andy on Mon, 30 Aug 2004 17:39:36 +0200 (CEST) |
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<nettime> The Terror'd Society |
The Terror'd Society I would like to know when the word terror went from being an adjective to a noun. I would like to know what goal reductionists have when changing the way words are used in the public arena. I would like to know why complex social situations are reduced to line items of bullet points. I would like to know how this can substitute for understanding people and the decisions they make. I would also like to know why in the context of complete annihilation journalists can make cheap side swipes over belief differences, but I'm not waiting for a forthright answer. I want to know why fearless executors of a plan are called cowards at the success of their endeavors. Individuals that do so violently are called terrorists. Pronoun. I would like to know what could bring an individual to commit acts of terrorism to their own demise. But it has come to me over time (perhaps for you as well) that there are more things in the world that I would not do, then I would. It has also came to me that I will truly understand fewer people the more individuals I know, and even less of the changes these people go through. The thoughts and attitudes of the American collective that concern me the most lies with the gravity of our influence around the globe rather then the result of our actions: all you need to do is look at any number of foreign media publication and see that all eyes are focused on the actions and ideas of Americans, at home and abroad. The symbolic nature America has earned throughout the world with it's diverse and troubling history influences the world much more then we realize. This is at once a great honor and a great burden. A great honor to be esteemed from half away around the world of places I have never been. A burden, to the responsibility's of the standards we have declared ourselves set to accomplish. As times and people change, I want to leave this world a richer place for the generations that proceed me. But when trivial pursuits are heir to arresting the potential of human development, an individual has nothing more to do with themselves then cede to apathy. Maybe, sit on Ponce de Leon and watch the day go by. Nothing wrong with that of course. My way has taken a different course. But I needn't had to. When a person I know is not capable of changing themselves for the better what good am I for following their lead? What good am I without being able to listen to what another person tells me? What good am I when I don't know when to stop dispensing advice? What good am I when I am not the leader for myself to follow. What good am I to doubt that there is something untrustworthy with divisive politicking. I would like to know how it feels good to insult another person in Congress and feel good about it, to question it would be contentious. Perhaps the role of diplomacy in mediating human affairs is absent from Congress, college courses, public education, parents, and church. In American English, to be diplomatic has more connotations of being a diplomat for some government rather then a quality worthy in itself. Although essential in every aspect of society from business, learning, and even spouse relations- no other quality can find a solution to the turmoil our society believes itself to be in. Or maybe 9/11 didn't last long enough. I guess that's what all the hub bub is about the Republican National Convention in Madison Square Garden this week. Andrew White # distributed via <nettime>: no commercial use without permission # <nettime> is a moderated mailing list for net criticism, # collaborative text filtering and cultural politics of the nets # more info: majordomo@bbs.thing.net and "info nettime-l" in the msg body # archive: http://www.nettime.org contact: nettime@bbs.thing.net