Opposite Ground Zero

[arisbe]

Two enormous cement trucks were lined up outside the bank this morning to pour the new foundations for Seven World Trade Center across the street. The work of building and rebuilding continues along with the work of destruction.

The end of the war is in sight. Remember, it never ended for the Iraqis, only for us. Most of us. Better to have ended it without what we will see in the next few weeks, and not see. But good to know that it will end.

Hard to concentrate on the work of data processing, or (excuse me) information technology. Or on the talk I must give tomorrow night on the uses of philosophy. It is a talk I have never given before. Indeed, I have given few talks in the last couple of years.

I was pretty much planning to cut the Liturgy of the Presanctified tonight, but now I guess I won't. Poor old world needs all the prayers it can get. Maybe I do too.

Courage, all.

Comments

[mezzo-diva.livejournal.com]

You work across from the WTC?

That must be depressing, to come to work everyday and see that.

Depressing?

[arisbe.livejournal.com]

What I saw on September 11 was depressing. Then for the weeks I worked on top of the mountain in New Jersey, looking at the smoke still rising on the horizon, coming home to Manhattan to smell death on the South Wind.

It was good when they finally moved us back last June, good to sit at the cafeteria window at lunch and watch the construction, to see the subway line completed ahead of schedule.

I guess for somebody else it might be depressing.

[mezzo-diva.livejournal.com]

I suppose it does depend on your perspective.

[epanastatis.livejournal.com]

The end of the war is in sight. Remember, it never ended for the Iraqis, only for us. Most of us. Better to have ended it without what we will see in the next few weeks, and not see. But good to know that it will end.

I don't think we're anywhere near the end.

Maybe not the end

[arisbe.livejournal.com]

But the situation will change. I think there will be an American military occupation of Iraq, and at the beginning most Iraqis will be better off. This will not solve the basic problems of the region, and, if Mr. Bush extends his jihad into Iran, this could make things much worse. Especially for the United States.

Especially for the U.S.?

[epanastatis.livejournal.com]

this could make things much worse. Especially for the United States.

Why especially? There's not much worse than military occupation. Conditions for the U.S. would only approach that bad if the government determined that martial law was necessary in order to maintain the political stability necessary for such a war. An eventuality which unfortunately cannot be ruled out, but not a mathematical certainty either.

philosophy

[zdover.livejournal.com]

What did you decide to say about the uses of philosophy?