Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id AAA24673 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 5 Apr 2002 00:03:47 +0100 X-Originating-IP: [194.117.133.84] User-Agent: Microsoft-Outlook-Express-Macintosh-Edition/5.0.3 Date: Thu, 04 Apr 2002 23:55:36 +0100 Subject: Re: Wildebeest !! From: Steve Drew <srdrew_1@hotmail.com> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Message-ID: <B8D29877.C1%srdrew_1@hotmail.com> In-Reply-To: <200204022036.VAA20549@alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk> Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit X-OriginalArrivalTime: 04 Apr 2002 22:57:53.0471 (UTC) FILETIME=[2709CCF0:01C1DC2C] Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Hi Grant
> Date: Tue, 02 Apr 2002 07:08:58 -0800
> From: "Grant Callaghan" <grantc4@hotmail.com>
> Subject: Re: Wildebeest !!
> Why is it that when someone of another culture or religion gives up his life
> for what he/she believes in, we suspect insanity or manipulation by people
> with evil motives? Policemen and firemen and soldiers willingly put their
> lives on the line on a daily basis and no one feels they are being
> manipulated. I was seventeen when I joined the marines and a year later was
> sent into battle with dozens if not hundreds of other young men my age. We
> did it in a spirit of adventure and because that was our job at the time.
> Nobody forced us or tricked us.
I understood that it was part of military training. If you were n ot up for
ity you wound not be there. (And no i'm not denigrating your actions). You
had accepted the role that was offered to you.
> We felt we were doing it for the people
> back home, just as the policeman and the fireman is doing it for his
> community and his family, should the need arise. Giving ones life for the
> people and the ideas one believes in is so common you can see examples of it
> in the newspapers every day.
very true, Unfortunately it has little to do with the rights or wrongs of
the situation you are sent to.
> But if someone of another culture does it, we
> suspect their motives and try to find evidence of manipulation.
Not everyone does
>
> If you want to find answers, you need go no further from home than the guy
> on the bomb squad who works at disarming bombs or the nurse in the hospital
> who comes into contact with infectious diseases in the course of work every
> day. There are thousands of people in our society who put themselves in
> harm's way for the good of others simply because it needs to be done and
> someone must do it.
Most don't think it, they do it. Pride in doing something no one else can or
will carries some reproductive Kudos.
> Even the circus performer knows that a moment of
> inattention or a hangover can leave him/her crippled or dead.
Indeed they do. The circus performer says to his audience "look at me, i am
hot and virile.
>
> The Palestinian suicide bomber is no different from any other soldier who
> offers his/her life in hopes of making a difference.
Wrong Grant. The soldier hopes to live, but will die if necesary. the
suicide bomer wants to die, and hopes he will take some with him.
> They are no different
> from the Jewish soldier who walks into a hail of bullets in the streets of
> Palestine. The kids in the street throwing rocks think it is daring or fun
> until they get hurt. Looking for memes and schemes, in my opinion, is a
> waste of time and a step in the wrong direction. The reasons are personal
> and individual.
>
> We have a new meme going around over here in the U.S. called suicide by cop.
> People who, for any number of reasons, decided they want to end their
> lives and go out in a blaze of publicicy, walk out in front of a group of
> policemen waving a gun and stand there grinning when told to put it down.
> Seconds later they are dead. Who is there to blame for their actions but
> themselves?
>
>
> Grant
The suicide memeis gaining prevelance as a statement. Do your worst, this is
my 15 seconds of fame?
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