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From: macbeth@artecon.UUCP (Beckwith)
Newsgroups: comp.society.futures
Subject: Re: UUCP - USSR
Message-ID: <659@artecon.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 26-Oct-87 19:04:09 EST
Article-I.D.: artecon.659
Posted: Mon Oct 26 19:04:09 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 29-Oct-87 02:18:01 EST
References: <8751@shemp.UCLA.EDU> <866@cod.NOSC.MIL> <11325@orchid.waterloo.edu>
Reply-To: macbeth@artecon.UUCP (David Macy-Beckwith)
Distribution: na
Organization: artecon
Lines: 56

In article <11325@orchid.waterloo.edu> imprint@orchid.waterloo.edu (U of Waterloo Student Newspaper) writes:
>>
>>Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!  My God, is it really that difficult to look at the
>>Soviet Union (as opposed to the Russian people) and the West and not see
>>the differences?!  I think we should try as much as possible to make
>>contact with ordinary Soviet Citizens.  At the same time, we should not
>>harbor any illusions regarding the cultural and political differences.
>>
>>Bill 
>
>I question whether it is relevant, when contemplating the
>opening of network links to other countries, to undertake an
>evaluation of that country's political correctness first.
>
>I have not seen any suggestion that there are not
>differences between East and West, quite the contrary. It is
>the very fact of those differences, and the fact that they
>presently threaten the entire human race with extinction,
>that makes it so important to work at bridging them.
>
>[Doug continues, but I've deleted in interest of brevity]

Re these differences:

How many of you watched any of the "People's Summit" programs (hosted
by Phil Donahue and a Soviet gentlemen whose name escapes me)? I saw
two groups of people who had been out of touch with each other for a
very long time, who had preconceptions of the other's lives that were
way out of whack, and who were having a heck of a time just getting a
decent discussion going. There was great confusion and mistrust on both
sides and in some ways it was a very unsatisfying experience.

And yet...

It was a beginning. By the end, I saw two groups who were closer to 
understanding each other. There were no major revelations, but there was
most certainly a removing of some blinders. It was a small, tentative step
toward mutual appreciation for the other's attitudes.

If this UUCP link were to be established, it will probably suffer from many
of the same problems as did these "Summits". I would hope it could press on,
however, and perhaps, just for a few people, start really building a bridge.

Lest you think me YANL (Yet Another Naive Liberal), let me say that I firmly
believe in a strong defense and in kicking ass when it needs kicking (the
sight of open water where an oil platform used to be was most satisfying). But
I also hold with a saying from a man who is nobody's YANL:

	"Always leave room for your enemy to become your friend."

Spasebo.
-- 
+ David Macy-Beckwith  Artecon, Inc. {sdcsvax,hplabs}!hp-sdd!artecon!macbeth  +
+ The Company has enough on its plate    ||   "Let's see what's out there..." +
+ without supporting the crazed postings ||      - Capt. Jean-Luc Picard      +
+ of its newsaholic minions.             ||                                   +