Buddhism a la surprise

[Skybird]

You might be surprised at the low level of hard feelings in Germany for the bombings of cities, maybe that is because people here know that the bombing of cities has been started by Germany, and that the war has been started by germany as well. Was it pleasant to experience Dresden and Hamburg? Hardly. Was it a necessity to have this war against Hitler nevertheless? Absolutely.

The theory on the British empire carrying on to exist in contemporary trade systems, is not new, to some degree I agree, to some not. There is a parallel, an Anglosaxon version, to the conspiration theory called The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. the Anglosaxon version says that Roosevelt only entered the war in order to have america take over rulership fromt he disappearing British empire in order to ensure ongoing anglosaxon world dominance in close cooperation and coordination with the British. Usually this theory is widespread amongst Russians, and the European left. But I think today's global trade structures may have been helped to form by the trade system of the British empire, but nevertheles are mostly caused by the scientific, technological, administrative and legal superiority of Europe one and two hundred years ago. And to the degree others have copied these very items items that once founded european superiority, the others became equals in power and the West gets under pressure, often in kind of boomerang effects (like this thing called "globalisation"). The influence of capitalism in anglosaxon understanidng is not so much directly caused by the existence of a physical, regional empire, but the influence anglosaxon culture in general had on the global cultural climate. It would dominate today even without a British Empire ever having existed, for it is basing on an aeons-old characteristic of man (egoism, the craving for profit, and to improve one's material basis), and just shifted some accentuations.

That does not mean I like or defend Anglosaxon understanding of totally liberal, unregulated markets and predator capitalism. I just describe how I see history's processes. the British already were able to hold their ground against overwhelming odds during the Napoleonic wars, which were an era before the British Empire in the meaning of the word emerged. Although france potentially was hopelessly superior in finances, the British changed certain aspects in their banking sytems and tax system to mobilise the needed economic and capital ressources to outsit the French, who also did not make best use of their economic potential. That way, a people that was smaller in numbers and smaller in economic power was able to not only survive Napoleon, but to increase it's influence in europe, and after the final defeat of the French "beast" continued to expand into a maritime trade empire. The understanding to support such a project had been formed before the structures of the global empire were formed.

Regarding buddhism, I want to make you believe nothing pro or contra, so do what you want. Your latest comment just clearly illustrates that you obviously lack needed knowledge about it. But if you criticise something, you need to know it in order to know why you criticise it. Note that I have expressed a rejecting attiude to buddhist sects myself - but said that they indeed are like any other religious institution - but do not necessarily focus of the essential basics of Siddharta's arguments. And that's what they were: arguments, born by observation, deductive logic, and rational conclusions. If you think you need to compare Buddhist thinking to scientology, you just reveal yourself as a total fool not really knowing what he is talking about. You could as well declare the sermon on the mountain a fashist manifest.

I do not like your always present, constant subliminal or obvious hostility, wether it be towards Germans, politics, me, or whatever, and your last unacceptable outburst some days ago still is on my mind. If you can't do without that, save your time, for I refuse to continue any communication with you then.