I received an email from a fiend the other day which included the following statement:
“I am extremely encouraged by the opening of (dialog) with our enemies. I believe that the ONLY way we will bring about positive change and understanding is through open and constant communication."
I had to respond, as my attitude toward a preferred action is a bit different:
The ideal of being able to open logical and compassionate communications with one's enemies is an option that I also place high on a pedestal. Actually, so high as to be out of reach with many, if not most of the enemies we presently have. The "positive change" and "understanding" you desire are lofty goals. Though for the life of me, i can't imagine what lofty goals you can possibly expect from the likes of our present foe.
One definition of the word "Enemy" is: A hostile nation or its armed forces. That falls a little short of covering people like Ahmadinejad or Kim Jung Il. Jung Il is not only Ill, but he's nuts, driven by personal demons. Ahmadinejad is an Islamic hate monger, driven by a warped concept of god and his role as it's servant.
The only worthwhile communications possible with these two is whatever ver-bull it takes to postpone the inevitable, or to maintain a status quo till they're dead (as though others won't step in). Our naivete', however, in allowing either or both to further their position as nuclear threats is absolutely ridiculous. Do I believe we should take much stronger action? Yes. With both? Yes. When and how? I'll hold my tongue lest I too be defined as a monger of sorts. I can only say that I'm a devotee of our country's security, of common sense and I do not think coddling demented enemies who are in the process of building Nuclear weapons is intelligent.
Beliefs are Hopes backed only by the choice to employ them. No facts or proof are required to believe in anything. I prefer Faith. I have faith that Kim Jung Il will never become a caring philanthropic world leader and that Ahmadinejad will always HATE Israel and the United States. Both wish to destroy us and we're only participants in a juggling act until one or the other decides to throw the ball directly at us. And if we don't decide on a means of bringing this juggling act to a close before that ball becomes nuclear. . . . . . . . . . .
A return email from my friend included this comment:
"To say that communication will do no good and they (Cuba, North Korea and Iran) will never change puts us in a box with little or no options. It makes war inevitable."
In return, I restated from my original comments: "The only worthwhile communications possible with (North Korea and Iran) is whatever “ver-bull” it takes to postpone the inevitable, or to maintain a status quo till they're dead." (ver-bull is an invented word meaning: "verbal-bullshit" ie. Whatever needs to be said under the circumstances to manipulate an outcome. In this case, to avoid war.
I believe war IS inevitable. It has been for mankind's entire earthly history. (And if you're going to say that THAT is what we must now CHANGE.. . . .well it's a very lovely thought, but the inhabitants of this planet are not capable of it and so, not ready for it. Though I do completely agree with the ideal.) I did NOT say that communication will do no good. The good, as I said, is to postpone the inevitable. And. . . we may be able to do that for many years. Unlike you though. . . . . I have faith that our Enemies' desires and ideals will never change.
The clash or clashes amongst the many Governmental ideals and extreme Religious beliefs ARE inevitable, by their very definitions. They will continue to be adversarial until all ideals are synchronous, or at the very least compatible to the necessary degree. Ours and our present Enemies' will never be in our lifetime. Employing our communication skills (the bull that convinces each side to postpone War) is certainly worth working on . . . .but there will never be a meeting of the spirit. There will never be the necessary, genuine, peaceful overtures from HATE and INSANITY, because they don't get it. That's why they are who they are. And though tolerance is a grand word, there are limits as to how long it works.
I could care less about Cuba. North Korea and Iran are different animals. If, while we adeptly avoid conflict, our enemies are able to evolve into Nuclear Powers. . . . we're screwed. The world is screwed. And THAT is what my (first comments) were about. The "ver-bull" communications designed to postpone war will become useless and all new perspectives will be required because now. . . . their stick is as big as ours. And they're not interested at all in playing by the same rule book. They are HATE and INSANITY incarnate. They have different rules. After all. . . .and in their eyes. . . . THEY ARE RIGHT and we are Satan.
Good luck on the talks.
Joe
