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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.

cantabb - 07:55am Nov 4, 2003 EST (# 16454 of 16472)

rshow55 - 07:09am Nov 4, 2003 EST (# 16449 of 16452)

Cantabb says: "Expressed opinions don't have to have a name, degree or position attavhed. Opinions stand or fall, on their own merit; name adds nothing to its merit, weight or worth.

rshow55: That is false - and everybody knows it.

Not surprising from a poster who's in perpetual awe of authority, actually been slavish to it.

Read it again:

"Expressed opinions don't have to have...... [emphasized for your convenience]. Any opinion (from a president, or the church, or a bricklayer) stands or falls on its own merit -- NOT on the name/affiliation/degree.

In fact, an opinion without merit would fall much harder when it's from some authority who should have known better. Conversely, if it does have merit, you'll say that NOTHING less was expected of the 'authority' doing his/her job -- a "no-win" situation.

The question of "who is talking" is an essential one when ideas are weighted . And questions of HOW MUCH STATUS is involved, and how, are a big part of most decisions.

ONLY impresses those who are always cowed down by authority into unquestioningly obedient, slavish behavior decades after their death.

But meaningful generalities are precious......which carries emotional and quantitative cues that are essential for human function.

As "precious" as tired ole` cliches !

I'm hoping that lchic and I can do some work that makes that less of a problem. Work that is actually effective.

I see nobody's preventing you, except perhaps your own inner demons !

How do people disagree (agree) about logical structure ? .........

Usual nonsense !

"Can [you and lchic] do a better job of finding truth?": PRAY hard !

lchic - 07:56am Nov 4, 2003 EST (# 16455 of 16472)
ultimately TRUTH outs : TRUTH has to be morally forcing : build on TRUTH it's a strong foundation

Cantabb you've been posting on the NYT for years ... most often posts are slow to come through when 'Nanny' determines they could contain the inappropriate ... go figure!

cantabb - 08:04am Nov 4, 2003 EST (# 16456 of 16472)

lchic - 07:56am Nov 4, 2003 EST (# 16455 of 16455)

Cantabb you've been posting on the NYT for years ... most often posts are slow to come through when 'Nanny' determines they could contain the inappropriate ... go figure!

I know. That's why, when I changed the number as they were to (i)...(viii), it went through.. Nanny may not like 'Arabic Numerals' (1,2,3....8), partic. after 9-11..

lchic - 08:08am Nov 4, 2003 EST (# 16457 of 16472)
ultimately TRUTH outs : TRUTH has to be morally forcing : build on TRUTH it's a strong foundation

'Start spreading the news .... I'm leaving today ... "

It's been a pleasure, a joy, and an education working on this board with it's cast of characters including Alex, Gisterme, Jorian, Margaret Drabble, Cantabb, Paul.J.F., Cooper, Broadsheets and media of the world, and 'The Poster' incarnate in multiple monikers ... but always 'The Poster'.

MD is in many ways a MINDSET .... tried to warm up the jello, melt away those little town views, and re-set some thinking along the way.

I made the point to Gisterme that once local regions were locked in wars. The Westphalia 1648 agreement gave respect to National Boundaries a paradigm shift in it's time. There is a need for Quality Standards to apply to those within boundaries ... giving assistance and necessary economic and political help to those repressed in non-functional systems.

Those who hold the strings of power have to consider more carefully how they can make the world a better, more caring, considerate, interconnected and safer place. How to be caringly-greedy rather than visciously so. There's a need to learn how best to move through knowledge to wisdom; how to make science and technology work in meaningful ways, knowing that the measure of the world and the values of the world lie with each individual who has value beyond the monetary.

I clicked in to the NYT through the advocacy of Phillip Adams, Radio National ABC Australia, whose bio lists NYT, and discovered the threads ... an interest in the memory with respect to the linguistic led me to the NYT science thread on the Brain ... through that board . and no doubt spotting the World Asset that I am, - as are we all, Robert Showalter asked me to partner him.

It has since been an honour and a privilege to work along-side him - one of America's finest and most gifted intellectuals - one of the greatest minds I've never met ... 'king of the hill - top of the heap'. The late Professor Steve Kline partnered Bob for twenty five years recognising and advocating the importance of his agenda - the ramifications of which will as further developed, accepted and integrated be a plus for humanity.

Showalter trust you have a copy of the thread - there's more to MD than merely MD - post me.

Showalter's 'gonna make a brand new start of it ... If he could make it here, he'll make it anywhere ... (with no appologies to Frankie) ... It's up to you - New York, New York !!

I did go on to try the Home Brand Tuna advocated by Dame Elizabeth Murdoch ... it was fine :)

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New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense