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FineYoungSinger - I saw Mark Deli Siljander interviewed on TV recently,
before the charges were laid.
You know he isn't all there, everything that has ever happened to him is because God has a special plan for him. Not like in using his faith to guide him in his decisions but more like God is acting as a puppetmaster, manipulating everything and everyone around him so that he can fulfill his destiny.
posted by
gomedome
on January 17, 2008 at 12:31 PM
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gome....how much more relevant is this post after seeing on the news
a former congressman aiding terrorists---a former congressman that is whiter than the driven snow. Great post.
posted by
FineYoungSinger
on January 17, 2008 at 7:51 AM
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sam444 - thanx for stopping in and the kind words
posted by
gomedome
on January 16, 2008 at 2:43 PM
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Xeno-x - I agree with most of what you are saying, the west is not innocent
not by a longshot.
But, all of what you say works on the premise that the terrorists are doing what they are doing as a means of getting the west to aquiesce to their demands. The reality however is that there is no coherent list of demands, nor is there any indication that when demands are made and fulfilled, that they will cease their actions. There are certainly some legitimate beefs on their part, there are also a number of flash points in this conflict that are not based in religious beliefs but ultimately this is a religious war to them.
posted by
gomedome
on January 16, 2008 at 2:42 PM
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cantey_1975 -that has always been my beef with the general attitude towards
innocent muslims.
Asking people to turn off their fear to consider the rights of those not involved with terrorism is a recipe for further victimization by this extreme element. The Muslim religion worldwide is in a situation where they must condemn, purge and isolate the extremists amongst them if they are to deal with the reality of being discriminated against. In the simplest of terms, we are doing all that we can to deal with terrorism, muslims worldwide are not doing all they can.
posted by
gomedome
on January 16, 2008 at 2:33 PM
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PROBLEM IS, CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTLISTS WANT TO PICK UP ON THIS
as a blanket example of the Muslim faith.
I think what we have here is many faithful there (not the overwhelming majority) living in isolation mainly, at a develpmental point resembling that of Christianity in the Dark Ages.
Historically, Mohammedanism has not been anti-Christian, and particularly not anti-Jewish. Had they been, we wouldn't have the main Christian shrines in the Holy Land, and a Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem and a Jewish population in Palestine for centuries.
I have mentioned it before that Muslim Spain held Jews in high regard, elevating them to very important positions (then the Christian Ferdinand and Isabella drove out the Muslims and we had the Spanish Inquisition).
Much Muslim radicalism comes from actions of European countries, namely United Kingdom in the early part of the 20th Century, in taking over the lands and the treatment of the residents; then the increasing movement by Zionist Jews to take over Palestine; then the support of dictatorial regimes by the U.S. (a very hypocritical nation at best, supporting Saddam when it was to their advantage, then making him the villaing he actually was when it was to their advantage).
The U.S. has an Israel-centric policy toward the Middle East, and this upsets the entire Arab world -- it is not a religious thing at all, except on the part of the U.S. and her Christians who support Israel because of fallacious prophecies.
Herr Bush invaded Iraq and demonizes Iran because they threaten Israel. How come we forget that, when Israel was formed, all the neighbors went to war to drive the Jews out; or the 1967 and 1973 wars, with Egypt and Jordan and Syria. Herr Bush and conservative Christians seem not to want to remember this history when demonizing Iran.
The West created this situation. The West has to make amends as part of the solution. This is not to excuse extremism or violence; however, the West's actions have a lot to do with the level of violence. Invasion of a sovereign Arab state does nothing to quell said violence; it has a lot to do with inciting more violence; and if the U.S. persists in the path it is on, there will most likely be virtually endless violence.
posted by
Xeno-x
on January 16, 2008 at 11:31 AM
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It is such a difficult time in this world. I try to respect all peoples and beliefs for fear I may not be respecting God. I continue to prayer for peace for everyone. I am enjoying your writing tremendously. I like your 'holds barred' approach and ingenuous nature which truly enhances you work from my perspective. sam
posted by
sam444
on January 16, 2008 at 10:30 AM
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As more time goes by
it becomes harder to assume that the peaceful segment of Islamic adherants are, at heart, peaceful, even though they may very well be. It actually increases suspicion when those who are rightly suspicious of seemingly peaceful muslims are subsequently accused of bigotry for their suspicion, by organizations like CAIR for example.
posted by
calmcantey75
on January 16, 2008 at 8:21 AM
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