Posted on 11/11/2004 2:37:31 PM PST by orthodox4GOP
In a post yesterday in the Yahoo Groups called "orthodox-tradition", an Orthodox Christian hierarch, Bishop Tikhon, claimed that America is "terrorizing" people in Fallujah, and once again said that "terrorism is the approved technique of our armed forces." The verbatim posts made by the Bishop are included below with the date/time stamp and the corresponding Yahoo Group message number.
Bishop Tikhon, post on Wed Nov 10, 2004 @ 8:33 pm Message No: 62204 (Yahoo Groups) ==========================================================================
From: Bishop Tikhon Date: Wed Nov 10, 2004 8:33 pm Subject: Re: [paradosis] America holds the all-time record for terrorism.
That's right. Terrorism is so-o-o-o-oo- American. You just can't get away from it. Imagine this, if you can. An American President announces a war on terrorism. One of the very first campaigns in this "war against terrorism" was (remember it) called "Shock and Awe." To me, "Shock and Awe" are just synonyms, together of Terrorism. The only war against terrrorism is outright pacificism, the sort of thing that M. Gandhi practiced; otherwise, war is just one side terrorizing the other until the one most terrorized surrenders.
Speak to survivors of WWII's incendiary bombings of Tokyo and, oh, Dresden. Speak to survivors (if there are any) of today's and yesterday's incendiary attacks against Fallujah. Tell them the reason we terrorized them was to conquer terrorism.
If you can fly miles in the air, out of range of anti-aircraft measures, and indulge in "strategic" and "carpet bombing," try to explain to those on the ground that you are waging war against terrorism.
Terrorism is the approved technique of our armed forces and of all armed forces. The perpetrators of the Boston Tea Party fit the official definition of terrorism very well: after all, they hurt business, and destroyed private property in the doing of it. Ask the Native Americans what terrorism is. Ask the Bulgarians blinded by the Byzantines what terrorism is. Ask the families of the Moslem soldiers whose heads were catapulted over the walls of Antioch and Jerusalem by the Crusaders what terrorism is. Yes, we are the super power, and we got there by being the most successful at this terrorism stuff. Massive Retaliation. Is that threat not terrorism?
War against terrorism is as stupid as war against jealousy.
Love, +B.T. ______________________________________________________________________________
This is the same Orthodox bishop that in a previous post, in the same Yahoo Group, said: "America holds the all-time record for terrorism."
Bishop Tikhon, post on Tue Jul 13, 2004 @ 8:49 pm Message No: 53652 (Yahoo Groups) ==========================================================================
From: Bishop Tikhon Date: Tue Jul 13, 2004 8:49 pm Subject: Re: [paradosis] Christian Soldiers
Killing civilians, bombing civilian, non-military targets was a specific strategy of the Allies in WWII, especially the British and the Americans. It was always justified as leading to 'breaking the will to resist", and it never worked until the annihilation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in an act of violence and terror on a level unprecedented in the history of mankind.
America holds the all-time record for terrorism.
America ********terrorized********* Japan into surrender. War is one or more nations terrorizing each other. This is so elementary. Saudi Arabian suicidal fanatics could crash planes into a skyscraper in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc., etc., every year and still not match the ferocity of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, of Tokyo and Dresden. No this was not war of soldiers on the field where both sides risked everything, No. No. This was outright war against civilians, conducted from out of reach of all those civilians.
I sometimes can't stand the proclivity of some of my fellow Americans from sanctifying war if waged by America. We may be "on the right side", but our acts of war are just as egregious and despicable as the acts of war of our enemies: maybe more so, because we blindly and like automatons proclaim "Gott mit uns," that we are a Christian nation and, moreover, unlike Japan or Andorra or Liechtenstein, apparently, a "nation under God."
Love, +Bishop Tikhon
San Francisco
He may really believe this stuff but I don't hear him offering to exchange his life for the freedom of one of the terrorists' hostages.
That would be the peaceful thing to do, Bishop Tickle.
Put your money (or your neck) where your mouth is...I dare you!
Nope, he is safely at home protected by the very military he accuses of "terrorism" enjoying the liberties of a country he calls terrorist nation.
Looks like there's two of 'em. They have like a dozen bishops, and two of 'em are named Tikhon. What are the odds of that?
It's like having two football teams out of nine called Roughriders.
This one's the one on the West Coast, living in Los Angeles. No wonder he embraces the leftists views, since he lives on the Left Coast, he loves Michael Moore.
Bishop Tikhon is the (retired, I believe) OCA bishop of San Francisco. I am an Orthodox Christian and used to read this Yahoo list quite a bit and, although I don't know the bishop personally, from his postings he comes off as a know-it-all, pompous ass jerk; a legend in his own mind. I know I'll probably get some flack for criticizing a bishop, but B.T. (as he signs himself) has it coming. A tree is known by its fruit.
Unfortunately, he has not retired. He has an auxiliary Bishop helping him, but he is very much in charge of the whole Dioceses of the West. He frequently compares Bush to Hitler and today's America to Nazi Germany in 1930's. He is waaaaayyyyy out there....
This boob doesn't know dirt about Ghandi, whose techniques only worked because they demoralized the Brits who had morals to be worked on. I'd love him to go over to Iraq and offer himself to Al Qaeda and discuss the joys of beheading women and how evil America is.
I'm not in the OCA. Isn't there anyone there who can reign him in? Even outside of his public political statements, his activity on the internet should set off alarms for somebody. He is often so outrageous that when I first started reading the Yahoo list, I thought "Bishop Tikhon" must have just been his screen name, that he couldn't really be a bishop. I was stunned to find out that he is.
Unfortunately, politics dominate the church just like every other organization and no one is willing to step up and stop the madness. This bishop is famous for making outrageous comments and being "out there". There are no check and balances available, and bishops are appointed for life. As long as they do not violate any of the Orthodox religious Traditions or cannon laws they can safely say and do just about anything.
If I had the misfortune of being in his diocese, I would vote with my feet.
What's really sad about all this, I have heard from quite a few friends and acquitances in the OCA that talked about how this man ignores serious issues with many of his parishes. When people in his diocese try to ask for help or ask to meet with him or write letters for him to fullfill his duties, he simply ignores them. There have been instances online when he insults and degrades anyone who dares to disagree with him. It is amazing!
befor ehtis thread gets pulled, could you be kind enought to explain why you joined Freerepublic just to post this tripe?
Why should this get pulled? These are public comments made by a public figure. They are 100% correct. This was posted for comment by others. You want to censore truth now? Come on!
The article says what it says. My question was why you felt compelled to join FreeRepublic just to post it.
Because as a conservative Christian I wanted to do something to stand up for truth and justice. I've been reading article and comments here for some time, but until today did not think of contributing. Becuase of the outrageousness and nuttiness of the bishop's statements, I was motivated and upset enough to begin contributing. This site provides a forum for intellingent discussion and commentary, and I felt it was my duty to start carrying my share of the burden to protect freedom and democracy and hold accountable hierarchs of my faith who are completely "out there."
Then, welcome.
Thank you. Glad to be here.
If you have lurked, you should know that someone will always challenge the nebies. Initiation ritual, I reckon.
You have met the challenge well, and I say Welcome to FR.
Love +BT.... what can I say? He has always had a quite high opinion of himself. I recall a while back, he quit the Indiana list, I believe from a direct command from Met. Herman.
But, looks like he's back.
I quit reading the Orthodox boards a long time ago.
Glad to be here. Thanks for your kind words.
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