It's bitterly ironic that people who passionately believe in some things
blind themselves to their destructive effects on others in the blind
pursuit of their goal. I would not say that ideologues are inherently bad,
because I do think ideas matter, and in the case of SB, I damn well hated
the KGB and its government more than the British for all their faults. But
sometimes the distinction between the two wears uncomfortably thin.
Tim
>A number of characters in Le Carre books comment on this problem. Its not
>that they are convinced they are right that causes the problem, as that being
>right lets them fall into the trap of "the end justifies the means". "The Spy
>Who Came In From The Cold" comes to mind as the best example of this (and also
>about how you might not succeed in losing your humanity after all).
>
>If you like, the story is now how evil "government" is. Its how people who
>serve the government can do evil things in the name of a "higher" goal. And
>such behavior isn't confined to people in government (though their behavior
>may be more agregious because of their positions).
>
>> I agree with Tim on what he said, but also on another level.
>>
>> In a very real sense, SB demonstrates government at its most dangerous.=20
>> Burnside believes that **HE** has a grasp on the real world situation and
>> that his bosses are out of touch with reality, either due to their
>> ineptness or to their political greed. Convinced that he is right (both
>> factually and morally), Burnside then goes on to violate any rule/law he
>> chooses. This show, as greatly scripted and acted as it is, shows all it=
>> s
>> viewers that many in government still believe that the "end justifies the
>> means." That belief is a greater threat to freedom, liberty and justice
>> than communism ever was, or anything else ever will be. That reasoning h=
>> as
>> allowed police to break down the doors of anyone they think is doing
>> something wrong behind them. To use torture to get confessions when the
>> cops "know" that the suspect in custody "really" committed the crime, and
>> then deny in court ever having put a finger on the suspect. It has allow=
>> ed
>> the U.S. government to kill hundreds of sailors from across the world whe=
>> n
>> it mined the ports of Nicaragua in an attempt to bring down a corrupt
>> government. Every national power fall victim to this belief, from the U.=
>> S.
>> to the U.K. to the U.S.S.R. (perhaps not Canada though). =20