The fires of Hate Burn Bright
Its been a while since I wrote, but this needed to be said. I received an email today, one of those forwards you get from your friends and family. This one, however, struck me as particularily offensive. Not just "bad and tasteless joke" offensive, but "I am an ignorant ass who wants to push my beliefs on others" offensive. And so I thought I would share it with you.
"Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001?
Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania?
Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they? And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was "desecrated" when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet? Well, I don't. I don't care at all.
I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.
I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia. I'll care when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi tells the world he is sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.
I'll care when the cowardly so-called "insurgents" in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.
I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.
I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.
In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.
When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college-hazing incident, rest assured that I don't care.
When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank that I don't care.
When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed "special" food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being "mishandled," you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts that I don't care.
And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled "Koran" and other times "Quran." Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and ---- you guessed it - - - I don't care ! ! ! ! !
If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your e-mail friends. Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior! If you don't agree, then by all means hit the delete button.
Should you choose the latter, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great country.
I am not deleting this, I am sending it on, but only after I add:
--"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem."
-- Ronald Reagan
I have another quote that I would like to add AND...I hope you forward this such as I have.
"If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." also by... Ronald Reagan
Now, those of you who don't know me, I won't bore you with the details of who I am. I won't bore you with the details of how I grew up and what my life was like. I will, however say, I grew up in the country that the UN has voted the best place to live many years running. I grew up in the country of peace, prosperity and equality. No, that isn't the United States. I hate to break it to you, but its Canada.
I don't know everything about everything, but I do know that two wrongs don't make a right. I know that just because someone else beats up their prisoners doesn't mean that gives someone the right to beat up their prisoners. The Bible says "An Eye for an Eye" As Ghandi responded to that, an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. When does it stop? When does one injustice as a response stop? The Bible also says "Turn the other cheek." Amazing how many people forget that when their beliefs are threatened.
The writer of the little tirade had their things that they didn't care about, but they forgot a few. I will include them now.
It is ironic that they chose a quote from Ronald Reagan in their message, since it was his vice president, former head of the CIA, who was involved in helping give CIA training and funding to a group of freedom fighters in Afghanistan. They were called the Al-Quida Freedom Fighters. The CIA trained them. The CIA funded them. The CIA MADE them. And what are they doing now? Did anyone care that they wee training these freedom fighters back then? Nope.
When Ronald Reagan supported the Iran Contra, and again got the US involved in Middle East politics in a way that should never have been done, arming and training people that had nothing to do with our security, did we care? Nope.
When the US supported Israel, a country carved out of the land of other nations, and supplied them with arms and defense and troops, despite the fact that the people who were living there are now being oppressed by the Israelis, did we care? Nope.
When the US then elected the same man to president that funded the Al-Quida, did we care? Nope.
When a US trained leader in Iraq invaded a rich oil company, very small, and we took overwhelming force to take it back, and then go capture the man responsible, did we care? Well, then we cared, we bombed the hell out of a country that was threatening our allies. We sent them back to the stone age, even though most of them didn't even have enough food to last a week. Did we care about that? Nope.
When the war was over, and the good guys won, and the dictator remained at large, did we care? Nope.
When years later, the son of that president STOLE THE ELECTION, did we care? Nope.
When FAA guidelines that state that a plane out of contact for over 20 minutes be escorted by a fighter jet yo verify its safety was NOT FOLLOWED on 9/11 because a higher up did allow the fighter jets to take off, despite the planes being out of contact for well over half an hour, did we care? Nope.
When the son's mistakes and incompetence caused intelligence that could have stopped the attacks by previously CIA trained 'freedom fighters', did we care? Nope.
When the son's popularity had slipped to an all time low just before 9/11, so bad that a Comedy Central sitcom was being aired making fun of him on Prime Time, did we care? Nope.
When 9/11 happened and the first response inside the US was to have some yahoos in Texas start fire bombing Mosques IN THE US of peaceful Muslims who DO NOT SUPPORT the terrorists, did we care? Nope.
When Christian radicals blamed not the terrorists, but the citizens who want freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and freedom of sexuality for the deaths, did we care? Nope.
When the war to find these terrorists, bombing yet another impoverished nation back into the stone age, was quietly forgotten because imagined weapons of mass destruction were supposedly back in Iraq, did we care? Nope.
When no proof of the WMD's was found, no connections to the Al-Quida were uncovered, and NO REASON TO EVER INVADE IRAQ was EVER provided, but it was done anyways, did we care? Nope.
When the Homeland Security Act was instated to 'protect its citizens by watching them', just like the SS did in Nazi Germany, and the Communist party does in China, did we care? Nope.
You noticing a trend? For those people that think America is just fighting back against an attack, think again. Invasion of another country that has nothing to do with the attacks is WRONG. No matter how you try and spin it. There was no reason to be in Iraq. Period. NOTHING. It was an invasion. It was not condoned. It was not for good reasons. It was Operation Iraqui Liberation. That's right. It was O.I.L. Nothing to do with terrorism.
But this country has become a country of apathetic people, unless their perceived view of the world is threatened. Then they will slight any group, slam any nation, slander any religion, just in the sake of what they feel is right.
Grow up. You keep hitting them, they will keep hitting back. You know how peace is REALLY achieved? By someone laying down their weapons. If no one does, the fighting keeps going on. You honestly think that continuing to kill them will achieve peace and security? WRONG! That will just make the next attacks worse.
And just remember, right now, the US is declaring war on Muslims....
Remember this little quote from WWII, lest we not forget:
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I did not speak out;
I was not a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
For those that don't get the connection, in September of 2005, Steve Rohde updated the poem to fit the neo-con response to the attacks of 9/11. His version is featured during the credits of the film, Unconstitutional: The War on our Civil Liberties:
First they came for the Muslims
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Muslim.
Then they came for the immigrants detaining them indefinitely solely upon the certification of the Attorney General
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't an immigrant.
Then they came to eavesdrop on suspects consulting with their attorneys
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a suspect.
Then they came to prosecute non-citizens before secret military commissions,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a non-citizen.
Then they came to enter homes and offices for unannounced "sneak and peek" searches
and I didn't speak up because I had nothing to hide.
Then they came to reinstate Cointelpro and resume the infiltration and surveillance of domestic religious and political groups
and I didn't speak up because I no longer participated in any groups.
Then they came to arrest American citizens and hold them indefinitely without any charges and without access to lawyers,
and I didn't speak up because I would never be arrested.
Then they came to institute TIPS, the "Terrorism Information and Prevention System," recruiting citizens to spy on other citizens,
and I didn't speak up because I was afraid.
Then they came to institute Total Information Awareness, collecting private data on every man, woman and child in America,
and I didn't speak up because I couldn't do anything about it.
Then they came for immigrants and students from selective countries luring them under the requirement of "special registration" as a ruse to seize them and detain them,
and I didn't speak up because I was not required to register.
Then they came for anyone who objected to government policy because it only aided the terrorists and gave ammunition to America's enemies
and I didn't speak up . . . because I didn't speak up.
Then they came for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up.
"Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001?
Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania?
Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they? And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was "desecrated" when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet? Well, I don't. I don't care at all.
I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.
I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia. I'll care when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi tells the world he is sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.
I'll care when the cowardly so-called "insurgents" in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.
I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.
I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.
In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.
When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college-hazing incident, rest assured that I don't care.
When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank that I don't care.
When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed "special" food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being "mishandled," you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts that I don't care.
And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled "Koran" and other times "Quran." Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and ---- you guessed it - - - I don't care ! ! ! ! !
If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your e-mail friends. Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior! If you don't agree, then by all means hit the delete button.
Should you choose the latter, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great country.
I am not deleting this, I am sending it on, but only after I add:
--"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem."
-- Ronald Reagan
I have another quote that I would like to add AND...I hope you forward this such as I have.
"If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." also by... Ronald Reagan
Now, those of you who don't know me, I won't bore you with the details of who I am. I won't bore you with the details of how I grew up and what my life was like. I will, however say, I grew up in the country that the UN has voted the best place to live many years running. I grew up in the country of peace, prosperity and equality. No, that isn't the United States. I hate to break it to you, but its Canada.
I don't know everything about everything, but I do know that two wrongs don't make a right. I know that just because someone else beats up their prisoners doesn't mean that gives someone the right to beat up their prisoners. The Bible says "An Eye for an Eye" As Ghandi responded to that, an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. When does it stop? When does one injustice as a response stop? The Bible also says "Turn the other cheek." Amazing how many people forget that when their beliefs are threatened.
The writer of the little tirade had their things that they didn't care about, but they forgot a few. I will include them now.
It is ironic that they chose a quote from Ronald Reagan in their message, since it was his vice president, former head of the CIA, who was involved in helping give CIA training and funding to a group of freedom fighters in Afghanistan. They were called the Al-Quida Freedom Fighters. The CIA trained them. The CIA funded them. The CIA MADE them. And what are they doing now? Did anyone care that they wee training these freedom fighters back then? Nope.
When Ronald Reagan supported the Iran Contra, and again got the US involved in Middle East politics in a way that should never have been done, arming and training people that had nothing to do with our security, did we care? Nope.
When the US supported Israel, a country carved out of the land of other nations, and supplied them with arms and defense and troops, despite the fact that the people who were living there are now being oppressed by the Israelis, did we care? Nope.
When the US then elected the same man to president that funded the Al-Quida, did we care? Nope.
When a US trained leader in Iraq invaded a rich oil company, very small, and we took overwhelming force to take it back, and then go capture the man responsible, did we care? Well, then we cared, we bombed the hell out of a country that was threatening our allies. We sent them back to the stone age, even though most of them didn't even have enough food to last a week. Did we care about that? Nope.
When the war was over, and the good guys won, and the dictator remained at large, did we care? Nope.
When years later, the son of that president STOLE THE ELECTION, did we care? Nope.
When FAA guidelines that state that a plane out of contact for over 20 minutes be escorted by a fighter jet yo verify its safety was NOT FOLLOWED on 9/11 because a higher up did allow the fighter jets to take off, despite the planes being out of contact for well over half an hour, did we care? Nope.
When the son's mistakes and incompetence caused intelligence that could have stopped the attacks by previously CIA trained 'freedom fighters', did we care? Nope.
When the son's popularity had slipped to an all time low just before 9/11, so bad that a Comedy Central sitcom was being aired making fun of him on Prime Time, did we care? Nope.
When 9/11 happened and the first response inside the US was to have some yahoos in Texas start fire bombing Mosques IN THE US of peaceful Muslims who DO NOT SUPPORT the terrorists, did we care? Nope.
When Christian radicals blamed not the terrorists, but the citizens who want freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and freedom of sexuality for the deaths, did we care? Nope.
When the war to find these terrorists, bombing yet another impoverished nation back into the stone age, was quietly forgotten because imagined weapons of mass destruction were supposedly back in Iraq, did we care? Nope.
When no proof of the WMD's was found, no connections to the Al-Quida were uncovered, and NO REASON TO EVER INVADE IRAQ was EVER provided, but it was done anyways, did we care? Nope.
When the Homeland Security Act was instated to 'protect its citizens by watching them', just like the SS did in Nazi Germany, and the Communist party does in China, did we care? Nope.
You noticing a trend? For those people that think America is just fighting back against an attack, think again. Invasion of another country that has nothing to do with the attacks is WRONG. No matter how you try and spin it. There was no reason to be in Iraq. Period. NOTHING. It was an invasion. It was not condoned. It was not for good reasons. It was Operation Iraqui Liberation. That's right. It was O.I.L. Nothing to do with terrorism.
But this country has become a country of apathetic people, unless their perceived view of the world is threatened. Then they will slight any group, slam any nation, slander any religion, just in the sake of what they feel is right.
Grow up. You keep hitting them, they will keep hitting back. You know how peace is REALLY achieved? By someone laying down their weapons. If no one does, the fighting keeps going on. You honestly think that continuing to kill them will achieve peace and security? WRONG! That will just make the next attacks worse.
And just remember, right now, the US is declaring war on Muslims....
Remember this little quote from WWII, lest we not forget:
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I did not speak out;
I was not a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
For those that don't get the connection, in September of 2005, Steve Rohde updated the poem to fit the neo-con response to the attacks of 9/11. His version is featured during the credits of the film, Unconstitutional: The War on our Civil Liberties:
First they came for the Muslims
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Muslim.
Then they came for the immigrants detaining them indefinitely solely upon the certification of the Attorney General
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't an immigrant.
Then they came to eavesdrop on suspects consulting with their attorneys
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a suspect.
Then they came to prosecute non-citizens before secret military commissions,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a non-citizen.
Then they came to enter homes and offices for unannounced "sneak and peek" searches
and I didn't speak up because I had nothing to hide.
Then they came to reinstate Cointelpro and resume the infiltration and surveillance of domestic religious and political groups
and I didn't speak up because I no longer participated in any groups.
Then they came to arrest American citizens and hold them indefinitely without any charges and without access to lawyers,
and I didn't speak up because I would never be arrested.
Then they came to institute TIPS, the "Terrorism Information and Prevention System," recruiting citizens to spy on other citizens,
and I didn't speak up because I was afraid.
Then they came to institute Total Information Awareness, collecting private data on every man, woman and child in America,
and I didn't speak up because I couldn't do anything about it.
Then they came for immigrants and students from selective countries luring them under the requirement of "special registration" as a ruse to seize them and detain them,
and I didn't speak up because I was not required to register.
Then they came for anyone who objected to government policy because it only aided the terrorists and gave ammunition to America's enemies
and I didn't speak up . . . because I didn't speak up.
Then they came for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up.