Karen Watters Cole wrote:
RE: Hussein's Obsession: An Empire of Mosques - You HAVE TO see the photo
to appreciate this reporting from Baghdad.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/15/international/middleeast/15MOSQ.html
Good points, Brad. Noted.
However, I think there are degrees of monument building and mythology
writing. The upper Hudson River is a monument to the power and wonders of
nature, as is the Grand Canyon.
Nature is BIG. That does not, in my opinion, make it "elevated"
in an ethical or cultural ("Geistige") way.
One insightful book or painting
encompasses far more than the whole of nature, be it in the
form of a few mathematical formulae, or philosophical reflections.
I tremble when I see the rows of white
crosses that are Arlington and the black marble wall with names inscribed.
They certainly are admonitory.
[snip]
Our nation's capitol has some fine architectural monuments that call on our
sense of history and uniqueness. They have been and will be used for less
than honorable purposes, calling up images and meaning. However, I don't
think too many monuments to past wars are built as replicas of rifles and
scud missiles, as is the Mosque dedicated to the Mother of All Battles.
I really do not see the "scuds" and "rifles". I do see spires and
a dome and polished granite (fake granite?) walls. It does look
a lot like The National Cathedral, to me (OK, maybe Hagia Sophia
or The Taj Mahal, but I have never personally seen them).
This one made me think of the Pharaohs.
http://www.users.cloud9.net/~bradmcc/Safeguard.html
What I hoped others would note in Burn's reporting from Baghdad was his
comment that "Iraqis think of themselves as warriors", that they are eager
to prove themselves worthy. Are we equally committed?
There have not been many challenges to a widespread notion that Americans
will defect from a great battle that sacrifices too much blood, native or
otherwise.
[snip]
> We may be a different
breed than our grandparents, but my baby boomer generation and my children's
have yet to be tested.
[snip]
It seems to me that the sacrifices of past generations cannot
be redeemed.
But I do think the "great wheel of karma" can be
stopped: IF NO LONGER DO PERSONS GET TESTED. If there is
to be no end to "testing people", then I say let us
stop having children, and that *will* stop the testing.
Let us stop the suffering, one way or another.
Here's what I think will happen (fictionalization, of course),
again and again, including, perhaps, vis-a-vis Bush and Iraq:
POWER: So, schmuck, you are going to allow THE EVIL ONE
to enslave ALL FUTURE GENERATIONS forever, just
because you are pissed off that we are asking you
to suffer and die for Mobil oil's profit margin
even though we say we are FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRACY
AND FOR THE FREEDOM OF ALL MANKIND?
individual: Yes....
POWER [to Aide]: Who does this person think he is?
Please show this new Galileo the instruments
of torture in preparation for using them on him
if he does not recant forthwith.
Aide to POWER: Do we really have to mess up the instruments
or torture for such a nonentity, POWER, Sir? Cleaning
them is a nuisance for me, and you don't really
want anybody to mistakenly say you have blood on your
hands, do you?
POWER: You are right, Aide. Just let him go
free. Do not harm a single hair on his head!
When the mothers of the coming battle see him walking healthy
on the street while their sons are coming back in
body bags, they will tear his body to pieces with
their claws without us having to ask them to.
--
Student: Happy the land that breeds a hero.
Galileo: No. Unhappy the land that needs a hero.
(-B.B.)
[Just my opinion.]
\brad mccormick
--
Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works.... (Matt 5:16)
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes 5:21)
<![%THINK;[SGML+APL]]> Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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