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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?

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gisterme - 06:03am Jan 5, 2003 EST (# 7345 of 7348)

rshow55 1/4/03 8:53am

"...Charity, mercy, and an ethic of common provision..."

Wouldn't charity and mercy be at the heart of an "ethic of common provision"?

"... - reasonably defined..."

From Merriam-Webster:

"... char·i·ty ...

...French charité, from Late Latin caritat-, caritas Christian love, from Latin, dearness, from carus dear; akin to Old Irish carae friend, Sanskrit kAma love

1 : benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity

2 a : generosity and helpfulness especially toward the needy or suffering; also : aid given to those in need b : an institution engaged in relief of the poor c : public provision for the relief of the needy

3 a : a gift for public benevolent purposes b : an institution (as a hospital) founded by such a gift

4 : lenient judgment of others..."

Definitions 1 and 2a of charity could reasonably fit the context of this discussion.

"... mer·cy ...

...Etymology: Middle English, from Old French merci, from Medieval Latin merced-, merces, from Latin, price paid, wages, from merc-, merx merchandise

1 a : compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power; also : lenient or compassionate treatment <begged for mercy> b: imprisonment rather than death imposed as penalty for first-degree murder

2 a : a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion b: a fortunate circumstance <it was a mercy they found her before she froze>

3 : compassionate treatment of those in distress <works of mercy among the poor>

Definitions 1a, 2a and 3 of mercy could reasonably fit the context of this conversation.

By "ethic of common provision" do you mean an application of charity and mercy, Robert?

If so then the "reasonably defined" part of your statement is taken care of. That wasn't so complex.

(continued)

gisterme - 06:04am Jan 5, 2003 EST (# 7346 of 7348)

gisterme 1/5/03 6:03am (continued)

"...and calibrated..."

How does one "calibrate" charity or mercy without changing them to something else? Are we talking about including charity and mercy in the planned economy? Wow. Just build them right into the five-year plan. What a concept!

" - are aesthetically necessary - "

Do you mean in all points of view, Robert? That may well be so if everything is to ever be beautiful; however, so long as evil abounds any perception of "all is beautiful" will differ considerably from reality.

"...and then - at higher levels of complexity - necessary for system stability and survival.

If the simplest, most fundamental structual elements truly posess the strength of charity and mercy, any structure or system of structures built from them will also be strong and stable, far more so than would be possible with structures or systems built using physical materials.

"...In spots, these days, folks are short on these things..."

Really??? Even in Iraq and North Korea?

"... - though in a few other spots, oversupplied..."

I didn't know that. Where is there an oversupply of charity and mercy and why?

"... Charity, for instance - has to be contextual..."

Okay. In what context would charity, given the definitions above, not be desirable?

" ...- and calibrated - in a system of competing-cooperating animals working together..."

Huh? In a system of competing-cooperating animals working together??? Umm, are we talking about training packs of wolves or orcas to apply charity and mercy or are we over-simplifying things by equating human culture to animal culture? Doing either would seem foolish. Also, I'll ask again how you'd go about calibrating charity or mercy without changing their nature.

"...God him-herself couldn't change that..."

More likely, God himself couldn't "calibrate" charity or mercy without changing them to something else.

"If any diety exists. I'm quite sure I can't know..."

Why not? Hellen Keller was a blind deaf mute but she found God.

"...I've looked through a telescope..."

Ahh. That explains it. You have eyes but you don't see...even with a telescope. Spiritual blindness is a far worse affliction than simply having no eyes. I hope your problem is not spiritual blindness. It may not be. After all, a perfectly normal unborn child also can't see the physical world...until after he has been born.

(2 following messages)

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