MD I'm new around here...

From: Omar Kamel (okamel@ad-i.com)
Date: Wed Nov 28 2001 - 02:09:57 GMT


But I thought it was about time I engaged.

Okay.

By way of Introduction, my name is Omar Kamel. I am 32 years less young,
and I live in Egypt. I live with a dog called Shazam. He's a Golden
Retriever.

I like Philip K. Dick, and I've traveled somewhat extensively. I have a
B.A. in Psychology, for what that's worth, and I read when I can.

1. War

First, some window washing...

I'm somewhat perplexed at the notion, expressed in even the most
reasonable posts, that, somehow, the 'west' is 'intellectually
superior', and that the Islamic value-system is Socially Based, and on
those grounds 1) Inferior and 2) Antagonistic.

That just doesn't carry. Even when it's masked with the notion of
Islamic 'fundementalists' - that word never seems to relate to the
'Fundementals' of any religion - it's a misnomer. And I ignore it.

Anybody who, through will, or neglect, causes death is an asshole, not a
moslem, and not a xtian, and not a buddhist. He's barely human, and not
much of one at that.

As for history, well, the notion that the west holds any monopoly
whatsoever on intellectual activity is just laughable. The technological
superiority is clear as day, but tech is not intellect. The only current
superiority I can honestly see is one of technique, not of reason. I
can, but choose not to, go over countless examples of intellectual
achievement by Arab and Islamic individuals. The notion that
individuality is undervalued is simply...well, unread...

I am a somewhat naturally volatile person, and am sometimes unaware when
I maybe hurtful. I hope this isn't what you're reading, because that's
not what I intend.

This whole thing has been a mess, and both sides are blind to the other.
I can summarize the extent of things by comparing brain docs...

To a lot of Americans, and somehow, the British, something happened on
Sept. 11th, 2001.

To a lot of non-Americans - this didn't start Sept. 11th, this 'war'
started earlier, much earlier. And the Americans are the aggressors,
they are the monster, they are a social monster, catering to the
biological needs of it's cells, and willing to destroy intellectual
patterns in other societies in order to create a bigger market for their
particular breed of social monster. To take things teleologically and
say that by virtue of appearing to be 'winning', the USA must be
'superior' is just short-sighted. Time hiccups, and evolution is often
jaggy.

That's all I have to say about this, it's an endless topic, and one that
damns me just by talking about, cause I have to say "American", "Arab",
"Islamic", and "Xtian"...I don't like those words. Political Note: I'm
an anarchist, and I'm sick of nationalism, deal with that as you may.

2. Directions of change

To other things, Squonk said:

"We can paraphrase this and say that Pirsig does not wish to change
things
into patterns of quality, but rather patterns of quality into things."

I'd like to add to that something. Z&AOMM's Pirsig wanted nothing but
the patterns of quality. It is the 'new', 'reformed' Pirsig, that of
Lila - who wants to put the quality to work. To apply it. To make it
'thing'.

This last makes the matter somewhat doubtful to me, but I'm like that. I
know what it tastes like. The urge to shelter life within the umbrella
of a construct. Even if it's a dynamic construct. A perilous enterprise
at best. One that can only be justified by the quality of the construct,
as though to think "Yes, I know I'm pitching now, but hell, it's a
*good* product." - it's not dishonest, but it sheds some Grace. A grace
Pirsig somewhat retains by his restraint. Judging from his letter to the
Lila Squad, about staying offline, so to speak, letting the MoQ
interbreed, as it were - I believe he senses the issue.

Philip K. Dick handles his constructs much differently. Dick slides them
in from the ground upwards, it is not an umbrella at all, it is a plant,
or a life-force deep underground, and it starts showing through the
cracks...it's not intellectual, it's magical. It is not up there, it is
*here*. It does not encompass, it is *contained*. I ramble. I will stop.

The 5th level:

Somebody mentioned this, and somebody asked. Creative level, magical,
Yesod.

The transition between 'might', and 'is'.

Possibly.

More in the brain, but far too fuzzy to articulate. Later, perhaps.

Well,

If you're up for more, I'm at:

http://www.ad-i.com

http://septic.blogspot.com

http://www.shabakamusic.com

Has anybody here seen K-Pax?
Any good?

Omar

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