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| courtesy of Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian |
There is a paradox in the premise of some historians that the Dark Ages were harsh and brutal and that the Renaissance, or as some call it the Enlightenment were beneficial and rational.
During World War II over 60 million people lost their lives. It would seem that the children of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment received a dubious benefit as well as a deficit of rational thought.
Every generation believes that it is more enlightened than the last and has stood one more rung higher on the ladder of truth. If one believes that truth is relative, or subjective then the ladder does not exist, nor are there any rungs to stand on.
Some equate rational thought with the scientific method. Now science has certainly provided man with the ability to cure disease and other benefits, but it also provided man with the ability to destroy thousands of human beings with one bomb. The scientific method may require rational thought but it does not necessarily inspire rational action.
There is one thing that every generation has shared and that is grief. Japanese citizens are remembering those that lost their lives in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
I am not going to debate the wisdom of the bombings. I am not going to listen to the political speeches. I am not going to listen to those that try to mitigate sin by pointing out the sins of others. I am going to remember all those individuals that lost their lives in a horrific war regardless of their country.
During World War II over 60 million people lost their lives. It would seem that the children of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment received a dubious benefit as well as a deficit of rational thought.
Every generation believes that it is more enlightened than the last and has stood one more rung higher on the ladder of truth. If one believes that truth is relative, or subjective then the ladder does not exist, nor are there any rungs to stand on.
Some equate rational thought with the scientific method. Now science has certainly provided man with the ability to cure disease and other benefits, but it also provided man with the ability to destroy thousands of human beings with one bomb. The scientific method may require rational thought but it does not necessarily inspire rational action.
There is one thing that every generation has shared and that is grief. Japanese citizens are remembering those that lost their lives in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
I am not going to debate the wisdom of the bombings. I am not going to listen to the political speeches. I am not going to listen to those that try to mitigate sin by pointing out the sins of others. I am going to remember all those individuals that lost their lives in a horrific war regardless of their country.
