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The results have been mixed. Hidden in the pack journalistic HEADLINE stories are occasional nuggets suggesting that the world is indeed unifying.

Foreign troops stationed in Bulgaria for the first time since WW II.


Japanese troops to serve outside Japan for first time since WW II.


Poland sends special forces troops to Afghanistan.


Syria pledges to join War on Terrorism.


U.S. troops stationed in former Soviet Union.

Maoist guerillas stage mass attack on police in Nepal.


Pakistani based groups mount suicide attacks inside India.


Former Iranian president says U.S. still "Great Satan."


Western nations say they will not extradite terrorist suspects to U.S. because of possible death penalties.

Let's get something straight. "Terrorism" is NOT a political ideology or a religious belief. It is a TACTIC. ALL war is terrorist. When the U.S. dropped a couple of atomic bombs on Japan in 1945, the point was not to merely "impress" them. They had already declared that Japan would be defended to the "last drop of blood," suggesting that trying to impress them was futile. So Harry Truman decided to call their bluff and to SCARE THE HELL OUT OF THEM!

It worked.

Similarly, the point of all that ordnance being dropped on the Taliban and al Qaida forces in Afghanistan is not just to show them how manly we are. They have already declared that they are fighting a "holy war"...presumedly with God on their side...and have given us the holy finger. So, we are "testing their resolve." Again, the point of 24/7 bombing...in military parlance, to "soften them up"...is really meant to get them pooping their pants just before they surrender.

This also seems to be working.

But, is unity being achieved? Lot's of "Little Dogs" have noticed that the "Big Dog" packs some mighty fine sidearms. No one, least of all the ragtag Afghani resistance, doubts that "close" and "massive" air support was the determining factor in their many "victories."

So what? Consider Israel again if you want to see what will follow in the coming months and years. Israel is touted by American commentators as "the only democracy in the Middle East." Or is that "Muddled East?" The casual observer can easily note that democracy in Israel is primarily for Jews. Israeli national policy is based upon Zionist doctrine. Islam and Christianity are non-issues to Israel. God told them...at least some of them...that He meant Israel to be the homeland for Jews. Unfortunately, the same God told a different tale to the Palestinians. But, it is not clear...were they to be able to establish a Palestinian "homeland" within Israel...that they would be the slightest bit more tolerant of Jews, or Christians, for that matter. Neither group seems willing to extend a hand to the other. Or, more accurately, the GOVERNMENTS of those two peoples do not want to. It is not clear that if the people themselves were to decide, that they would not choose to create a joint SECULAR Palestine/Israel state with freedom and justice for all. Of course, this is hard to sort out when innocent people on both sides are daily being killed and maimed. But, it suggests just one more reason why democracy must be for everyone, before ANYONE will be free.

Indeed, the thing that holds up real unity...which we will call community...is almost certainly governments. Since the power and influence of government officials depends upon the continued status quo, there is scant motivation among them for change...of ANY sort. As long as this is true, unity will always amount to temporary alliances, quickly followed by the same old same-old.

There have been many historical movements toward globalization...for one reason or another...since humankind started making improvements in communication and transportation. Indeed, each new advance, from the clipper ship to the telegraph, has been lauded as that "final" step needed to insure international peace and prosperity. Just before World War I...the Great War...the War to End War...governments were declaring that there was so much international trade and interchange of ideas, that war was no longer possible. So much for turn-of-the-century prophets.

At the end of the Cold War, the "end of history" was declared. With a few minor bumps, the 90's seemed to be carrying out that particular prediction. Then came the dot com bust followed by 9-11 followed by followed by anthrax followed by carpet bombing, smart bombs and "daisy cutters."

The truth is, governments did not ever...and do not now...want unity. Even now, when yet another technological advance, the Internet...which has reduced "distance" virtually to zero between any two points on the Earth's surface...which has created a climate of openness unparalleled in human history...which is driving the ultra fast-paced new globalization...has been unable...SO FAR...to create a climate for real unity.

But, what it IS accomplishing...which we try to point out as often as we can...is the creation of new...voluntary...communities, all over the world. Our own Web Poetry Corner is a shining example of this. Almost 3000 amateur...and some professional...poets from 67 countries have contributed over 12,000 poems since 1995 to this truly international site. Volunteer translators have translated the home page and submission rules into eight other languages besides English. It continues to grow exponentially...

So what? Peace through poetry? Are we nuts?

Think for a moment, what will happen when the same resources are dedicated directly to forming myriad new communities around other topics that are universal "attractors"...like sports, literature, science...or peace. We believe that the vast majority of the people in the world truly want peace. They are befuddled and herded toward warfare by their leaders, but eventually tire of sending their sons and daughters into the meatgrinder of war.

So, what should we do? Well, the Bushites are telling us that the way toward peace is paved by our shopping malls. The best way to "recover" from the terrorist attack is to BUY MORE STUFF!

Swell.

We suggest, instead, that you should keep on supporting democracy. Make those sumbitches in government ARGUE about what to do instead of handing OUR mullahs a blank check to wage war against foreigners and, ultimately, our own people. The Bush-Ashcroft alliance has already declared drug dealing as the "moral equivalent" of "terrorism," and urged us to let them use the same tactics (military tribunals?) against those dastardly terrorists that sell us substances that WE...by the millions...want and which WE...again, by the millions...voluntarily ingest in order to get "high"...i.e. to feel good. Scandalous!

So practice OUR freedom, before the autocrats take it away from us. Keep on saying any damned thing you please. Go to the church of your choice or none at all. Read any materials you feel like, from the Torah to The Satanic verses. And, do it on the Internet, so that others can see that WE, at least, are NOT scared.

Talk to you later...

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