Planetary Engineers investigating the possibility of terraforming Ganymede have discovered that the outlawed psychotechnicians are clandestinely controlling the Jovian system:
"'Our trying and failing might be what [the psychotechs] really have in mind. It could have a psychological impact, a disappointment and bitterness, which they could very well exploit.'" (VI, p. 184)
To address and try to end the causes of an already existing bitterness is good. To exploit bitterness is bad. To create it in order to exploit it is worse! Psychotechnic science has been thoroughly perverted if this is what its practitioners are doing on Ganymede.
We are able to read more details about the real world that about any fictional world because we are living in the former. People living in the Solar System at the time of the events of "The Snows of Ganymede" must have access to a range of high tech media and will form opinions about, e.g., the role of the Planetary Engineers or whether the Humanists will make a comeback. If you find an alternative news source that you trust, then you might entertain a minority opinion about the probable outcome of a current conflict but the test is always practice and experience. Decades ago, when I knew a lot less, I heard predictions that have proved to be rubbish.
A newspaper editorial anticipates the outcome of the upcoming election. An sf writer anticipates centuries and millennia.
13 comments:
Note that once Group A dislikes Group B, they will usually continue to do so regardless of whether the original grievance is resolved or not.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
And the eruption we have seen of Jew hating antisemitism since 10/7 of last year is a good example of that!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
No, it is not. I attend Palestine Solidarity rallies and marches where there is no anti-semitism and there are many Jews, including rabbis, some groups wearing distinctive garb and displaying banners in order to proclaim their identity.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I disagree. I saw plenty of Jew hating in those vile pro-Hamas demonstrations, esp. in the US.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I disagree. I do not see Jew hating. It would not be tolerated. Presumably you do accept my factual account of groups of self-proclaimed Jews on these marches? Meanwhile much is happening that we need to continue to protest about.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Then we are not going to agree. Nor do I much care if some Jews are deluded enough to take part in antisemitic demonstrations.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
They are not antisemitic demonstrations. I do not go on antisemitic demonstrations. I once a year attend Holocaust Memorial events where Jewish people recognize the other exterminated groups as well as righteous Gentiles. The Jewish people that I see on Palestine marches have not been deluded into attending antisemitic demonstrations. How could they be? Your statement is completely against the facts. This is not a matter of disagreeing about a matter of opinion. What you are saying is clearly factually wrong. You do need to reconsider this issue.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I don't believe you to be antisemitic at all. I do believe many demonstrators are antisemitic, hiding their bigotry in different ways. That has been shown over and over in articles I read in sources I trust, such as NATIONAL REVIEW or COMMENTARY. To say nothing of what I saw with my own eyes on TV with things like antisemite demonstrations or the Jew haters tearing down pictures of both adults and children kidnapped, tortured, murdered, or raped by the Hamas criminals.
You are sympathizing for the wrong side and an evil cause.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
You are sympathizing for the wrong side and an evil cause. Israel's destruction of Gaza and Lebanon is a series of war crimes and is fueling further resistance.
Paul.
Everything that I have said about the massive London demonstrations is true. They are peaceful. There are organized groups of Jews and there is no antisemitism. Some of what is called antisemitic, like chanting that Palestinians will be free, is not. Of course you can cite examples of antisemitism from elsewhere but you cannot smear an entire liberation movement with that. To Zionists, any criticism of or opposition to Israel is "antisemitic." They have completely distorted a word. My criticisms of the British government do not make me anti-British.
Sean,
Of course we disagree about such a controversial, conflictive issue. That is a given. Attempted summary dismissal of alternative views is not helpful.
We need to be clear about the points that we make. My point was that war crimes are being committed now, not who started this present phase of conflict. All nations have a right to defend themselves. All nations. Of course. And defence does not mean just any counterattack.
I think you have to care about London demonstrations. I strongly doubt that the US ones stank of anything. Your assumption was that the London marches are antisemitic. That is categorically untrue.
You are supporting the wrong side. (Please understand that I would not normally express myself as dogmatically as that but I am responding in kind. I really am trying to get a better discussion going.)
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
My view is that some views are not worthy of any respect, like those of the loathsome people who happily approved of the 10/7 atrocities. Those I dismiss with scorn and contempt.
I deny Israel has committed war crimes. Every such accusation, when looked into, has been shown to be either false or cover acts falling legitimately within the scope allowed by the Geneva and Hague conventions on the laws of war.
Wrong, the pro-Hamas demonstrations in the US was soaked with Jew hating.
We are not going to agree about Israel.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
We are not trying to agree about Israel. There is online evidence of atrocities occurring now.
Paul.
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