tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5061332208168038059.post8355573733545925127..comments2024-03-06T09:33:51.694-05:00Comments on Tilting at Windmills: Stopping By the Norwichtown Mall on a Snowy SundayWilliam Kennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450318295942216572noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5061332208168038059.post-23430568474352836412007-12-18T07:10:00.000-05:002007-12-18T07:10:00.000-05:00Rabbi,I agree whole-heartedly that there is a casu...Rabbi,<BR/>I agree whole-heartedly that there is a casual contempt in which the traffic signal at the intersection of NL and Salem turnpike is held. <BR/>When I 'have' the light, I count to 'four Mississippi' BEFORE venturing through the intersection. <BR/><BR/>Your concern about torture underscores the moral danger we all face. At what point do we become the very thing against which we are fighting? <BR/><BR/>If we are willing to trade constitutionally guaranteed (human) rights for vague assurances of more security (can you say 'Patriot Act'? I knew you could) we may find ourselves with less freedom AND less security. <BR/><BR/>'Fear of the other who is different' is a powerful instinct, overwhelming our humanitarian and charitable impulses. <BR/><BR/>Historically, humans have had a difficult time treating people other than ourselves with the same dignity and courtesy (Pogroms and persecution have been part of the history of nations since the beginnings of history). <BR/><BR/>What can we do to counter this? <BR/><BR/>What we do now: discuss, perhaps disagree but always dialogue and sort through and work towards consensus and make progress. <BR/>Admittedly, Rome wasn't built in a day, but next year, Jerusalem-perhaps. At least progress towards that ideal. <BR/><BR/>The thoughts often attributed to <BR/>Pastor Martin Niemöller may serve as a cautionary tale for us today as they should have done for so many, so long ago. <BR/><BR/>We risk becoming the people we hate because we hate them. <BR/>Love may be all we need but a little more tolerance may be a greater good) (but harder to achieve). -bill kennyWilliam Kennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05450318295942216572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5061332208168038059.post-69256724775957750922007-12-17T15:57:00.000-05:002007-12-17T15:57:00.000-05:00Bill:Regarding traffic lights around here, I'd sim...Bill:<BR/><BR/>Regarding traffic lights around here, I'd simply be happy for more people to consider them mandatory rather than optional. Yellow means slow down, not "hit the gas." It is extremely rare to see a light change at the intersection of New London Turnpike and Salem Turnpike without at least one car going through the red light.<BR/><BR/>Regarding torture, a few thoughts:<BR/><BR/>1.) I believe in due process. Some of the recipients of torture may be guilty of nothing more than being brown-skinned in the wrong place at the wrong time. Torturing such a person cannot yield any useful information because they have none to give.<BR/><BR/>2.) Israel knows a thing or two about this stuff and to my knowledge most Israeli intelligence people do not believe it even works. The torturee tells you what you want to hear, not necessarily what is true.<BR/><BR/>3.) We've prosecuted people from other countries in the past for waterboarding. Kind of makes us look hypocritical to do it ourselves now.<BR/><BR/>4.) There are some things you just don't do because it makes you less than human. I might suspend this principle if it would save many lives, but see 2.) above.Rabbi Charles Arianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02936036682918877496noreply@blogger.com