2002  May

*The Irony of American Republicanism [020501-10]

Until recently, American conservatives represent the standpoint against national government. But now, they become the strongest supporters of national power. The ideal of anti-terror policy is the society, in which everyone watches everyone for the defense against terrorism. For the purpose to investigate and arrest terrorists, they insist that all people should have the obligation to cooperate the nation under the name of anti-terrorism.

One of the most important roles of nation is to defend itself against other nations. Same as armaments, the importance of nation rises up with the menace of enemy. Therefore, nations tend to find enemies to keep themselves as military authorities do. The appearance of terrorists and some states that seems supporting them is very convenient for Narrow Americans who get brandy the American authority as a pioneer of the World History. At least, during fighting enemies, they can ignore American dark side that American people cannot be unified without national authorities.

However, the motivation to seek national unify is not limited to personal or political reason. Though there is personal greed in bottom, the economical reason supports the authority of nation. About a hundred years ago, the idea of Imperialism appeared. This word has been mainly used among socialists and is regarded as the word to attack capitalism. But its original meaning shows the tendency of modern society to enlarge itself urged by economic motivation. Modern societies grow with the capital accumulation. Capital gains interests according to the passing of time, but it means that the surplus wealth seeks new opportunities for economic growth. The more grows the economic, the more be rushed it to grow.

The reason why the interest arises accompanied with accumulated capital is the concentrated human power can produce more utility. The modern epoch is an age to grow itself by concentration. Therefore, it is systemized to add interest to accumulated capital.

Both nation and private companies grow with the concentration of human power and are empowered to rule others through competitions, but the latter has not been noticed so much compared with the latter. The former is supported by the enthusiasm of people, but the latter is strengthened by economic system. In the age of Cold War, American republicans regarded the nation as a hindrance of the activity of private companies, because it prevents from free competitions. On the other hand, some other nations aimed economic growth with the aid of national power. The reason why American republican excludes the influence of nation against private economy is they have an advanced standpoint in capitalistic world. After the Cold War, however, the concentrated system itself began to decline and even American republican depends on the power of nation.

Behind concentrated social power, there is technical ground to support concentrated social industries. Also natural resources enabled mass production and modern civilized living. Among them, petroleum is main natural resource for modern industries. It is noteworthy fact that the American president and some members of Bush’s administration are deeply related with oil industries.

Suppose that there is competitive energy source against petroleum in our world, can concentrated organizations such as nations and multinational corporations maintain their power? As long as our energy source depends on underground resources like petroleum and coal that are located in limited area, they will be able to keep their position in our world. Large quantities of capital is necessary to develop these resources, and the support of government is demanded to explore them in other countries. However, if new technology enables us to produce the source of energy everywhere, they will not be able to rule our world as they do. If we can get energy more frequently by velocity, sunshine and biomass etc., the form of our industry will be more diverse and the role of social organizations also will change more localized.

It is very unfortunate and ironical that the U.S., which develop new technology for diverse society such as Internet, have the president whose ground depends on concentrated heavy industries. Until now, at least during the age of Cold War, American republicans had leaded free and various society in our world, but now they fall into reactionary side.

Originally, modern society has three layers: ideology, nationalism and private enterprises. And each slayer is related with the type of nations. The first, ideology, is related with socialism and invited Cold War. The second, nationalism, is with fascism and caused the World War 2. The last, private enterprises, is free capital nations, which are represented by U.S. With the development of modern society, three layers heaped up from third to first, and, with its decline, they are disappearing from first to third. Now, the wave of decline reaches the last layer and it causes the confliction between states and individual terrorists.

It does not mean that the last layer will disappear like two former layers, as long as our society depends on modern industry. However, the superiority of modern concentrate societies including private companies will decline. American Republicanism has supported individual freedom since the development of modern industries, but now it behaves like old fascists and socialists who oppressed human freedom. Firstly, is it unnatural for American people that the government interrupts individual lives so much with the excuse of terrorism? American republicans aim the international cooperation against terrorism by “custdia omnium contra omnes (The watching by all against all)”. But it seems me like old socialistic countries that became police states.
 

*Justice and Sympathy [020522-25]

 There are serious matters that we should feel sympathy but must not justify. Suicide terror by Palestine against usual Israeli is this typical example. No one has right to blame their behavior without knowing their misery, but it should not be justified. Considering their hopeless situation, suicide bombers should not be blamed for their behavior, though they must be caught as criminals. We should be regarded them as animals who lost human mind by despair.

On the other side, there are people who think only them as cruel criminals. They live the place where the despair is regarded as something that should not happen, but sometimes the unexpected misfortune caused by others despair attacks them. Most of them do not have the sense of despair. If have it, they will not able to blame suicide bombers as simple criminals. All kinds of terrorism must be denied. That is true. However, for the many people who live in opposite side of despair, the idea of terrorism is limited to what is caused by individual people and does not contain what is caused by nations. They cannot think of the misery in the case that they have no power against organized cruel enemies.

We must consider the fact here that there is extreme unbalance between one and the other side. While the cycle of retaliation is spread, the responsibility to stop it lies in the side of not despaired people, because they have some afford to observe the fact calmly. They may fall into the surprise and fear, but are able to recognize that the tragedy was occurred behind their notion, if they consider the fact rationally. The oppressed people have already exhausted their fortitude. Is there anybody who dare to suicide attack in not despaired side?

Our justice is not always applied with justice. If superior people do not have enough sympathy to other people, our justice becomes the tool to oppress weak people. The people who can keep the sense of justice must not lose the mind of sympathy.