Good points, Brad. But I think this is much a self-inflicted fear; we were welcome world-wide after WWII, but in our arrogance also decided that this meant we could do whatever we wanted. Our efforts to learn about the world, to learn foreign languages, to travel with curiosity, to invite foreigners into our homes were trivial, and we are now paying the cost in ignorant policies and attitudes toward others.
This seems like a great tragedy to me. I do believe that the world could have used our contribution (described in an earlier email), and we theirs, and that together we could have created a pretty positive world for ourselves and our children. In a profound way, I fear that the US has removed itself from the society of cooperative peoples, and that not only are we facing greater and greater isolation, but we, and the rest of the world will be the worse off for the division. Best regards, Lawry > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Brad > McCormick, Ed.D. > Sent: Sat, August 30, 2003 3:18 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [Futurework] Will Bush become a Shia Moslem? Threats and > defenses.... > > > Lawrence DeBivort wrote: > > [snip] > > > A virulent intolerance is sweeping our country right now. > > > > We have much to do. > [snip] > > A virulent intolerance may well be sweeping the U.S. now. > Since as an individual (the blind men and the elephant...) > I can't know much; we must await word from the pollsters > to know for sure. > > But it seems plausible to me. And I think the > reason is clear: When people feel threatened they > become defensive, i.e., they try to defend themselves. > > It's like on the highway. When the road is clear, of > course I will graciously let someone by or in or > whatever -> and if they are rude and threatening I > may even go out of my way to acommodate them. > But if it's a trafic jam and I'm making progress measured > in jerking feet per minute (no feet this minute, > 20 feet next minute...), then I'll do my best to > keep anybody else from getting anything, both to > avoid losing a few feet of my own forward progress and > out of generalized resentment and helpless rage. > > People don't hoard when supplies are plentiful, etc. > > Don't look good, does it? > > Note: The word "defensive" is one of my litmus tests > for psychotherapists. If the therapist speaks about > patients' "defense mechanisms" as symptoms of > pathology (a kind of disguised moral criticism!), > I know the therapist is part of the problem. > If the therapist appreciates that people > have defenses because they are threatened in > reality (albeit often the real threat is not > what they think it is...), then the therapist > may be part of the solution, or, since often > there is no solution, the therapist may be part > of the amelioration.... > > \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] > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > Visit my website ==> http://www.users.cloud9.net/~bradmcc/ > > _______________________________________________ > Futurework mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://scribe.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework > _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://scribe.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
