Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id XAA18535 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 28 Sep 2001 23:38:14 +0100 X-Originating-IP: [209.240.220.143] From: "Scott Chase" <ecphoric@hotmail.com> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: RE: state of memes Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 18:33:18 -0400 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: <F33hJ2BOcQUKoHXV91W0000a789@hotmail.com> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 28 Sep 2001 22:33:18.0570 (UTC) FILETIME=[9244C4A0:01C1486D] Sender: fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk>
>Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
>Subject: RE: state of memes
>Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 12:26:48 +0100
>
> Hi Scott,
>
> <I don't think that anybody rejoicing in the tragedies of Sept 11
>deserves
> > much if any respect. Will these same people rejoice if the next
>terrorist
> > attack wave is unleashed possibly replete with chemical and biological
> > agents? Would this just be another "lesson" we would need to learn while
> > others rejoice in our sorrow?>
> >
> I agree completely with the sentiment here that rejoicing in
>people's deaths is abhorrent.
>
> I do wonder though whether the current wave of concern about
>chemical and biological attacks from terrorists is a little misplaced (OK I
>know those japanese cultists used sarin, and were experimenting with
>anthrax; and the hijacker was asking about crop dusting planes). After all
>one cannot seriously justify extending nuclear missile defence schemes, or
>stringent security measures, if your enemy is going to use domestic planes
>as bombs, no, you need to persuade people that an equal or larger threat
>exists from ABC attacks.
>
I've no major qualms about an elaborate missile defense network. I'm still
quite concerned about China and about states such as North Korea which could
eventually launch an attack as far away as the Pacific seaboard of the U.S.
The technological spin-offs (serendipity?) of such an undertaking could
carry over into non-military realms. My major problem is with the price tag.
I've also got issues with irresponsible tax cuts being enacted during the
same period of time there's an expensive military build-up. A missile
defense network won't prevent domestic terrorism but it could curtail long
range engagements.
>
>It's a little like British Airways using the
>downturn in flight bookings to get rid of its loss making but politically
>sensitive Heathrow to Belfast service, or Boeing to cut 30,000 jobs.
>
I agree here.
>
>in
>other words stretching the events' consequences to legitimate actions
>otherwise difficult to have got away with. Let's not forget that the
>biggest stockpilers of chemical and biological weapons are the USA and
>Russia, and that European nations used chemical weapons widely in World War
>I, and continued to research with them for decades after they were
>officially banned from use (e.g.at Porton Down in the UK).
>
It's still a cause for concern. I think it was Don Imus one morning recently
who asked about the availability of gas masks in the U.S. for use by
citizens. Don't they have these meeasures in place in Israel? I'm vaguely
recalling Israeli reaction to Saddam's scud launches during the Gulf War as
he tried getting Israel to take part in the war and reduce Arab support for
the coalition.
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
===============================================================
This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Sep 28 2001 - 23:43:22 BST