Re: Chomsky

On Fri, 14 Sep 2001, David Wolsk wrote:

> I feel it's important to develop widespread global support for an
> alternative to "war" against the perpetrators: e.g., an ultimatum to
> Afganistan: turn over Bin Laden for trial before the Hague world court, or
> face the consequences.

What's your alternative?  An ultimatum implies an "or else," so you
end up with war anyway since I'm sure Bin Laden is not waiting around in
Afhghanistan for the U.S. troops.

*** *** *** *** ***

The NY slogans are good:  Islam is Not the Enemy, War is Not the Solution.
(Work for peace and justice is less good, though correct.)

I just finished speaking out against the impending war for the first time
here in conservative Utah, both in my classes and in a campus-wide open
forum, and I feel like it was an important contribution.

Whatever your personal beliefs, pragmatically speaking I think one of the
best approaches in a largely Christian society is to contrast the Old
Testament "eye for an eye" doctrine to the New Testament's "do unto
others" and "love your neighbor."  Beyond that, pointing out the futility
of military attacks or war as a solution to the problem of terrorist
networks did not meet any serious logical counterarguments.

My colleagues seem hesitant, with good reason, but I am still planning on
holding an educational event soon on the background of the recent tragedy,
ie a history of U.S. policy in the Middle East/SW Asia, who trained Osama
bin Laden, the nature of Islam, and so forth.

RH