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Missile Defense

Russian military leaders have expressed concern about US plans for a national missile defense system. Will defense technology be limited by possibilities for a strategic imbalance? Is this just SDI all over again?

lunarchick - 05:05pm Apr 14, 2001 EST (#2241 of 2248)
lunarchick@www.com

The future of NTV/MTV on my national 'up-to-the-minute' radio isn't as 'up-to-the-minute' as the postings above. It did say the former Music TV station had been critical of Putin. There are different types of critism, negative and positive. In the Russian situation I would expect a broadcaster to look at the environmental context within which the country was operating, note future visionary planning for shorter and longer term goals, and to have news and current affairs discussions that took an even handed approach when analysing the progress made. Direct comparisons between a country rising from the ashes of former economic chaos with a long established peacetime economy can not yet be made. The new station has to regain the hearts and minds of the Russian public ... this might require some initial hard hitting 'truths' relating to 'where we are' then look to 'where we want to be' and within what time frame .... and with explanations regarding the priorities of legislations that have to be put into place. Legislations that have to 'sold' into the minds of the people, accepted by them, and used as frameworks in relation to their dealings with each other and outside bodies/organisations/nationals.

lunarchick - 05:48pm Apr 14, 2001 EST (#2242 of 2248)
lunarchick@www.com

NTV Prof Bill WALLACE Glasgow Uni

"Putin is progressing towards a law and order society .. 'he hasn't made up his mind' .. but there are people in-and-around the Kremlin who wish to stiffle critism re their activities" BBC

---

Sounds as if the Question Mark regarding NTV is related to 'power' ... the new rich of Moscow (who may have become rich via illegal activity) .. are the ones who don't want MTV-truths to focus on them.

Truth is the basis of a new future.

If NTV new management are under orders to 'wash' information before using it, and limit critism, then the solution for Putin would be to issue licences for broadcasting to other organisations additional to NTV. Thus delimiting individuals spheres of influence.

We have a tv station that has just won an international award for excellence call SBS (Australia). SBS subtitle much of what is broadcast .. and are happy to provide this service in any language. It notes that we have people from every country in the world within our pluralistic population make-up. This broadcaster brings in information from 'everywhere' and has a definite 'world' feel.

This contrasts with the commercial channels which run local information such as police reports (with news helicopter pictures), sports results, some politics ... but little world news even though people are from 'the world' and have increasingly higher levels of education.

The problem for broadcasting in Russia seems to be a need for actual 'freedom' of the press, with freedom for journalists to get to the truth.

If everyone has something to hide, then as with South Africa there is a need to draw a line, have a truth commission to bring out the past, either look at the way fortunes have been made and take appropriate action, or reveal truths and then move on.

Note how that $million$ was quickly raised to get a man out of a Swiss court and back to Moscow .... there is no extradition agreement with Switzerland ... perhaps his theft and day in court might have started to unravel the graft that has happened in Russia over past years. Interesting how the regular people are often shown as being in a worse situation than prior to the 'fall of communism' ... while the Greedy make it rich.

lunarchick - 06:01pm Apr 14, 2001 EST (#2243 of 2248)
lunarchick@www.com

Dominant Group Nationalism seems to be a 'problem' in some posts (above):

The Japanese even today treat 'outer' groups (People of Korean decent) as 'lesser' citizens.

The Chinese people treat 'outer' groups (People of Korean and Tibetan decent) as 'lesser' citizens.

The Kurds have been doled out this treatment by their four-country dominat cultures.

The 'AfricanAmericans' in Cincinnati are tired of being 'policed' (that is tired of all being treated as the enemy) ... they want to work with the police and have the police work with them.

All minority cultures want to keep and have respect for their culture and yet work_in with the dominant culture. It's a matter of RESPECT ... via diffusion the best of the cultures most often surfaces and is adopted by all.

lunarchick - 06:09pm Apr 14, 2001 EST (#2244 of 2248)
lunarchick@www.com

'Others' papers and finding re perception.

almarst-2001 - 06:18pm Apr 14, 2001 EST (#2245 of 2248)

Recently the interesting paradox came to my mind:

The Generosity, Forgiveness and Self-Criticizm much easier can be shown by a Strong rather then a Weak (no danger to be viewed as a weakness).

And, it is a Strong which rarely has a compelling reason to show Generosity, Forgiveness and Self-Criticizm. Unless for the reason of Morality.

Therefore, the absence of Generosity, Forgiveness and Self-Criticizm from the Strong can be interpreted as a lack of Morality.

rshowalter - 08:13pm Apr 14, 2001 EST (#2246 of 2248)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Yes, but the weak can show strength, and gain strength in a properly crafted, properly limited, properly proud apology that identifies them with standards that are respected above the power of individuals or nations. And the strong show their inferiority to their pretensions by refusing to admit what they have actually done, and submit to moral responsibility. Because no individual, or nation, that holds itself "above morality" can be strong in a world where the survival of all depends on complex cooperation.

What nation is there, in today's world, can stand against all the others, if the others are linked by a common view and purpose?

None.

And so flaunting morality -- for example, claiming that "morality is not applicable to nation states" - shown contempt for the human interactions on which all sustained sociotechnical strength depends.

If you wish to be strong, in a world where complex cooperation is crucial, and if you or your country have a good case to make --- then it is lies you really have to fear. Not the truth. The truth provides hope. Good decisions, and accomodations that permit and justify trust, come from truths faced and understood.

Will there be places where you, and your nation, can be embarrassed?

Sure.

That goes for ALL other people and nations, if people are even remotely honest.

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