Other points of view

Today, I want to share with you some correspondence to illustrate some points of view from outside our own little nest.

I recently ran across an article at the China Daily website that was intriguing. I'd like to share some of that with you . The article was written by Chen Weihua. You can read it for yourself here. It's a different view of some of our actions. Compare them to your own worldview as ask yourselves: Can I see myself, or my nation, as others do? Is there value in trying to understand other points of view?

Food for thought.

Here's my response to his article:

To: Chen Weihua, China Daily
May 19, 2010

Ni hao.

I wanted to give you my comments directly on your article today.

You raise many valid issues. It is true that Americans have many doubts about the use of unmanned drones in warfare. It pains everyone, both us and the victims, when the blood of innocents is shed unjustly. However, war is an ugly business. Often, non-combatants are killed or injured. So it has been from the dawn of time. Innocents were killed in the thousands by the attack on New York City twin towers, yet this endless cycle of death hasn't taught the lesson of such futility. Centuries-old grudges are constantly brought to the present by those who would seek to control and dominate others. We see it every day, both in world events, and even in the neighborhoods where we live. You see it, I see it. Yet, we, as a species, persist in this insanity of the sacrifice of our young men and women to the gods of war. When will we grow up and realize that we are beating our own heads against the wall? When will we learn to channel our aggression into the problems we face as a species?

The Pakistanis are angry. The Taliban, Al Qaeda, the Palestinians, and others like them, who chose to kill innocents in the name of their deity, or for perceived past wrongs, are angry. Everyone is angry at everyone else, or so it seems. We, here in America, would be delighted to make peace with them all, if they could be trusted to abide by their agreements. Unfortunately, they have proven, by their actions, to be untrustworthy. We reach out the hand in entreaty, and they bite it off. Where is the future in that? We are then left with no choice but to remain strong and defend ourselves. If a thief breaks into your home, and commits atrocities upon your family, are you not correct to resist?

I realize this is a rather simplistic example, but we must begin somewhere to reach an understanding. There are no simplistic solutions to such complex problems, you and I both know this very well. But, that doesn't mean we should stop trying.

Since, by your words, you visit the US, you see how things work here. I often visit your great country as well. I am sure you have many friends here, just as I have many friends in China and other countries. I assure you, we don't like this war, or any other. Having our young men and women come home in a body bag, lost forever to their family and loved ones, is not something we like, or will ever grow accustomed to. Yes, they are all volunteers, they chose to serve their country. But, their sacrifice should mean something. Nothing would please us more than for this all to end. We are willing to end it, but those who seek our destruction have chosen otherwise. We value our liberty and freedom to chose our own lives too much to submit to the will of primitives. This "War on Terror" is more of a case of culture shock on the part of the fundamentalist Islamics, I fear. They have been thrust straight into the 21st century from the middle ages. They lack the will to learn or adapt to the world as it really is, clinging to the past and forfeiting what could be a bright future for themselves and their children. I believe we will all grow out of this infantile stage, and become adults. But is won't happen quickly, or painlessly.

We can continue to point fingers, blame others for our problems, spout nonsense about each one's higher value or superiority, and fling mud everywhere, or we can face the reality.

The reality is, we are all stuck here, marooned on this planet together. If we burn down the house, poison the well, and destroy everything, we will all face extinction together. Is that what we want? Are we really that stupid? Look at a map of our galaxy, try to find the Earth. You can't even see it. Now, imagine trying to see a single human being standing on that speck of dust. All our struggles and posturing is as nothing before the immensity of the universe. No one will mourn our passing, or even notice. Is that the future we want for our children, and their children's children? I think not.

You say we should build schools, help those in need--we are. We have. We will continue to do so, even though it seems futile at times. Terrorists, or whatever label you care to place upon the barbarians who murder little girls in the name of their cause, attack the schools and murder the teachers and children. For daring to get an education? For wanting a future, and a better life than squatting in a mud hut? It's not about belief, it's about power to these criminals. They are not deserving of our mercy, since they offer none. They have chosen to be merciless. They say we must conform to their beliefs, or die. So be it. We will not surrender to them. We will make peace if they sincerely want it, but will remain firm in our commitment to freedom and choice. We will remain vigilant, yet ready to offer the hand of friendship. It is up to them to chose what path to take. May they chose wisely.

We can have a future together, your land and mine. We are all in this together, each offering strengths to compliment the other. Together, we can become more than the sum of the parts. The human race is weary of war, pointless death and destruction. Will we say, "Enough!!!" One day in the future, all of our tribal idiocy will be nothing more than a footnote in history.

I hope we, the species, survive to write that history.

I look forward to reading your articles, my friend. Thank you for your insights.

ClearBrainZ
USA

What's the point, you ask? How will this help us to ClearOurBrainZ, to determine reality?

By making the effort to reach an understanding of the perceptions of others. Only if we make the effort will we learn to live together on this miserable rock. Ranting and railing, bemoaning the attitudes and ill-advised actions of others will solve nothing. We must accept reality.

We have a lot of hard work to do in order to make this world a place we want to live in, and we aren't doing a very good job of that right now. Only by trying to reach an understanding with our neighbors, and refusing to quit trying, will we succeed.

It will more than be worth the effort.

Your comments, please.

Code Duello

I read conservative blogs. I read liberal blogs. I read international blogs from other countries. I read news from major and minor networks, from Fox to ABC, CBS, NBC, MS NBC, the BBC to Al Jazeera, and more. I've traveled all over the world.

I correspond with people all over the planet in all walks of life. As far as our two major American political "points of view", the Liberal and the Conservative ones(broadly speaking), I've noticed some interesting characteristics.

I am sure there are many differences others can, and will point out. However, it seems to me that there is one major difference between the two that easily emerge when reading or listening to left or right commentators and groups:

The Conservatives tend to be cheerleaders for America, where the Liberals seem to be if not haters, at least broadly disparaging of our country and it's way of life. Not to say that the liberal side are not patriots, or less-than-loyal citizens, not at all. It just seems that the overall impression one gets when reading the works of either side show these characteristics.

For example:

The daily newspaper in my city(there's only one) publishes both the Liberal and the Conservative points of view, on facing pages, everyday. It's funny, but the Liberal side is always on the left side of the paper, and the Conservative side is on the right side. Isn't that interesting? What would happen if they switched the placement of the layout? Put them on the other side? Would people notice? Get incensed, and storm the newspaper offices with torches and pitchforks to protest? Hey, this could be a movie! (Hollywood will do anything for a buck)

Read the left page, the Liberal opinion: Local Editors and "columnists" on the left edge, syndicated ones on the right edge, letters to the editor below the fold on the bottom right. The syndicated columns are usually filled with vitriolic rants and wild-eyed, dire warnings of skulduggery in high places, especially Big Business and others who's success they envy, or who refuse to agree with their worldview. Maureen Dowd of the New York Times, in particular, is one of the worst. Her columns rarely contain much in the way of substance, just the enraged spewing of ink from her pen. It's clear she's reached her dotage, wants what she wants, right now, and hurry it up, serfs. Some of the others who rotate in and out seem to be cut of similar cloth, lots of shouting but little substance. Reality? Forget it, they don't seem to know the concept. Check the facts? No, that would interfere with their snug little world of the weird. Shabby work, in my opinion, but hey, it sells(advertising--remember their true purpose, all ye of the ClearBrainZ).

Now, read the right page: It's the same layout format as the left page. Sure, there's spewing there too, dire warnings of catastrophe, evildoing in high places, etc. But the tone....is much more rational and calm. Sure, there are extremes on both sides of this fence, I am sure the nitnoids lurking nearby can cite any number of examples. I'm just talking about the overall impression and sense of civility(or the lack thereof) each side projects.

Note: I'm sure the nitnoids will notice I had lots more to say in my opinion of the "left" than the right. I just got on a roll....sorry. We must be equal, always(you don't really believe THAT tripe, do you?) I promised to avoid appearing "politically correct" in this endeavour, and so I intend to remain. Who came up with that garbage, anyway?

The protesters and "radicals" of the 1960's and '70's are now the "respected journalists" of today. Of course, the list of true "respected journalists" is extremely short....and not germane to this discussion. It's a fiction, anyway, created by themselves. But it's not just the reporters, it's the producers, writers, directors, newspaper editors, and the owners of the media who drive the news feeds you see. It's why the "mainstream media" is largely left-leaning. It's where the money is, and they always follow the money. Remember, use your ClearBrainZ and keep in mind that the business of news organizations is to sell advertising and make money. They themselves are a "Big Business" just like the others they so often disparage and sometimes viciously attack. After all, who's going attack them? They buy their ink "by the barrel" !

Time to ClearOurBrainZ !

Reality check:

This one is highly subjective and murky to say the least. I would propose that the one you select is a personal choice, and what makes you feel comfortable. I urge you to stretch your perspectives, and examine in detail both sides of the issues.

It will be worth your time. You may not be as comfortable afterwards, but at least you will have a better grasp, I hope, of reality as we can best determine it. It's a complicated world, and although simplistic solutions may be very attractive when approaching the resolution of a difficult problem or issue, it is rarely effective. Almost never, in fact. The REAL REALITY here, is that all of the issues and problems facing our nation, and our planet, will require hard work, applied intelligence, sacrifice, innovation, and many other inputs too numerous to mention here. It certainly won't be simple.

So, where are we? Lost in the ozone? Adrift in indecision? That's the choice we must each make for ourselves.

Left or Right, both are Right and Wrong, but all is not lost. Remember that thing called a "compromise"? It used to be pretty common in Congress, but seems to have fallen out of favor. Perhaps it's time we dust it off and put it back to work. Some of our best accomplishments have come from it.

Your comments, please.