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Technology has always found its greatest consumer in a
nation's war and defense efforts. Since the last attempts at a
"Star Wars" defense system, has technology changed
considerably enough to make the latest Missile Defense
initiatives more successful? Can such an application of
science be successful? Is a militarized space inevitable,
necessary or impossible?
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  (3157 previous messages)
rshowalt
- 10:34am Jul 19, 2002 EST (#3158
of 3252) 
There are a lot of reasons for me to want this material
considered, and some are "ulterior motives" that I'm not
ashamed of, and that go a long way, I believe, toward setting
aside the argument that I'm being irrational doing the work
I've done associated with this forum.
MD2770 rshow55
6/29/02 7:59am
MD2981-2986 000 especially MD2986 rshow55
7/10/02 3:58pm
I've been keeping promises I made to Bill Casey - promises
I've wanted to keep for many reasons, with "mixed motivations"
in many of the usual senses.
One motive is personal, and I feel it strongly.
I'm taking a chance to advance the culture, and think, with
lchic's brilliant collaboration, I'm (we're) making
some headway.
The idea of "connecting the dots" associates with a lot
that is very practical, at a number of levels - including some
other "old" ideas that can be made more useful with a little
additional focusing. The ideas of "disciplined beauty" - "the
golden rule" . . . and the idea that, when it matters enough,
there is a moral obligation to tell the truth in the ways that
matter for action.
lchic
- 10:40am Jul 19, 2002 EST (#3159
of 3252)
Some are driven
Others chauffered
None want the
world to 'end'
http://static.ifilm.com/image/stills/films/a/105004_m_1_a_.jpg
http://www.whoohoo.net/power/
zulphia
7/18/02 5:26pm
rshowalt
- 12:07pm Jul 19, 2002 EST (#3160
of 3252)
The world could easily end, and it seems to me to be
almost a wonder it hasn't already (in 1962, and at some other
times, as well - for instance, the time described in this
sermon http://www.wisc.edu/rshowalt/sermon.html
).
But if we figured out just a little bit more than we know,
and if we were just a little bit more honest -- we could
survive - and the world would be much better. If the following
simple rhyme became a "nursery rhyme" - learned by 4 year olds
and their parents -- the world would become a lot better. The
rhyme has a lot to do with "connecting the dots" - and the
fact that people, good as they are, aren't perfect.
Adults need secrets, lies and fictions
To
live within their contradictions.
. . . . But when things go wrong
. . . . And
knock about
. . . . Folks get together
. . . . And work it out.
. . . .
I've done a little searching, and I'm working to do a
little summarizing. . . . back in less than an hour.
rshowalt
- 01:03pm Jul 19, 2002 EST (#3161
of 3252)
While I'm summarizing, I'd like to point out that there's
been a great deal of discussion, some in my view well thought
out and well written, about the idea of "connecting the dots."
There were similar ideas on this thread (and a lot of other
places) - but I was impressed with the phrase "connect the
dots" used by Erica Goode. MD324 contains this:
Facts and ideas, combined together in space
and time so that people can "connect the dots" , as
Erica Goode says in Finding Answers In Secret
Plots http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/10/weekinreview/10GOOD.html
form the ideas that people and groups have. -- These ideas
are patterns, which work well enough to sustain action and
belief in some ways, though they may be totally invalid
otherwise. These ideas, constructed by "connecting the dots"
may produce grossly pathological results -- fueling hatred,
wars, and cycles of poverty. Or they may be correct.
To judge that, one checks the "facts"
"connected together" and one sees if the pattern conjured up
fits more facts - - including many more facts. The process
of judging this, like the process of putting the
"explanation" together - happens in people's minds - and
can't be forced. But the matching process -- the "connecting
of the dots" -- is what effective thinking and persuasion is
all about. . . .
Since then, the idea has been worked through, to some
degree from different angles, on this thread. This thread has
also cited the use of the phrase, and the associated ideas, by
others.
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