IP: I lied -- one more -- Re: CUNY condemns professors

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Sat, 06 Oct 2001 16:28:19 -0500
> From: Steve Cohen <stevecoh1 () home com>
> To: farber () cis upenn edu
>
> Dave, I commend your stance, and that of Mr. Kobrin.
>
> I think we need to get beyond the stance of "blaming" "us" OR "them". Even 
> to pose the question this way is in a sense to have answered it - and 
> badly in my opinion.  When I speak of actions of the United States and/or 
> the West which may have led to the current situation, I prefer to think of 
> it proactively: what will help to reduce this type of terrorist action in 
> the future?  I'm sure there's plenty of blame to go around to both sides, 
> but that really isn't the point, is it?  The past cannot be changed.  The 
> future perhaps can.  To put one's head in the sand and say "it's all THEIR 
> fault" and anyone who says different is aiding or at best a dupe of "THEM" 
> - and hence to be frozen out of "serious" discussion - is virtually to 
> insure intensification of violence, because viewed that way, the only way 
> out is to attempt to exterminate "THEM".
>
> Let's put it another way: is there nothing left for the world than to 
> become a Belfast writ large?  I would hate to think so.
>
> Steven M. Cohen



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