Dear Friends,
Here in Britain we have had a day of sorrow in sympathy with the People of America who suffered a painful attack. The Primer Minister of United Kingdom decreed one of the most fascinating statement which is of both substantial and historical significance.
The speech is accessible at:
wysiwyg://36/http://www.itn.co.uk/news/20010911/britain/11plane_blair.shtml
In my view, the most significant of this statement is where Mr.Blair states his civilizational view and the criteria by which one can draw the lines between 'Barbarism' versus 'Civilization', between 'Evil' and 'Good'.
The touchstone of his statement is where he puts forward the most fundamental basis of modern civilization, i.e. the sanctity of life. I think something 'unsaid' for so many years, decades, or century, was last night 'said'. However, take this statement and compare it with this open letter written to the same Mr. Blair in 1998:
Why Has Britain Supported
American State Terrorism Against Sudan?
Where is the Evidence?
An Open Letter
to the Right Honourable Tony Blair MP,
British Prime Minister,
August 1998
by Sean Gabb
And read the statement by Peter Cockburn:
"Just who are the terrorists in this case, and why is the British Government supporting acts of
incomprehensible barbarity?"
(Peter Cockburn, British Businessman, on the American bombing of Sudan, August 1998)
I think, what Mr. Blair so eloquently out it it is indeed a very essential component of modern civilization but this 'sanctity' should be held in compliance to the idea of 'Holy' not in terms of 'Realpolitik'. Because the sanctity of life does not know any boundaries. I think the outcome of this most horrible and tragic incident is going to be a re-consideration of the politics of 'we' versus 'They', provided the space created by this tragedy is not hijacked by political hijackers!
* For the letter please check this site:
Kind Regards
Seyed