The Logic Off Topic list

Today one week ago I sent a letter which has since then caused a 
turmoil beyond belief.  Now, one week later, this will be my last 
letter in this thread.  All has been said and everything has been 
rehashed multiple times...

My annoyance with mr. Bush's utterings, combined with a call for 
reason and good sense, apparently has been enough to spark a fire of 
unforeseen proportions.
Some thought it suitable to accuse me of America-hatred in its purest 
form.  Some thought it appropriate to call me names, imply 
terrorist-sympathies on my part, et cetera.

Repeated requests to several such posters to provide even a single 
quote justifying their rage and outrageous accusations have all gone 
unanswered.

During this entire discussion I've tried to remain calm and 
reasonable.  I've tried not to get angry (which _has_ been hard at 
times).  However, my impression is that 'remaining reasonable' maybe 
only has put more fuel on the fire.  Maybe I should have lashed out, 
maybe I should have tried to torch others as some tried to torch me. 
But... I'm sorry, but I just don't believe that's the way grown-up 
responsible global citizens should go about defending their affairs. 
Maybe instead I should have refrained from participating in this 
discussion far earlier.  I think that's true.  I'm still human enough 
however to find it difficult to let false and bizarre accusations go 
unchallenged.  A weakness?  Yes, probably.

Fortunately the number of people writing things in my favour, or 
outright supporting me, both privately and publicly, has far exceeded 
those accusing me of all sorts of horrible qualities.  This still is 
true if I only count the American citizens among them.  I'd like to 
thank all those for their kind, uplifting, supportive, and sometimes 
almost embarrassing words.  It's good to know that sensibility and 
reason still are common enough in this world.

It's been an interesting discussion.  If we, a small 400-people 
group, can't even remain calm and reasonable in our relatively safe 
internet-environment -- sitting at home behind our own computer, a 
cup of coffee at hand -- then how can we expect the world at large to 
act in a civilised, reasonable way?
Maybe then it's no wonder one people murders another, soldiers rape 
mothers & daughters, fanatics get to dominate innocent civilians, 
fundamentalists find willing ears when calling for war, extremists 
plant car-bomb after car-bomb and terrorists commit all kinds of 
atrocious acts.

We all share a responsibility for all the anger and hatred in the 
world.  Our anger is the anger of the world.  Even though I tried to 
remain calm during this discussion, I _have_ (naturally?) been angry 
at times.  And so I too share in this same responsibility.  I am 
sorry for that.

As I said: it has been an interesting discussion, but also a sobering 
one.  It makes you realise how thin the veneer of civilisation really 
is, and how hard we all have to work in order to avoid its erosion. 
I did my best, and probably others did the same.  And if I failed, 
then it's _my_ karma I have to deal with.  If indeed I failed, I'm 
sorry and I once more apologise for any harm done.

Maybe some will find all the more reason to flame me or hate me in 
the above letter.  I can't help it.  I try to be honest, I have no 
hidden agenda, and there's nothing to read between the lines.  I 
don't think I'm an aggressor, but I don't consider myself a victim 
either.  I just did my best, and if doing your best doesn't suffice, 
well, then so be it.  At least I tried.


To all of you, "friend or foe": live well & prosper,
Hendrik Jan

-- 
     Hendrik Jan Veenstra
     email: mailto:h@...
     www:   http://www.ision.nl/users/h/index.html