Subj : World of Pogo 1/2 To : RICHARD M. MEIC From : LEE LOFASO Date : Wed Jul 18 2001 05:11 am Hello Richard, >LL>INDIVIDUAL: "We have met the enemy and he is us." > > >RMM>"I have met the enemy and he is me." >RMM>[...] >LL>The first step of discernment should be "What is the author's > >intention? RMM>I assumed that one was already answered. Am I moving ahead too soon? It takes more than a simple one-line phrase to discern an author's true intent. ;) >LL>It would be extremely weird for one to look at his own self as being > >entirely responsible for all the evils in the world, unless he/she > >is the Devil Incarnate. And I do not believe that many people look > >at themselves as being the Devil. :) RMM>What if I am the Devil incarnate? }:{)> The the world is in for a heap of trouble. ;) >LL>The statement you made argues that there is no problem since the > >problem is "under control". And if the problem is "under control" > >there is no enemy. RMM>No... having a problem under control does not negate the problem or the RMM>enemy. The problem is not solved, but merely under control. If a problem is "under control", then there is no more problem. The problem may crop up again once the situation is no longer "under control", but as long as it is "under control" there is no problem. For instance, a rapist is apprehended and brought to trial, convicted, and sentenced to prison. The problem is thus "under control", society no longer having to fear from the rapist. However, once the rapist has served his sentence and is released back into society the problem may arise again, particularly if the rapist has not been rehabilitated. >LL>ROLE: Recognition of the enemy as ourselves being the psychological > >foundation for balanced and adequate progress towards creating a > >free, peaceful and fulfilling personal life. > > >RMM>"We are the enemy." > > >LL>And who is that enemy? > >[..] >LL>I say. My own creation, "Eliza" is very beautiful. :)] RMM>You are a very lonely man aren't you. ;o) "Eliza" is my "friend". ;) >LL>Two people in a world of six billion? RMM>I would not say that as such... however two people can cause alot of RMM>damage. So two people can be a subset of the whole. Okay. More than one individual. Although one individual can cause lots of damage, such as a Hitler. Fortunately, not many folks are like Hitler... >LL>Or the total population as a whole? > >Is it only a handful of people, or many? RMM>Not really the total population either. There are H/G (hunter/gatherer) RMM>tribes on Earth that are not members of the enemy. I think we can't help RMM>but include a lot of inocents in our large group that constitutes the RMM>Enemy when we view that enemy as a collective. This is why I feel the RMM>Enemy should be viewed as both collective and individuals making up a RMM>group at the same time. I think this comes very close to the author's RMM>intent with that particular scene. Perhaps. But which is more rational, the collective or the individual? >LL>What is the psychological foundation? RMM>There are three states; part of the problem, part of the solution, and RMM>part of the victim. First there must be recognition of the problem, recognition of the solution, and recognition of the victim. Only then can steps be taken to correct the problem, finding a possible solution, and granting restitution for the victim. But who is more likely to take such steps? The individual, or the collective? RMM>Generalizations are unavoidable, so as a species we are the enemy. As a RMM>collective we are the problem, the solution and the victim. How can we, as a collective group, take steps to correct a known problem (assuming we are able to recognize a problem that exists)? Does history guide individuals, or individuals guide history? RMM>As individuals we can also be the problem, the solution and the victim. True enough. But who is more rational? The individual, or the collective? RMM>Both as a collective and as individuals we play all three roles. We are RMM>the ones throwing the garbage in the swamp, trying to clean up the swamp RMM>and suffering the result of losing the swamp. As an individual I am the RMM>one throwing the occational peice of garbage on the street, I am also the RMM>one who most often hunts down a garbage can to dispose of the trash and I RMM>am also the one disgusted at the sight of piles of garbage litering the RMM>streets and parks. Although we may, as individuals, look at ourselves as being rational creatures, more oftentimes than not we act much differently. This can easily be shown by example. Suppose that you are among a small group of brave warriors, each armed with a spear. Approaching you and your merry band of brave warriors is a troupe of Mongol warriors riding on horseback led by Genghis Khan, all of whom are also armed with spears. Being vastly outnumbered, your little group will quickly be annilihated - unless all stand together and break the charge. If all stand together, only one or two brave warriors are likely to die at the hands of Genghis Khan and his Mongol horde. But as an individual warrior you know that if all stand together you can cut and run, thus escaping virtually risk-free. Right? Gotta save your own hide first. That is the "rational" thing to do... Unfortunately, you'd be wrong. That is because all the other individuals of your little group are also thinking along the same lines. Therefore, everybody runs and all get killed. Unless, of course, you are able to run very very fast. :) RMM>To restate in brief: RMM>It matters not weather one views the strip as an individual or as a member RMM>of a collective, we/I are the problem the solution and the victim, all RMM>rolled up into one. It does make some difference whether something is viewed as an individual or as a member of a collective, although there are many similarities. RMM>Quite a unique position for us, don't you think? An interesting viewpoint, and very well-expressed. --Lee >>> Continued to next message * SLMR 2.1a * Alice's Right Foot, Esq., Hearthrug, near the Fender. --- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5 * Origin: Try Our Web Based QWK: DOCSPLACE.ORG (1:18/140) .