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Better a Shield Than a Sword: Perspectives on the Defense and Technology

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I own a copy of this book, and I have read a few things about Leo Szilard. Allow me to report that in the Dedication of this book, regarding Szilard, Teller wrote, "He criticized others too often for his own good, and not tactfully enough for the good of those whom he criticized. But unlike Socrates, Szilard was not condemned to drink the poisoned cup, which suggests that freedom of speech is respected more in the United States than it was in ancient Athens. In a democratic society, a man like Leo Szilard can have an influence no matter what his opinions. In a totalitarian society, he could end up in a psychiatric institution." (p. ix) My hope in the year 2000 is that the twentieth century will be viewed as the collapse of that kind of psychotically imposed totalitarianism, rather than the collapse of communism, and that a new realm of freedom will allow me, the most spaced out poet on the planet, to dedicate an irate poem to the memory of an actual invasion across a border into a place that just happened to be Cambodia thirty years ago. On a more intellectual level, this poem was also written in memory of every poisoned cup that has passed our lips since the death of Socrates was 100 % successful.

Yellow is for Asian people,

Green for young G.I.s,

Red for facing bloody truths,

Pink for feeling wise.

Orange is the agency

that offers explanations.

Defoliation is a minor de-flowering

Compared to the final defamations.