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2001-09-14 15:19:49 Source: Web
OK - last words on this for the time being, but here's a post I made in an online forum last night, that after reading this piece, I'm even more glad I said.
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When people start to talk about wiping out the whole country responsible for this act, I start to despair. Sure, you'll get the terrorists, but what does it solve killing thousands of other, innocent people? Ethically, I personally despise the idea of a warlike retaliation against civilian targets, but practically it creates problems too. All it does is turn other countries against you, thus escalating the war. Wipe out thousands of innocent people and you suddenly create thousands of martyrs. It's a sticky situation huh?
Living as I do in a non-Nato country, I am aware that the news programming we get here is less propagandist towards the Western world. When Iraq was being bombed I saw more footage of the situation for normal citizens in Baghdad than I ever saw in the UK (I also had CNN and BBC World to compare against) - it affects one's perception of what a modern war does to a country's inhabitants.
I'm not in the slightest bit sympathetic towards the terrorists, but I do feel that America has a chance to prove itself better than its detractors claim it to be. I doubt it will take that chance and that is a crying shame for the greatest power in the world. The level of (understandable) bitterness I see expressed on this board and others convinces me that there will be a war and when I see footage of a poverty-stricken population ripped to bits by hi-tech American weaponry, it's going to be hard to know who to feel most sorry for.
2001-09-13 07:21:59 Source: Web
The Dalai Lama - a man who has had a great deal of experience with his people suffering - has also commented on the bombing in the US. Here is his letter to George Bush.
2001-09-12 16:17:07 Source: Web
This is a mail I received from Lama Surya Das, an american Buddhist monk, jew and author who's books have been very influential to me recently. It perhaps sums up best my feelings about yesterday's events. I cannot find a link to the text on the web, so I'm reproducing it here in the hope it will be useful to others.
WORDS FROM LAMA SURYA DAS
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DISARMING THE HEART
Buddha said that hate is never overcome by hate; hatred is only overcome by love. With today's tragic events we may be on the brink of an escalating war in the Middle East. I think that we must look into our hearts and minds and see what we -- individually, collectively, societally -- are doing to alleviate or to perpetuate these problems, and how we might become part of their eventual solution. I think an eye-for-an-eye retalitatory approach is not the most measured response at this time. But do our leaders agree?
Religion is supposed to further peace, happiness and harmony, not contribute to hatred and prejudice, intolerance, bigotry, violence and war. Nonviolence is the first precept of Buddhism, and a fundamental tenet of many world religions; yet look what actually happens in the world, recently in the Middle East and Bosnia, in Belfast and Sri Lanka, as well as throughout history. Even here at home in America, guns in the schools and at home continue to harm us. Violence both at home and abroad, even in our schools and homes and neighborhoods, has come to the fore in our time as a major focus of concern, but we have not made much progress in averting or dealing with it.
Martin Luther King said that we have two choices: to peacefully coexist, or to destroy ourselves. Do you know how many countries in the world are you know how many countries in the world are experiencing war right now? Dozens, literally; yet we remain for the most part insulated from that terrible reality. Here in America we don't usually feel as much first-hand evidence of the recent twentieth century's war death toll, although we certainly did during the several wars of the twentieth century. But I don't think that war begins outside somewhere, on a battlefield, along some disputed border, or in a diplomatic conference room or economic summit meeting; war begins with the cupidity, hatred, prejudice, racism, ignorance and cruelty in the human heart. This is because the true battlefield is the heart of man, as Dostoevsky says. If we want peace in the world -- and I firmly believe that we all do -- we need to face this fact. We must learn how to deal with anger and hatred, and to soften up and disarm our own hearts, as well as work in larger contexts towards nuclear disarmament and peace in our time. We need to think globally and act locally, beginning with ourselves and each other -- at home, in the family, as well as outside at work and in the community, reaching out more and more in broad, all-embracing circles of collective caring and responsibility. This is the path to a more peaceful future for all of us.
Today is a time for prayer, reflection on what is most important in our lives, and to think about what steps we might take towards nonviolence within ourselves and our own lives as well as towards a more peaceful world.
I myself am thinking about what the Buddhist wisdom tells us about how to deal with anger and hatred, grief and loss.
What we experience today is a tragic event of monumental proportions, comparable perhaps to Pearl Harbor. And yet, the fact that it hits us in the heart of NY and Washington could remind us that it is the kind of thing that happens during conflicts in other countries and their capitals, and which we Americans have for the most part been mercifully insulated from.
I'd like us to reflect on that as we continue to pursue our national goals and policies, realizing more and more deeply our connectedness with the peoples and ongoing conflicts in other parts of the world.
2001-09-11 18:41:39 Source: Web
There's not much for me to say about the attacks in the US. I'm pretty shocked by what I've seen - it's impossible to imagine something on that scale in a country such as America. I earnestly hope that this doesn't lead to retaliations that will cause more civilian suffering in other parts of the world, but I guess that some country's poor citizens will end up suffering for this.
Thankfully, I've heard that the people I know in New York are safe and sound. I hope that whoever and wherever you are, you and your loved ones are safe too.
2001-09-10 21:31:02 Source: Web
Mad weekend! We headed down to Halmstad on the Saturday morning and almost as soon as we got there headed off to play lasertag. Excellent game as I'm sure most of you know. However I'm paying the price for it today - my thighs are almost crippled from running around in a crouch. Worth it though! I played two games and came 6th and 4th out of 12. Not too shabby I thought.
We then took the afternoon nice and easy, visiting a few friends and having a couple of relaxed beers at the pub. Then we headed off for the party. There were about 50 people and we were there to celebrate the birthdays of Tina and Lotta (hi guys!), howbere there were a few of the Hotel Bastardos crew there as well. After a few crayfish, lots of potato salad and even more snaps and beer, I have to say I don't remember much of the end of the party, but apparently I slept well for a while ;-=
Seriously, I had a great time as did pretty much everyone there I think.
Sunday however! Ugh! Sunday was hell. I have only myself to blame, but honestly, being cooped up on a 2 hour bus journey without a toilet when you are that hungover is not fun. I'm pretty sure that I've never puked blue berry drink into a washbag on a coach before either :-( Not to be recommended.
Finally I limped home though (literally thanks to my legs having packed in), non the wiser, but enriched by having caught up with a bunch of good friends.
2001-09-06 20:04:14 Source: Web
The weekend's looking like it will be lots of fun. We're heading down the coast a couple of hours to hook up with a bunch of Hotel Bastardos friends. It's a crayfih party - and for once I'm planning on eating crayfish, though this time they will be sea crayfish (langoustines for you brits or havskräftor if you want the Swedish version).
We'll also be playing Laserdome! Hurrah!
2001-09-05 07:59:31 Source: Web
Now *here's* something I would like! (OK, so I would like lots of things. I'm a possession compulsive!)
2001-09-04 16:32:36 Source: Web
Oh and I almost forgot. Here's some great pics of me and old work mates out sailing. Cheers Dave!
2001-09-04 16:14:21 Source: Web
SoulXchange is eating my life! It's also giving me mouse arm. I'm going to be able to take it easy this eveing in any case as I'm going to a barbecue party with our webdesign company. Should be fun.
The main problem with SoulXchange though is that it's a case of "I'll just check my portfolio one more time before I go to bed". Having said that I'm doing pretty well for a complete beginner - I doubled my value yesterday and I'm getting good feedback from other player.
Oh well, I'll just have to try and keep it in moderation ;-)
2001-09-02 10:57:41 Source: Web
Finnkampen was excellent! If you've never been to a live athletics event, I can recommend it, even if you aren't particularly sports interested (like me!). Basically there was something happening all the time. Sometimes it was a little difficult to know where to look, as different events are happening at different places on the field. We were sitting right opposite the triple jump pit, where the star of the day, Christer Olsson was jumping. He's the Swedish triple-jumper who (afaik) is lying in second place in the world rankings. A bit of a star and a great showman.
By the end of the day (it's a 2 day event) the Swedish men were substantially ahead of the Finnish team (almost 20 points) while the women's event was much closer with the Sedish team lying just 1 opint in the lead. I'll be watching the rest of the event on TV thisafternoon to see what happens next :-)
In other news, I discovered an intriguing and addictive online game last night - SoulXchange. Basically, you create an online personality which is a soul. When you create the soul you get a pot of "Soulbux" which you can use to buy other souls. By trading souls for gains and "pimping" you own soul, you raise through the ranks of souls. I've been playing a few hours now and it's great fun. If you feel like trying it out, then visit via this link: register or you can visit my sould here - Ratface