Mike Fang wrote:
That depends entirely if you think someone's intelligence is more important than their morality, or in this case their lack thereof. I think a person could be freakin' Einstein, but if they don't give two farts and a rat's backside about right and wrong, then they're depraved scum. And depraved scum don't deserve respect no matter how big a genius he or she is.
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I don't entirely agree with what you have to say there, Mike, I guess it all depends upon how one defines respect.
One of the factors leading to the conflict between the US and Japan prior to WWII was a lack of respect both sides had for one another.
Japan wanted payback for commodore Perry's forced opening of Japan's borders. (Nice swords, but I bet that naval cannon and rifle fire beat Katanas and arrows any day of the week) Japan's impression of America was partially formed by imported radio plays , cheap novels, and cinema which featured "The wild West", and gangland Chicago. The impression was made that America was two steps away from anarchy, therefore one solid military blow would send the entire house of cards tumbling.
The filthy, white barbarians had no culture and organization, show them strength and the cowards will fall, like Russians did in the Russo - Japanese war.
Their lack of respect caused them to gravely underestimate us. Yamato knew the truth, he was educated in America (Harvard, I think, but don't quote me) He knew the true strength of America and respected that. He did not want war with the "sleeping giant" and tried to dissuade his superiors, but to no avail. In the end Japan paid dearly for its mistake.
Meanwhile on the other side of the Pacific things weren't much better. "What, the little monkey-men gonna play with their windup battleships and attack us in our strength?"
I don't think anyone thought the Japanese had the technical know-how to pull off what they did and it was a little arrogance upon our part that just because we were Americans and therefore, the best in the world that nobody (at least from any continent outside of Europe) could successfully attack us and do any
real damage.
The Japanese were resilient, intelligent, and downright ingenious when it came to improving technologies. We did not recognize or respect these traits and it cost us dearly at the beginning of the war.
What I'm trying to say, perhaps in a rather obtuse fashion, is that one should be aware of one's adversary's strengths and respect them. Don't fear them, but be aware of them, so that way you don't underestimate them.
Does that make sense?
Always tell the truth, that way you don't have to remember anything. -- Mark twain
