Book Reviews


[Day Permalink] Monday, February 10, 2003

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Totally fed up: "I've had CNN running in the background for the past two hours or so, and it was all about weapons of mass destruction, Iraq, Saddam Hussein, terrorism, fear of weapons of mass destruction and fear of terrorist attacks. I'm totally fed up now. It's like the world consists of no other people than the US government, Saddam Hussein, terrorists and frightened US citizens. The level of fear and paranoia that emanated from my TV during these two hours is totally unbearable. Can't we just simply shut down TV broadcasts like this? The whole situation seems so absurd and so fabricated that sometimes I feel that without these broadcasts there would be next to no case for this war left." [The Aardvark Speaks]


[Item Permalink] The war bothers me -- Comment()
I have been trying to understand the difference between USA and Europe in the attitude on preparation for war against Iraq. The rhetoric in newspapers and on the web can't explain the apparent gulf between the attitudes. However, I haven't been able to find an explanation.

Are Americans stupid and selfish in promoting the war? Are Europeans stupid and naive in trying to prevent the war? Both sides seem to believe they are morally superior. In fact, the arguments of the war-hawks are often almost the same as the arguments of those opposing the war. Both sides are using moralistic language to defend their position.

One of the issues I'm having problems with is the American attitude towards violence. The American culture seems to be suffused with argessive models for solving problems. This is not the case (yet) in Europe, I believe. Or perhaps "violent USA" is this just an image created by the media?

What about Europe? Are we still feeling the pain and quilty conscience from the second world war? Or have we lost our touch with the real world, living in an utopia, not seeing the danger of dictators with weapons?

Perhaps the explanation lies in the European sense of history. Wars have been fought, and none have been won, because there are no winners in a war. Even those who declare themselves to be winners lose. A war is not a win-win game. It is not a game.

But, I see that I'm again far from explaining anything. These thoughts are not an explanation, I don't have any facts, only feelings.

What happens in the world today is too complicated to yield to explanations. You just react, and try to explain your reaction. Perhaps there is no explanation.

Both USA and the European countries are quilty of the current situation. But what are the wrongs which should be corrected? Should we aid the hungry people in developing countries, the oppressed people in North Korea, the poor homeless in Western countries, or the casualties of the Iraq regime? And who in the world of today is patient and skilled enough to cure the wounds of a war?

Perhaps the world is the same now as in the time of the Roman empire. Hail the emperor. Divide and conquer.


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Bush Wants Secret Arrests: "Here I am preparing for terrorist attacks and what do I get? I get news that the Bush White House is asking for secret arrests in the form of a Domestic Security Enhancement Act. He doesn't have my permission, and he's got a lot of nerve asking. This has gone too far. I'm flying the Gadsden flag, and I hope every American does. I am not so afraid of terrorists that I am willing to approve this usurpation of power and shortcutting of the judicial branch of American government. No way." [kuro5hin.org]


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NYTimes: Tangled Up in Spam: "...an extensive article entitled Tangled Up in Spam. The article is quite substantial and the author, James Gleick, is more technically educated than what we've come to expect from the big press. Central to the story is the complexity in dealing with spam effectively in both technical and legal terms and the confusion it brings upon the neophyte." [Slashdot]


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Shark Tank: But look how secure their e-mail is now: "It takes three or four weeks to get a password reset by the data center that serves this government agency, so this IT pilot fish isn't surprised he doesn't hear anything for a month. Then he gets the bad news." [Computerworld Shark Tank]