"They kill themselves out of emptiness and unhappiness and things like that. Probably for the same reason the marines do." I meant, of course, the same reason the marines become marines in the first place, to kill others. In the process they're at high risk of killing themselves, so there's a suicidal element in there too, or else they'd become accountants or teachers. My friend marine was a real nice person. I actually liked him a lot. Maybe some terrorists are nice people. We'll never know. It's late, and my mouse is still not working. ----- Original Message ----- From: Andy Amago To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: 5/9/2006 12:02:27 AM Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Who are you calling crazy? Nah, it takes one to know one. In college a knew an ex-marine. He said that marines are taught to kill. Normal people are taught to kill? I'm not saying the guys who head for Iraq and indulge in terror and who blew up Madrid and London aren't emotionally ill, of course they are. Most likely they were beaten as children, had no fathers, and on and on. How sending in the marines to rectify that is beyond me. Ramping up violence never improved anybody's mental health. That's all the more reason why we need to use engagement and nonviolent approaches. And Lawrence, get over it. Nobody but nobody kills themselves for virgins in the sky. That's just, what's the word, shorthand. They kill themselves out of emptiness and unhappiness and things like that. Probably for the same reason the marines do. ----- Original Message ----- From: Lawrence Helm To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: 5/8/2006 11:25:48 PM Subject: [lit-ideas] Who are you calling crazy? Omar Marines arent mentally ill but the Islamists are. Islamists describe themselves in word and deeds and their descriptions correspond to mental illness. You once suggested that I had a thing about their blowing up cars. It isnt my thing. It was after reading account after account of their doing that in Europe that I mentioned several times. It is their thing, and apparently not just Islamists but your moderate Muslims. There have been lots and lots of damage and it cant all have been caused by the Islamists unless there really are no moderates. Are there? They behave insanely and as of the time of the writings of Bawer, Berlinski, Fenby, Yeor, Fallici etc, they are still behaving that way. Is their being willing to blow themselves up not mentally ill? Do you appeal to Islam to justify an explanation of sanity? Lets hear it. I dont think there is one. Anyone willing to blow himself up for virgins in paradise is nuts. Marines are called nuts for being willing to fight such people. Its all in how you look at the world I suppose. Bin Laden has called for Musharaffs assassination. Is that not insane? The wimpy of the world worry about the attitude of the Marines, about their being insensitive and unfeeling. But they dont worry about berserk Islamists. Some of the people here on Lit-Ideas sound as thought they would rather stop the Marines than the Islamists. Now that is mentally ill. Fortunately Marines are taught about Civilians in boot camp. They are taught that civilians barely have sense enough to get out of each others way. We are taught not worry about the dumb things they say and do but to fight for them in spite of all that. Lawrence -----Original Message----- From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Omar Kusturica Sent: Monday, May 08, 2006 6:39 PM To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Punitive Expeditions (in the garden) Lawrence, Ever seen MASH ? No, I didn't think so. You might have a bit more sense of humour about "a Marine being always prepared" if you have. You description of a Marine strikes me a lot like a description of mental illness. Omar