > "Just love those laser-guided bombs. > They're really great for righting wrongs. > You hit the target and win the game > from bars three thousand miles away... > > We play the game with the bravery of being out of range. > We zap and maim with the bravery of being out of range. > We strafe the train with the bravery of being out of range. > We gain terrain with with the bravery of being out of range." > > --Roger Waters > (from "Amused to Death") >------------------------------------------------------------------------ Is the author suggesting in luddite fashion It's interesting to hear how General Ludd's name is often invoked in a derogatory sense. Quite frankly, anyone familiar with his supposed exploits should really consider him a _hero_. I know that I do, and as an Astro-particle physicist I would hardly consider myself backwards and uneducated in the use of technology. Luddism is about ensuring that technology is used responsibly for the betterment of humanity. > we should *NOT* use our technology to save the lives of our brave > service men and women, How much bravery does it take to drop carpet bombs on unarmed civilians? > instead opt to adopt the troglodite methods of these backassward > cowards that attacked us? Don't forget which country chose to train and arm and finance those people. And set up the terrorist training camps that are now the supposed targets of bombing (along with Red Cross facilities, civilian neighborhoods, and UN facilities). In fact, I believe the same country that helped the Taliban wrest power from the Northern Alliance in 1996 is the country that helped Saddam Hussein into power as an ally against Iran. Perhaps you should read the quote as more of a comment on how foreign policy needs a little more careful consideration and better long-term goals (besides setting up an oil pipeline across Afghanistan)... instead of simply conducting bombing raids that make for good television entertainment. Read Neil Postman's book "Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Showbusiness". It's the inspiration for the Waters album and goes into more detail on the points being made > Oh yeah let's get on a camel with a sword and a AK-47 and meet them > head on... because it's more manly and macho. It has nothing to do with macho. I think you might be missing the point. The "macho" attitude comes in when you sit back in your comfy home, safe from any danger whatsoever, and go on and on about how it is right and necessary to slaughter civilians half a world away. (Several estimates place the Afghan death count higher than the WTC count at this point) Dropping food aid packages into the middle of a landmine field does nothing to aid a "humanitarian" aspect to this. It's simply good publicity. =>Long Life for all, =>Matthew ---------------------------+------------------------------------------------- Matthew S. Malek | "Judging by his outlandish attire, he's | some sort of free-thinking anarchist!" ---------------------------+------------------------------------------------- QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "When I saw the dead and dying Afghani children on TV, I felt a newly rediscovered sense of national security. God Bless America." --Katie Sierra, West Virginian student suspended for expressing these words on a t-shirt (in the so-called land of the free) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=18039