Like many others on this list, I am increasingly distressed at the language
of war being used by America and Britain. It helps no-one; it makes many
people even more frightened than they already are; and it heightens and
hardens antagonisms even further - on both 'sides'.
Whatever develops over the coming days, weeks, months and years, it is
unlikely to be for the better. The US administration is like a bear with a
sore head, knowing that someone was the cause of it but not who, and
therefore seeking to wipe out the nearest and most obvious suspects. This
should be - and has the potential to be - a time for the west to take stock
of itself and its neighbours; to ask why it is that there is so much hatred
towards it, to properly question itself rather than simply laying the blame
on others, and to start building bridges rather than making more enemies.
The murder of thousands of people was appalling and terrible; but it
doesn't justify the slaughter of yet more - the inevitable consequences of
the 'vengeance' campaign that George Bush and Tony Blair seem so set upon.
There is a time for war, and there is a time for peace. This is surely,
more than ever, a time for peace. Let us be, as a certain text puts it,
'wise as serpents and gentle as doves'. And that should include those on
this forum too. So far I've been glad of a place where discussion has
avoided the awful banalities and reckless warmongereing of most
politicians. Let's keep it that way.
Graham.
Graham Gardner
Institute of Geography & Earth Sciences
University of Wales
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion
SY23 3DB
Wales
UK
Tel: 0044 (0)1970 622606
Fax: 0044 (0)1970 622659
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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