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Missile Defense

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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rshow55 - 08:18pm Feb 17, 2002 EST (#11603 of 11624)

Eisenhower went on:

"It is the task of statesmanship to mold, to balance, and to integrate these and other forces, new and old, within the principles of our democratic system-ever aiming toward the supreme goals of our free society.

. . . .

"Down the long lane of the history yet to be written America knows that this world of ours, ever growing smaller, must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect.

"Such a confederation must be one of equals. The weakest must come to the conference table with the same confidence as do we, protected as we are by our moral, economic, and military strength. That table, though scarred by many past frustrations, cannot be abandoned for the certain agony of the battlefield.

"Disarmament, with mutual honor and confidence, is a continuing imperative. Together we must learn how to compose differences, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose. Because this need is so sharp and apparent I confess that I lay down my official responsibilities in this field with a definite sense of disappointment. As one who has witnessed the horror and the lingering sadness of war--as one who knows that another war could utterly destroy this civilization which has been so slowly and painfully built over thousands of years--I wish I could say tonight that a lasting peace is in sight.

. . . .

"You and I--my fellow citizens--need to be strong in our faith that all nations, under God, will reach the goal of peace with justice. May we be ever unswerving in devotion to principle, confident but humble with power, diligent in pursuit of the Nations' great goals.

"To all the peoples of the world, I once more give expression to America's prayerful and continuing aspiration:

"We pray that peoples of all faiths, all races, all nations, may have their great human needs satisfied; that those now denied opportunity shall come to enjoy it to the full; that all who yearn for freedom may experience its spiritual blessings; that those who have freedom will understand, also, its heavy responsibilities; that all who are insensitive to the needs of others will learn charity; that the scourges of poverty, disease and ignorance will be made to disappear from the earth, and that, in the goodness of time, all peoples will come to live together in a peace guaranteed by the binding force of mutual respect and love.

Eisenhower was one of the greatest military leaders America has produced in the last century -- and was a conservative, responsible leader in every good sense of the word. What would he say now?

I feel sure of this much. He'd be for technically right answers .

He'd be for decision making, in America, that could be explained both to the American people, and to the whole world.

He'd want an America brave enough and competent enough for that. Competent enough to know that, on the things that matter most, truth is what America deserves, and needs to expect of both itself and of others.

I'm sure of this. Any decent answer to the question

" 'What is America's Vision for the next few decades?"

would have to be an answer that fit values and ideals that Americans in Eisenhower's time, and ours, hold dear, and are proud of.

We have to find those answers. I think we can.

Back tomorrow.

gisterme - 02:35am Feb 18, 2002 EST (#11604 of 11624)

Times Gone By

I see the stars, In midnight sky, 'Neath moonlit mountains, Just you and I...

Caress you here beside me, And wonder why, I should be without you, In times gone by, in times gone by, In times gone by.

In times gone by, Oh my soul did try, To understand the heart, Why love should make one cry...

But by and by, The tears at last were dry. I thought that love had died, In times gone by, in times gone by, In times gone by.

Now the light of a million years ago, Falls gentle on my eye, As ancient dreams reach out for me, And once again I cry.

Rejoice my love in each moment, Though through storms of time we fly, For every one we'll find again, In times gone by, In times gone by, In times gone by.

--gisterme

This song is dedicated to the memory of my beloved, who departed this world today.

rshow55 - 12:05pm Feb 18, 2002 EST (#11605 of 11624)

gisterme , things are somewhat symbolic here. I feel for you, in the grief that comes to you as a human being, and do so even as I doubt the loss you speak of, though I know it may be real and wrenching. I have no way of checking . If what you say is real, I appreciate the concern and attention you've given to this board in past days and weeks. You must care very much about the issues involved, as I do.

What I wrote in MD11582 rshow55 2/16/02 2:49pm still seems reasonable to me. Whether it is right or not, I know that we share human feelings, and experiences of deep sorrow.

American values, the ones most widely shared, are warm human values -- and involve an affirmation of life, and good things. We are all saddened by death. We all want to avoid it, for ourselves, for others we care about, and for other people, more generally -- because we have human sympathy. We know, not only intellectually, but emotionally too, that others feel, and hurt, and have value, if not exactly as we do, much as we do, especially about the primal things.

All people of feeling want to stand for life, and against death, though we are all headed at last for silence on this earth.

Here are life-affirming poems about death that might comfort you - since I see you like poetry.

. Death be not proud by John Donne .... http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee74d94/4092

. Do not go gentle into that good night by Dylan Thomas ... http://www.bigeye.com/donotgo.htm

I hope you find some pleasure and comfort in beautiful things, such as these flowers.

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