Self Rightousness and Superpower

A Deadly Destructive Combination

Published on January 15, 2007 By ThinkAloud In Current Events

Over the past few days I have been reading very interesting things here on JU Blogs.

A couple of poems were really sweet and insightful. Few personal articles about life and its strange turns and tricks. Few personal thoughts about the world's troubles. Few opinions about politics and other things. Few, no ... more than few, personal fights. Then few funny articles and photographs.

It is very noticeable that almost all people are very calm and reasonable till they start talking about politics and/or religions. That is when all hell breaks loose and attacks, insults and demonization begin. At people we don’t know, cultures we never studied or read about, nations we didn’t even know they existed till recently or religions we only know by name, if even that.

It is a well known fact that people show their true self when they are in an emotional state or when they act instinctively. That is when they show their "True Colors".

And nothing gets people emotional more than politics and religion. And when these two topics are discussed simultaneously, it is a pure display of true self for everyone involved.

If that is the case, and if JU Bloggers are a representative sample of the American people, then it is very obvious that we have nothing but contempt for everyone but ourselves, our culture, our values and our "religion".

Others are Rag-Heads, Sand-Niggers, Allah Worshippers,
Others Hate us for "our way of life"
Others "behead people"
Others are "Wimps"
Others are "uncivilized"
Others "have no compassion"

many other things we say about others. none of it is even close to be decent.

Why is that?

Is it because we have a mighty military power. And "Might makes Right"?

Most of the "others" we talk about are people from Nations and Cultures who have cities 10 times older than Our Nation, They have "Paved" roads that are 30 times older than Our Nation, They have their moral and civilized codes even before the continent we are on have people on it.

Are our "Hat-Heads" more respectful than Their "Rag-Heads"? How is that?
"Sand-Niggers"? what is that? excuse my ignorance, but I really don’t know what it means.
"Allah Worshippers"? and who is that "Allah" that they worship? Do we know?
"American Compassion"? did we invent that? did we ever consider that may be , just may be those rag-heads, Allah Worshippers invented it while our ancestors were still living in caves?
"Behead People"? and we didnt do worse than that?
"Uncivilized"? did we also invent that? or did we learn it from those sand-niggers?

It is very sad that our true colors that show while we discuss emotional topics reveal a fatal combination. We think we are so powerful and righteous. we never reflect on what we say before we say it and never consider the consequences of our actions or words.

I Hope that the JU articles that gave me these impressions are not representative of us, the American people.

Comments

ThinkAloud

on Jan 15, 2007

Is referring to someone as "allah worshipping" considered an insult? If the person is Muslim, they do worship allah, do they not?

Of course they do, and nothing wrong with it at all. The problem is it was tied to "sand-niggers" and other choice words, and that makes a big difference.

probably know more about Islam than you do, (I've actually read the Koran, have you?)

Pleeeeease, dont be so sure. and yes in its original language , not translated. but if that is the case, and i admire your effort in doing this kind of reading and study, dont you think that your knowledge should have blocked that kind of reference to 1.3 billion people?

response to the equally hysterical comments made prior to it, marks me as 'ignorant' in your book?

NO, not at all, and i never accused anyone, except myself, of being ignorant. But this just proves my point, emotional responses get us in trouble. and more knowledgable people, are expected to have more control on what they say and are expected to not be rattled by "hysterical comments".

while totally ignoring the current reality. A reality that indicates that Islamic societies in the middle east have not kept up with the rest of the world's notion of what is 'moral' and 'compassionate.'Do tell me, oh wise one, what is moral and compassionate about keeping 50% of your population (women) in a totally subjugated state? Stoning them to death for adultery committed while being raped? Denying them education, freedom of movement, the skills necessary to support themselves? Letting female children burn to death in a school fire because there were no male relatives there to escort them outside?

First, about the "wise one" thing , ..... me a wise one? that will be the day -

. No, i dont think i am that wise at all. foolish may be, but wise? but never unfair and always trying to respect others. is that wisedom? i dont think wisedom is that simple. i just try not to say things that are offensive to others because i dont like them to do the same to me. "preventive action" you can call it not wisedom i think.

As for keeping up with the rest of the world regarding morality and compassion, did you live in these societies to make that judgement? i lived and worked there for many years. from what i know about them they are waaaaay ahead of the world in these two notions. we just hear about the outrageous things that some of them do, not the whole story as you well know. Not all of us are "Paris HIlton" or "Michael Jackson" or "Tom Hancks", not even a small minority of us. do we like to be judged by that?

AS for the women's issue: You think all "allah worshippers" are the Taliban? you say you read the Qura'an, then go back and see what it say about them and what their prophet do and say about Women. Here is few of the things that is fundamental in Islamic view of Women:
1- It was the first system to establish that Women have the right to control and own properties , own and run their own businesses, have the same rights as men in opinions, learning, voting, ...etc.
2- It is the only system in the history of mankind to establish a very unknow fact in the west and that is " Women are three times more deserving of societies' care than Men" and it puts the responsibility of making sure that it is applied on Men. Qura'an has a chapter called "The Women" didicated to establishing their exaulted status in Islam and to their rights and responsibilities but above all to how they should be treated with respect and protected and supported by men.
3-Ignorance of many so-called "Muslim" States are not indicative of what Muslim women are treated in the majority of Muslim countries. The behavior of the these Taliban-like States has been condemned and rejected by the main-stream muslim countries. It is mainly a tribal or traditional backward way of living for these states before they adopted Islam. These societies used to burry baby-girls alive, at least Islam made them stop these shameful acts. They still have a long way to go to call themselves "Islamic" states. But names are cheap or actually free as you know. so dont be decieved by that.

Tell me about the morality involved in amputating the limbs of those accused of theft

It is true that in Islam the punishment for theft is amputating the hand, that for Adultry of "non-Virgin" men or women is Stoning. However, if you see how these rules were applied by the Prophet according to the true Islmic rules, you will be surprised of how restrictive the rules are to the point that make them impossible to carry out. The prophet himself carried the stoning rule only ONCE and after sending the woman away four times over a 3-year period but she kept coming back to him asking to be punished for her adultry inorder that she avoids Allah punishment in the hereafter. After her carried out the stoning, he prayed on her body, and told the people around him, she repented a repentance no other human will ever repent.

The way these two rules are applied in the so-called "Islamic" States makes a mockery of the way they think and we should not judge all of them in a sweeping fashion.

And while you're at it, do explain why it's moral or compassionate to murder your neighbor because they belong to a different Islamic sect, because in case you didn't know it, that's exactly what's going on in Iraq. TODAY.

Very true, unfortunately. But when did that start? while Saddam ruled? i dont think so. Does that mean he was compassionate, absolutely not. It only says what is happening is not because of "Allah Worshippers", it is way beyond that and they are killing each other and us left and right. we opened a huge Hornet nest, and it is stinging everyone around.

And since you yourself are obviously beyond self-righteousness, full of morals and compassion, do tell me this as well. Why is it not extended to your own? Why do you reserve it for those who would just as soon see you dead?

Be it far from me to even pretend any of that. believe me, i am sooo upset from what is happening to us and our troops to a point i can't describe. But, i dont blame others for that. WE got ourselves in that mess. right or wrong, this war is now a disaster for us as a nation and for our troops on a personal level. But i dont let that cloud my vision and start insulting other people who are actually on our side in this fight. most of the moslem people are actually agianst all the atrocities taking place in Iraq now. so why make them part of our anger against those criminals and vicious groups like Al-Qaeda or Alsadr Militia.

ThinkAloud

on Jan 15, 2007

I was unnecessarily snotty in my response here.I am sorry for that.

Dont be hard on yourself, no need for apology. Don't worry about it. What is going on, makes us all upset.

Anyway, that's over and done with

That is good, and take it easy forget the whole thing.

I was referring to the millions of women who DO live under such conditions, their considerable numbers cannot be denied.

In this case, dont you think it is very important to identify these States and not leave it open? if you did that, i will be the first to agree with you. They are pitiful and really primitive in their way of understanding their own religion. But they are few states, unfortunately there are millions of women there, yes very true.

When I was In Egypt, one of the big-shot Islamic Scholars there was Dr. Aisha AbdelRahman (She went by the name 'Daughter of The Shore' because her birth place is a town on the Mideteranian). Before she died, Egypt sent her as the head of the official delegation to an Islamic conference in Saudi Arabia. They were shocked, and tried to make the government change that and send a man in charge not her. Egypt's response, from the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University (the highest authority in Isalmic studies for all Muslim countries) was: Dr. AbdelRahman is the most Authoritative Scholar in Qura'anic Studies and that is the topic of the conference. No other man or women is more qualified than her. They were forced to relent. While there, she presented her lecture and participated in the Q&A sessions with authority they never imagined. The king asked her to visit him, she refused and held a press conference in Riyadh and recited for them what Islam said about their policies regarding Women and few other things. when she returned to Cairo, her articles in the press were stinging. They pleaded withEgypt to shut her up. The government response was, "you haven't seen anything yet" wait till she turns to politics on you like she does on us. That is one of the few that we can't shut up.

She is not a unique example. many many muslim women before and after her in many Muslim countries are like her in all kinds of deciplines like science, engineering, medicine and all the rest not just religeous studies. By the way the youngest wife of the prophet was her name-sake. He advised his companions to learn from her. imagine that? she was 24 yr old when he died and he is ordering his companions, the ones who actually spread the message world wide and most , including her father, were 3 times her age, to learn the new religion from her !!!!. Then Taliban comes and say muslim women should not learn. that kind of ignorance does not remotely belong to Islam.

The Iraqi people may have had the government they deserved under Saddam, most nations do.

How true. Very tragic but true.

Then by God, (or Allah, if you prefer) why aren't they streaming into Iraq to HELP us

Very reasonable question. But there is no place for reason or logic in this war.

The Arab League offered that, right after the invasion. and they were prepared to send a massive arab troops to ensure smooth transition to real, not popet, government elected in presence of the "Joint Arabic Defence Forces" not a foreign invading forces. It was the ideal solution since Iraq is a member of the Arab League and its forces are part of the nominally-existing Joint-Arabic-Defence Forces. But guess who refused? Us of course.

I am sure you know why USA refused. we were not going to free Iraq and the region from the Saddam-Headache then just offer it on a platter to the Iraqi's and the Arabs. what was in it for us? you get the point.?

And it is very true and logical. Who in his right mind is going to send his troops and pay the heavy price of a war then just leave? Some Iraqi's actually believed that. Remember Chalabi? he really believed that. many exiled iraqi's believed that. well, they should have known that invaders dont just leave. they stay as long as they can.

We had plans, and i think we still do. Forget WMD's, democracy and Saddam-Qaeda connections. everyone knew all that was a pretense not a real cause.

In fact, i think if we really want to get out we can still do it along the same line. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordon and Syria and the rest of the Arab League nations will be willing, albiet now reluctantly because of the violence now there, to do just that and allow us to leave while keeping Iraq intact and gradually end the violence.

But that does not achieve our real objectives, does it? and that is where the problem is.

Thanks for your comments and hope you relax and have fun blogging -

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