Here is something that I needed to write down here, not as a manifesto, but probably because I had to get it out of my chest. So bear with me
( Read more... )
I'm with you. The responses to the attacks from politicians have been incredibly disheartening. And even as a person who wouldn't say I'm atheist (perhaps agnostic, though), I do think that religion often does more harm than good. So many use it to oppress and as justification to do evil.
I have always thought that religion and morality are mutually exclusive, which doesn't mean that all people who are believers are immoral of course. But as soon as there's something supernatural that is considered sacred, above everything else, and therefore untouchable, it somewhat allows to do wrong when it comes to what is seen as secular which is therefore touchable, as if as long as you don't commit blsphemy or sacrilege the other crimes are sort of acceptable.
Look at those jihadists for instance, they were often former offenders. Salafist groups are known for recruiting in prisons.
I was introduced somewhere on Twitter to the concept of the greyzone - where people of various religions or no religion at all coexist (which is not without its challenges) and which ISIS is trying to destroy. That said, their leaders strike me as being much more about power and religion is just a pretext for them to cause havoc.
Any belief, whether called a religion or not can be dangerous when taken to extremes. I agree with you - retaliation and blaming certain racial groups is not the way to go and plays right into ISIS' hands.
Believing lies in irrationality, unlike thinking. Racism is pure belief, not rational thinking since human races actually don't exist. We all belong to one human race, and to the primate species or to the sub-species called apes.
When it comes to religious beliefs, I think they are even more dangerous because they are often based on, or imply that, our current life doesn't matter and can be sacrificed on the behalf of some upcoming future, whether it's called afterlife or not.
Very well put. I despair so often when I try to explain to right wingers in my country how they are just doing exactly what the extremists want by persecuting normal muslims and really all people of colour
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I agree that ground forces would be better than bombing, but I'm extremely wary of the so-called "interference duty" in another state.
The problem is that most killings done in Syris are actually done by Assad's army. And there's the fact that Turkey's main ennemy is the Kurdish fighters not Daesh!
Also, money is the nerf de la guerre, so instead of military solution we should work on way to dry up ISIS' ressources, like stopping to befriend certain countries and to sell them weapons, or preventing anyone from buying ISIS' oil for instance. Everybody knows who buys it...
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Look at those jihadists for instance, they were often former offenders. Salafist groups are known for recruiting in prisons.
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I wholeheartedly agree. Very well said.
I was introduced somewhere on Twitter to the concept of the greyzone - where people of various religions or no religion at all coexist (which is not without its challenges) and which ISIS is trying to destroy. That said, their leaders strike me as being much more about power and religion is just a pretext for them to cause havoc.
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Who knows what's going on in their leaders' head really? Anyway, religion is power and they know it.
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When it comes to religious beliefs, I think they are even more dangerous because they are often based on, or imply that, our current life doesn't matter and can be sacrificed on the behalf of some upcoming future, whether it's called afterlife or not.
Apocalyptical tales are only fun on Buffy!
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Glad you're able to refocus on your historical work and keep on.
I'm glad you wrote out your views here. I agree completely.
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BTW, have you read this?
http://boingboing.net/2015/11/17/former-isis-hostage-they-want.html
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The problem is that most killings done in Syris are actually done by Assad's army. And there's the fact that Turkey's main ennemy is the Kurdish fighters not Daesh!
Also, money is the nerf de la guerre, so instead of military solution we should work on way to dry up ISIS' ressources, like stopping to befriend certain countries and to sell them weapons, or preventing anyone from buying ISIS' oil for instance. Everybody knows who buys it...
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Erdogan let the IS fighters travel freely, bombs the only ones who really do groundwork there and Turkey buys IS oil.
But instead of calling him out on it, Europe offers him three billions to keep the refugees in Turkey.
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*sigh*
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