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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000081.txt from 2004/06
From: PhilFrei@-----.com
Subj: [DR-L] What comes around goes around
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2004 18:30:03 -0400
We are the five blind men trying to understand the elephant. The fact that we are scattered over the world and are of different political and religious backgrounds makes it even more valuable to share observations. I, for one, place a lot more trust in the veracity of what I read from our various contributors than I do from any political spin-meister in the media.
Gas prices are quite relevant to members of the "freeway philharmonic" who are faced with potential doublings of travel expenses and little ability to pass them on to their employers. I applaud Kat's switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle. That "small act" (big for her) helps every one of us in many different ways.
The issues around torture and its definition and the Geneva conventions are even more relevant. For whatever short-term gains to be made, I believe these horrible acts in the Iraqi prisons make our lives and especially the lives of those of us who travel internationally more at risk. I would argue that the potential for moral backlash contributes in no small part to deterring terrorism. One can defend oneself both with arms and with moral actions. Legal sophistries will do little to give us the moral high ground. When we torture prisoners, we reduce the level of moral outrage and heat the terrorists would otherwise have to face from the very people they live with. This is a factor just as reducing security checks would be a factor in our safety.
I was just talking to an oboe student at the SF Conservatory who was worried about the reception he was going to get on an upcoming trip to Europe. What can you say? We can't do anything to control what others think of us as Americans, we can only know within our hearts whether we as individuals are truly making efforts to understand what is going on and to make things better.
Too many apologies for talking politics! Let's just continue being truthful and respectful. There is so much to learn from one another. Reasoned dialogue and common sense are the best defense against propaganda.
Bravo for the Casals quote. It means a lot to be involved with an occupation that can help promote peace and understanding and make the world a better place.
- Phil Freihofner
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