.
Just taking a moment to reach out my left hand to my Christian Brothers and Sisters in Nigeria who were slaughtered this past week by axes and machette welding Muslim terrorists.... I am sorry. Sorry the media didn't care. Sorry the Vatican didn't care. Sorry that nobody cared.
...and I want to reach out with my right hand to those Muslims who reject terrorism and who fight a lonely battle ever so bravely... like Khalid Abu Toameh, Wafa Sultan, or Mosab Hassan Yousef (son of the founder of Hamas). What a fine line they walk! From them, especially from Khalid, I sense that he cares for his Muslim people, but is wary of the many choke holds on them and tries to show the world but its a fine line because many would stamp these people islamophobes and not look into it any deeper. No nuance, no shades. No understanding. Then the flipside is to declare them all evil all bad all wrong. No nuance. No shades. No understanding.
One thing I must admit that I am happy about Haiti is that not only did they fight against slavery, but that they fought against the institution of slavery, i.e. they didn't win and then turn around and say,"now, let us take slaves for ourselves!" Rather, no one was to be a slave there again.
In the same token, while I am wary about all the Muslim terrorism going on all over the globe, I worry also that the only people who are awake to it are (1) Republicans and/or right wingers? Not exactly sure what these people are called. These are the strongest ones most capable and most ready to fight all the terrorism, the Obama counterpart being Colonel Allen West.
My only concern is: is this to iradicate terrorism? To end the terrorists' abuse of the freedom that they find in their host countries as they slowly creep sharia in and can no longer suffer the 'infidels'? Or is it just that they (those republicans/right wingers/ whatever they are called) want to be the top dog ravaging countries and pillaging and taking over, etc. and have to get this opponent out of the way?
Indeed, fighting for justice for all sounds more like an 'end of days' solution rather than anything anyone has ever decided to take on in this world as of yet.
I don't know.
4 comments:
"Indeed, fighting for justice for all sounds more like an 'end of days' solution rather than anything anyone has ever decided to take on in this world as of yet."
I totally agree with that.
"In the same token, while I am wary about all the Muslim terrorism going on all over the globe, I worry also that the only people who are awake to it are (1) Republicans and/or right wingers? Not exactly sure what these people are called. These are the strongest ones most capable and most ready to fight all the terrorism, the Obama counterpart being Colonel Allen West."
Miriam, the war against terrorism is not a war that will be won on the battlefield. Colonel Allen West defines the enemy without offering a methodology for defeating it.
What is the enemy, not who? The enemy is a "theo-political belief system and construct."
And how long has Western Civilization been fighting this system? Allen says for 7 centuries, since 1388. And still we fight! And still we fight!
Until we can change the "belief system" of Islamic terrorists, we won't make a dent in their behavior, and we will still be fighting them seven centuries hence.
This is more a war of ideology than weaponry.
Republicans have used the war on terror to solidify their hold on the government here. Fear is their chief weapon, and they have wielded it successfully, seeking to convince the people of this nation that they're the only ones who are tough on terror, and the only ones who can protect us.
Yet, their solution is war and more war. This nation is practically bankrupt because of the wars we're waging--Bush having financed them, not by raising taxes, but plunging this nation further in debt to the Chinese, and the Arabs--anyone interested in buying up our debt.
Yet, it appears that it's President Obama (That liberal!), and not Republicans who have scored the biggest hits against Al Qaeda, especially it's leadership, since taking office:
"An intense, six-month campaign of Predator strikes in Pakistan has taken such a toll on Al Qaeda that militants have begun turning violently on one another out of confusion and distrust, U.S. intelligence and counter-terrorism officials say."
And that's not all. Civilian casualties haven't stopped the attacks:
"Because of its success, the Obama administration is set to continue the accelerated campaign despite civilian casualties that have fueled anti-U.S. sentiment and prompted protests from the Pakistani government."
Read more here:
You won't hear about this from Obama's detractors. Why? They're more intent on destroying him politically, than crediting his successes.
Yet, I'll remind you: Unless we find a way to alter the belief system under which the terrorists operate and thrive, we'll be fighting them centuries hence.
Hi Domino,
This is quite strange.
Sometimes I think I only hear you. Others come with points but somehow they doesn't resonate with me.
Many just pretend like there is no problem. Others say there is but then they politicize it (if we only vote this way, these people can fix the problem). There are not many voices that address the problem without all these "coats".
Since I'm talking to you, I feel less inhibited and I want to say one chagrinly good thing that this whole terrorism problem has opened up is the fact that its not a people problem. Not a black or white thing. Its ideology -which means its on a totally different plane than other problems. Anybody can be the perpetrator and then anybody can be the protagonist (child, Black woman, elder Chinese man, whatever).
I have never had anyone to really talk about this to from this angle so I never really developed it much. But what do you see as the solution?
I agree 100% that prayer is needed. I even think a new level of intensity of prayer. But that is as far as I can imagine.
I will check out the link after Shabbat. Right now I'm a bit pressed for time. But I am interested and hope to dialogue about this w/you more.
Thank you.
H Domino,
I read the article. I see Obama decided to keep it going. I hope it produces good results. I'm terribly sorry for the civilian casualties. I don't know thw right answers.
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