Re: WWIII - Resist the Rah! Rah!

[Charles Lucy wrote (on the tuning list):]
>>Whatever transpires, as musicians we are in a unique position
>>to influence how people react, and to encourage understanding
>>between diverse cultures.

>>There is likely to be strong demand for patriotic and martial
>>music. Resist the Rah! Rah!

>>I feel that we should begin to work towards reconciliation and
>>harmonious resolution,
>>despite the recent horrendous tragedy.

[Jeff Scott replied:]
>Would you keep saying these things if it was
>your own family members they were taking out in the
>body bags?

How does anybody know how they'd react in such a terrible situation?

>We have been going easy on these terrorist
>organizations and the countries that harbor them and
>trying to make peace deals and handing out Nobel Peace
>prizes for too many years.

So now we're going to pave over Afghanistan till bin Laden is dead.
Think that'll stop attacks against the U.S.?

>Would you let a child molester return again and again
>to your home to rape your children and keep asking him
>to please help you understand why he does it and try to
>find an understanding of his culture? Or would you
>realize he is insane and needs to be put to death?

Death? Somehow thought you were opposed to the death penalty, Jeff.
Of course we all support taking proven child molesters off the streets!
Isn't that a straw issue?

>Psychotic insanity and mass-murder of innocents
>are not an issue of 'diverse cultures'.

Obviously. As I'm sure Charles Lucy and everyone else would agree.

>And if
>I am wrong and it IS a cultural issue, well then some
>cultures are not of value and need to be taken out.

Aren't reactions like this exactly what might legitimately be considered
a "victory" by those who perpetrated this act? The deaths of thousands
of innocents is a horrible tragedy. Allowing our spirits to descend
into hatred is infinitely worse. We do not need to be talking about
"taking out" masses of people. I'll settle for the particular persons,
of whatever culture, who are guilty of this barbarous act.

>Your post really sickens me Charles.

Jeff, I do not understand where you are coming from.

JdL

[I wrote:]
>>Jeff, I don't think Charles Lucy's post was in any way
>>deserving of your
>>response. I will respond further on metatuning.

[Jeff wrote:]
>OK John, I am open to the possibility I misunderstood
>him. I understood him to say that we need to be
>tolerant and understanding of diverse cultures as
>a response to a despicable act of mass murder against
>innocents. It really still seems to me to say or
>at least strongly and reasonably suggest that,
>but I am looking forward to your comments.

>GOD BLESS AMERICA

>LOVE HER OR LEAVE HER

OK, but what exactly represents "love"? I believe that I love this
country passionately, but I sure as heck don't love everything this
country is doing around the world!! How about Bill Clinton's bombing
of the aspirin factory in the Sudan while he had an impeachment noose
around his neck? That proved to be a complete fantasy on our part
(even the CIA tried to stop it), with loss of life as the building was
destroyed. How would we feel if some other country sent a missile into
our midst in a like manner? We would absolutely freak!!

Our country is often, alas, arrogant and blind in its dealings with the
rest of the world. Are you aware of what we're doing in Colombia, for
example? Killing crops of all sorts and driving poor people into
destitution. How aware are most people in this country of the fury we
produce by such actions? Then we wonder why we get terrorist acts
directed against us!

I do not condone any action of this sort, and I support the pursuit and
prosecution of the individuals involved, but let's not get jingoistic,
please!

JdL