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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?

Read Debates, a new Web-only feature culled from Readers' Opinions, published every Thursday.

rshow55 - 09:30am Jul 12, 2003 EST (# 12975 of 12977)
Can we do a better job of finding truth? YES. Click "rshow55" for some things Lchic and I have done and worked for on this thread.

I've also made a number of references to Mary Poppins and some other movies - and at a time when there may be some tension - and when some fights may be necessary for the preservation of basic values in the United States - it seems worthwhile to remember some "Mary Poppins" virtues.

http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md2000s/md2575.htm

2645 http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md2000s/md2643.htm

2653-4 http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md2000s/md2650.htm

http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md2000s/md2664.htm

http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md2000s/md2706.htm

2887 http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md2000s/md2884_2889.htm

Something I've always liked about the movie Mary Poppins is that the heroine moves into a ugly mess. The ugliness is realistically portrayed. With some steadfastness, and some grace, she uses very specific knowledge of specific people and situations. There's the occasional coercive act or credible threat, but always she is proportionate, and graceful outcomes are arranged as well. Things are worked out to a higher level of grace and practicality than existed in the household before, though nobody loses their basic weaknesses and flaws.

We've had a lot of Dr. Strangelove in our international arrangements. Maybe we can't do away with all of it, though I think we can.

But we could use some of the Mary Poppins virtues, too.

http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md3000s/md3213.htm

http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md3000s/md3258.htm

http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md3000s/md3274.htm

http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md3000s/md3284.htm

3383 http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md3000s/md3380.htm . . . http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md3000s/md3385.htm

I hope you know these movies, or know something about them. The movies I have in mind are West Side Story , which is a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet ; Dr. Strangelove ; Mary Poppins ; and, in my view perhaps the richest of all movies, Casablanca.

3830 http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md3000s/md3824.htm

http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md4000s/md4505.htm

http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md6000s/md6586.htm

http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md6000s/md6905.htm

7251 http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md7000s/md7248.htm

http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md7000s/md7514.htm

http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md7000s/md7923.htm

8043 http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md8000s/md8042.htm

http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md9000s/md9667.htm http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md9000s/md9677.htm

I think fighting can be necessary, too: http://www.mrshowalter.net/a_md9000s/md9908.htm

- - -

I think there are solid reasons for us to understand - clearly - how the Nazis took control of Germany - and maintained it - and were effective in the ways they were.

So that we can preserve good thing that are in danger.

I think Mary Poppins - looking at what has happened, would think so, too. She could be very tough, without losing her humanity. That's a challenge I've been trying to meet - as I've been working to keep my promises.

lchic - 10:03am Jul 12, 2003 EST (# 12976 of 12977)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

Live's a jolly holiday with Mary ...

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