Let’s treat Iran as we would wish to be treated
As Americans we take great pride in our independence, freedoms to act as we see fit, and use our creative enterprise to do what we think is in our interest. Why is it we are so hypocritical that we don’t honor Iran’s right to do the same? I think the US should not be giving Iran a bad time, but let it do the same as we would do if our roles were reversed. Just as I feel would be our attitude, I suspect having “the bomb” is far more an attitude of ego than of defense. They need more power sources and if they feel they want to produce the odd nuclear bomb, so be it. No, I don’t like their cruel politics, but let’s face it, I don’t like the North Koreans and the Pakistanis much either — and they have the bomb! On the other hand, I suspect that the rest of the world expects, as I do, that the Iranians will accomplish improved nuclear technology over time, no matter what the world does. Apparently it really is not the possession of a bomb that is the problem, it is its potential. Seems to me that the world’s problem is simply to make the use of a bomb, no matter how desirable, so costly as to make its use too expensive. It took the cold war several decades to establish that simple point.
For decades the USSR and the US faced each other, rattled sabers, offered threats and counter threats, spending far more than either country could afford on armaments and so on. Gave the US lots of employment and higher taxes; cost the USSR its existence. Much of the argument against Iran is the fear that Iran will use the “bomb” on Israel. If they prove to be that idiotic, they will do so. And if the rest of the world reacts rationally, Tehran and the majority of Iran will become radioactive! As with most countries, the world is probably better off with Iran, but if it disappears (or any other country) , the world will survive. Better the world should reinforce the old deterrent philosophy and stress to Iran (and North Korea, etc.) that if they become “offensive,” Teheran simply gets taken out and the world’s weapon census goes down by a few!
A preemptive strike by Israel would be an error — particularly using their nuclear weapons. It is beyond belief in terms of local politics, reactionary strikes that would cost Israel disproportionately, and provide a growing base for even more hatred. The treatment of Israel, should they use “the bomb,” should be the same as any other country who uses the bomb.
Guff Worth, Lakeport
Demons
The world is infested with demons; this the belief of over half of all Americans. I found Gene Lyons’ column in the Thursday Record Bee enlightening in that the hunt for a Clinton scandal has been going on for over 20 years — hoping to pry the demons from the White House.
Gene continues saying that no president and first lady have ever been portrayed so corrosively and as unworthy to occupy the office as the president. This sort of behavior is also bestowed upon the Obamas.
I re-read Carl Sagan’s book, “The Demon-Haunted World,” and found a quote by Rebecca Brown from her 1992 book, “Prepare for War,” that stated that evil is walking openly in our land, and around the world, to an extent that would absolutely astound and horrify the average Christian were they to open their eyes and see.
Look at the latest issue of the national Geographic magazine and see front page stories that climate change does not exist, that evolution never happened, the moon landing was a fake, vaccinations can lead to autism, and finally that genetically modified food is evil. In other words we have a War on Science. I think this war is not limited to science but all the things that hint of “scientific thinking.”
We have our War on Drugs, War on Terror, War on Poverty, War on Teen Pregnancy, and the Fight against Illiteracy. Today we find another demon that is lurking around our children in the form of powered alcohol.
The big fact is that America in not very good at war these days. Shouldn’t we be focusing on what we’d rather be than what we don’t want? It seems our focus puts us on the wrong side of a world-view so rather than prohibitions perhaps we should be showing compassion and tolerance and realize that drugs, terror, poverty, teen pregnancy, and illiteracy are symptoms and not the cause of evil in our society.
We all want America to thrive but why do we incarcerate a higher percentage of our citizens than any other country in the world? Why do we have the largest army in the world? Why do we fight drugs using advanced weapons systems. For a hundred years the drug war has dragged on. Isn’t it time we get well?
Greg Blinn, Kelseyville
Situational problem
In regard to the issue of freedom of speech, a letter writer’s March 7 rebuttal to my March 5 letter sounds fine until it’s realized that, no matter what intellectual gymnastics she goes through to justify her reasoning, she can’t get around the fact that she is putting her own self-interest ahead of public forum letter writing protocol, which means that principle is being surrendered. Obviously that can’t be a good thing — that is, unless, it’s believed that the end justifies the means, which seems to be the case here.
For those who want to see an example of what happened to an individual who had the best of intentions but was operating under the dubious moral code of situation ethics, I recommend 2 Samuel 6: 1-8.
Bill Kettenhoffen, Kelseyville
