Dear Vanessa,

In response to your call for comments on the appointment of a 19-year old magistrate and on today being the 5th anniversary of the Al-Quaeda attacks on America.

 

If I, with my 57 years, were brought before a 19-year old magistrate, I would have a job containing my laughter. Even a 27-year old magistrate seems to me ridiculously young and lacking in experience. 40 is the youngest age I would be prepared to take seriously.

 

We live in a mad, mad, mad world - which, if it were not for the tragic consequences, would be hilariously funny.

 

I have a webpage on what I refer to as the "insanities of normality", which you and some of your listeners might like to take a look at. I shall consider adding the 19-year old magistrate to the list of examples.

 

9/11 was an act of criminal madness, but fitted only too well into the insane and hypocritical world in which we live. Were we and the Americans not deliberately targeting and massacring German and Japanese civilians (including 10's of thousands of children) just 60 odd years ago? And on a  far grander scale than Al-Quaeda has managed so far.

 

Am I suggesting that WE behaved as badly and criminally as today's terrorists? No. I think our behaviour (i.e. those responsible for it) was worse. Firstly, because it was done in the name of MY country, and secondly, because we were winning those wars and didn't even have the excuse of "desperation" or "last resort" which today's terrorists might argue.

 

Yet many people even now, while condemning today's terrorists with self-righteous indignation, still defend and justify the atrocious acts of terror committed by our own governments and armed forces just a few decades ago.

 

Until we face up to the madness and our own part in it, nothing is going to change for the better. And the way things look at the moment, our civilisation will soon be at an end. 

 

At 57, why should I care? But sadly, I do.

 

Roger Hicks

www.spaceship-earth.org