----- Original Message ----- From: "Nick Arnett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2003 11:34 AM Subject: RE: RE: Deadlier Than War
> > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Behalf Of Dan Minette > > ... > > > The reality of the situation is that if the US doesn't do > > something about a > > place like Rwanda, the Balkins, Iraq, nothing will be done. > > I'm not sure I entirely agree, but I'm also not sure it matters. Even if > others had the power to step forward, if we also have such power, we also > should step up. Where Iraq is concerned, there is little disagreement that > something must be done, but great disagreement about what. And *what* to do > in these sorts of situations is rarely clear, as any study of ethics quickly > shows. Obviously in the case of Iraq, sovereignty is hardly an issue at > this point, but if often is, for example. > > > The other > > countries that could do something have a moral responsiblity for sitting > > back, > > I don't understand what you're saying here. > > > but US policy must be based on the fact that everyone else > > may or may > > not give the US token help, but that's about it (in GB's case its > > more than > > token). The citizens of the US are in a unique moral position. > > It is an obligation, or at least a calling, if I understand you correctly. > And I agree. It's like the cliche: from those to whom more is given, more > is expected. Well, it wasn't a cliche when Jesus first said it. :-) Seriously, I think that we should consider whether this is what Bush is trying to articulate. > On the other hand, I tend to abhor anything that smells of > prosperity gospel -- the idea that one's wealth is evidence of one's > righteousness. We agree on that. Unfortunately, one of the products of the Reformation was the gospel of prosperity. >Unfortunately, it is all too easy for us to imagine that we > surely must be better people *because* we have the power to effect change. Actually, I think its more complicated than that. Others do have the power to help change things, we're in the unique position where the tragedy of the commons leads to us being the only ones with the will to effect change. Europe could have taken care of the Balkans; it chose not to. > I guess it's like the anthropic principle, but applied to the existence of > power, rather than life -- there is not a purpose for which we are given > this power; rather, we are called to use our power to a purpose. I think that subtle difference is at the root of a lot of the discomfort. People who believe that everything happens for a reason accept the former; I would tend towards the latter. Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
