2001 September

*Who is our Enemy? [0915-20]

Who is our enemy? What should we defend ourselves against terrorists? These are fundamental problem regarding this terror attack against U.S. American government say we must fight against 'Islam fundamentalists' who scheme to devastate civilized democratic world. But it means only western civilized society, doesn't it? What was attacked by terror? Why we are shocked so seriously? It is primary because terrorists harmed human beings indiscriminately. Even though they would harm western society, the most important problem for us is they do not hesitate to kill innocent people for their purpose.

Some people think terrorism can be solved by determined measures. They seem to think the enemy is limited in terrorists who are reported hiding in some Islam countries. If so, removing them from our world is best solution against terrorism. However, it is not correct. Any way, a 'war' against them will cause new terrorism against our world.

The War against terrorists resembles the battle against cancer. Without enough care, the excision spread cancer to the whole of the body. Moreover, even if the operation succeeds to remove the affected parts, patients must notice the danger of its recurrence. Some of Japanese doctors recommend patients to remove cancer or use anticancer drugs that have considerable side effects, but it often shortens their lives.

At least, we must remark the following facts:

1) The direct retaliation against terrorists and countries supporting them will not be able to exterminate the roots of terrorism.
2) Rather, it has possibility to spread terrorists all over the world and give them the excuse for more indiscriminate terror attack.
3) We do not have complete means to eradicate terrorism, but it is not allowed to leave them.

American administration seems to understand these delicate and critical characteristics of the problem. It endeavors to distinguish terrorists from usual Islam people and gain the support of Islamic countries. For many Islamic countries, Taliban that is reported tobe supporting terrorists is nuisance. Except Iraq, most countries renounced it. What I notice is American government begs Indonesia to cooperate its military action. Indonesia is the largest country in Islamic population. U.S. will avoid the image of antagonism between western and Islamic world. On the other hand, however, President Bush stirs up this war as collusion between free countries and others.

 U.S. government has little will to change their belief to other world. It means Bush ministration will spread American political and economic rule without consideration.

 America wants to be a good surgeon to remove terrorists, but do not care why this nidus arises. The trial to remove it may cause more complicate situation. Even if the operation succeeds, the possibility of relapse remains. U.S. may occupy whole Afghanistan and construct new government in this area. But, it means U.S. make spread terrorists all over the world and give them the excuse more serious terror attacks against our world including bio-terror. Moreover, even if the terrorists' organization disappears, there are many way of terror for individual terrorists. Poison terror is possible for all people. However eagerly politicians appeal for the justice against terrorism, it is impossible for them to prevent unlimited terror attacks sprung from the desire of revenge. I fear terror mind spread all over the world like cancer cells that has metastasized to the lymph nodes.
 

*Hidden Aspect of Confliction [0926-28]

 If we consider the fact that some terrorists are not poor people, it may be possible that this terrorism can be regarded as the confliction between extroversive and introversive people. Usually, our modern society is easier to live for extroversive than introversive people. The former behave more suitable to social changing than the latter. But, it means the former ignore traditional social standards more than the latter. For the latter, the former people seem to violate human moral and make victims introversive people.

 When I considered AUM, I was surprised that there were so many people to follow Asahara. Some people say terrorists want to be rich using terrorism. It may be true in some cases. But, their view cannot explain the fact there are many people who dare to make terror attack in exchange for their own lives.

Extroversive people can boost the stream of history, but they cannot change its direction. Introversive people have changed it by making breakthroughs to the history. Therefore, introversive people appear as turning points in it, and if they get the chance to stand on important social stages such as politician, they change our history radically, both in good and evil sense. The case of Hitler is the evilest example. Although he had enough sense as a pragmatic politician, he leaded German to evil way furthermore. Introversive people can be cold-blooded for their purpose, and so once they appear the stage of history, they often change it drastically.

 Bin Ladin and other members of Taliban seem too introversive to do something beyond usual calculation. I fear their cool introversive power that is endorsed by the emotion of revenge. A volcano that always erupts is not danger, but a volcano that is usually silent is horrible when it erupts. Also, the people who become hot and red in a rage is not so terrible, but the people who become cold are dreadful.

 If some leaders of terrorists are introversive people who have been suppressed by extroversive people in civilized society, we must consider one more confliction between the people who are adaptable to modern civilization and not.
 
 

[On Sep.16]

Japanese TV programs had been occupied with this news for two days and, even now, Japanese government-operated TV station continues to tell the information with caption. Most Japanese people were shocked by the terror, but their reaction may be different from American people. What Japanese people fear mostly is this terror brings about the chain of revenge. President Bush declared it is already a 'war', and decided U.S. stands right side against evil terrorism. However, Japanese people do not reason out so clearly. I think many people out of U.S. feel like them.

Even if terrorism is cruel and cannot be justified, we should consider the background of this tragedy as well as planning retaliation against them. Primary, the recent behavior of Israel against Palestinian should be considered as the background of this terror. However, it is not enough to recognize this serous situation. The most fundamental reason to cause terrorism is over-rapid economic globalization ignoring individual culture and tradition in each area. For economic development, some kind of culture to order society is essential. Fortunately, U.S., Europe and Japan have this cultural base, but many other countries do not have it enough and became losers in this economic game. On the other hand, economic globalization devastated their traditional way of life, and many people dropped out from their society without the opportunity even to learn letters. In 20th century, the strain caused by modern society related with the ideal of socialisms including the Nazis, but now connects with the confliction between Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

It is unfortunate for us that we cannot hear the idea to solve the strains of galvanization from the side of atni-U.S. groups. In fact, Islam has effective economic system to soothe rapid globalization. However, only few people notice this kind of system and only the news of terrorists occupies U.S. media. Not only that, how many Americans noticed how many people in poor countries enjoyed this cruel news?

Any way, even if American reprisal against terrorists or the countries to support them is allowed, the following should be noticed: American people do not have the right to force their economic rule to other countries and, even if it is not on purpose, seeking economic profit in other countries tends to cause cultural or economic invasion.

Considering these points, the solution of this critical situation depends on 'alliance'. It means not only the alliance with western or Islamic countries, but also the alliance with the people who hate terrorism and noticed the problem of over rapid globalization. Already terrorist organized their own network beyond nationality. So far, we will not be able to defeat them without individual alliance beyond nationality, thought and religion.

For this alliance, the procedure to judge and punish terrorists or countries supporting them will become important. Only U.S. should not be the side to judge them. Many American people pointed out that this terror attack is challenge against free or civilized society. But it is not correct. This attack is the attack against all human beings. We all have the right to live in our own way. Any ideal and thought to lead human society do not have right to justify indiscriminate and meaningless human killing! Therefore, I hope that international court should be hold like the case of Yugoslavia, before military campaign is carried out.

It is sorry that now Japanese government has a few actual measures against international terrorists. However, Japan has unique historical standpoint. Japan had been unrelated with the confliction between Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Moreover, it has not committed military action in the Middle East, in spite of lots of economic and technological assistance to this area. Someone said Japan is shameful country because it did not dispatch army in Gulf War. But I do not agree to it completely. If all western countries participate in same kind of military action, what country can arbitrate in the case of confliction between Islam and western countries? It was sorry that Japan could not send no-military unit, but it is because Japanese government has not accomplished the disposal of World War 2 for neighbor Asian countries.

If Japanese government dispatches some unit in Gulf War, it must be Japanese Self Defense Force. But it means Japan send military force abroad, and that must stimulate neighbor countries. (I will refer this problem in other time.)

Now Japanese has one trait that American people do not have. It is the courage to endure shameful situation. Maybe this is unique virtue that Japanese people acquired after World War 2. It seems impossible for American people to stand shameful situations keeping from the emotion to revenge their enemy. But if it is effective for solution of problem to stand undesirable situation, Japanese people can wait for the chance. Once Japanese soldiers were feared by American due to their suicide attack. But, now, it is arrive in the sprit of patience.

There is the history of defeat behind this spirit. Maybe American people may have never regarded it as a virtue. However, it is the virtue that Jesus testified on the cross. He was insulted by people and Roman soldiers, but would not beat his enemy by force but by silent love. Considering the fact that true enemy in terrorism is individual human hatred against U.S., we cannot expect immediate solution by force.

In the end, I tell an old Chinese story. There was a very strong fighting master in China. One day he must escape from his enemy. Though he is so strong enough to beat the enemy at once, he hesitated to do so. Fortunately, he had some pieces of gold and scattered them in front of his pursuers. They were attracted by his gold and he could escape form them. The true strength cannot be measured by immediate force.

Most people hope piece regardless of nationality, race and religion. I pray their desire will be realized beyond the emotion of human revenge.
 
 

[On Sep. 24]

 After the terror, Japanese people also confront difficult problems against it. Last week U.S. president Bush declared the American attitude against terrorism, but Japanese government cannot decide what to do concretely, because the military action is strictly limited by laws. Government wants to enact new low in cooperation with U.S., but Japanese constitution prohibited active military action and the enactment of the law demands new construction of Japanese Constitution for. After the World War 2, Japan has endeavored to solve diplomatic problems by peaceful way. But, on the other hand, it has not atoned the responsibilities of the World War 2 enough. Consequently, it is yet hard for Japanese government to dispatch military forces abroad even for peaceful purpose.

 Many Japanese people are afraid of American over-retaliation and the attack against Afghanistan. It is because firstly U.S. attack will harm many Afghanistan people, especially children. Japanese TV tells us how serious situation where Afghanistan people live. I guess some old people think of how they were after the World War 2. These scenes remind me of the image of after the war, although I have not experienced the poverty in those days. Some Japanese individuals have special connection with Afghanistan people for their assistance. Immediately after the terror, screens of Japanese TV had been occupied by the film citing from American TV station such as CNN. But, now, it changed a little. Many people in Japan hope to help refugees from Afghanistan.

 On the other hand, some people fear U.S. military attack because it will cause unstable situation around Afghanistan and incurs the cycle of retaliation. Many learned experts pointed out this danger.

 From this point of view, I found some disturbing news. These are following:

(1) If Pakistan government cooperates in U.S. military action too much, Pakistan military may revolt it and cause civil war. Considering Pakistan has nuclear weapon, it is very critical situation.
(2) Some of terrorists who hijacked U.S. airplane are very rich and educated people, and they live in U.S. as usual citizens.

 Concerning (1), U.S. alliance with many countries, especially Islam countries, may cause the war between governments and people. At one time, U.S. had good relation with Iran until 1970's, but it is limited in government and caused Iran revolution. U.S. diplomacy cares relationships with governments well, but not with the emotion of people. This unbalance has brought about political instability in developing countries.

 Concerning (2), I think of the terrorism in Japan by AUM. Also, in this case, many Japanese elite people took part in terrorism. They do not have criminal records and, sometimes, invite us to their sect, concealing they belong to AUM. It is very terrible that they have enough intellectual abilities for their terror attack and have no qualms about telling all sorts of lies.

 The former relates to the desire of revenge of people who live in developing countries. Some of them are exposed economic and political cruelties, but they do not have abilities to solve by themselves. Even if they become victims of terrorism like American people, they cannot react as U.S. citizens.

 On the other hand, it is difficult for us to understand why rich and educated people become coldhearted terrorists. But, I think they have some more profound emotion of revenge against our world. For poor people in developing countries, the objects of revenge are concrete. They are sometimes rich people/countries and evil social systems for them. However, for rich and educated people, it is our civilized society or may be the existence of human beings including themselves.

 Considering these complex situations, I cannot but say that the President Bush's speech is too optimistic. At least, for poor people, his speech seems unfair, because both they and American people are exposed to cruelties, but only U.S. government forces their justice to them. In the first place, they will ask what right allow U.S. to behave as if it is the ruler of our world. In the case of domestic criminal, U.S. police and judiciary will not arrest suspicions killing many innocent people, still more in the case that there is no decidable evidence. If U.S. police do such thing, especially suspicions or victims belong to minorities such as African American people, it may cause revolt in U.S. Even if U.S. succeeds in removing terrorists in Afghanistan, it is only to spread the seeds of terrorism all over the world.

 When I heard president's speech, I think why he can divide 'good and evil' so clearly like God did. Is U.S. so innocent like Jesus? Even if terrorism is absolute evil, it is because they will not be tolerant to others and rejects negotiations. Behind the deep background of this terror, there are more profound and complex incidents that entrap our civilization. Especially, considering rich and educated terrorists, our civilized society generates harmful people to the society itself. It resembles cancer cells.

 I wish U.S. retaliation would not make the terrorism spread to the whole our society, as cancer cells metastasize to all over the body through the lymph nodes.
 
 

[On Sep. 27]

A mailing list that I take participate transmitted me following message. I think you will be able to image how deep the background of this terrorism is.

   -----------------------------------

[A letter from a reader to Journal de l'ile de la Reunion du 24/09/2001]

Today, again, 35,615 children died of starvation.

Casualties : 35,615 (FAO)

Where : In poor countries on this planet
Special Issue : None
Editorial : None
Message from Presidents of republic nations : None
Emergency call-up : None
Expression of solidarity : None
Silent prayer : None
Memorial service of victims : None
Forums : None
Message from the Pope : None
Stock market : Unchanged
Euro market : Recover
Level of guard : Unchanged
Military mobilization : None at all
Speculation to identify the crime :  None at all
Possible mandator of the crime : Affluent nations

20% of the world population consumes 80% of the resources of the planet.

If the attacks to N.Y. are regarded "inhuman", how can we express the
fact that 13 million children are left to die every year?

   -----------------------------------

 This original text was written in French. It is translated Ms. By Eiichi Morino and Junko Hiroeda.

 George Berkeley (a philosopher 1685-1753) said 'esse est percipi (Being is perceived)'. Now it seems to me that the (un)justice for American is a (un)justice perceived by them. I do not hope U.S. becomes a SHIMAGUNI (a closed island country).

At the foot of this mail, I introduce a message for peace by an American, whose husband was sacrificed in Pentagon.

   http://chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/oped/chi-0109250299sep25.story
 
 

*The Arrogance of Modern Social Activists [0905-09]

Avoiding imprudent suppositions, social scientists have concealed their limits. If people are caught by morbid delusion that they must buy something even if meaningless, will our economy be restored? If new kind of flue spread all over our country and many old people die, will our government be released from financial crisis? Any way, many economists argue our economy only for our society, not for ourselves.

Natural scientists have the sense to search their objects better than social scientists. For the former, simulations have important role before actual experimentations. Social scientists, however, do not recognize this importance, although they cannot do enough experimentations. Recently, natural scientists utilize computer for their simulations. Even for them, all hypotheses cannot be verified by actual experimentations. Nevertheless, some social scientists, which should be better to be called 'social activist', emphasis the importance of their activity. Although including themselves there is not anybody who expect how effective their activity is, they are proud of their concrete actions. But, is it so precious as they think? Who made our society in 20th century so confused? Was Russia a frog for their experimentation to verify their idea of socialism? Human activity, such as their labor, effort and endeavor, do not always have its value unconditionally, even if they came from their good intentions. Rather, how harmful their activity due to their good intention has been! Ancient Indian philosopher recommended us to stop 'action'. Ancient Chinese philosopher says to keep off artificial human efforts. The activity only for actions leads us blind history.

Old philosophers recommended us theoria. However, modern philosophers despise it as being far from their actual practice. What we need is not how to interpret our world but how to change, so they insist. They seem to have the thought that human practice is far from philosophical speculation. However, speculation or theoria was the ultimate step for human practice.

 We cannot escape from our own practice. But, in modern society, only social works are tended to be regarded human practice. 'What is practice?' if so I ask modern people, how many people adopt childcare or housework as typical? We cannot live without practice, but the 'practice' for modern people, especially for modern activists, are only social and aggressive behaviors.

 'Practice must be dramatic'. This is the unconsciously supported condition to be 'practice' for them. Although in movie or TV dramas it may be necessary, it is too extreme in our usual life. If this kind of extreme life is usual, we will not be able to spend our life so safely as we expect. If our life becomes dramatic, it is the time to defend our life against trial. If we hope so dramatic life in our usual lives, we must raise up something troublesome. The word  'Revolution' may be one of incantations to call trouble for their practice.

 Some of modern people had been too aggressive in our life. Society is available field for them to be 'practical'. But, for most other people, their practice was seed to involve most of them into trouble. Theoria may be the best practice not to make our behavior too aggressive as be called 'practical'.

The arrogance of modern sociologists and activists is found in their thought that they could exchange new system for old traditional human relationship. It is clearly found in their idea of progress. However, our history does not abandon old things, but only piles up new ones covering old tradition. If you find something high and large tower in the area of human culture, its hugeness depends on covered old things.

 Marx proposed us a famous historic view from Asian producing system to socialistic (or communistic) producing system, but he missed how new system covers old systems. New system is the result of adaptation to new historical situation. We manage to adapt to something new using old tradition and, eventually, transform our civilization into new one at first glance.

 Auguste Comte's historic view shows the arrogance of modern people more than Marx's. He have not been so popular as Marx, but his opinion represents us how modern people are proud of their new positive way of thinking. He distinguished three kinds of human thought according to its progress. First is mythological thought, second is metaphysical and the third positive way of thinking. He insisted that the way of positivism would abandon the former two ways of thinking.

 Positivism is most effective and concrete way to do something actually. However, it is less praktish than formers. It is because positivism estranges us from the sense of value, which motivates us to do something. Positivism tells us good way how to do, but ignore what should do. Even if we have good tool to accomplish something, it is meaningless as long as we do not have the will to do something.

 However great modern sociologists are, our behavior is decided by our own experience. Without experience, we hesitate to do something. But, if we have some myth to accomplish something basing on its sense of value, we will be able to do something new. On the other hand, although metaphysical thought does not provide us accurate knowledge like positive sciences, it offers some reason to justify doing something. Kant was correct in pointing out that metaphysic cannot provide us accurate knowledge but shows us the ground why we do something. The proof of God's Being is false from the standpoint of science, but it provides enough reason why we believe in God! With the aid of myth and metaphysic, we do not lose hope and value of accomplishing our dream.

 Filling our society with positivism that denies myth and metaphysic, however, we have been losing praktish mind to do something. While social activists fall into their dreams, we have lost our own dream. Now, while we lose the expectation to human society, our work is spent for maintaining our social system. The proposition �eFor individuals, our society exists' have been false since we had been charmed the dream of social revolution. But now, although people lost their dream, they must work for society as slaves. How can the people who have lost praktish sense of activity transform their society for themselves?

Recent philosophers forget two important factors. One is theoria supreme practice to do nothing, and another is praktish justification to do something.
 

*The People who are not Responsible to Themselves [0930]

It's the last day of September. I went to Beppu city to visit Church and hear that in Tokyo there are some girls to use church as the place to meet their customer for prostitution. I was surprised moreover to hear they are baptized as formal Christians. It is usual that such girls ask why prostitution is bad. But I guess they have not been asked why they sell themselves though it is prohibited not only by Bible but also by other Scriptures.

 They seem to regard themselves only as a people who appear in TV screen. They may think they are not responsible to themselves. If they are fully aware of their own lives, they will not sell themselves so easily disregarding traditional social standards, though they cannot find enough reason to satisfy themselves.

 A few years ago, a boy asked in TV "Why we should not kill others". Many educated people have tried to answer this question, but it seems there is not persuasive answer to it.

 The first answer we think of is �eIt is because we do not hope to be killed by others'. I think we cannot find better answer to this question. If someone is not satisfied with it, that means he/she does not share the essential feeling to live in real world. Probably, he/she feels his/her life is no better than others lives in TV. Such people do not know true pain and the importance of life, which cannot be regained once lost.