Letters to the Editor
drichmond
Published Letters: 235 Editor's Choice: 18
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Golden Boy contd
[Read the article: Fox isn't the only "fair and balanced" one]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"Those experiences led to me to further research, and to my current conclusion that Western style liberalism is fundamentally incompatible with Islam."
If I would make one change it would be radical Islam, which sad to say is on the rise worldwide. There is without doubt a segment of the population and in some cases and locales quite large, more so in London and other parts of Europe than here in the states but here too nonetheless, that subscribe to such a worldview.
The complex origination of such a phenomenon must sadly include U.S. foreign policy over the last 60 years and the lingering stench of European colonialism and its effects.
Radical Islam for the most part has its origination in the poor and under trod who have nothing left to lose. People of any ethnic background will take that 'cure' when left with no options. However that is not to dismiss those Islamic countries, particularly Saudi Arabia and Syria with complicity in the mess we are in globally.
Religious fundamentalism of any kind is dangerous- Islamic, Christian, Hindu, etc.
Nothing was more difficult recently than watching very open minded and liberal people I know in Europe confront this issue. Case in point the Danish cartoons, in open societies one should be able to make statements of opinion right or wrong to at least air the issue. That said we aren't allowed to yell fire in a theatre. Publishing such cartoons and then to be shocked at the result was rather naive but I believe more calculated. In this case both sides reaffirm the rightness in their views of the other. And I also suspect that had it been cartoons of Jesus in some demeaning caricature then holy hell would have been roused also.
So a little sobriety is needed.
Likewise the Pope's statement in full context did make sense, in a way. But then to not understand how words would be taken out of context to fan the flames of discontent is rather unbelievable and further I do believe that there was a subtext to the speech although couched, as it was to deflate it
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golden Boy contd
[Read the article: Fox isn't the only "fair and balanced" one]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]We can agree to disagree but first a few points. I did not say that terrorism sprouts from poverty but I think those that are in desperate situations of poverty and lacking in hope are certainly more likely to fall under radical and fundamental religions sway, be they Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, etc. This is an important point to be clear on, I don't posit that poverty=terrorism but it certainly equals desperation.
I would not agree that radical and mainstream Islam is a false dichotomy; my experience of such does not in any way support such a conclusion. And my experience is not limited to examples as set previously; I like to keep my cards close to me. Radicalism in religious views in my personal experience if anything has made me distrust Christians far more than Muslims. But as I have stated before I distrust any follower of organized religion. It tends to state whatever "spiritual" and "transcendental: experience some originator might have had into a banal and cheap tool of political expedience.
Islam and its adherents in part are just as flexible and choosy of what they want from the Koran as Christians are from the Bible, some are hardcore, the book is literal truth and some are 'post-modern', the book is inherently corrupt from translation, misinterpretation and obfuscation and a political tool.
To sum all of Islam's adherents despite our disagreements of the original thinker's (prophet- Mohammed) belief, intention, etc is just as dangerous to lump all Christians into one boat. Whatever the source of peoples personal awakening, whether store bought because their parents told them so or the fact that they came to it after the fact is to disenfranchise peoples complexity, their humanity and their reality.
A broader interpretation of Islam and Christianity (and all religions) in my studies shows that the spiritual experience is conditioned by society and culture but in the end can and more often than not become something other than the originator or the early followers establish as immovable truth.
The world and people are far more full of grey nebulous zones than the black and white world that some and many of us ascribe to it. The grey zones are what hold the key to uniting humanity and as long as one prescribes a black and white dichotomy to the world then no dialogue or discussion can ensue. Whether we agree in the end over such a matter is not so important but the respect gained in allowing thoughtful dialogue far outweighs the disadvantages.
This debate and disagreement between us at least for me, supports such a supposition.
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kerry in '08...
[Read the article: Right, but actually winning the White House would have been nice, too]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...would be a mistake regardless of whether he is up to the job or not. Unfortunately this country likes "winners" not whiners and the majority of the electorate has the attention span of 'six months' unless it comes to any previous faux pas.
Kerry in the eyes of the average voter is seen as a loser and long gone are the days when a candidate who lost a previous election such as Nixon in 1960 has a second shot. The reason for this is the MSM and the 24-hour news cycle along with the talking head morons on and in the MSM who harp endlessly upon the deficits of character, particularly Democrats.
It is unfortunate that a qualified candidate in a close election could lose out but if the Democrats have any shot they need new blood and someone with damn charisma that goes beyond the pale. That's how I see it anyway.
Please no to John Kerry.