Something to think about...

[fauxpaxfauxreal]

"Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu - chapter 31

Good weapons are instruments of fear; all creatures hate them.
Therefore followers of the Tao never used them.
The wise man prefers the left.
The man of war prefers the right.

Weapons are instruments of fear; they are not a wise man's tools.
He uses them only when he has no choice.
Peace and quiet are dear to his heart.
And victory no cause for rejoicing.
If you rejoice in victory, then you delight in killing;
If you delight in killing, you cannot fulfill yourself.

On happy occasions precedence is given to the left,
On sad occasions to the right.
In the army the general stands on the left,
The commander-in-chief on the right.
This means that war is conducted like a funeral.
When many people are being killed,
They should be mourned in heartfelt sorrow.
That is why a victory must be observed like a funeral."

Just something to think about as we collectively "celebrate" the death of Bin Laden.

[phil]

"Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu - chapter 31

Good weapons are instruments of fear; all creatures hate them.
Therefore followers of the Tao never used them.
The wise man prefers the left.
The man of war prefers the right.

Weapons are instruments of fear; they are not a wise man's tools.
He uses them only when he has no choice.
Peace and quiet are dear to his heart.
And victory no cause for rejoicing.
If you rejoice in victory, then you delight in killing;
If you delight in killing, you cannot fulfill yourself.

On happy occasions precedence is given to the left,
On sad occasions to the right.
In the army the general stands on the left,
The commander-in-chief on the right.
This means that war is conducted like a funeral.
When many people are being killed,
They should be mourned in heartfelt sorrow.
That is why a victory must be observed like a funeral."

Just something to think about as we collectively "celebrate" the death of Bin Laden.

I dig that. Glad we got the son of a bitch but it's largely a hollow victory, imo. The loss of life involved is simply too great.

[fauxpaxfauxreal]

I definitely agree.  I think now is a good time for quiet reflection on all of the deaths of the past 10 years.  I almost think the celebrations are borderline disrespectful of the Americans that have died in this conflict.

[cleech74]

I definitely agree.  I think now is a good time for quiet reflection on all of the deaths of the past 10 years.  I almost think the celebrations are borderline disrespectful of the Americans that have died in this conflict.

This. :-P

[gah]

I definitely agree.  I think now is a good time for quiet reflection on all of the deaths of the past 10 years.  I almost think the celebrations are borderline disrespectful of the Americans that have died in this conflict.

This. :-P

agreed.

[cleech74]

The Baltimore City Paper has a running tally of US lives lost in both Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.  It's sad to see both numbers continue to climb week to week.

[gah]

The Baltimore City Paper has a running tally of US lives lost in both Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.  It's sad to see both numbers continue to climb week to week.

What are the most recent numbers, if you remember?

[Superfreakie]

While US lives are important, please do not forget the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi and Afghan civilians who have lost their lives in the crossfire.

[fauxpaxfauxreal]

While US lives are important, please do not forget the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi and Afghan civilians who have lost their lives in the crossfire.

This. 

[cleech74]

The Baltimore City Paper has a running tally of US lives lost in both Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.  It's sad to see both numbers continue to climb week to week.

What are the most recent numbers, if you remember?

As of last Wednesday, it was 4,452 in Iraq, and 1,495 in Afghanistan.  Pretty sure that is just American military, not including the number of innocent civilians casualties for both countries.

[gah]

The Baltimore City Paper has a running tally of US lives lost in both Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.  It's sad to see both numbers continue to climb week to week.

What are the most recent numbers, if you remember?

As of last Wednesday, it was 4,452 in Iraq, and 1,495 in Afghanistan.  Pretty sure that is just American military, not including the number of innocent civilians casualties for both countries.

Yeah, I'd be curious to know those numbers, but I know they are going to vary in estimates based on source...

[WhatstheUse?]

‎"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
--Martin Luther King, Jr.

seems like an appropriate thread for this quote...

[mbw]

‎"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
--Martin Luther King, Jr.

seems like an appropriate thread for this quote...

most excellent.

[Hicks]

The Baltimore City Paper has a running tally of US lives lost in both Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.  It's sad to see both numbers continue to climb week to week.

What are the most recent numbers, if you remember?

As of last Wednesday, it was 4,452 in Iraq, and 1,495 in Afghanistan.  Pretty sure that is just American military, not including the number of innocent civilians casualties for both countries.

Yeah, I'd be curious to know those numbers, but I know they are going to vary in estimates based on source...

It's well into six figures for Iraqi civilian casualties alone. 

[fauxpaxfauxreal]

‎"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
--Martin Luther King, Jr.

seems like an appropriate thread for this quote...

most excellent.

Just gave me a facebook status.