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Interesting op-ed from Daniel Pearl's father | by jdelphiki | 2009-02-03 06:11:57 |
| Yes, there is a failure of leadership. |
by twixt |
2009-02-03 11:11:59 |
But not in the manner stated in the linked Article. The real issue is the lack of critical thinking skills - which allow manipulation of the popular mindset without the presence of the embarassing questions that indicate the presence of active and functioning minds.
Propaganda techniques have replaced intelligent discourse.
IMO, the fundamental question raised by the article is this:
What do we do with psychopaths who create societies which perpetuate the rationalization that it is preferable to be in perpetual conflict rather than resolve problems in a manner where violence is no longer necessary?
Observations:
Humans have a long history of venerating people who "fought for the right". Not much has been written about people who found ways to solve things that didn't involve fighting.
Humans fight because it's interesting. Because "War brings glamour and purpose to dull and stupid lives." (paraphrase from "The Notebooks of Lazarus Long" by Robert Heinlein).
Conflict satisfies the need for excitement in ways that many find addictive - to the level that some will foment war for the rest of their lives in order to feed that addiction.
And until we face the above, people will move behind the scenes to perpetuate the rationale for war - because it is very very profitable as well as exciting for the military hardware suppliers.
We need to change the way we think about conflict, especially the kind of conflict that leads to war. IMO, Oscar Wilde said it best:
"As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will always have its fascination. When it is looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popular."
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