"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." --Bertrand Russell
I have mixed feelings about the war. I had reservations about invading Iraq but I was also bothered all through the 90s by the impact of the UN's trade sanctions and Saddam's brutality on the Iraqi people. I feel that some of what the military does over there is incredible and doesn't get enough air time by the media--and yet I'm extremely bothered by some of the autrocities we've also done, our civil-military authority's cover ups of these events, and our lack of planning and foresight for an end-state.
But no matter my sympathies for both sides, there's one thing I can't sympathize with. There's an organization out of Kansas called the Westboro Baptist Church that feels it's approp
riate to protest at funerals of slain soldiers. The WBC's best-known slogan is "God Hates Fags". They feel the reason America is losing troops is because it loosened the restrictions on homosexuals being in the service. The WBC (which is un-affiliated with the Baptist conventions) is also anti-Catholic, anti-Semitic, etc.
The WBC attends soldiers' funerals and holds up signs that read "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," among other things. These people are absolute low-lifes.
So a group of Harley-Davidson riders called the Patriot Guard Riders--many of them veterans--have taken it upon themselves to serve as escorts at these funerals. They line the streets with their Harleys and American flags, roar their engines to drown out the cries of the protesters, and even made a wall of riders holding flags to block out the view of the WBC protesters.
I'm very impressed with the PGR--even more so that they don't resort to violence. I'm not trying to change anyone's views on the war, mine included. But I just wanted it known that there are some good people out there wearing leather and sporting tatoos
besides Hulk Hogan.
7 years ago
6 comments:
Man. I just commented and when I sent it the page just went blank.
So, to recreate. Basically I said that I think its really sad about the WBC thing. I'm glad they're an isolated group - but still, it's sad that anyone is doing that.
It reminded me of something I heard Angelina Jolie say in an impressive interview I saw of her:
She was describing the feelings she anticipated upon returning from her first visit to a refugee camp as a UN humanitarian representative:
She was supposed to be going strait from there to make an appearance on the red carpet at some awards show (like the Oscars), and she wondered if the contrast between worlds and lifestyles was going to cause her to condemn (even hate) the Hollywood people who's lives seemed so shallow and materialistic by comparison.
She described that the opposite happened. She said that the humanitarian work she's been doing had been teaching her about love, and had filled her heart with such love that she found it spilling over to include more people, not less, and this included those in Hollywood. Though their lifestyle is the epitome of ridiculous excesses and materialism and superficiality, she was able to look past that and see instead, individual human beings. Just as she was learning to look past the dirt and poverty and disease to see the human beings at the refugee camp.
I thought that was a powerful lesson. I believe that the true spirit of God is always going to have that kind of an effect on us. Although his law delineates between right and wrong behaviors, people should remember that one of the behaviors that is condemned the most is failing to have love for one another.
I was glad to hear about the bikers. It's nice when someone stands up for others, even if they aren't part of that group themselves. (Like the Dutch people during WWII).
(this is the comment I deleted before - but I noticed some big typos, so I redid it)
I loved the quote by Bertrand Russell, and for the most part, I see the truth of it often. A word of caution, however: I think we have to be careful that we don’t start associating “certainty” with people who are fanatical or foolish. I don’t believe the quote is trying to say that, and I don’t believe you are either. However, there are a lot of people who would read it that way.
The history of the world has far too many cases of people with strong convictions AND deep wisdom for the quote to be universally true. It’s important to remember how much goodness in the world we owe to people who have had convictions that they were right and moved forward despite opposition.
Yes, people who were certain of their convictions have also done a lot of terrible things. But, if wisdom were equated with doubt, and “certainty” were a sign of foolishness or fanaticism, then all the wisdom in the world would be in the hands of people too afraid to act because they lacked conviction. This, to me, is what Russell was saying, and I agree that many of the world’s problems come from these two failures.
I would sure hate to have a church leader or a doctor or even a river rafting guide who were “certain” of the path they were recommending, but lacking knowledge and wisdom. Likewise, I would be frightened if they had knowledge and wisdom but lacked certainty. Aren’t we all glad for those people who, in pursuit of knowledge and truth can say with conviction: “This is the right way.”
I’m reminded of the rope I bought at REI for my hammock, and the certainty in Jamie’s voice when she said, “this rope will hold you. It can hold 2,000 lbs. It will hold you. You won’t fall.” Her certainty – based on truth – gave me security.
I don’t think I’m telling you anything you don’t believe yourself, I just had to make sure the other point of view served as a reminder, lest we forget ourselves and make too sweeping a condemnation of “certainty” itself.
It's sad to see what can happen when reason and compassion are clouded by irrational hatred.
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." --Bertrand Russell
brilliant!!!
Although I was applying the Bertrand Russell quote to the war in Iraq, it actually jumped out at me when I read it because it was a thought I actually had about a month ago...only I couldn't put it into words.
I was having a conversation with a friend about religion--not war. In the course of this conversation I admitted that I was not entirely sure how I felt about the topic discussed. This person came back at me by bearing their testimony, effectively ending the conversation.
I walked away from it feeling a bit slighted.
I'm not saying that conviction is a bad thing...only that it can be dangerous. Conviction can become obstinacy. Conviction can become bullheadedness. Conviction can stifle open-mindedness. And, as is sometimes the case, words of conviction can make up for the ability to argue one's case and, perhaps, assuage one's doubts.
When you repeat something enough times (or hear it) you begin to believe it. That's a key principle of brainwashing. It's also a key principle of teaching. The difference between the two is this: brainwashing doesn't allow for deviant/questioning thought while teaching does.
In the context of this war and this administration: GW does not allow for dissidence from the ranks: even high-ranking members of his staff, the CIA, or the military--informed people whose opinions, I would have hoped, would have been sought out prior to and during the ongoing conflict.
For those readers either for or against this war, I would hope that you could set aside your political views and just, for one moment, as yourself this: By invading Iraq, did we accomplish what we set out to do? Did we have an adequate plan beforehand? Was it worth it?
And don't try and say that "no one could have known" because people did know beforehand. People warned what the outcome of a war against Iraq might be. Those people were ignored. Those people were silenced (and I'm not talking about Democrats).
I was hoping to keep my thoughts on the matter at hand: the Patriot Guard Riders...and not delve into my thoughts on the war.
Sorry.
Another anti-war quote from Russell:
"War does not determine who is right. Only who is left."
Russell, just so you know, became a pacifist during WWI, called The War to End All Wars. WWI was the most attrocious modern war prior to WWII. Russell was fired from Trinity College for his pacifism and jailed for 6 months under the Defence of the Realm Act [British spelling]. I think it's fitting that anti-war activists were so often jailed.
If anyone's wondering, I'm not a pacifist, but this war is pushing me further in that direction.
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