Posted on 02/05/2006 10:51:18 AM PST by indcons
Very interesting perspective (considering your location)....stay safe.
Bump
One of the brutal truths about freedoms enjoyed in the West is that NO icon is secure from being held up for criticism, and most of the Western countries have long traditions for puncturing myths and skewering pomposity.
There is no blasphemy in calling for sharp and critical examination of even the most sacred of beliefs, which has seemed to be of some harm to dogmatic religions, but in the end, has come to a more enlightened view of spirituality and a greater acceptance of the divinity under which all of mankind lives. This is a revolution which came to the Christian religion, and indirectly, reflected a similar ferment within the older Judaic tradition. It seems, though, that Islam has never undergone a similar self-examination, and abounds with apostasies and unexamined conundrums.
If one so chooses to abandon the faith into which he was born, and depart from the way of his fellows, it is no longer the practice of those in the West to stone him, or drive him from their midst. In the multitude of means of expression of spirituality, something, somewhere, is there to be embraced, and this is respected as a general agreement among those who do not duck behind their religion as an excuse to launch attacks at others.
But once any religion is used as a cover for zealots to persecute their neighbors, or as a justification for denying free expression to another who has chosen a different path, then a line is crossed, and the very meaning of "righteous" will be expressed in a very direct fashion. This was the rationale for grinding Nazi Germany into an unconditional surrender in 1945, and for undermining International Communism until it collapsed under its own weight, and religious expression was once again restored in those lands where those ideologies once held sway.
Islam is on notice. Either straighten out your own house, or expect to have your front door kicked in, and be occupied by a hostile and unforgiving alien philosophy.
"Invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them all to (some more peaceful religion)."
A possible alternative may be Zoroastrianism. Or perhaps Mithraism.
I'm smoking Danish Export from Peter Stokkebye as I type.
Same company, of course. Every once in a great while, usually when a trip lasts too long, we'll buy a pack of regular cigarettes. And it sort of helps us understand the rioters... Once you've smoked Danish, you never want to go back. ;)
Look what I found-
http://www.danishshop.dk/
“This decision was taken to protest the cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad and we will not accept any reconstruction money from Denmark or Norway,”
*&%$#%*(&*&()+_+((*&*(^&&^%$#@
Skagen watches and sunglasses.
---It's a "hands off" subject with us and our Iraqi counterparts right now. ---
What's your opinion of their readiness for democracy?
Sounds like business as usual to me. Isn't that what we've been fighting there all along?
Yes, you are correct- it is business as usual. It would be nice to see Iraq stay out of this mess. The new Iraqi military does not need to worry about defending extra buildings and civilians as they move forward.
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