From: hbm@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Hasan B. Mutlu)
Subject: Re: Traditional And Historical Armenian Barbarism...
Organization: ddsw1.MCS.COM Contributor, Chicago, IL
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 04:49:14 GMT
X-Disclaimer:  Material posted in this article is the sole responsibility of
                the poster and does not represent MCSNet or the system owners.





<1992Aug19.081902.12212@cs.ubc.ca>
fayegh@cs.ubc.ca (David Fayegh)

>>>>states will acquire nuclear weapons? How about sharing? They even 
> . . .
>>>Tough questions ...
>>Well, historical evidence indicates that these are not new developments. 

>True.

Yup.

>>On the contrary, they are deeply rooted cultural truisms.

>I disagree.
>How do you define ``culture'' and why do you think that 
>the desire to possess a nuclear arsenal is `culturally self evident'?.

The everyday forces that shape our lives (politics) and our reactions
to these forces (culture) are merely manifestations of the same thing.
To isolate what has become known as 'culture' in the West with another
abstracted term, 'politics,' is to play with semantics. Culture has
historically represented the everyday lives of a social group. This 
isn't something you think about, you just accept it in the way you
accept the fact that George Washington was the first president of 
America.

>>>(1) What humanity needs is not more nuclear weapons, but the adaptation
>>>of environmentally-sound technologies for civilian nuclear power generation
>>>and utilization.  How about sharing now?

>>In that, your promises sound a lot more like traditional Marxist analysis.

>No "promises" were intended. I was just pointing to the desperate need for the
>diversion of all (such) military technologies to their civilian equivalents.

No sweat.

>How many schools can you build and staff with the money invested/spent in/on
>building, maintaining, and disposing of one single nuclear warhead?
>Any `arithmeticians' out there?  

As I indicated earlier, it is a dog-eat-dog world of all-against-all, where 
ethnic and racial groups fight forever to capture and maintain their 'purity' 
by endless demands of territorial adjustments, and endless and ever new 
claims on moral and cultural superiority. In such a world, 'human rights'
is a very important policy tool to badger the other fellow with. In this
'brave new world' there is no 'conflict resolution' as such. 

>Can you imagine the consequences of adapting such `diversion policies', 
>world-wide, for, say, 25 years?.  

Nope. 

>>Thus, conflicts perpetuate forever, as fate is reduced to unalterable
>>conditions surrounding one's birth, like one's skin color, native
>>tongue and ethnic identity.

> ... conflicts continue as long `we', both as individuals, and as part of
>a larger ``group'' (be it ethnic, religious, etc.),  are _not_ willing 
>to recognize and solve the ``real'' problems and blindly continue to 
>perpetuate `hate' under the facade of ethnic, religious, political, ..., 
>ethnocentrism, fanaticism, ``xxxx-ism', etc..

The concept of 'citizenship,' a concept derided by the old school
Marxists as a 'bourgeois' concept hiding the 'exploitation of
masses,' suddenly looks light years ahead of the new terrorists'
exclusive reliance of ethnic homogeneity. As a dear friend once put
it, citizenship meant an order wherein people of different ethnicity
and backgrounds could voluntarily come together and live in peace
by observing the laws of the land. An illusion?

>This type of ``behavior'' (by both individuals and ``nation-states'') 
>and the resulting effects on one's surroundings has very little to do 
>with "fate".  Repetitious `historical' review of `barbarism' alone 
>contributes very little if the goal is to seek _equitable solutions_. 

The American media is one of most superficial attributes and 
legends. While each of us has formed conceptions about certain
people and events, it is unlikely that many of those opinions
developed from personal experience.

>>>Well, if "the future is not what it used to be", then `the past is not
>>>what it will be'! ;-)  Any way you slice it, you are left without the 
>>>future or the past. So lets focus on the ``here-and-now'' domain for 
>>>a bit.

>>But what makes you think that it will work this time in 'here-and-now'
>>domain?

>Because we can only ``work'' here-and-now.  One doesn't solve problems
>by just remembering the past and fantasizing about the future. 

The history repeats itself.

>>>With all honesty, I can't quite figure out what it is that you are 
>>>disagreeing with ;-). 

>>That you can create your own society.

>Again, an `individual' can not "create" his/her own society. 

I am forced to disagree with you. From time immemorial history has
been full of activists. And early activists were mostly in religion
and social causes.

>`Collectively', however, `nation-states' can change the _given_ conditions
>governing `life' on this fragile planet. `Individually', one can
>only change oneself and certain aspects of one's immediate 
>environment.

Nope. For most of us television, rather than print media, is virtually
our only vivid source of information about these people and events 
which play a major role in shaping how we perceive the world while
it fosters an illusion of certainty.

>>>Now, if activism is to be used to induce awareness
>>>about a noble cause and advance it through equitable and non-violent
>>>methods, then I would be the first to join without any hesitation.
>>>As you have stated above, "activism can be used in many areas"; 
> . . .(*)
>>Fine. However, if a movement is deprived of a philosophy, mere
>>taking to the streets can not create a lasting effect. 

>Right ... that's why I wrote ((*) above):

Swell.

>>>deciding on the cause and the means used to advance such causes
>>>are the difficult issues that need to be addressed by the accountable 
>>>activists or potential activists. 
> . . .
>>>Why do you feel/think that way? How do you perceive your own "self-image"?
>>Who gives a thunder?

>I wouldn't have asked otherwise.

Satisfied?

>>>I look forward to that time. And in the mean time ... back to work :-)
>>Sorry, it is just a matter of priority.

>Fine, but there is no need to be "Sorry" :-). I really do have to get back
>to ``work'' ;-).

Well, you are obviously not like the rest of the mortals.

>>>It is?  What is my "favorite cause" and who is my "favorite fundrasing star"?
>>>Please elaborate.  

>>Probably the best paradigm of the 'new world order' "thing" is represented
>>by the Disney theme parks. The mouse that roars billions in cash receipts
>>becomes the voice of a new global generation that wears the same designer
>>jeans in Lisbon and Lima, watches the same MTV in Los Angeles and Cairo,
>>and carries an instant conversation through personal computer bulletin
>>boards in Istanbul and Tokyo.

>The paradigm referred to as the "'new world order'" is an `old' concept
>that is now being `re-exploited' for `short-term benefits' by many ...
>But then what else is new?

Heisenberg's 'Uncertainty Principle' of quantum physics reincarnated
in the land of Disneyrock as the democratic cynicism that questioned
the traditional separation between 'reporting' and 'that which is
reported.'

>>>Hmmm ... may be the problem is that we don't have common definitions
>>>for "nation-states" and "`global village'. Shall we try again? 

>>The 21st Century unfolds at such a blinding pace that we do not even
>>yet have a vocabulary to correctly identify the emerging social forms.

>How true ... Shall we try to come up with a protocol for cooperation
>rather than what we have been doing :-). What protocol do you suggest?

Sorry, but I must say 'no.'

>>>As for ideas, I am willing to share to
>>>the best of my ability until it becomes an obsession ...

>>Play fair. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and
>>draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day
>>some.

>Right on, so lets ... live and let live plus much much more ... right?

What about those 'black hearts under black capes,' though?

>Now that we have thought a few seconds or less about all the above
>and some more, shall we change the Subject line to something more 
>appropriate please? 

Well, you eat yours and I'll eat mine.

Hasan B-) Mutlu

                     'Kill Turks and Kurds wherever you find them 
                      and in whatever circumstances you find them. 
                      Turkish children also should be killed as 
                      they form a danger to the Armenian nation.' 
                                     (Hamparsum Boyadjian - 1914)

Newsgroups: soc.culture.turkish