Thursday, August 23, 2007
Purpose
Today was the conclusion of CNN's three part, six hour special on Religion and politics. I watched all three parts, and I got angry. These people were flat out rascist or just simple had hatred in their heart. I was just angry and almost fed up I thought that maybe I was wrong about the inherint goodness of human beings. I came across another thing that I stick with. I think that Organized religion has been outgrown by modern society. The Israelies had a strict belief that the land was theirs. They broke international law to create settlements on palastienian land and, they don't care about international law. What they call "God's law" comes first. These people do not care They don't want the palastineans to even have equal rights if they take the west bank. Then the muslims which are chronicled plenty. The same thing was told as usual. They are ready to die to confront and destroy any and all who oppose them. The two religious groups in the middle east have both resorted to terrorism. Finally it was the Christians. These people are organized, and dedicated to complete conversion of american society. The difference is that these people are politcal they use american politics to force their culture on us and use fear to make us accept it. These people are dangerous. I finally came to a conclusion. Religion was the source of most of the problems of the world. Note this special did not say this. The show just chronicled the movements. What did happen is that they let these people say what they had to say. I heard their words from them. The conflict between the two religions is comepletely the fault that both are so arrogent as to not accept any other view, but their own. The violence is a direct cause of extremist views of mostly peaceful religions. It seem to unlikely that relgion can exist in a non-extremist way. The fundamental American Christians are on a campaign to recreate american culture, and I am afraid of these people. I am afraid of what they are doing to us as a society. First I was angry at these people, but I knew that I could get to thinking of doing things their way. Couldn't force my view on them. If I did I was no better than them. I did realise what I had to do. I understand that if I want to do right by the world I had a responsibility. I will not force my ways on others, but I will fight with my voice.
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10 comments:
Anything coming from the mainstream American press will side with the Zionists and the Fundamentalists--some of the reasoning behind it from a realpolitik view is not clear to me. I do believe this: no one, and that includes the Arab world, cares about the Palestinians--they are a pawn, and I think Armaggedon will come before they get their own state, and even if they do, who will help them develop their new economy. You are right to be angry. The more I read about the mideast, the less I understand, but the more evil and profit I see going to one side only.
I think all "investigative reports" like that series truly do is show just how bigoted people truly are and further open a divide between acceptance and racist behavior. It's a great way of showing how backwards people are but it does little to show those in the minority in a light that everyone will understand.
I watched all that series, and I thought she did a good job with a subject that was third rail all the way.
Couldn't force my view on them.
Your restraint is admirable, but with Fundamentalists, you only have two choices: force your will on them, or have their will forced on you. You've seen that in this government. They are that kind of animal.
Did you notice all the similarities between "Christian Fundamentalists" and Muslim fundamentalists? Absolutely no difference, except in theology. And "Christian Fundamentalists" aren't. They are cultist terrorists hiding behind the cloak of Christianity.
We pour billions of dollars into Israel yearly, for their defense, because Fundamentalists say it is "the Holy Land." And you are spot on with your observation of "God's Law." As decided by humans, of course!!
Dude, it was a great piece and I agree about us having outgrown organized religion.
I completely disagree with enemy.
Zionist is an ugly word...
Kill all faiths and start dealing with reality. We can live much better off without the God crap.
Dirk, I deliberately chose Zionist over Jew because the two are not the same. I see nothing wrong with Israel wanting to defend its right to exist, but others have been hurt in the process. What word should I choose? I will not insult the Jewish race, nor their right to survive. But I will argue against a regime empowered by American dollars that has percecuted Palestians, invaded terrain that isn't theirs based on ancient biblical beliefs and destroyed a good portion of Lebonon. Much of this has been documented. I wrote that there was much I DIDN'T understand. So enlighten me. I am hardly arguing for any religious fundamentalist.
Enemy - The Arab nation is not innocent in the state of affairs in the middle east.
Long before the Israelis were dropped into the mix there was no Palestinian people or homeland.
They and their claim to a homeland exist only as a modern political strategy to foment anger and combat within the Israeli community.
Zionist is a racial slur used exclusively by Arabs, racist individuals and antisemitic hate groups.
The Arab nations are blaming America and the Jewish people for every single ill in their society and such a simplistic world view is erroneous on so many levels.
This has always been the way of societies based on hate. The Arab community needs to join with the modern world and grow up spiritually.
The Arab treatment of women is wrong.
The Arab intolerance of anything not Arab is wrong.
The Arab use of violence to solve any conflict is wrong.
The Arab kills everything including his Arab brother. How can such a violent, hate filled and intolerant society be tolerated?
The Arab is a liar and a brutal killer seeking the destruction that is not itself. Their society is sick right now and needs healing.
Israel is in a terrible situation right now. In order to survive they have resorted to desperate acts that nobody would willingly commit under normal circumstances.
They have been under continual attack by a number of Arab threats for a very long time. Are they just supposed to smile at the Arab murderers who will not stop attacking them until the Israelites are driven back into the sea?
(The stated goal of the P.L.O. by the way.)
A final point; I'm tired of America being blamed for every ill in the world. It is a naive belief at best. There are bad leaders at work around the world besides the ones in Washington.
Lets start asking them to accept part of the blame for the way the world is too.
Cdell - I liked your piece and I still stand by your statement of the god thing.
I'm so sick of the whole god thing.
We can't know the mind of god but we are supposed to do his will?
Give me a break. What happened to the day of Pentecost miracle where god's message was finally understood by all people?
The whole god thing has replaced money as the root of all evil for a very long time now.
Heal us or kill us, God, the bullshit in your name has gone on long enough.
First off, let me tell you that you made a mistake by believing in the inherent goodness in people.
The majority of the population don't really have that going on, hence the madness going on in the world.
And I do see where you're going with the whole organized religion thing and I agree with you on that. I think that these religious extremists are completely overlooking the part in religion that is the MOST important-spirituality.
Everyone's so concerned with making sure they go along with religious rites and converting and bullshit like that and they're missing out on the ultimate teaching of treating others as you would like to be treated, regardless of their religious outlook.
I admire your ambition in regards to doing your part to set things right. It's very inspirational and I hope it works out for the best.
Dirk: Sorry I didn't answer your last email, but I was at work and insane. I hear you. The whole mess scares me. You know I believe in God, but I don't believe in fundamentalism as it breeds fanatics who close themselves off to reason. I guess that is a point I wish to stress. Not all who claim a faith are like these folk--as I tell my students: no one can heal rifts with government or religion. It first begins with tolerance and the ability to listen as well as speak.
I don't think you're wrong in seeing most of your fellow man as basically good. Problem is, we have ways of rationalizing our desires if they conflict with the greater social good. Realpolitik is a very good example of this, and that's what you see going on not just in the Middle East, but in the developed countries as well.
The racism you see, then as now, is one means of rationalization. If you can convince yourself that the side you like is more desrving than the side you don't like, then you have less trouble supporting the side you like, even if it resorts to brutality and mayhem.
I agree with your and Enemy's opinion that there seems to be a one-sided pro-Israeli slant to most mainstream US press, partially because someone has convinced them that criticism levied at Israel, a sovereign nation, is tantamount to anti-Semitism.
Irony is, that the Palestinians are Semitic too.
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