Interview Transcript
Ezekiel Emanuel: I mean when you look around this world at the number of “failed states” – Somalia, Haiti – you really have . . . Congo . . . you really have to be scared about what that breeds. Pakistan may turn out to be one of those states. Iraq may turn out to be one of those states. And you’ve got to . . . I think we all have to be very worried about that. We have to be religious fundamentalism and the notion of . . . There you really have, I think, something which is . . . is . . . worry about the culture of death. The notion that you go out and kill people and that’s a good thing. Either because you are so alienated from society and you see no future; or because the culture has created the idea that somehow killing people is a way to purity and to being saved. We had a period . . . the war or religions was like that. The Catholics and the Protestants in Europe were killing each other to no end. _______ disappear. Unfortunately we now have that. And we’re not dealing with bows and arrows, but we’re dealing with much more sophisticated weaponry – maybe even weapons of mass destruction. That’s seemingly worrisome to me. I would not be surprised if we ended up with a nuclear explosion, and hundreds of thousands – if not millions – of people – dead. Maybe we would then step – take a step back. But I actually think that’s a real possibility.
Recorded on: 7/5/07
Discuss
MartyB Boucher on January 19, 2008, 1:00 PM
I agree with Emanuel on this point, the holy wars of yesterday bread some of the most atrocious events in history. The inquisitions, the holocausts, Slaughters in Rwanda…Weather political or religious the result will be the same, human nature has not changed, wars will continue to be waged, the only difference is the weapons are getting more and more sophisticated and deadly. This being said, I believe this to be probably within the 2-3 top challenges this planet will face.
In my opinion, climate change is the number one issue, because its conclusion leads to the extinction of most species on this planet, including the human species. We must forget this Myth that humans are somehow more than animals, we need to accept that we are animals like all others and depend on this earth for our sustenance. all other issues, ethical or political are secondary to this one, because without our planet all other human endeavors are futile/
MartyB Boucher on January 19, 2008, 6:00 PM
I agree with Emanuel on this point, the holy wars of yesterday bread some of the most atrocious events in history. The inquisitions, the holocausts, Slaughters in Rwanda…Weather political or religious the result will be the same, human nature has not changed, wars will continue to be waged, the only difference is the weapons are getting more and more sophisticated and deadly. This being said, I believe this to be probably within the 2-3 top challenges this planet will face.
In my opinion, climate change is the number one issue, because its conclusion leads to the extinction of most species on this planet, including the human species. We must forget this Myth that humans are somehow more than animals, we need to accept that we are animals like all others and depend on this earth for our sustenance. all other issues, ethical or political are secondary to this one, because without our planet all other human endeavors are futile/
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