Yes, you're so right about so many things but even so, there is so much that is yet to be taken into consideration. Despite the talk that is going into the debate on critical thinking, it still comes down to what the population is capable of taking in at any given moment.
It is already obvious that quick slogans and gimmicks are what draw the American population into an idea - but unfortunately it is very difficult to convince that majority of the population that there is so much more that needs to be taken into consideration before passing judgement (or in my opinion, not even pass judgement altogether - in the long run the only one who will do that will be the One/that which created us). "They hate us for our freedom," but really, WHAT FREEDOM? We are not as free as we'd like to believe - our country has been countless times been noted to NOT be the best (i.e. healthcare, government, economic, etc.)
Freedom is an abstract concept because if one was totally free, the rules that govern a society would be demolished - and personally I'd prefer a society with rules than one without. It is easier to sacrifice some self-wants than live in fear of everyone else. Freedom to me comes from knowing that I am following the rules so that others around me know that I am a good person to be around - however, if policies are going into play to coerce me or bother my neighbor, I am not for that and I do not support that. If my life can be lived so that I can be a friend to my neighbor, than that's a life well-spent. If my neighbor decides to attack me for whatever reason, it is my duty to understand why he/she is attacking and what I can do to CHANGE not counter-attack.
Everything is tied in with everything else - everyone has a reason for doing what they are doing - the people of Iraq have their own ideas as to what would allow them to live better lives and unfortunately for us, it does not sway in our beliefs - so now they must be coerced into our beliefs.
Heck, if Johny Damon can be convinced to shave his beard and cut his hair to assimilate into the New York Yankees - why can't the Iraq give up their "immoral" ideas for ours? (Think about it - isn't this the goal these days - assimilation?) It really all comes down to money doesn't it?
Even power is being coerced and controlled - it all comes down to who will be capable of manuervering the crowds whether they believe in the leader's ideas or not. Even Bush knows this one (and those he keeps around him).
Keep thinking - never stop thinking. And never stop questioning why things are the way they are. We are on the brink of a large change - together we can all make the right decisions to guarantee our future.
It is already obvious that quick slogans and gimmicks are what draw the American population into an idea - but unfortunately it is very difficult to convince that majority of the population that there is so much more that needs to be taken into consideration before passing judgement (or in my opinion, not even pass judgement altogether - in the long run the only one who will do that will be the One/that which created us). "They hate us for our freedom," but really, WHAT FREEDOM? We are not as free as we'd like to believe - our country has been countless times been noted to NOT be the best (i.e. healthcare, government, economic, etc.)
Freedom is an abstract concept because if one was totally free, the rules that govern a society would be demolished - and personally I'd prefer a society with rules than one without. It is easier to sacrifice some self-wants than live in fear of everyone else. Freedom to me comes from knowing that I am following the rules so that others around me know that I am a good person to be around - however, if policies are going into play to coerce me or bother my neighbor, I am not for that and I do not support that. If my life can be lived so that I can be a friend to my neighbor, than that's a life well-spent. If my neighbor decides to attack me for whatever reason, it is my duty to understand why he/she is attacking and what I can do to CHANGE not counter-attack.
Everything is tied in with everything else - everyone has a reason for doing what they are doing - the people of Iraq have their own ideas as to what would allow them to live better lives and unfortunately for us, it does not sway in our beliefs - so now they must be coerced into our beliefs.
Heck, if Johny Damon can be convinced to shave his beard and cut his hair to assimilate into the New York Yankees - why can't the Iraq give up their "immoral" ideas for ours? (Think about it - isn't this the goal these days - assimilation?) It really all comes down to money doesn't it?
Even power is being coerced and controlled - it all comes down to who will be capable of manuervering the crowds whether they believe in the leader's ideas or not. Even Bush knows this one (and those he keeps around him).
Keep thinking - never stop thinking. And never stop questioning why things are the way they are. We are on the brink of a large change - together we can all make the right decisions to guarantee our future.
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Comments: 5
You said you will do what it takes to your neighbor that wants to attack you!!
What if he wants you to become an Islamist, homosexual, etc..
I have a good Israeli friend who told me this story..
My brother just got shot and killed in front of me, and you think I can just forget about that and lead my life normally.. No, I am going to kill that ***** to save my own life... You have to understand some people are breeding just to make killers out of their kids and its going to be a long, slow, road to change that mindsight, but I have hope in missionaries in the world, moving to dangerous regions and promoting peace, understanding, while giving the a peaceful hope with the help of God.
Which brings me to another point "What if he wants you to become an Islamist, homosexual, etc...?" Well, what if we want THEM to become Christian? How does it make us better versus them?
I realize the world is not what you consider "safe," but that doesn't mean that it is right to MAKE someone do something against their wishes. Safety itself is a concept - just like a war on terrorism. We are never safe - if you need an example of that, watch the news - a bridge just collapsed in Minneapolis.
There is more to this war than meets the eye - and many are not seeing it. Evil breeds evil - maybe the evil that was done to use during 9/11 caused an outrage - but soon we will become noted as the evil-doers.
God states to give an example - if Islamists see that Christians are loving, faithful and worthy people, that would be the only thing that would win them over to the Christian faith. But no one can force someone to become Christian or to live in a democratic nation.
My words are not to hurt, but to show that what has happened so far is not working - yes, people die all the time and we always want them to pass on for worthy causes. Live by example and forgive those who persecute you.
Judge not lest you will be judged. This is true right now in the present. Think through what you are saying and once you have control over your anger, find a clear mind to truly look at things the way they are. Sometimes stepping into someone else's shoes can help us understand what's going on out there.
Also, remember this - God loves the Islamists just as much as He loves the Christians.
Why are the leaders of other powerful countries turning away from the U.S.A.? Our allies are no longer fighting for our cause but questioning it. I see your point on why one SHOULD fight against Saddam, but have you ever seen the corruptness of Thailand and the actually prostitution of young children that takes place there? This is where it has been rumored even some of our people go for a "break." If you want to speak of moral highground, let's talk about that for a second. A society so bogged down just trying to survive that all they can do is resort to this (considered in the USA) despicable act.
We can't even grasp the concept that other nations are tormented beyond belief because of the breach in power that takes place all over the world. Even now in Mexico right across our borders we have American factories running in a place where they can reap the land and damage the people - but it's already starting to backfire because the dumping of harmful sewages is starting to affect those of Southern Texas! One river and many deaths.
If we just paid attention to those around us ourselves, we might be living a better life too. Even now the foreign countries who are creating our children's toys are not using our standards and now lead showing up in the paint that they are decorated with and causing illnesses IN OUR CHILDREN. If the USA just paid more attention to these situations - these are AMERICAN citizens, not those in the middle east who are being affected.
Yes, there are a lot of people fighting for our country, but we need to pay attention to what we are fighting for. It is obvious that in most situations we fight to gain something - what are we gaining if we make the middle east better to our standards (or to their's if you're sure that's what we're doing)?
I know YOU would take democracy before Saddam, but have you lived their life? Walked their roads? Even talked to their people? I spoke to one female in college pertaining to the way of life out there and my whole perspective changed. She stated that she feels more free under the governance of her religion that she does with the competativeness of the "modern" American female. It is her culture - not just her religion. She grew up this way just as we grew up to understand that breasts were to be covered.
It is easy to be hypocritical and egocentric because that is how we grew up - I'm not stating we grew up wrong, I'm stating that we grew up with one set of beliefs and ideas. It is just as an anthropologist would go to another part of the world and attempt to understand a new set of beliefs - it is easy to look upon another culture in the eyes of one's own background, but not with a new set of eyes altogether - we are too learned in our own rules to understand another's.