Closing the Loop in a Chaotic World
by Darren Ashby

There is something you learn in control theory, feedback is important. Too much positive feedback can cause unwanted oscillation, even extreme reaction to input levels. Negative feed back can control and maintain a desired output. Whole texts, disciplines and articles are dedicated to analyzing and understanding feedback. Even the first few articles I wrote for ChipCenter are on this topic. The interesting thing is, control theory will work in our non-engineering lives as well. Positive feedback can help a child excel in school, while negative feedback can be used to correct the errors they are bound to make. While there are no transforms or equations to apply to the human world of feedback, I think it is as important in that application as it is in the world of engineering. The trick is the same, however, you need to know how much of each to use and when to use it.

My previous article generated a prodigious amount of feedback, both positive and negative. I received responses from all over the globe. In the interest of "closing the loop" as it is said in feedback theory, I decided to post some of that feedback for all of the ChipCenter audience to read. I have included (with the author's permission) the full thread of our conversation¹. There are things that made me happy, items that caused deep introspection, and even statements that made me down right angry. All of it is legitimate feedback in this chaotic world.

The first comes from an engineer right here in the US.

Darren,
I enjoyed your article on "Reflections on Perilous Times". I, like you, believe in God and I know without a doubt that He is not to blame for the events of Sept 11. I am glad that you stated this in your article. Men are so quick to blame God for the bad things that happen in life and take the credit for all the good things that happen. Like you, I pray that our nation may turn to God once again so that we can continue to enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy. It says in Ps 33:12, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD" - not the nation that has the best military, best economy etc.

One thing that you said in your article, I do want to try to address. You said, "We live in perilous times, why these things happen I truly do not know". This has been a question on the minds of many and I am surprised at the lack of understanding supplied even by the church. If anyone takes even a little bit of time to read the Bible, the answer is obvious. There is a God, no doubt, but there is also His archenemy, Satan. Though many people don't believe in the Devil (which gives him all the more power to act), he is real. Jesus said in John 10:10- "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." The thief he was referring to is the Devil. He is the one who comes steal, kill and destroy. But thankfully, one day he will be eliminated. This is part of the future hope for all that believe in God and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ. "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone." (Rev 20:10) How's that for pyrotechnics! Satan does work to deceive the whole world: "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world" (Revelation 12:9), but one day he will be destroyed.

In the mean time, our best defense against him is to put our trust in the true God. The military may be able to defend us against out physical enemies, but only God can defend us from our spiritual enemies. I hope this helps to answer your question. I would welcome your comments and/or further questions. There are many more details I could give on this subject if you are interested.

God bless you.
Ravi Hans
Senior Principal Engineer

I realized from my discussion with Ravi that I might have been a little clearer to say that I really don't know the whole reason God allows this to happen. But I do know this life is a test of our ability to triumph and overcome evil and the blood of those who lost their lives will condemn the purveyors of the evil acts in the eternity to come. He had this final comment:

I understand that it's difficult to incorporate one's beliefs into engineering articles, especially in times when people are so touchy about the topic. So I admire your courage to do so. There's been an interesting fall-out of the Sept 11 events: it's no longer un-cool to state your trust in God. Perhaps people have realized that life is a lot bigger than what meets the eye and not as much in their own control as they thought. That's scary if you don't have anything bigger than yourself to rely on!

Best Regards,
Ravi

The next was quite the opposite, This email really angered me when I first received it. Truth is, it still does. But as a free nation, Thomas has every bit the freedom to his opinion as I do to mine. I know a lady in another country who watched her husband get dragged into the street and shot for saying things contrary to the establishment.

Hey Darren,
I read your column and it is the typical, self centered, white American supremacist drivel you guys believe. This country has always been a lying, greedy, racist bully! Ask any Indian (if you can find one,) ask any African American Black person who has traced any of his roots (including the white male rapist who raped Black females for 300 years) or a Philippine, or a Vietnamese, or a African from the Congo, ad nauseum. Now is the time for Americans to find out why people of the world are angry at the policies our leaders have been following all around the world and stop the hypocrisy and become the just nation we always tout ourselves as.

Thomas E Smith

My first impulse was to write a scathing reply, the truth is our nation does have skeletons in the proverbial closet, but I do not think that precludes the general conclusion that we as a nation are trying to do the right thing most of the time. I settled for three questions:

• Do you mind if I quote you in my next article?
• Would you like to live elsewhere if it sucks so badly here?
• Do you work for the post office? (This may seem odd, but the email server was usips.gov. As near as I could tell this is the United States Postal Inspection Service. It is amazing what you can dig up on the Internet these days.)

Yes, you may quote me, but add this as a further analysis. What I am saying is that we are directly and indirectly responsible for a lot of the killings and injustices in this world. And the average person does not even know that these things are being been done in the name of the American people, some of which I detailed earlier. It is the same as the woman who sets her husband on fire after years of secret violence and abuse; she may not be justified in the eyes of the law but it is understandable. In the same vein, the years of abuse that we are responsible for in the world that I quoted originally, that have been kept a secret from the general public can trigger some of the draconian responses that we have seen. You asked if I would like to live elsewhere. That is not the question, (even though some of my ancestors were here before there was a America and some of my other ancestors were here from day one of America) the real question is ' what do we do to make America more just internally and externally? How do we get America out of the white supremacy mode of thinking and acting? How do we make America not only live up to the words that we say about ourselves but live up to the deeper meanings of the words that we mouth?

Thomas

Here I leave the reader to his or her own judgment.

The next item is from Grant Wensor who, I believe, is from Australia, based on his email address:

Darren
Do you really think that these idiots attacked the twin towers did so because they are jealous of your stuff. Jealousy does not cause such an action - anger does.

Like Britain before her, American governments have been interfering with the politics of so many countries for so long that it was only a matter of time before one got enough resources to kick back. I am NOT saying that innocent people deserved to die but when the shock and anger subsides a bit, maybe some Americans will question whether their government has been doing things in other countries that have provoked this.

The freedom that we enjoy comes at the cost of the freedom of others in other countries. Your country must come to realize this. If you take that freedom away from them - they feel angry - just as the US people feel anger that there freedoms have been violated.

I feel sorry that so many have died but are 6,000 US lives are no more valuable than the 6,000 Afghan refugee lives who may be taken due to hunger and warfare in the coming weeks? I just hope that lots more soldiers and civilians don't have to die to prove what the whole world already knows - America is the biggest kid on the block and is a real bully if angered. I doubt if anyone's God would preach that it is OK to kill if someone kills your brother.

You seem like an intelligent man. When you get over your anger and sadness. Please think about the real (not the ones that the media or your President tell you) reasons this has happened. Do some investigation of history of the Afghan region. I recommend "The Great Game" by Peter Hopkirk. A brief one pager is here http://slate.msn.com/HistoryLesson/01-09-19/HistoryLesson.asp

Maybe you might take some time to explain when your son gets older that these terrorists were just very angry at being kicked around and not because they want the trappings of a western lifestyle.

These opinions are my own and not those of my employer.
Regards
Grant

I responded to Grant with this:

I realize that they were angry, but that does not justify their action in any way. What I said to my son was simply the first thing that came to mind. Realize that at the time no one had any idea who was behind the attacks. I do think it is human nature in general to think that those who have a lot they are somehow bad, or ignorant, or simply mean. I see it in the way employees talk bad about the CEO of the company. It is part of the human condition that is simply solved in the mind of a child. The point I am trying to make is that children intuitively know how to get along with others in this world. So why don't we as adults understand it?

You can pick apart the history of any country or religion and you will find acts that are simply wrong. That, however, doesn't stop a society from trying to do the right thing next time. More than any nation before it, America's society is a sum of its parts. Do our leaders still screw up? Yes they do. But I think we are doing the right thing most of the time and there's something to be said for that.

You bring up insightful points, and I appreciate your feedback. Due to a significant reader response, I am planning a follow-up article, and would like to quote you if you don't mind. Please let me know if I have your permission.

I took some time to read the link that Grant sent, and I suggest you do too. His final comment was this:

Darren,
Thank you for taking the time to respond.

You have my permission to quote me in your article. I would like to see some balanced and rational discussions in the US about the long history of events that led up to this horrible tragedy. I am happy that your people (and ours) have not gone and bombed the hell out Afghanistan to satisfy any short-sighted need for revenge.

If more people realize that "they were angry but that does not justify their action in anyway" then I hope that the inevitable retaliatory actions of the US people may not be justified either. Will killing 6,000 Afghani civilians or even wiping the whole country of people satisfy the world lust for revenge? Will it heal the pain of the families that have lost their loved ones? Will it set a good example as a country that prides itself on being the most civilized? Will your son learn the correct lesson about how to handle conflict? Will it solve anything? I doubt it. It will just lead to more terrorism and the erosion of the freedoms that we value so highly in the west.

I hope your next article is more reflective and cerebral rather than rhetoric. As a journalist, you have the power to reach lots of people. Use it wisely.

Regards
Grant

The next email came from Bill Washington, who sent me the same letter he sent a certain ex-president. I wasn't sure if I should be honored or concerned...

Darren,
I sent the following Email to the Carter Centre with the hope and request that it would be forwarded to Jimmy Carter. I chose him because I hoped that he of all people may be accessible enough to receive it and open enough to consider it seriously. I have received no reply or acknowledgment, but that is unimportant. In our zeal to punish the guilty we must not harm the innocent - If we do GOD will hold us just as responsible as the perpetrators of the attack on the WTC. And our justice system, which holds all to be innocent until PROVEN otherwise, must be invoked! We, our nations and our leaders are not above the LAW. Does not God through Jesus call us to LOVE our enemies!

And to look at the situation from another perspective - What was the objective of these attackers - just to destroy the WTC? to demoralize the USA? Or was it far bigger - to provoke a war against the Moslem community worldwide which would be seen as the innocent victim of the 'aggressor' in this case the USA!!!! If that is the case what would get up the nose of the organizer of these attacks more than to give huge amounts of food parcels and other help to the poor, the common people of these Moslem countries to help them improve their lives and to become more self sufficient? Now that response I believe GOD would HONOR!!

Regards
Bill

Here is the letter Bill attached:

Dear reader,
Please read the following and pass it on to the former president - please let him decide if it has merit and what, if anything, to do about my suggestions.

Dear Sir,
I am a Christian in Australia and have, over the years, been much impressed by your humility, integrity, honesty and commitment to love and help all people in the name of Jesus.

I have been appalled and shocked by the tragedy of the past week, but now the way the American President and American people respond is critical, as you well know. A violent response, will, I believe, in the end only beget more hatred, terrorism, murder. And if a military response is invoked to bomb Afghanistan the perpetrators will avoid the attacks and continue but the poor and downtrodden who now are oppressed and abused by the Taliban and Bin Laden (if indeed he is the mastermind behind it all, which has not yet been proven) will be galvanized behind them in support, and the USA will have created a lot more enemies and potential terrorists!

The only solution that will work is LOVE, COMPASSION, National PRAYER - A turning back to GOD and not relying on the might of their arm.

The war that must be waged is a global war on Poverty, Oppression, Exploitation, Famine, Hatred without condescension, without any preconditions.

If the American President and the American People can first obey the passage "If my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven , and Forgive their SIN, and Heal their land." by first confessing their sin of rebellion against GOD and turning their backs on HIM and then repenting, GOD will make them a really great nation However if they continue in their sinfulness, what they have suffered as a direct consequence of their pride and arrogance and rebellion is only the beginning of a much more painful road. GOD is NOT MOCKED - HE KNOWS the hearts of the nation.

Let me then counsel perhaps a first step:

1. Use all the diplomatic, military and intelligence resources of the United States to determine the greatest needs of the Afghan people in the villages.
2. Send in the B52s to drop on every town and village in Afghanistan 100's of thousands of food and aid parcels containing those needs.
3. Demand nothing, ask nothing in return.
4. Continue meeting the needs of the common, the oppressed, the poor, the starving people throughout the world by whatever means are possible.
5. Do this without discrimination without limitation.
6. Demand nothing, ask nothing in return.
7. Do all of this smothered in PRAYER and with unconditional LOVE.
8. Demand nothing, ask nothing in return.
9. TRUST ONLY in GOD, HE is always FAITHFUL, HE is always GRACIOUS, HE is always LOVING.
10. Keep doing it!

I commented the following to Bill: (Please note this was before we started dropping food for the refugees, I guess Jimmy may have seen that letter after all, I know I didn't call George W. up on my hotline.)

Bill,
That would be a most interesting approach. But do you think it would prevent the terrorists from causing further destruction? Should a man be punished for his actions? If you knew a serial killer lived next door to you, would you take him cookies and tell him how much you love him?

Darren,
It would take away any perceived 'high moral ground' in the eyes of their supporters. It would reduce any local support for them. It may reduce support sufficiently to have the perpetrators handed over to an international court. It would avoid displacing many thousands over innocent and already greatly oppressed civilians. LOVE does not pardon the guilty. Love requires justice tempered by mercy. Hate demands retribution and in the end destroys the hater and the hated and many other innocents. Love is greater than hate, love overcomes hate. Read Hebrews chapter 12, Paul's first letter to the Corinthians chapter 13 and Paul's letter to the Galatians chapter 5 verses 13 to 26.

What we, the whole nation of America, and indeed the whole world need to do is to first seek GOD with our whole heart, being prepared and committed to do HIS whole will, and then do HIS whole will and only HIS will - Then and only then will Justice and Righteousness prevail!

If we go beyond HIS will or fall short of HIS will or take justice into our own hands in the form of retribution we place ourselves in the same position before a HOLY GOD as the terrorists! And as one of the prophets says 'it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the LIVING GOD'.

With your proposition of the 'serial killer next door' I believe the right thing to do would be to yes love him, and in a public place confront him with his sin. And with God's love and seek that he hand himself over to the police, to go with him to encourage him in doing it, but warn him that if he will not, I must then, in that public place, go directly to the police and inform them of all I know. If that approach was not possible I would arrange to place him in police custody in as peaceful a scenario as possible - all of my actions being surrounded by much prayer by myself and others, trusting in God's sovereignty and power.

And does not the American Seal say 'In God we Trust' - that does not mean 'in the might of our arms we trust' - might is not right!

Anyhow, ponder and pray about the above - GOD can make it all happen - He does forgive our sins but He does not take away the consequences of our actions sinful or godly! Be careful therefore to ensure that our actions and our words are Godly (Jesus also says in the gospel of Luke 'by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned!')

Anyway God Bless
Bill

Definitely food for thought.

Paul Hills, the next reader that had a comment, hails from the UK, and offers another perspective or as he calls it, a "view from the outside".

I read your article "Reflections on Perilous Times" with interest. This is rather a long message, but I implore you to be patient and stick with it. As a British engineer I can view the events with some sort of detachment, although obviously I felt terrible watching the tragedy of 11th September. I have heard and read a lot in the intervening days about American people who just cannot understand why anyone would want to do this. There were interviews with American people saying "why do they hate us?" This is a hard question to answer since there are more than one of the "they" of course, and all have their own different reasons.

Before those terrible events, I had seen and heard several articles and TV programs about the singular interests of the American people as a whole. A US journalist living in Britain told us that only 9% of American citizens have a passport, and that the new TV programs focus almost entirely on domestic events. It is this I feel which caused the man to ask "why do they hate us?" He genuinely didn't know, because he has little idea about what is happening in the rest of the world. As I sat in the three-minute silence on the Friday following the terrorist attack, I reflected on the previous minute silences we had observed in Britain. None were for any events in the third world. When an American Air Force fighter-jet shot down an Iranian passenger aircraft and several hundred innocent Iranian civilians were killed, there was no minute silence in Britain, and I don't suppose there was in the US either. How much was that event reported in the US? Did that man interviewed remember it? Had he ever heard about it? This was just one of the reasons why "they hate us so much".

Shortly after I compiled a list of events over that last 20 years of reasons why they hate you so much. It is not a time to confront American people with this now, There should quite rightly be a period of grief for the thousands killed, but it is important that the American people start to realize that there are peoples out there, who have legitimate grievances against the American government. (Definitely NOT against its people though), not just for the reason that you quote, that "we have a lot of nice things that they don't have". That is a gross simplification, although I understand that you were talking to your 8-year old son.

Maybe this event will be the catalyst for a new understanding by the American people of the consequences of pushing international events to the back of their minds. -A new interest in what their government is doing abroad, and less of a demand for the gung-ho "America is great, God is on our side" attitude that many in the rest of the world see and resent.

I feel so sorry for your people, and a little guilty that I may be criticizing you at a bad time, but to prevent similar occurrences in the future, the message must be sent. The people of Britain have suffered at the hands of the IRA for the last 30 years, and only in the last 5 years have we learned that by listening to the other side. Attempting to understand their grievances, rather than punishing them and trying to kill them, have we enjoyed the longest period of cease fire in Northern Ireland since the creation of the Republic of Ireland in 1920.

All my regards,
Paul Hills,
Manchester
UK

I do agree that as a nation, we take much of what we have for granted. I personally would like it to be some type of requirement for US citizens to spend significant time in another country (preferably third world). It does wonders for understanding the human condition.

Thor Thayer, (who I think has a really cool name) wrote this:

Thank you for your recent article. I've always had the impression that the majority of engineers are atheists. Your article directly addresses my convictions. Thank you for spreading the word on not only God, but our freedom, our great country, and the people in it. I'm guilty of taking all these blessings for granted myself.

Thanks again,
Thor

Well, being a hick from a small town, most engineers I know not only believe in God, but sense a spirit of camaraderie with the "Great Engineer in the Sky." I have to admit creating the universe and every thing in it is clearly a lot cooler than setting up an inverting op-amp circuit, but I'll bet the Zen of that creation process is much the same.

The next piece of feedback points out the strength of our multi-cultural background as a nation.

Hi Mr. Ashby,
Living in Germany and fighting in my small area of influence for tolerance and trying to get people to understand our USA is so strong because of the influence of so many immigrants from all over the world. I wish to add this comment to yours because this is the most amazing and the least known freedom that we have. This important difference to other Nations is of course evident in the aftermath of patriotism, and we are better than what happened with brainwashing of the proud German people by Hitler. Being a multi Cultural Nation, and believing in its strength is the absolute most important resource that we have. I followed the Yankee Stadium memorial and was deeply moved by the many different roots evident in the faces on stage and in the seats.

The brain-washed terrorists have a level of humanity that would be very difficult to measure against the high quality of this event. In the face of God, Or the God that I believe in, Brainwashing people to believe they are the best, or their religion, or their skin color, is the root of all evil. The evidence of the world trade towers for this needs no comment.

Maybe you could use this comment in your article and belong to the few that propagate this strength.

My feelings are with my fellow Americans, all of them.

Anson

This last comment was short sweet and to the point. Somehow in the diverse readership of this article my thoughts struck a cord with someone else. It is good to find a kindred spirit in the big bad world. I hope the feedback presented does the same for you.

Thanks for your "Reflections..."
Very well said.
--Ray

Footnote

Please note there has been minor editing of these email conversations for readability, grammar, etc. I present them in order of conversation (so you don't have to read from the bottom up). I have tried to maintain the integrity of the intent of the writer. Any errors or misrepresentations are wholly unintentional.

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