REMEMBERING A SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY.

 AUGUST, 28,1963.

MARTIN LUTHER KINGS " I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH.

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BLAST FROM THE PAST: HOW CAN WE FIGHT TERRORISM? PT 1.

 

Exactly what is TERRORISM?

-  What are the Goals behind it, and what are the Motivations?

-  Do the Methods Used by Terrorists Work, in Achieving the Desired Goals?

-  Are the Tactics of Terrorists Self- Defeating, always Doomed to Failure, or are They Practical, and Often lead to Success?

-  Should Terrorist Tactics be Answered in Kind?

The First Question that must be Addressed is simply, what is TERRORISM? 

FIRST, Terrorism is not an Ideology, it is a Means to an End. There are no Specific Set of Rules or Written Doctrine that Encompasses all Terrorist Groups and Individuals, and no Identifiable Code of Law or Morality that is Universal in Nature.

To Clarify, I will Define TERRORISM as : THE USE OF VIOLENCE, OR THREAT OF SUCH, TO ADVANCE THE DOCTRINE, IDEOLOGY, RULES, OR GOALS OF A GIVEN AND IDENTIFIABLE GROUP THAT IS NOT GENERALLY REGARDED AS A LEGITIMATE POLITICAL ENTITY, OR THE RECOGNIZED LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR A RESIDENT POPULATION OR GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.

HOWEVER, THE TARGETS OF SUCH VIOLENCE ARE NOT TRADITIONAL, SUCH AS MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AND GOVERNMENTAL OFFICES. CIVILIAN POPULATION CENTERS, BUSINESS AND CONSUMER DISTRICTS, AND PLACES OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP BECOME THE PREFERRED AREAS TO CREATE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.  THE DESIRE IS TO ESTABLISH A DISRUPTION IN NORMAL ACTIVITIES, AND A GENERAL SENSE OF PANIC AMONG THOSE WHO FREQUENT, OR LIVE IN THESE AREAS.

THE PURPOSE-  CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE THAT WILL CAUSE THE CIVILIAN/MERCHANT POPULATION TO  BECOME SO TRAUMATIZED AND FRIGHTENED, THAT IT FORCES THE POLITICAL/GOVERNMENTAL POWERS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING AND PROTECTING THESE AREAS, TO GRANT CONCESSIONS, ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS, OR AGREE TO THE STATED GOALS AND POLICIES OF THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. 

The Terrorist(s) are not Interested in the Traditional Types of Warfare and Combat.

WHY?  Because They Usually Lack the Numbers and Quality of Combatants and Armaments to Engage in Set Piece Battles.  So to Attack Military and Civilian Strong Points that are Well Protected would be Useless.  The Terrorists would be going up against Forces Designed and Trained to Meet, Engage, and Defeat Opposing Forces Conducting Normal Combat Operations. 

Is Terrorism a New Phenomena, or can we Find Examples in other Parts of Human History?  Is it an External Threat Alone, or is there an Internal Danger Just as Dangerous and Potentially Destructive.

LOOK FOR PART 2.

PRESIDENT BIDEN REMEMBERS WHAT "...PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE..." MEANS, EVEN IF THE GOP DOESN'T. PART 1.

PRESIDENT BIDEN STANDING UP TO THE ANTI-VACCINATION AND ANTI-MASKER CROWD IS A RESPONSIBILITY THAT OTHER PROGRESSIVES SHOULD BE FOLLOWING.

(OF COURSE, I MEAN THE U.S. SENATE, ESPECIALLY THOSE ELECTED PRIOR TO 2016. IF YOU NEED TO ASK WHY, I SUGGEST YOU READ MY ARTICLES ON BARACK OBAMAS SELECTION FOR THE SUPREME COURT, AND THE 2016 ELECTION RETURNS.)

One thing I have learned about Politicians and Public Figures a long time ago is their ability to pick and choose which parts of a subject to discuss and criticize publicly, (Parts they have knowledge of and agree with), and the parts they attempt to avoid at all cost, (Parts they do not understand or comprehend, and would make them look Ignorant, Intellectually Challenged or Morally Bankrupt if they attempted to justify their opinions.)

This is especially true when it comes to matters of Law, with the U.S. CONSTITUTION BEING A PRIMARY AND OFTEN SHAMEFUL TARGET. Even worse, it seems to be a Tactic used by LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES, AS WELL AS THOSE WITH NO FORMAL LEGAL TRAINING.

I have written and published a number of Articles on the CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, ESPECIALLY THE "BILL OF RIGHTS," on this Website. So if this SUBJECT MATTER APPEALS TO YOU, I RECOMMEND BROWSING OTHER AREAS OF THIS SITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

However, for this article, I will be referencing THE PREAMBLE.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

As you can see, the PREAMBLE OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION DOES NOT GO INTO SPECIFICS, BUT INSTEAD POINTS TO UNIVERSAL "GOODS" OR "NECESSITIES" THAT MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED.

IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION.

- ESTABLISH JUSTICE.

- INSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY

- PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE.

- PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE.

- SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY FOR

OURSELVES AND OUR POSTERITY.

What is most important. however, is what is said at the very beginning:

"WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES..."

Contrary to the Fascist Rhetoric we are often confronted with,

The CONSTITUTION is not just a collection of  Rules and Responsibilities

that protects the Individual from Abusive Government, BUT IS ALSO A SET

OF GUIDELINES THAT PROTECTS SOCIETY ITSELF FROM BEHAVIOR

BY AN INDIVIDUAL(S) THAT IS DESTRUCTIVE AND DETRIMENTAL TO

THE WELL-BEING AND BEST INTERESTS OF THE U.S. CITIZENRY AS A WHOLE.

TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY: WHAT AN INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN MAY WANT OR DESIRE,

HAS TO BE WEIGHED AGAINST HOW THAT AFFECTS THE POPULACE AS A COLLECTION

OF HUMAN BEINGS LIVING UNDER THE SAME RULES AND CIRCUMSTANCES.

TO BE CONTINUED...

LOGIC- IT'S NOT JUST FOR VULCANS, AND VIEWERS OF "THE BIG BANG THEORY." SHELDON AND HIS MOTHER- POST HOC, ERGO PROPTER HOC, AND THE FALLACY OF TRUTH BY ASSOCIATION. PT 1.

 (FIRST PUBLISHED ON 10/5/2014.)

Since Logic now how has its own page and category, I thought it might be appropriate if we took an example of a Logical Fallacy from "THE BIG BANG THEORY."  This one is called POST HOC, ERGO PROPTER HOC.  

Also, this article will expand this example to include the Fallacy of TRUTH BY ASSOCIATION.

The first episode of the third season, entitled "THE ELECTRICAL CAN OPENER FLUCTUATION", Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Raj return from their trip to the Magnetic North Pole.  As he is walking through the door into the apartment, Sheldon has the following exchange with his mother while on the phone:

"No mother, I could not feel your church group praying for my safety.  The fact that 

I'm home safe does not prove that it worked. That logic is Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc."

Translated from Latin, it means, "After this, therefore because of this."  It is the Logical Fallacy of assuming a causal relationship between two events, and excluding everything else without justification.

To make this easier to understand here is the breakdown;

                            Sheldon goes on his trip,

                                          

                                          Then,

                    Sheldons mom, and her church group pray 

                                      for his safety,

                                           Then,

                            Sheldon returns home safely,

                                         Therefore,

                          The prayer ensured his safety. 

What Sheldon could have pointed out, to his mother, is that his safe return could be the result of one, or  more of the following: 

1)  Proper planning.

2)  Safety procedures that were followed while en route, or on the way home.

3)  Adequate Water, Food, Clothes etc, to amply supply their needs. 

4)  Communications that allowed access to emergency aid from the outside world.

5)  The mental discipline and knowledge to meet any difficulty calmly and intellectually.

In other words, Sheldons mom concluded that the prayer was the reason for a safe

return, when in fact there may have been other reasons.

Before any of my readers, who believe in the power of prayer, say that I can't rule out Divine Intervention, my reply is simple;  

I AM NOT TRYING TO.

END PT 1.