clarity
I like to consider myself a socially-conscious individual. I have basically 9 hours each day at work to read the news online. Besides Myspace, Fark and various news outlets are my sole source of entertainment on any given day. Thus, I'm well aware of most issues that arise in the world- be it politically, social-economically (google tells me I made this word up), or even the goddamn average mortgage rates on any given week- I like to consider myself as one in the know. That being said, I feel it is necessary to say that my people have truly fucked up. I am a registered Republican (soon to be changed to Independent) and I feel as though I chose the wrong goddamn time to be affiliated with the goddamned god-fearing Republicans. There were good intentions abound. I mean, I'm as atheistic as Richard fucking Dawkins, yet I economically and politically side with the grand old party. I'm also realistic, and I'm also cognitive of facts and evidence... And in this case, the facts and evidence tell me that my grand old party done fucked up overseas with this war.
That is not to say that I now disagree with the premise of the war. We can go 20/20 and Dateline NBC on this shit if you want, but please let's take that private.
Now, I will start by saying that I am not pro-war. And, coming from a family where no casualties have been suffered as result of this particular war, it was easy for me to take the view that sometimes war is necessary.
It is clear that things are not going as we expected or that we were prepared for in Iraq. I am beyond disappointed that we have not been able to take care of business and get our troops home. If that is due to lack of troops, lack of preparation, or lack of intelligence from our leaders, we can argue about this all we want.
As an atheist, I can see where our battles are coming from. When we are fighting a battle of biblical- or rather, jihad proportions, it is only logical that we will meet an enemy that may be more determined than us- based on their religious beliefs.
As irrational as that sounds to me, I have to understand where it comes from. To those fighting the American troops in Iraq, they believe that this is their calling.... This is their second coming or Armageddon. They are more willing to die right now than we are based on beliefs they have and have been instilled in them since birth.
And my problem with this is that we cannot compete with it. Whenever I read about a 20 year old soldier who died or the 18 year old soldier who died, I can't help but feel incredibly shitty because that is a life that went unlived. And to think that we are fighting people who hold such illogical and irrational beliefs tells me that we are ultimately fighting a losing battle.
Of course, Christianity, or any of the mainstream western religions today are no different. I am anti-theistic in the sense that without religion, we would all.. ALL be better off. To think that the youth of today are risking their lives on religious beliefs just tears me apart.
I really try to convince myself that George W. Bush didn't put our troops in Iraq as a way to spread democracy (read: Christianity). I'm in the position where I believe that the world is better off without Saddam Hussein, but without him, who are they better off with?
I will face the music. I did vote for Bush. Of course, my vote did not count because they could not validate my signature. It is rather rare for an atheist to be republican and to vote for Bush. At the time, his religious convictions did not concern me greatly. John Kerry did scare me greatly. As such, he is now less popular than even Bush is. Read for yourself.
If you wish to attack me on my political beliefs, I'm ready. Religious beliefs (or lack thereof)? Even more than ready.
I just felt I needed to come out and admit that shit is fucked up, and I am not turning a blind eye to it.
That is not to say that I now disagree with the premise of the war. We can go 20/20 and Dateline NBC on this shit if you want, but please let's take that private.
Now, I will start by saying that I am not pro-war. And, coming from a family where no casualties have been suffered as result of this particular war, it was easy for me to take the view that sometimes war is necessary.
It is clear that things are not going as we expected or that we were prepared for in Iraq. I am beyond disappointed that we have not been able to take care of business and get our troops home. If that is due to lack of troops, lack of preparation, or lack of intelligence from our leaders, we can argue about this all we want.
As an atheist, I can see where our battles are coming from. When we are fighting a battle of biblical- or rather, jihad proportions, it is only logical that we will meet an enemy that may be more determined than us- based on their religious beliefs.
As irrational as that sounds to me, I have to understand where it comes from. To those fighting the American troops in Iraq, they believe that this is their calling.... This is their second coming or Armageddon. They are more willing to die right now than we are based on beliefs they have and have been instilled in them since birth.
And my problem with this is that we cannot compete with it. Whenever I read about a 20 year old soldier who died or the 18 year old soldier who died, I can't help but feel incredibly shitty because that is a life that went unlived. And to think that we are fighting people who hold such illogical and irrational beliefs tells me that we are ultimately fighting a losing battle.
Of course, Christianity, or any of the mainstream western religions today are no different. I am anti-theistic in the sense that without religion, we would all.. ALL be better off. To think that the youth of today are risking their lives on religious beliefs just tears me apart.
I really try to convince myself that George W. Bush didn't put our troops in Iraq as a way to spread democracy (read: Christianity). I'm in the position where I believe that the world is better off without Saddam Hussein, but without him, who are they better off with?
I will face the music. I did vote for Bush. Of course, my vote did not count because they could not validate my signature. It is rather rare for an atheist to be republican and to vote for Bush. At the time, his religious convictions did not concern me greatly. John Kerry did scare me greatly. As such, he is now less popular than even Bush is. Read for yourself.
If you wish to attack me on my political beliefs, I'm ready. Religious beliefs (or lack thereof)? Even more than ready.
I just felt I needed to come out and admit that shit is fucked up, and I am not turning a blind eye to it.