[NYTr] "Something to Kill and Die For:" The Need for Enemies and Infidels - NYC

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

[an interesting-looking series at Fordham's Lincoln Center Campus]

Ideologies of War & Terror Newsletter
http://www.ideologiesofwar.com


"SOMETHING TO KILL AND DIE FOR:"

The Need for  Enemies and Infidels 
Koenigsberg's Seminar on War at Fordham University Continues.

Friday evenings at 6:45 PM, November 16-December 21, 2007
Fordham University Lincoln Center


LIST OF UPCOMING TOPICS, DATES 
AND DIRECTIONS FOR ATTENDING ARE BELOW

Osama Bin Laden said, "Our life on this planet would be meaningless
if we do not worship the God of the Ancient House." President George
Bush declared: "If we ever give up the desire to help people to
live in freedom, we will have lost our soul as a nation." An enemy
or infidel is an other symbolizing destruction of faith. Collective
forms of violence seek reaffirmation of faith: restoration of
meaning. Without an enemy or infidel, there would be "nothing to
kill or die for."

You may attend any or all of these sessions at NO CHARGE. Please
send an email to Oanderson at ideologiesofwar.com to hold a place.

UPCOMING TOPICS AND DATES

Friday, NOVEMBER 16: 6:45 PM: AMERICAN AVERSION TO CASUALTIES.During
the 1990s, the U. S. hesitated to engage in military actions if
there was the possibility that even a few soldiers might be killed.
Henry Kissinger observed in 1999 that in 1969 the U. S. was suffering
500 casualties a week--but that now Americans were unwilling to
accept any casualties. How did American attitudes before September
11 shape what occurred after September 11?

Friday, NOVEMBER 30: 6:45 PM: "WE'RE NOT IN MOGADISHU ANYMORE." In
1996, Bin Laden addressed American leaders about how the U. S. had
withdrawn its forces from Somalia after only a few soldiers were
killed, taunting them about America's "weakness and impotence." The
ferocity of the American response after September 11 served to
demonstrate that the U. S. was not weak and impotent. Never again
would she cut and run.

Friday, DECEMBER 7: 6:45 PM: AMERICAN WILLINGNESS TO SACRIFICE.
Military analysts in the 1990s argued that policies of enemies of
the U. S.--such as Saddam Hussein and Bin Laden--were based on their
awareness of the American public's attitude toward casualties.
Donald Rumsfeld insisted that enemies of the U. S. should not
underestimate the "willingness of Americans to suffer casualties
in Iraq and elsewhere." President Bush stated that although some
had doubted the character of the American people, our troops had
demonstrated their willingness to sacrifice.

Friday, DECEMBER 14: 6:45 PM: FIGHTING AN EVIL ENEMY. After the
fall of the Soviet Union, the grand narrative of a struggle between
the free world and communism dissipated--America suffered from the
absence of an enemy. Terrorism has replaced communism as the evil
ideology against which the U. S. must do battle in order to rescue
the world by preserving "freedom and democracy."

Friday, DECEMBER 21: 6:45 PM: "SOMETHING TO KILL AND DIE FOR." John
Lennon asked us to "imagine there's no country;" a world where there
would be "nothing to kill and die for." Donald Rumsfeld declared
that there are "things worth fighting for and things worth dying
for." As Middle-Eastern radicals martyred themselves for Allah, so
Americans would demonstrate that they too possessed sacred ideals
for which they were willing to die and kill.

Directions to Fordham University and instructions on gaining
admittance to the seminar appear below. We look forward to your
participation!

TO REACH FORDHAM UNIVERSITY'S LINCOLN CENTER CAMPUS BY SUBWAY: The
A, B, C, D, 1, and 9 subway trains all stop at 59th Street/Columbus
Circle. 60th Street is one block north of 59th Street. The campus
is located one block west on 60th Street at 113 W. 60th Street.

UPON YOUR ARRIVAL AT FORDHAM UNIVERSITY: At the entrance, simply
say you are attending the Seminar in Room 311. Take the escalator
to the 1st floor, then the elevator to the third floor. Turn left
when you get off the elevator. Room 311 is located near the end of
the hallway on the left. For further information call Orion Anderson
at 718-393-1104 or send an email to oanderson at ideologiesofwar.com.


Ideologies of War & Terror | 92-30 56th Avenue, Suite 3-E | Elmhurst
| NY | 11373