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[Guest guest]

To C.S. Shah I say that I must agree with your assessment of my country

(USA). Even though Christ was the greatest Yogi and Vedantist in recorded

history, for most " Christians, " His teachings are mostly a " decorative

showpiece " of doctrine and ritual. This will be evidenced in our response to

this tragedy - retribution (not vengeance!) and " justice. " Christ taught us

to forgive and that God is our sole judge (the terrorists' karma is already

leading them on their individual path to " justice " ). The American belief is

that a swift and severe military action will avenge this cowardly crime and

protect us from such evil in the future. My fear is that it will do just the

opposite. I fear this will lead us down the road of living with a " bunker "

mentality and in a society characterized by " checkpoints and security

clearances, " as other acts of " low tech " but " high devastation " terrorism

continue. (So much for the vaunted missle defense system - how do we defend

ourselves against a pocket full of anthrax?)

 

My question to this list: Do you feel that if America focused on a global

strategy of building dialogue, understanding and relationships with " rogue "

nations that it would provide more security to our shores than a strategy of

swift and severe military response? Can fanaticism be affected by pro-active

dialogue and a sincere desire to achieve mutual understanding and

respect -or- do they live solely for their intolerant " cause? "

 

Also, I would ask C. S. Shah why he characterizes this event as an

" inevitable tragedy? "

 

Last, to Laurent Claude - Thank You!

 

God Bless Us All,

Bradley Dean Stephan