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UNDERSTAND_JUSTICE

                                             December 10, 2006

A formula I return to often of late:

   "Not justified,
    but understandable."                     Apply that where
                                             you will...

                                                HIROSHIMA

                                                SMEAR_THE_MESSENGER
  There is a line,
  and on one side of
  that line,
  "understanding" is         Diplomatic
  understood as the          or military...
  first step toward
  any solution.                 War is diplomacy
                                by other means.

  An instinctive belief
  (on this side of the line):

  We must focus on cleaning
  up our own act.

  "Let he who is
   without sin"


      We will set an example.

      We will avoid provoking
      righteous anger                   Though unrighteous anger
                                        we may not be able to do
                                        anything about.

                    Across that line,
                    back on the other side:

                          Any suggestion that the enemy
                          can be understood is unpatriotic.      SPORTS_LOGIC

                          They must be monsters,
                                                            Dehumanization
                          Suggesting that they may          as a strategy.
                          even have some justice
                          to their cause -- abhorrent.

                          Are you trying to undermine
                          our moral resolve with this
                          propaganda?


                                   An instinctive belief
                                   (on this side of the line):

                                   A worship of
                                   strength.

                                   A belief that
                                   we can find a
                                   gordian knot
                                   to cut.


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