damn myspace...
lol fucking myspace is down, so I'm posting on livejournal so I don't forget all of my thoughts.
(note: I already did...)
So, Jason and I were watching a documentary about metal tonight and it brought a lot of things into my mind. First and foremost, metal is my favorite genre of music, because its so deep and so complex, and means so much to so many different people. And metal fans...they're fans for life. It becomes a mentality and a lifestyle that don't go away.
Anyway, there are several sections of the documentary (which I'd highly recommend) that deal with perceptions and realities about metal. One was about the regligious elements, including satanism. A segment was about the church burnings by Norwegian black metal bands like Emperor. A friend was watching the segment with me and got offended and defensive, and I was having a hard time communicating with her about it.
I suppose it has more to do with my own beliefs, but I can't say that those that burned the churches were evil. They were acting on religions convictions that they believed were right. And yes, the same can be said of terrorists. And you know what? I suppose I shouldn't broadcast this but I have a certain ammount of respect for the suicide bombers, like those responsible for 9/11. I DO NOT AGREE WITH THEM AND I DO NOT CONDONE THEIR ACTIONS IN THE LEAST. I merely admire their conviction and dedication, because I have yet to so fully dedicate myself to a cause. And who knows? Its entirely possible that their particular beliefs are the ones that turn out to be 'true.'
In my opinion, however, extremism in any form is dangerous and out of control. Christain extremists killed Matthew Shepard because he was gay (a brutal and disgusting murder.) They slaughtered thousands during the Crusades and the Inquisition. If we're being literal, we're (we meaning the USA, and I would say that the United States is, at least currently, a fundamentaly Christian nation that acts on Christain beliefs) killing people every day in the war in the middle east for not believing in the basic tenets of Christianity. Jews killed Christ, acting on religious belief combined with political aims. Islamic extremists killed the victims of 9/11, soldiers (American and otherwise) each day in this damn war, and Jewish residents of Israel. Again, its extremism.
No religion at the heart will tell you to kill those that do not agree with you. It's people who take religion and spirituality into a dogmatic and fanatical realm that commit these acts, and to condem a faith based on the extreme is wrong.
But back to having respect for terrorists...I don't want to imply that I in any way support their cause or think that they're right. But I do admire the fact that they die doing what they live for. Think about that...What an amazing priveledge it would be to die for the cause you believe in. Another example of this is Timmothy Treadwell, or "Grizzly Man", who was killed by a Grizzly bear while living in the wild researching and protecting them. They were his passion and his reason to live, and in the end he died doing what he loved and what he believed was his purpose in life. I wish I had such a purpose and the courage to carry it out until the very end.
I suppose it all comes down to the fact that I don't think anyone's beliefs are either wrong OR right, including my own. They're merely that: beliefs, which are inherently personal and subjective. I do believe that there are some fundamental boundaries that humanity lives by. Some call them the ten commandments, but I consider it more a human necessity. There are certain standards necessary for society and survival of the species that have become religious beliefs. But its simple evolution: 'thou shalt not kill' because if everyone killed their fellow humans the species would eventually be erradicated. Merely surviving with other humans necesitates boundaries of "right" and "wrong," and religions give those basic needs a source and a purpose (a higher being, and heaven/nirvana etc, respectively).
I'm too tired to write more, but I'll write tomorrow about the other thing the documentary brought up - the beauty and sexuality of violence.
g'night
(note: I already did...)
So, Jason and I were watching a documentary about metal tonight and it brought a lot of things into my mind. First and foremost, metal is my favorite genre of music, because its so deep and so complex, and means so much to so many different people. And metal fans...they're fans for life. It becomes a mentality and a lifestyle that don't go away.
Anyway, there are several sections of the documentary (which I'd highly recommend) that deal with perceptions and realities about metal. One was about the regligious elements, including satanism. A segment was about the church burnings by Norwegian black metal bands like Emperor. A friend was watching the segment with me and got offended and defensive, and I was having a hard time communicating with her about it.
I suppose it has more to do with my own beliefs, but I can't say that those that burned the churches were evil. They were acting on religions convictions that they believed were right. And yes, the same can be said of terrorists. And you know what? I suppose I shouldn't broadcast this but I have a certain ammount of respect for the suicide bombers, like those responsible for 9/11. I DO NOT AGREE WITH THEM AND I DO NOT CONDONE THEIR ACTIONS IN THE LEAST. I merely admire their conviction and dedication, because I have yet to so fully dedicate myself to a cause. And who knows? Its entirely possible that their particular beliefs are the ones that turn out to be 'true.'
In my opinion, however, extremism in any form is dangerous and out of control. Christain extremists killed Matthew Shepard because he was gay (a brutal and disgusting murder.) They slaughtered thousands during the Crusades and the Inquisition. If we're being literal, we're (we meaning the USA, and I would say that the United States is, at least currently, a fundamentaly Christian nation that acts on Christain beliefs) killing people every day in the war in the middle east for not believing in the basic tenets of Christianity. Jews killed Christ, acting on religious belief combined with political aims. Islamic extremists killed the victims of 9/11, soldiers (American and otherwise) each day in this damn war, and Jewish residents of Israel. Again, its extremism.
No religion at the heart will tell you to kill those that do not agree with you. It's people who take religion and spirituality into a dogmatic and fanatical realm that commit these acts, and to condem a faith based on the extreme is wrong.
But back to having respect for terrorists...I don't want to imply that I in any way support their cause or think that they're right. But I do admire the fact that they die doing what they live for. Think about that...What an amazing priveledge it would be to die for the cause you believe in. Another example of this is Timmothy Treadwell, or "Grizzly Man", who was killed by a Grizzly bear while living in the wild researching and protecting them. They were his passion and his reason to live, and in the end he died doing what he loved and what he believed was his purpose in life. I wish I had such a purpose and the courage to carry it out until the very end.
I suppose it all comes down to the fact that I don't think anyone's beliefs are either wrong OR right, including my own. They're merely that: beliefs, which are inherently personal and subjective. I do believe that there are some fundamental boundaries that humanity lives by. Some call them the ten commandments, but I consider it more a human necessity. There are certain standards necessary for society and survival of the species that have become religious beliefs. But its simple evolution: 'thou shalt not kill' because if everyone killed their fellow humans the species would eventually be erradicated. Merely surviving with other humans necesitates boundaries of "right" and "wrong," and religions give those basic needs a source and a purpose (a higher being, and heaven/nirvana etc, respectively).
I'm too tired to write more, but I'll write tomorrow about the other thing the documentary brought up - the beauty and sexuality of violence.
g'night