Klarinet Archive - Posting 000362.txt from 2001/09

From: "F. S. Sterns" <fssterns@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Terrorism
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 16:39:08 -0400

on 9/11/01 3:46 PM, Allen J. Levin at alevin@-----.net wrote, in part:

> .....Leave it to this group to argue over the merit of heartfelt
> outpourings. That is exactly how so many people in this world have been
> harmed by such lunacy.

...nonsense...this kind of gratuitous observation contributes nothing useful
to those trying to deal with this catasrophe. I would make two points:

[1] I worked in the Pentagon for many years and know that several friends
and former colleagues have been either killed or injured. Expressions of
sympathy are quite appropriate. But there is no reason in our secular
society to define those emotions in terms of any particular religion. I can
assure you that the sensitivities of some of those who may well be victims
of this unspeakble outrage would be offended...several of them were *not*
Christian.

[2] No one is arguing over the "merits" or sincerity of those who spoke in
Christian religious terms. Only that such an approach can be hurtful, and
maybe even offensive to those of another religion...or indeed no religion.
To further suggest that raising this issue equates in some way to "lunacy"
that does harm in the world is, in my view, pretty extreme. I hope this was
not a serious comment.

Fred Sterns

---------------------------------------------------------------------