Maybe, around the time of a season, where people are "supposed to get along and do unto others," there should be an extensive look at all of the people around. I would love to know where are all of the "Moderate Muslims" that seem to have cooler heads, a thought process, and are willing to stand up and scream from the rooftops, "STOP HIGH JACKING OUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS!"
Like in the Sudan, where the lady is teaching class. Asks a whole class what to name a "class Teddy Bear"? In a country, where the number one name is Mohammed, why is it a surprise that elementary school kids would name a bear that? It is comparable to naming a hamster in an elementary school, John, or Mary. Instead of having some kind of understanding and a complete thought process, the Muslim community goes out and originally wants the lady/teacher to be put to death (by stoning, or beheaded)? Then, as a show of "good will, or calming of heads" they decide that 200 lashes would be a just punishment? Finally, deciding on, even after huge (mostly hostile and male) protests all over Sudan, that 12 days in jail would suffice.
How about the 400-600,000 young, or adolescent girls, that are mutilated and raped throughout Darfur, every year? Not the people that are being starved, made into refugees, or are just having their limbs lopped off with machetes and long blades. Just the women that are being beaten, having their genitals mutilated and systematically raped, in order for there to be a complete genocide thru the most crude and sexual ways, to breed the Sudan out. In order for the extreme Muslim men, or those who believe in the Wahabiist Muslim tradition, over the Sunni and Shiite Muslim traditions. Where are the "Moderate Muslims" with this system of belief completely changing an entire country?
How about a little closer to home, since the "Moderate Muslims" can't, or will not, speak out and define their religion for their world. In Virginia, there is a school that is funded by Saudi Arabia. It has been accused of actually teaching hate throughout the grades, and all of it's text books are littered with Anti-Christian and Anti-Jewish rhetoric. When asked for the text books from the Saudi run school, by several different groups (in order to check the content), it actually took the United States State Department, after two years of asking for the books, to obtain them to be checked out. However, sanitized the text books from the Muslim school are, or are not, is really irrelevant. Simply, because in Saudi Arabia and throughout the Middle East, elementary students are taught math by adding up 2+1=3, with visual aides of actual pictures of two hand grenades, plus one hand grenade, will equal a one. However, the "one" is actually not a hand grenade, but a single Jewish Star of David. Is this how the "Moderate Muslims" want their other Muslims children of the world and the United States, to be taught in this extreme measure?
Where are the heads of the "Moderate Muslims" in this world? Why is it that if someone draws a cartoon, names a Teddy Bear Mohammed, or decides that a woman is not going to wear a burqa over her complete face, that there needs to be a decisive penalty for the people (mostly women)? Where are the "Moderate Muslims" on the constant extermination of the population of the Darfur people, by the Janjaweed? Where is the "Moderate Muslim envoy" to the countries outside the United States, to the European Countries, and finally to the Middle East in order to save a generation of Muslim children and parents to come back to the fray of the Quaran (Koran)? There is not any solid and mobilized "Moderate Muslim Leaders" of any salt for any length of time, utilizing their "pulpits and overall muster" to give the other Muslims around the world an actual chance to come into the world of the twenty-first century, without the barbaric and tortured practices of the past.
For full disclosure, I am actually a Christian Man. I have a Theology Minor and I just care about the people of the world. I am not chastising, but only hoping for the best for our world.
Peace and God Bless,
MIKE D.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
WHY IS THERE LESS INNER PEACE & UNDERSTANDING
I would have to think that in this season, brimming with a message of peace and good will, I was thinking about one topic; Is the peace that we can have now, in our hearts/minds/souls, better now (in "New Testament, AD times), than when people were around in the past ("Old Testament, BC times)?
One thing that I am sure of and thankful for is that it is much better now, in the peace category, then it was back in later times. Whether a person is fighting in a war now, fighting cancer, having monetary troubles, or any of the countless and numerous problems that all people face throughout the world, they still can find that "inner peace" at any time.
However, back in the "Post Christ Era," there was a constant bewilderment, wondering and speculating on whether, or not "inner peace" was a deserved, a committed, and/or a multitude of other options that God may, or may not grant regular people. In a time when most people were dependent on the Pharisees and scribes for any kind of knowledge, due to a general lack of knowledge, learning, and mostly people not having time to get the things needed for intellect, due to having to live.
Bottom line: If there was not a direct revelation from God, or another depiction of what was right from a scribe/Pharisees/another of the literate of the cast system spelling out whatever a person wished to know (allowing for corruption, manipulation, and human error), then man was left to wonder and wander thru life, without any peace, or direction. There was not any "knowing" that they were living a clean and fulfilled life, for sure. However, after Jesus came onto the scene things became massively different. After his teachings, discipleship, miracles and later crucifixion for his fulfillment of not only prophecy (prophecies that stemmed hundreds of years before his birth, then later fulfilled them all, in a perfect fashion), but also to die for our sins on the cross.
What I am thankful for and why the present times, after Christ are constantly and consistently filled with peace, stems from a simple portion after Christ's crucifixion. After Christ was dead and put into the tomb, the disciples were beyond scared. They were all in one room, doors locked and probably every stick of furniture against the door, for the fear that the Roman soldiers would find them, torture, and finally crucify them. (In a side note that I find funny, after walking with the Lord for years, seeing all of the miracles, and even the fact of Christ raising a man from the dead [Lazarus], these same apostles were toiling and in a frantic state of mind. Showing that as great as any one man is, he/she is still only a man, flawed and filled with doubt at any time.) Anyway, while the apostles were ringing their hands and in fighting amongst themselves, what happens? Christ appears in the middle of the room. Out of every word in the language that He could say, Jesus says "Peace" (or "Peace be with you brothers," depending on the text you may read).
This is why today and every day after is so much better for all of us, because rather than having to wonder and/or have a direct revelation from God himself, or wonder about another Pharisees interpretation on what to do and what is right. Today, we have a direct line to God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. At any time, any place, there is always a time that a person can speak directly to the Lord, and know that Jesus came for our sins, for our salvation, and for us to live in a constant kinship to the Lord of Lords. At no other time, before Jesus was this ever possible. Therefore, in this time of Christmas, with troops overseas at war, people without homes, death all around the globe, and a lot more things that seem negative in the world, rather than having a positive tint. The lens the we all should choose is to say, believe, and utilize the "Peace be with you," that Christ gave all of his children from the day that he sacrificed himself, for us all.
So, this Christmas, "Peace be with you and with myself, no matter what is going on in our lives," as only Christ could say it best.
God Bless,
MIKE D.
One thing that I am sure of and thankful for is that it is much better now, in the peace category, then it was back in later times. Whether a person is fighting in a war now, fighting cancer, having monetary troubles, or any of the countless and numerous problems that all people face throughout the world, they still can find that "inner peace" at any time.
However, back in the "Post Christ Era," there was a constant bewilderment, wondering and speculating on whether, or not "inner peace" was a deserved, a committed, and/or a multitude of other options that God may, or may not grant regular people. In a time when most people were dependent on the Pharisees and scribes for any kind of knowledge, due to a general lack of knowledge, learning, and mostly people not having time to get the things needed for intellect, due to having to live.
Bottom line: If there was not a direct revelation from God, or another depiction of what was right from a scribe/Pharisees/another of the literate of the cast system spelling out whatever a person wished to know (allowing for corruption, manipulation, and human error), then man was left to wonder and wander thru life, without any peace, or direction. There was not any "knowing" that they were living a clean and fulfilled life, for sure. However, after Jesus came onto the scene things became massively different. After his teachings, discipleship, miracles and later crucifixion for his fulfillment of not only prophecy (prophecies that stemmed hundreds of years before his birth, then later fulfilled them all, in a perfect fashion), but also to die for our sins on the cross.
What I am thankful for and why the present times, after Christ are constantly and consistently filled with peace, stems from a simple portion after Christ's crucifixion. After Christ was dead and put into the tomb, the disciples were beyond scared. They were all in one room, doors locked and probably every stick of furniture against the door, for the fear that the Roman soldiers would find them, torture, and finally crucify them. (In a side note that I find funny, after walking with the Lord for years, seeing all of the miracles, and even the fact of Christ raising a man from the dead [Lazarus], these same apostles were toiling and in a frantic state of mind. Showing that as great as any one man is, he/she is still only a man, flawed and filled with doubt at any time.) Anyway, while the apostles were ringing their hands and in fighting amongst themselves, what happens? Christ appears in the middle of the room. Out of every word in the language that He could say, Jesus says "Peace" (or "Peace be with you brothers," depending on the text you may read).
This is why today and every day after is so much better for all of us, because rather than having to wonder and/or have a direct revelation from God himself, or wonder about another Pharisees interpretation on what to do and what is right. Today, we have a direct line to God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. At any time, any place, there is always a time that a person can speak directly to the Lord, and know that Jesus came for our sins, for our salvation, and for us to live in a constant kinship to the Lord of Lords. At no other time, before Jesus was this ever possible. Therefore, in this time of Christmas, with troops overseas at war, people without homes, death all around the globe, and a lot more things that seem negative in the world, rather than having a positive tint. The lens the we all should choose is to say, believe, and utilize the "Peace be with you," that Christ gave all of his children from the day that he sacrificed himself, for us all.
So, this Christmas, "Peace be with you and with myself, no matter what is going on in our lives," as only Christ could say it best.
God Bless,
MIKE D.
NCAA BOWL GAMES & THE NATIONAL CHUMPIONSHIP
Anyone who is interested in the college sports scene, especially during the college football season, has season what a junk festival this bowl season has been. Not counting the statistics, preseason rankings, or the final ranking and/pairings for the bowl games themselves, the scores of the bowls (Starting from December 21 thru January 2) are proof enough. Thirteen of the twenty-seven bowl games, were blowouts, or decided by more than ten points (six of thirteen of these games coming in the real "Bowl Season"), and seven of the thirteen traditional bowl games were decided by more than 12 points (six games by more than 17 points, and were done by midway thru the third quarter, with only half the stadium not heading for thier cars).
Is there any interest, other than the students and alumni of the schools, in a bowl season that has teams who are paraded into the national spotlight, by the "powers that be," only to be in a situation which is the equivalent to "Daniel in the Lions Den"? The bowl games that are now doubled from the original 1980s lineup of the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl games are now filled with: Oregon 56-21 over South Florida in the (Sun Bowl), Fresno State 40-28 over a 7 win Georgia Tech team (Humanitarian Bowl), Oklahoma State 49-33 over Indiana who were both 7-6 on the season (Insight Bowl), Missouri 38-7 over Arkansas (Cotton Bowl), USC 49-17 over Illinois (Rose Bowl), Georgia 41-10 over a completely outmatched and timid Hawaii team (Sugar Bowl), and the final blowout a West Virginia 48-28 over Oklahoma. However in all of these games, other than the scores, lack of a true look into the college football scene, is the fact that Missouri had to play an Arkansas team, that Kansas should have played. Missouri beat KU in the Big 12 North decider game and only had two loses on the season, both to Oklahoma (once in the regular season and once in the Big 12 Championship game).
However, KU is playing in the orange bowl against a motivated (by both the football god's, a bowl game, but also for the tragedy on their campus earlier this year, with the grave shootings on there campus, by a disillusioned and psychotic student). How KU snuck into this game alone, is beyond any explanation, but it is another example how college football's, end of the season gala, is a sham.
If the scores can be put aside, as well as the ludicrous picks of who plays who, it all boils down to money in the end. That should be where everyone looks to for the injustices and outright manipulation of a system that is as outdated as Major League Baseball's Drug Policies. Hawaii, before this year, had a regular budget for recruiting of (roughly) $50,000 a year, which has not allowed their coaches to go into the contiguous 48 states to recruit a hard and sometimes impossible shot at the top 200 high school prospects, and other hopeful student athletes. However, after there ascendance into the "bowl elite," with their "Hiesman Trophy Candidate" Cole Brennin at the healm, they play in the 'WAC' which is not comparable to an SEC schedule, which is why they got WAC'ed, they now have between $500,000 and $1.5 million for recruiting purposes, depending on how the money from the bowl game roles down the line, to "THE PROGRAM." When the money is into the millions of dollars, for just a bowl appearance, there is not any wonder why the predominant emphasis is on men's sports, where the money is coming into the school, rather than from gaining funds from women's sports, the non-traditional/popular sporting events, and/or students using their work study time calling alumni for donations, back to their glory days at their 'Good Ol' School.'
Is there a remedy for the blowouts, the bad pairings on a whim and thru pressure from "the powers that be," and finally just the bad football? Is there going to be a time when the Herschel Walker's Georgia Bulldogs versus the Steve Young BYU teams, in just the 5-6 Bowl Games total? The answer is simple, there is not just a Cotton Bowl, Sugar Bowl, or Fiesta Bowl. They are now the "TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL," the "ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL," and the "AT&T COTTON BOWL," the sponsors of these games have injected so many millions of dollars into the advertising and overall dominance of these games that there is not any chance of real parody anymore. The picks for the games are based on speculation not record. All that has to be seen for pure proof of this is the following: look to the Missouri 12-2 vs. Arkansas 8-5 Cotton Bowl (final score 38-7 MU), Hawaii 12-2 vs. Georgia (who should have been playing for the national championship) was destroyed 41-10 by Georgia, and finally (but probably not over, because there are three to five bowls games left) West Virginia 11-2 vs. Oklahoma 11-3 killed the "Boomer Sooner" 48-28. These bowl games are not about teams anymore, but are about the millions and millions that is brought into the schools that are playing in them. PERIOD!
There will never be a playoff in college football (which their should be a two to three tiered playoff to determine an actual national champion), because of three major factors. The first one is the fact that bowl games, as a whole, are in the nation's fabric as a tradition that would be not possible to eliminate altogether. The second reason is that there are to many hands in the preverbal pot, in who attends and plays in what bowl game, how the pairings are made, and then the overall power of the alumni and sportswriters/elites to place their stamp of approval on the overall process. A complete and no questions asked playoff system, would take to much power away from the "bowl machine." It would also prove that the RPI, computer generated ratings (or the third, third, third way to pick bowl games), and the actual things done to "remake" the bowl game system, that was put in place about 5 years ago, would have been a complete failure. Most people do not like to admit that the ideas and systems that were put in place, are/were actually wrong. However, the last and most important reason why there will not be a major overhaul into the bowl system and look deep into making a tiered playoff system in its place (or together), is MONEY! Money is the thing driving the whole bowl machine. All a person has to do is look at the "Chic-fil-A Bowl, the Petro Independence Bowl, and every other Bowl Game [except for the Rose Bowl, the grandfather of all bowl games), and see that sponsors and money are the main reason the elites and "deciders" will not push for any playoff system anytime soon.
I personally do not have any idea how the last two bowl games will turn out, but after last years blow out of Ohio State, in the "National Championship Game" (not to take anything away from LSU). Low and behold, it was not Georgia, Oklahoma, West Virginia, MU, KU, USC, (who had injuries, team gel problems, and two tough losses at the beginning of the season), to play LSU for the title game, but once again it is Ohio State. Ohio State is 11-1 and the only team in the country with just one loss. However, looking at their game tapes, the way they won against hobbled teams, and then squeaking out at least two games on "off calls and weird situations," the millions of fans that will, or won't sit and watch the "National Chumpionship Game" once again will be left with doubts. The doubts that every fan will have, every year, until there is two major schools who go undefeated, but even then in the crazy world of the NCAA Division 1 Football season, there will ALWAYS be questions. Until, the fans and the players get what they deserve, a National tiered playoff system, period!
Is there any interest, other than the students and alumni of the schools, in a bowl season that has teams who are paraded into the national spotlight, by the "powers that be," only to be in a situation which is the equivalent to "Daniel in the Lions Den"? The bowl games that are now doubled from the original 1980s lineup of the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl games are now filled with: Oregon 56-21 over South Florida in the (Sun Bowl), Fresno State 40-28 over a 7 win Georgia Tech team (Humanitarian Bowl), Oklahoma State 49-33 over Indiana who were both 7-6 on the season (Insight Bowl), Missouri 38-7 over Arkansas (Cotton Bowl), USC 49-17 over Illinois (Rose Bowl), Georgia 41-10 over a completely outmatched and timid Hawaii team (Sugar Bowl), and the final blowout a West Virginia 48-28 over Oklahoma. However in all of these games, other than the scores, lack of a true look into the college football scene, is the fact that Missouri had to play an Arkansas team, that Kansas should have played. Missouri beat KU in the Big 12 North decider game and only had two loses on the season, both to Oklahoma (once in the regular season and once in the Big 12 Championship game).
However, KU is playing in the orange bowl against a motivated (by both the football god's, a bowl game, but also for the tragedy on their campus earlier this year, with the grave shootings on there campus, by a disillusioned and psychotic student). How KU snuck into this game alone, is beyond any explanation, but it is another example how college football's, end of the season gala, is a sham.
If the scores can be put aside, as well as the ludicrous picks of who plays who, it all boils down to money in the end. That should be where everyone looks to for the injustices and outright manipulation of a system that is as outdated as Major League Baseball's Drug Policies. Hawaii, before this year, had a regular budget for recruiting of (roughly) $50,000 a year, which has not allowed their coaches to go into the contiguous 48 states to recruit a hard and sometimes impossible shot at the top 200 high school prospects, and other hopeful student athletes. However, after there ascendance into the "bowl elite," with their "Hiesman Trophy Candidate" Cole Brennin at the healm, they play in the 'WAC' which is not comparable to an SEC schedule, which is why they got WAC'ed, they now have between $500,000 and $1.5 million for recruiting purposes, depending on how the money from the bowl game roles down the line, to "THE PROGRAM." When the money is into the millions of dollars, for just a bowl appearance, there is not any wonder why the predominant emphasis is on men's sports, where the money is coming into the school, rather than from gaining funds from women's sports, the non-traditional/popular sporting events, and/or students using their work study time calling alumni for donations, back to their glory days at their 'Good Ol' School.'
Is there a remedy for the blowouts, the bad pairings on a whim and thru pressure from "the powers that be," and finally just the bad football? Is there going to be a time when the Herschel Walker's Georgia Bulldogs versus the Steve Young BYU teams, in just the 5-6 Bowl Games total? The answer is simple, there is not just a Cotton Bowl, Sugar Bowl, or Fiesta Bowl. They are now the "TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL," the "ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL," and the "AT&T COTTON BOWL," the sponsors of these games have injected so many millions of dollars into the advertising and overall dominance of these games that there is not any chance of real parody anymore. The picks for the games are based on speculation not record. All that has to be seen for pure proof of this is the following: look to the Missouri 12-2 vs. Arkansas 8-5 Cotton Bowl (final score 38-7 MU), Hawaii 12-2 vs. Georgia (who should have been playing for the national championship) was destroyed 41-10 by Georgia, and finally (but probably not over, because there are three to five bowls games left) West Virginia 11-2 vs. Oklahoma 11-3 killed the "Boomer Sooner" 48-28. These bowl games are not about teams anymore, but are about the millions and millions that is brought into the schools that are playing in them. PERIOD!
There will never be a playoff in college football (which their should be a two to three tiered playoff to determine an actual national champion), because of three major factors. The first one is the fact that bowl games, as a whole, are in the nation's fabric as a tradition that would be not possible to eliminate altogether. The second reason is that there are to many hands in the preverbal pot, in who attends and plays in what bowl game, how the pairings are made, and then the overall power of the alumni and sportswriters/elites to place their stamp of approval on the overall process. A complete and no questions asked playoff system, would take to much power away from the "bowl machine." It would also prove that the RPI, computer generated ratings (or the third, third, third way to pick bowl games), and the actual things done to "remake" the bowl game system, that was put in place about 5 years ago, would have been a complete failure. Most people do not like to admit that the ideas and systems that were put in place, are/were actually wrong. However, the last and most important reason why there will not be a major overhaul into the bowl system and look deep into making a tiered playoff system in its place (or together), is MONEY! Money is the thing driving the whole bowl machine. All a person has to do is look at the "Chic-fil-A Bowl, the Petro Independence Bowl, and every other Bowl Game [except for the Rose Bowl, the grandfather of all bowl games), and see that sponsors and money are the main reason the elites and "deciders" will not push for any playoff system anytime soon.
I personally do not have any idea how the last two bowl games will turn out, but after last years blow out of Ohio State, in the "National Championship Game" (not to take anything away from LSU). Low and behold, it was not Georgia, Oklahoma, West Virginia, MU, KU, USC, (who had injuries, team gel problems, and two tough losses at the beginning of the season), to play LSU for the title game, but once again it is Ohio State. Ohio State is 11-1 and the only team in the country with just one loss. However, looking at their game tapes, the way they won against hobbled teams, and then squeaking out at least two games on "off calls and weird situations," the millions of fans that will, or won't sit and watch the "National Chumpionship Game" once again will be left with doubts. The doubts that every fan will have, every year, until there is two major schools who go undefeated, but even then in the crazy world of the NCAA Division 1 Football season, there will ALWAYS be questions. Until, the fans and the players get what they deserve, a National tiered playoff system, period!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
WHERE ARE ALL THE "MODERATE MUSLIMS?"
WHERE ARE ALL THE "MODERATE MUSLIMS?" by a Christian Man
Maybe, around the time of a season, where people are "supposed to get along and do unto others," there should be an extensive look at all of the people around. I would love to know where are all of the "Moderate Muslims" that seem to have cooler heads, a thought process, and are willing to stand up and scream from the rooftops, "STOP HIGH JACKING OUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS!"
Like in the Sudan, where the lady is teaching class. Asks a whole class what to name a "class Teddy Bear"? In a country, where the number one name is Mohammed, why is it a surprise that elementary school kids would name a bear that? It is comparable to naming a hamster in an elementary school, John, or Mary. Instead of having some kind of understanding and a complete thought process, the Muslim community goes out and originally wants the lady/teacher to be put to death (by stoning, or beheaded)? Then, as a show of "good will, or calming of heads" they decide that 200 lashes would be a just punishment? Finally, deciding on, even after huge (mostly hostile and male) protests all over Sudan, that 12 days in jail would suffice.
How about the 400-600,000 young, or adolescent girls, that are mutilated and raped throughout Darfur, every year? Not the people that are being starved, made into refugees, or are just having their limbs lopped off with machetes and long blades. Just the women that are being beaten, having their genitals mutilated and systematically raped, in order for there to be a complete genocide thru the most crude and sexual ways, to breed the Sudan out. In order for the extreme Muslim men, or those who believe in the Wahabiist Muslim tradition, over the Sunni and Shiite Muslim traditions. Where are the "Moderate Muslims" with this system of belief completely changing an entire country?
How about a little closer to home, since the "Moderate Muslims" can't, or will not, speak out and define their religion for their world. In Virginia, there is a school that is funded by Saudi Arabia. It has been accused of actually teaching hate throughout the grades, and all of it's text books are littered with Anti-Christian and Anti-Jewish rhetoric. When asked for the text books from the Saudi run school, by several different groups (in order to check the content), it actually took the United States State Department, after two years of asking for the books, to obtain them to be checked out. However, sanitized the text books from the Muslim school are, or are not, is really irrelevant. Simply, because in Saudi Arabia and throughout the Middle East, elementary students are taught math by adding up 2+1=3, with visual aides of actual pictures of two hand grenades, plus one hand grenade, will equal a one. However, the "one" is actually not a hand grenade, but a single Jewish Star of David. Is this how the "Moderate Muslims" want their other Muslims children of the world and the United States, to be taught in this extreme measure?
Where are the heads of the "Moderate Muslims" in this world? Why is it that if someone draws a cartoon, names a Teddy Bear Mohammed, or decides that a woman is not going to wear a burqa over her complete face, that there needs to be a decisive penalty for the people (mostly women)? Where are the "Moderate Muslims" on the constant extermination of the population of the Darfur people, by the Janjaweed? Where is the "Moderate Muslim envoy" to the countries outside the United States, to the European Countries, and finally to the Middle East in order to save a generation of Muslim children and parents to come back to the fray of the Quaran (Koran)? There is not any solid and mobilized "Moderate Muslim Leaders" of any salt for any length of time, utilizing their "pulpits and overall muster" to give the other Muslims around the world an actual chance to come into the world of the twenty-first century, without the barbaric and tortured practices of the past.
For full disclosure, I am actually a Christian Man. I have a Theology Minor and I just care about the people of the world. I am not chastising, but only hoping for the best for our world.
Peace and God Bless,
MIKE D.
Maybe, around the time of a season, where people are "supposed to get along and do unto others," there should be an extensive look at all of the people around. I would love to know where are all of the "Moderate Muslims" that seem to have cooler heads, a thought process, and are willing to stand up and scream from the rooftops, "STOP HIGH JACKING OUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS!"
Like in the Sudan, where the lady is teaching class. Asks a whole class what to name a "class Teddy Bear"? In a country, where the number one name is Mohammed, why is it a surprise that elementary school kids would name a bear that? It is comparable to naming a hamster in an elementary school, John, or Mary. Instead of having some kind of understanding and a complete thought process, the Muslim community goes out and originally wants the lady/teacher to be put to death (by stoning, or beheaded)? Then, as a show of "good will, or calming of heads" they decide that 200 lashes would be a just punishment? Finally, deciding on, even after huge (mostly hostile and male) protests all over Sudan, that 12 days in jail would suffice.
How about the 400-600,000 young, or adolescent girls, that are mutilated and raped throughout Darfur, every year? Not the people that are being starved, made into refugees, or are just having their limbs lopped off with machetes and long blades. Just the women that are being beaten, having their genitals mutilated and systematically raped, in order for there to be a complete genocide thru the most crude and sexual ways, to breed the Sudan out. In order for the extreme Muslim men, or those who believe in the Wahabiist Muslim tradition, over the Sunni and Shiite Muslim traditions. Where are the "Moderate Muslims" with this system of belief completely changing an entire country?
How about a little closer to home, since the "Moderate Muslims" can't, or will not, speak out and define their religion for their world. In Virginia, there is a school that is funded by Saudi Arabia. It has been accused of actually teaching hate throughout the grades, and all of it's text books are littered with Anti-Christian and Anti-Jewish rhetoric. When asked for the text books from the Saudi run school, by several different groups (in order to check the content), it actually took the United States State Department, after two years of asking for the books, to obtain them to be checked out. However, sanitized the text books from the Muslim school are, or are not, is really irrelevant. Simply, because in Saudi Arabia and throughout the Middle East, elementary students are taught math by adding up 2+1=3, with visual aides of actual pictures of two hand grenades, plus one hand grenade, will equal a one. However, the "one" is actually not a hand grenade, but a single Jewish Star of David. Is this how the "Moderate Muslims" want their other Muslims children of the world and the United States, to be taught in this extreme measure?
Where are the heads of the "Moderate Muslims" in this world? Why is it that if someone draws a cartoon, names a Teddy Bear Mohammed, or decides that a woman is not going to wear a burqa over her complete face, that there needs to be a decisive penalty for the people (mostly women)? Where are the "Moderate Muslims" on the constant extermination of the population of the Darfur people, by the Janjaweed? Where is the "Moderate Muslim envoy" to the countries outside the United States, to the European Countries, and finally to the Middle East in order to save a generation of Muslim children and parents to come back to the fray of the Quaran (Koran)? There is not any solid and mobilized "Moderate Muslim Leaders" of any salt for any length of time, utilizing their "pulpits and overall muster" to give the other Muslims around the world an actual chance to come into the world of the twenty-first century, without the barbaric and tortured practices of the past.
For full disclosure, I am actually a Christian Man. I have a Theology Minor and I just care about the people of the world. I am not chastising, but only hoping for the best for our world.
Peace and God Bless,
MIKE D.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Americans Vs. Al-Qaeda............?
After today/tonights "Senate Overnight Theater Performance", several new defense estimates that have come out over the last week, and looking at the Iraq war America has to ask a simple set of questions:
1. Is Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Pakistan, and around the globe (both indigenous and home grown "Islamic Radicals/Terrorists") bickering about their overall goals (to kill infidels), positioning themselves within their organization for political and self absorbed gain, and/or are they worried about anything at all other than what they have set out to do against others?
2. How far will the enemies of the "free world" go, in order to achieve what they have set out to do?
3. Why is apathy killing the free world, while radical Muslims and rogue nations are thriving?
These three questions are the key to the safety of the world, not just the US and it's "allies," but the whole world. History will judge the United States, not the rest of the "allies" and countries who are only supplying some intelligence and maybe some treasure. Therefore, it is imperative for the United States to take a stand now, as one united front, or at least making an effort to get to that point. This feeds into the first question above.
Does anyone believe that Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, Shiite and Sunni Insurgents and the other Islamic Extremist groups across the globe are worried about anything other than striving towards their goal, of making the whole Middle East and eventually the whole world, into a Fundamentalist Islamic State? Al-Qaeda, Hamas, and other groups are making training bases, learning on the fly new techniques in physical, technical, and also in utilizing technology maximize recruiting. While a majority of Americans, "Don't have time to do anything."
Are there any senators, congressmen, pundits, and/or anyone else covering, providing strategic advise in the media, or doing anything else in the political process sprinting in one hundred degree hit carrying a pack? Are they spending countless hours behind a computer and/or on the battlefield with a camera, in order to spread and make one cohesive message? Lastly, are there any of these "elites" on their stomachs, in the mud, putting guns in the hands of their children, or are willing to give everything that they have, in order to achieve one solid goal? Of course the answer is no. That is why there are so many people, mostly in third world Muslim dominated countries that are willing to do these things. The messages they receive are cohesive, have a direct and religious message behind them, and they are willing to give, not only their lives, but the lives of their children for a principal/set of beliefs. Beliefs that come before food, water, their family, professions, and most of all they come before anything else that this world has to offer them.
How far is Al-Qaeda willing to go to achieve there mission, to spread fear, and to make all other options into only ONE OPTION? (This next part is graphic, if you are not good with gore/graphic things, please skip to the next paragraph) Last week Al-Qaeda agents in Iraq stormed a household, filled with a Father, Mother, and three kids. They bound the two parents and two kids, and then they made them watch, as they killed an eleven year old child. As if that is not bad enough, it got worse. As reported by Fox News (Radio) and multiple others, they then "BAKED" the dead 11 year old boy and made his family "EAT HIM." Can anyone imagine having to watch your eleven year old son die, by the butt of a gun, watch as he is cooked, and then forced to eat the son that you brought into this world? Needless to say, this is barbaric and without any rival, the most vile thing that anyone could do to a family.
These "Freedom Fighters," as Al-Qaeda and other radical groups are called across the world, will do whatever it takes to achieve victory. Their victory has only one objective, to make the whole world Muslim, and Muslim with Sharia Islamic Law (the most restricted and merciless law, as under the Taliban). Where stealing food, in order to feed your family is punishable by cutting your hand off. Speaking against Allah, being Christian, or a number of other "religious violations" will result in a tongue being cut out. Finally, adultery in Sharia Islam is punished by burying a man up to his waist and then stoned to death (as a man just found out, last week in the Middle East). As brutal as this "Sharia Islamic Law" is, the actual translation of the word Sharia means "the path", or "the way." Whereas it should actually be called, "Aywvia Islamic Law," or the Greek for Agony Islamic Law. As it delves so deep in the brutality of men, and it is countlessly more brutal for women, there should not even be any religious connotation to this kind of "law."
Obviously, there are so many problems in the world as a whole; Al-Qaeda, a nuclear Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah in Gaza, the West Bank, and Iran's Quds Forces in Lebanon. The genocide in Darfur, China exporting some of the most infectious and hazardous materials to America and elsewhere in foods, household goods, and other operations where people are held and forced, due to economic problems, to purchase. A non-effective UN Security Council due to Russia, China, France and others willing to wait, or do nothing at all, in blatant situations crying out for steps to be taken for humanity need.
However, the people of the United States problem is far worse. Most of the country is not living in a third world shambles, are not completely destitute, and are living a life the most others in the world would trade for in a second. However, most people in America have a basic apathy and/or laziness to everything. While it is so easy to take cheap shots at all of the "Elites" (mentioned before), it boils down in Democratic Society to every single "little person," and what they are willing to do, sacrifice for others, and stand up for others. Regardless of President Bush, who is an easy mark to blame, cry about, and bash over and over again, he is not the main problem in the world today. If George Bush was taken out of office this minute (or was never in office to begin with) the Islamic Radical Fighters had been attacking our country, our embassies, and ships for ten years before President Bush came into office {the U.S.S. Cole, Cobart Towers, US Embassy overseas, plus the numerous attacks in Europe}. American people are a huge problem in our world today. This is not a favorite position to take, and of course Americans are not "Baking Kids." However, the overall apathetic outlook at our government, to our sense of duty (whether it is: sending letters to the troops via email, researching out petitions to our leaders who make decisions for you, taking a stand and lending a hand to our community centers, and/or any other little thing that one can do to make our country better, will defeat apathy).
The only thing that is separating the United States of America's citizens and groups like Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, China's Communist brutality, and Russia's Vladimir Putin thumbing his nose at our country, is unity. Not Socialism, Communism, or any kind of one thought control state, but a sense of duty to look beyond one's self, one's family, and denying a caveman mentality (Examples: "If I am OK, then screw everyone else." "I can't do anything because I am just one person." Probably the worst one of all, "I just do not have time, I do not think about these things, or I can't make a difference.") If the caveman mentality can be defeated and phased out, making an American's first choice to be the choice that is best for everyone involved, rather than the choice that benefits the person only. Then and only then, will America revert back to the building blocks it was founded on. Then and only then, will Americans as a whole, be living their lives for principals that benefit everyone, not just one. Than and only then will America be a place like the "founding fathers" invisioned. Which will put America on more solid footing against the Al-Qaedas, Irans, and other blatant enemies of freedom, choice, and the "American Way."
Peace,
MIKE D.
1. Is Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Pakistan, and around the globe (both indigenous and home grown "Islamic Radicals/Terrorists") bickering about their overall goals (to kill infidels), positioning themselves within their organization for political and self absorbed gain, and/or are they worried about anything at all other than what they have set out to do against others?
2. How far will the enemies of the "free world" go, in order to achieve what they have set out to do?
3. Why is apathy killing the free world, while radical Muslims and rogue nations are thriving?
These three questions are the key to the safety of the world, not just the US and it's "allies," but the whole world. History will judge the United States, not the rest of the "allies" and countries who are only supplying some intelligence and maybe some treasure. Therefore, it is imperative for the United States to take a stand now, as one united front, or at least making an effort to get to that point. This feeds into the first question above.
Does anyone believe that Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, Shiite and Sunni Insurgents and the other Islamic Extremist groups across the globe are worried about anything other than striving towards their goal, of making the whole Middle East and eventually the whole world, into a Fundamentalist Islamic State? Al-Qaeda, Hamas, and other groups are making training bases, learning on the fly new techniques in physical, technical, and also in utilizing technology maximize recruiting. While a majority of Americans, "Don't have time to do anything."
Are there any senators, congressmen, pundits, and/or anyone else covering, providing strategic advise in the media, or doing anything else in the political process sprinting in one hundred degree hit carrying a pack? Are they spending countless hours behind a computer and/or on the battlefield with a camera, in order to spread and make one cohesive message? Lastly, are there any of these "elites" on their stomachs, in the mud, putting guns in the hands of their children, or are willing to give everything that they have, in order to achieve one solid goal? Of course the answer is no. That is why there are so many people, mostly in third world Muslim dominated countries that are willing to do these things. The messages they receive are cohesive, have a direct and religious message behind them, and they are willing to give, not only their lives, but the lives of their children for a principal/set of beliefs. Beliefs that come before food, water, their family, professions, and most of all they come before anything else that this world has to offer them.
How far is Al-Qaeda willing to go to achieve there mission, to spread fear, and to make all other options into only ONE OPTION? (This next part is graphic, if you are not good with gore/graphic things, please skip to the next paragraph) Last week Al-Qaeda agents in Iraq stormed a household, filled with a Father, Mother, and three kids. They bound the two parents and two kids, and then they made them watch, as they killed an eleven year old child. As if that is not bad enough, it got worse. As reported by Fox News (Radio) and multiple others, they then "BAKED" the dead 11 year old boy and made his family "EAT HIM." Can anyone imagine having to watch your eleven year old son die, by the butt of a gun, watch as he is cooked, and then forced to eat the son that you brought into this world? Needless to say, this is barbaric and without any rival, the most vile thing that anyone could do to a family.
These "Freedom Fighters," as Al-Qaeda and other radical groups are called across the world, will do whatever it takes to achieve victory. Their victory has only one objective, to make the whole world Muslim, and Muslim with Sharia Islamic Law (the most restricted and merciless law, as under the Taliban). Where stealing food, in order to feed your family is punishable by cutting your hand off. Speaking against Allah, being Christian, or a number of other "religious violations" will result in a tongue being cut out. Finally, adultery in Sharia Islam is punished by burying a man up to his waist and then stoned to death (as a man just found out, last week in the Middle East). As brutal as this "Sharia Islamic Law" is, the actual translation of the word Sharia means "the path", or "the way." Whereas it should actually be called, "Aywvia Islamic Law," or the Greek for Agony Islamic Law. As it delves so deep in the brutality of men, and it is countlessly more brutal for women, there should not even be any religious connotation to this kind of "law."
Obviously, there are so many problems in the world as a whole; Al-Qaeda, a nuclear Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah in Gaza, the West Bank, and Iran's Quds Forces in Lebanon. The genocide in Darfur, China exporting some of the most infectious and hazardous materials to America and elsewhere in foods, household goods, and other operations where people are held and forced, due to economic problems, to purchase. A non-effective UN Security Council due to Russia, China, France and others willing to wait, or do nothing at all, in blatant situations crying out for steps to be taken for humanity need.
However, the people of the United States problem is far worse. Most of the country is not living in a third world shambles, are not completely destitute, and are living a life the most others in the world would trade for in a second. However, most people in America have a basic apathy and/or laziness to everything. While it is so easy to take cheap shots at all of the "Elites" (mentioned before), it boils down in Democratic Society to every single "little person," and what they are willing to do, sacrifice for others, and stand up for others. Regardless of President Bush, who is an easy mark to blame, cry about, and bash over and over again, he is not the main problem in the world today. If George Bush was taken out of office this minute (or was never in office to begin with) the Islamic Radical Fighters had been attacking our country, our embassies, and ships for ten years before President Bush came into office {the U.S.S. Cole, Cobart Towers, US Embassy overseas, plus the numerous attacks in Europe}. American people are a huge problem in our world today. This is not a favorite position to take, and of course Americans are not "Baking Kids." However, the overall apathetic outlook at our government, to our sense of duty (whether it is: sending letters to the troops via email, researching out petitions to our leaders who make decisions for you, taking a stand and lending a hand to our community centers, and/or any other little thing that one can do to make our country better, will defeat apathy).
The only thing that is separating the United States of America's citizens and groups like Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, China's Communist brutality, and Russia's Vladimir Putin thumbing his nose at our country, is unity. Not Socialism, Communism, or any kind of one thought control state, but a sense of duty to look beyond one's self, one's family, and denying a caveman mentality (Examples: "If I am OK, then screw everyone else." "I can't do anything because I am just one person." Probably the worst one of all, "I just do not have time, I do not think about these things, or I can't make a difference.") If the caveman mentality can be defeated and phased out, making an American's first choice to be the choice that is best for everyone involved, rather than the choice that benefits the person only. Then and only then, will America revert back to the building blocks it was founded on. Then and only then, will Americans as a whole, be living their lives for principals that benefit everyone, not just one. Than and only then will America be a place like the "founding fathers" invisioned. Which will put America on more solid footing against the Al-Qaedas, Irans, and other blatant enemies of freedom, choice, and the "American Way."
Peace,
MIKE D.
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