From: Mistral mistral@centurytel.net
Neil Faulkner wrote:
Mistral (thinking that, contrary to the subject line, terrorism is really not off-topic here)
Any comparison with Star One and its supposed rights or wrongs strikes
me as
facile against the appalling reality.
Actually, I wasn't referring to Star One at all, though I think it's a perfectly legitimate comparison. I was speaking more generally to the idea of how far do you go in support of what's right, and the differences between individuals and cultures in the idea of what right *is*.
Please don't get me wrong. What I meant was, to discuss Tuesday's events in terms of B7, or vice versa, seemed to me - and still seems - to be just downright wrong, at least so soon after the event.
I can perceive two dimensions to the strike on the World Trade Centre. The first is the ideological, the one of motivation and intention, and ultimate justification in perpetrating such an act. That does tie in with elements of B7, as you rightly point out. Against that there is the purely human dimension of sudden loss and bereavement on a colossal scale, of confusion and disruption and all the rest of it, with huge question marks looming over everything. Not that I lost any friends or anyone in the attacks, but as a self-declared anti-capitalist I'm still stricken numb by what's happened. Western capitalist complacency sorely needed a kick up the arse, but not like this.
This is all too fucking real to be held up against some tatty little skiffy show, however close to the knuckle it came at times. People are probably still dying out there. We should show a bit of respect and at least wait until the dust has settled.
But thanks for an intelligent and carefully considered reply. I wasn't getting at you. This is no time for a scrap.
Neil