![[F]](../_images/site.gif) New York Times on the Web Forums  Science
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?
   (4836 previous messages)
rshowalter
- 10:20am Jun 12, 2001 EST (#4837
of 4841) 
Robert Showalter
showalte@macc.wisc.edu
Perfect "freedom" without constraint is unworkable --
disproportionate -- very ugly.
Perfect "constraint" without freedom is also unworkable ---
disproportionate -- very ugly.
A question, in logic and language, is which issue is considered
first, which second.
Russians sometimes take "freedom" first, and then consider
"constraint."
Other times, they take "constraint" first, and then consider
"freedom."
That's also true of Americans.
But very often, Americans and Russians, looking at the same
problem, will make different choices, one side taking "freedom"
first, where the other side would take "constraint" first - or
vice versa.
So, for example, Americans and Russians are both "free" -- and
both feel passionately attracted to "freedom." But in significant
ways, the notions of freedom are different, and that won't change.
Also, Russians and Americans are both passionately committed to
order, to constraint, to discipline. But in significant ways, the
notions of discipline are different.
Both valid choices, worthy of respect. But different choices,
with different consequences and priorities following.
We are different cultures. We can understand each other better --
though we'll disagree, at the level of ideas and aesthetics, always.
*****
Because of these basic differences, we have to be especially
careful, and explicit, dealing with each other -- to avoid what can
sometimes be very unfortunate or dangerous misunderstandings.
Deception between us is especially dangerous -- crosschecking
especially important, because we are - and will always remain, very
different.
We'll stay different, no matter how successful either side
becomes, and no matter how each side is likely to evolve.
rshowalter
- 10:23am Jun 12, 2001 EST (#4838
of 4841)
Robert Showalter
showalte@macc.wisc.edu
It is good to put things politely.
Often, the more important the criticism, the more important it is
to put it politely.
Matters can still be put clearly.
almarst-2001
- 11:13am Jun 12, 2001 EST (#4839
of 4841)
rshowalter
6/12/01 10:20am
"both feel passionately attracted to "freedom."
I can't really speack of Americans, but for Russians the freedom
that matters is primerelly internal.
rshowalter
- 11:18am Jun 12, 2001 EST (#4840
of 4841)
Robert Showalter
showalte@macc.wisc.edu
We're afraid of different things, constrained in different ways,
have different social controls.
That won't change. We can still live together, and cooperate in
some significant ways.
rshowalter
- 11:22am Jun 12, 2001 EST (#4841
of 4841)
Robert Showalter
showalte@macc.wisc.edu
And in other ways, there will always be distances - and things we
actively dislike about each other. Also things we fear in each
other.
That's a reason why we have to learn to communicate in the
ways that matter -- it isn't the "natural thing."
I wasnt' kidding about how difficult it would be for Russian
staffers to discuss the "unRussian-ness" of some books. But it would
be useful for us to learn to discuss disagreements -- and do
it clearly and to the point where both sides are clear --
and do it without fighting.
Now, neither side knows how to do this reliably -- and that makes
both sides afraid.
  
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