Posted by Peter the blacksmith on December 18, 2001 at 20:06:01:
In Reply to: While we're on the subject of ignorance........ posted by Hogryder on December 18, 2001 at 04:26:53:
Well, when I was 17 I went into the army (what made my spelling mistake "aramy" so funny ?) and YES, I was very ignorant at that age. As most teenagers are, because you think you have the answers to most questions. And your parents are still living according to their ideals from the stoneage... I stayed in the army for 6 years, until I got enough and left. (25years ago)In the army of Finland you are taught one thing : Russia is the enemy, and nothing will ever change that.
I think the roots of ignorance is in the belief that you or the group you belong to,are superior.
That in mind, soldiers go to war, all over the world. We are right, this war is right, and we are superior. The moment you start thinking about what the motives of your enemy are, and try to understand why they act like they do, because very few people love war, you might start to understand their point of view, and maybe you are not so damned sure that what you have been told is the only right thing... THAT is the moment you are losing your ignorance, and that is the moment you become a lousy soldier.
Now, that we got philosofical, I am not ashamed to confess that I know I am ignorant in many ways, like when I see on TV that there has been another slaughter in a school in USA, of course I think that the education system is rotten compared to my country where kids don't shoot each other at school. That is ignorance, oh yes. But our daily lives are full of that sort of situations when we -wherever we live- think that we are better than others. I am actively trying to understand what is behind this behaviour. I am also trying to work against it, also in my own life, when I see it sticking up it's ugly nose. That is the reason for my input that obviously spoilt some Forum members sweet dreams for several nights. Sorry about that. In a way you really can say that I also was ignorant since I critizied something that seem holy to many Americans (your ignorant army). Somebody suggested that I'd better shut up if I did not like the comments on the Forum. I'll give that a serious thought. On the other hand, that is the best way to loose even more of the edge...
Ok, can we drop this subject now and talk about motorbikes for a while ?
Peter.