Monday, February 13, 2006
Cheney Hits Home.
The gang that couldn't shoot straight has struck again. Trigger happy Dick bagged a Texas lawyer, an overseer of the undertakers in the Lone Star State, appointed to the Texas taxpayers dole by Gov Bush, long long ago. Main question I have at this time is who is paying for the lawyer's medical care? It is the Cheney family or my family? Biggest casualty of the shoot out? Once again it is the American media - our sacred press. It now has a new fascination with something that is really not important while it ignores the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the screams of cartoon-led mullas in the Middle East, the crimes of Guantanamo and the sins of Katrina.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Muslims Humiliated?
That’s what some of their spokespeople are saying. They say they have been humiliated and embarrassed by cartoons published in Denmark last September, and further insulted by other newspapers in other countries publishing the same cartoons after Denmark was threatened because of the cartoons.
The subsequent publishing was intended as support by the other papers, not for that Denmark paper, but for the concept of Freedom of the Press. This freedom has a long and bloody history in the west where the press has often been engaged in battle with various kings, governments and powerful rulers, including great hierarchies from various churches. This freedom was not given but taken, it is not a gift of any government or religion but it is a right ripped out of the heart of several governments and religions. It is enforced only by other members of the press.
The original Danish publishing was the outgrowth of an attempt by a Danish writer to complete a children’s book on the Life of Muhammod. He was unable to get an ilustrator to draw the stories for his children’s book because they were afraid of being attacked. This created its own story which found its way into the newspapers, and eventually the question arose about publishing freedom. Then came the cartoons - 12 of them.
Some Muslim rulers said this publishing and republishing was an insult to the religion and to its prophet, Muhammod. Now great mobs of vandals have been ordered to form and take part in orchestrated rallies which are now resulting in out-of-control roits, beatings, burnings and even a killing or two.
Muslims say they were humiliated and embarrased by the cartoons, but the real cartoon of embarassment has been drawn by their own depiction of their religion and prophet.
Perhaps the greatest lesson those of us who share values of the Western Heritage can draw from this reaction is to realize there is a total lack of understanding on the part of many of the middle easterners of the concept of the individual as a soverign entity. Individual Rights are not comprehended outside of their family, tribe or religion. The story of the woman kidnapped in Iraq by one tribe for punishment to another tribe for some insult, then she was raped and returned home where her father and husband had to kill her to avenge the embarassment she had caused to their tribe is perhaps an indication of this lack of understanding. Her only status as an individual was within the framework of her family.
Unfortunately for Islam, and increasingly for Christianity too now, is that since they both have slammed themselves upon the world as new political forces, they must be prepared for the world to regard them in a new light. If a religion wants to be respected as a religion it must act like a religion. If it wishes to descend into the hurly-burly mess of politics, it must expect to be treated as a politician.
The subsequent publishing was intended as support by the other papers, not for that Denmark paper, but for the concept of Freedom of the Press. This freedom has a long and bloody history in the west where the press has often been engaged in battle with various kings, governments and powerful rulers, including great hierarchies from various churches. This freedom was not given but taken, it is not a gift of any government or religion but it is a right ripped out of the heart of several governments and religions. It is enforced only by other members of the press.
The original Danish publishing was the outgrowth of an attempt by a Danish writer to complete a children’s book on the Life of Muhammod. He was unable to get an ilustrator to draw the stories for his children’s book because they were afraid of being attacked. This created its own story which found its way into the newspapers, and eventually the question arose about publishing freedom. Then came the cartoons - 12 of them.
Some Muslim rulers said this publishing and republishing was an insult to the religion and to its prophet, Muhammod. Now great mobs of vandals have been ordered to form and take part in orchestrated rallies which are now resulting in out-of-control roits, beatings, burnings and even a killing or two.
Muslims say they were humiliated and embarrased by the cartoons, but the real cartoon of embarassment has been drawn by their own depiction of their religion and prophet.
Perhaps the greatest lesson those of us who share values of the Western Heritage can draw from this reaction is to realize there is a total lack of understanding on the part of many of the middle easterners of the concept of the individual as a soverign entity. Individual Rights are not comprehended outside of their family, tribe or religion. The story of the woman kidnapped in Iraq by one tribe for punishment to another tribe for some insult, then she was raped and returned home where her father and husband had to kill her to avenge the embarassment she had caused to their tribe is perhaps an indication of this lack of understanding. Her only status as an individual was within the framework of her family.
Unfortunately for Islam, and increasingly for Christianity too now, is that since they both have slammed themselves upon the world as new political forces, they must be prepared for the world to regard them in a new light. If a religion wants to be respected as a religion it must act like a religion. If it wishes to descend into the hurly-burly mess of politics, it must expect to be treated as a politician.
who Really was Martin Luther King Jr?
Martin Luther King Jr. has come to prominence again a couple of times lately. With the passing of some of his associates, his name and presence comes before us again. What was he really? He was really a miracle. It is easy to forget that Rosa Parks was arrested in a powerder-keg society smarmy with racial gasoline fumes seeping throughout the American country. Parts of the south, the midwest and certain large cities in California were assembled ready for explosion.
Would Rosa be the spark that would tear our country apart? Yes. But the fuse that she lit was Martin Luther King, Jr. He led that burning power to a different place and instead of hatred and self justification exploding upon America, peace and love exploded upon it instead.
So we often wonder what will Peace really look like when it finally arrives. Will it be hugs and kisses, warm and fuzzy feelings? I think Martin Luther King, Jr., introduced America to what Peace will really look like. Peace is work. It is hard work, suffering, patience, doing the right thing over and over again and again. Being pleased with small steps as long as they are in the right direction.
Would Rosa be the spark that would tear our country apart? Yes. But the fuse that she lit was Martin Luther King, Jr. He led that burning power to a different place and instead of hatred and self justification exploding upon America, peace and love exploded upon it instead.
So we often wonder what will Peace really look like when it finally arrives. Will it be hugs and kisses, warm and fuzzy feelings? I think Martin Luther King, Jr., introduced America to what Peace will really look like. Peace is work. It is hard work, suffering, patience, doing the right thing over and over again and again. Being pleased with small steps as long as they are in the right direction.
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