I could care less what someone believes provided that person is not harming others. If someone wants to worship a rock, or a tree, or one God or many Gods, how is any of that my business? It is not my business. We have in the stable countries of this world a little thing called religious freedom. Which means people are free to practice their own religions, faiths and beliefs, free from persecution.
But accepting or at least being indifferent to the religious practices of other religions is far different than accepting Islamic supremacy, Islamic intolerance, and the belief that Islam must dominate. There are millions of Muslims in this world that are good, decent people that are not intolerant, that are accepting of other religions, and that do not believe Islam must dominate and rule. But there are also millions of Muslims that are intolerant of other religions, including Muslims that worship differently than themselves, and that believe Islam must rule and dominate. And some of these people are eagerly killing, raping and maiming all over the world.
The survival of this planet demands that people of all religions learn to live with each other without resorting to endless wars, violence and terror. Mankind, now in the nuclear weapons age with all kinds of weapons of mass destruction, cannot survive religious wars. Suppressing concern about the rising hatred, intolerance, violence and terrorism in the Islamic world may be politically correct, but it is also idiotic. It is not phobic to fear people that want to kill you.
Dismissing all the violence and terrorism in the Islamic world as not being Islamic is a convenient way to whitewash and ignore a difficult situation that all of humanity faces. Islam can be a great religion of peace, but it can also be a religion of war, terrorism and intolerance. Pretending that this duality does not exist might be politically correct, but it is misleading. Anyone can read the Quran, the Hadiths, and see for themselves the teachings of Islam. What is unfortunate is that the most violent, intolerant, hate filled interpretations of Islam are what the oil rich Islamic nations of the world are spreading.
If humanity is unwilling to stand up against religious intolerance, which includes not whitewashing or ignoring the hatred and intolerance emanating from the Islamic world, then a very dark age will descend upon us, from which all of humanity will never emerge.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Monday, August 15, 2016
Where The Jews From Arab Muslim And Muslim Majority Lands Would Be Now Without Israel
If the Jews of the middle east and North Africa, whose descendants now make up the majority population of Israel, were not driven from their homes and sent as refugees to the state of Israel (there were more middle east and North African Jewish refugees from Arab Muslim and Muslim majority lands than there were Arab refugees that fled from Israel), what would their lives be like now?
The non Muslim religious minorities of the middle east and North Africa are vulnerable at best and at worst are the victims of genocide. Yazidis have been slaughtered by Islamists, and their women and girls taken as sex slaves. Thousands of Yazidi young women and girls are being raped, tortured and brutalized daily by their Islamist captors, with little to no hope of escape. Many have killed themselves to escape their awful situation.
Christians of the middle east, who like the Jews, have been present in the middle east long before there was an Islam, are being murdered and driven out from their homes. The tragic ethnic cleansing of the middle east Christians continues unabated.
In Iran, the leadership is obsessed with killing Jews and destroying Israel, not addressing the serious environmental and other major issues that Iran faces. Iran oppresses its religious minorities without an outcry from anywhere. There is a small token number of Jews remaining in that country, who are left alone as long as they disavow any connection with the only Jewish state in the world. Most Iranian Jews have already fled the Islamic theocracy. The Bahais, a tiny minority that are threat to no one, are severely persecuted. Other religious minorities are also oppressed, including non Shia Muslims.
In Lebanon, Iranian backed Hezbollah shares its Iranian masters obsession with Jew killing and the destruction of Israel. Fortunately, the Jews of Lebanon have fled from the once independent, now Iranian controlled state of Lebanon.
The Jews of Syria, long persecuted, have already fled from Syria. If not, they would not survive the fanaticism of ISIS Sunni demented Islamists, or the fanatical Jew hatred of the Iranian/Hezbollah Shia Islamists.
Egypt long ago expelled their Jews, sending them fleeing to Israel. If not, they would face extreme persecution. Jew hatred is rampant in Egypt. The Coptic Christians that make up approximately ten per cent of Egypt's population, and that have been in Egypt long before the rise of Islam, are highly vulnerable.
There are no Jews anymore in Algeria. Even without any Jews left, the hatred of Jews is still widely promulgated.
The Jews from Libya have long ago fled to Israel, otherwise they would not survive the Islamist murder spree now taking place.
The Jews from Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, if still living in those lands, would not survive the Islamic hatred, whether Sunni or Shia, that rages in the Islamic world.
All over the Arab Muslim middle east, North Africa, and in other Muslim majority lands, including in places like Pakistan, hating Jews and being taught that murdering Jews is not a sin but an obligation, is widespread and pervasive. Teaching Jew hatred is common in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other oil rich Islamic countries that eagerly are spreading the most hate filled, intolerant versions of Islam all over the world. They have squandered trillions of dollars of oil wealth to spread hate, intolerance, including Jew hatred and hatred for Israel, instead of using their wealth to spread peace, tolerance, goodwill and kindness. Now the seeds of their hatred include suicide bombers and fanatical Islamists that derive joy from literally cutting off with a knife the heads of human beings they consider infidels, one of the most evil, cruel ways to kill. Meanwhile, the elites of the oil rich Islamic nations live pampered, extravagant lives of luxury, while the world is awash in the misery that they have created.
In Europe, with its long history of Jew hatred, culminating in Hitler's destruction of over 90 per cent of Europe's Jewish population, it is now Muslims raised on Jew hatred that are making the lives of European Jews increasingly difficult. Some of the Jews are already fleeing to Israel.
In the Gaza and west bank, Arab Muslims are being taught to despise and kill Jews, and to believe this is rooted in Islam itself. This makes it increasingly impossible to reach a territorial and political solution to this conflict. Apologists for Palestinian Arab Muslim terror refuse to recognize this pathological religious based hate. The apologists motives may be ideological, or Jew hatred, or the desire to cling to simplistic narratives of victimhood, but the failure to hold Palestinian Arabs responsible for poisonous Jew hatred keeps this conflict enflamed. Many hate Jews or Israelis so much that they would rather see millions die as long as Jews get killed.
Without Israel, the Jews of the middle east and North Africa would share the horrible fate of the Yazidis, middle east Christians and other religious minorities that suffer under the thumb of an increasingly intolerant Islamic world.
The non Muslim religious minorities of the middle east and North Africa are vulnerable at best and at worst are the victims of genocide. Yazidis have been slaughtered by Islamists, and their women and girls taken as sex slaves. Thousands of Yazidi young women and girls are being raped, tortured and brutalized daily by their Islamist captors, with little to no hope of escape. Many have killed themselves to escape their awful situation.
Christians of the middle east, who like the Jews, have been present in the middle east long before there was an Islam, are being murdered and driven out from their homes. The tragic ethnic cleansing of the middle east Christians continues unabated.
In Iran, the leadership is obsessed with killing Jews and destroying Israel, not addressing the serious environmental and other major issues that Iran faces. Iran oppresses its religious minorities without an outcry from anywhere. There is a small token number of Jews remaining in that country, who are left alone as long as they disavow any connection with the only Jewish state in the world. Most Iranian Jews have already fled the Islamic theocracy. The Bahais, a tiny minority that are threat to no one, are severely persecuted. Other religious minorities are also oppressed, including non Shia Muslims.
In Lebanon, Iranian backed Hezbollah shares its Iranian masters obsession with Jew killing and the destruction of Israel. Fortunately, the Jews of Lebanon have fled from the once independent, now Iranian controlled state of Lebanon.
The Jews of Syria, long persecuted, have already fled from Syria. If not, they would not survive the fanaticism of ISIS Sunni demented Islamists, or the fanatical Jew hatred of the Iranian/Hezbollah Shia Islamists.
Egypt long ago expelled their Jews, sending them fleeing to Israel. If not, they would face extreme persecution. Jew hatred is rampant in Egypt. The Coptic Christians that make up approximately ten per cent of Egypt's population, and that have been in Egypt long before the rise of Islam, are highly vulnerable.
There are no Jews anymore in Algeria. Even without any Jews left, the hatred of Jews is still widely promulgated.
The Jews from Libya have long ago fled to Israel, otherwise they would not survive the Islamist murder spree now taking place.
The Jews from Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, if still living in those lands, would not survive the Islamic hatred, whether Sunni or Shia, that rages in the Islamic world.
All over the Arab Muslim middle east, North Africa, and in other Muslim majority lands, including in places like Pakistan, hating Jews and being taught that murdering Jews is not a sin but an obligation, is widespread and pervasive. Teaching Jew hatred is common in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other oil rich Islamic countries that eagerly are spreading the most hate filled, intolerant versions of Islam all over the world. They have squandered trillions of dollars of oil wealth to spread hate, intolerance, including Jew hatred and hatred for Israel, instead of using their wealth to spread peace, tolerance, goodwill and kindness. Now the seeds of their hatred include suicide bombers and fanatical Islamists that derive joy from literally cutting off with a knife the heads of human beings they consider infidels, one of the most evil, cruel ways to kill. Meanwhile, the elites of the oil rich Islamic nations live pampered, extravagant lives of luxury, while the world is awash in the misery that they have created.
In Europe, with its long history of Jew hatred, culminating in Hitler's destruction of over 90 per cent of Europe's Jewish population, it is now Muslims raised on Jew hatred that are making the lives of European Jews increasingly difficult. Some of the Jews are already fleeing to Israel.
In the Gaza and west bank, Arab Muslims are being taught to despise and kill Jews, and to believe this is rooted in Islam itself. This makes it increasingly impossible to reach a territorial and political solution to this conflict. Apologists for Palestinian Arab Muslim terror refuse to recognize this pathological religious based hate. The apologists motives may be ideological, or Jew hatred, or the desire to cling to simplistic narratives of victimhood, but the failure to hold Palestinian Arabs responsible for poisonous Jew hatred keeps this conflict enflamed. Many hate Jews or Israelis so much that they would rather see millions die as long as Jews get killed.
Without Israel, the Jews of the middle east and North Africa would share the horrible fate of the Yazidis, middle east Christians and other religious minorities that suffer under the thumb of an increasingly intolerant Islamic world.
Saturday, August 13, 2016
The Least Intelligent Species
Living creatures in their many forms are adapted to survive in the environments in which they live. One species rapidly deteriorates its environment, making it impossible for many other species to continue to adapt. And so, species after species are driven into extinction.
This one species is compelled to create weapons that can destroy all life; weapons that many of its kind now possess and of which some will be happy to use. Willfully and by neglect this species has turned much of its environment into poisonous, cancer causing toxic stew. It has made life so uninhabitable that a mass extinction of other species is now taking place.
If intelligence is measured by the ability to survive, adapt, and maintain or at least not destroy one's environment, then this species must be the stupidest of all.
This one species is compelled to create weapons that can destroy all life; weapons that many of its kind now possess and of which some will be happy to use. Willfully and by neglect this species has turned much of its environment into poisonous, cancer causing toxic stew. It has made life so uninhabitable that a mass extinction of other species is now taking place.
If intelligence is measured by the ability to survive, adapt, and maintain or at least not destroy one's environment, then this species must be the stupidest of all.
Friday, August 12, 2016
The Sad Tragedy Of Syria
How is it that Syria can continue to be ripped apart, and the entire world seems impotent to do anything? How many more violations of the Geneva convention does it take? This is not about taking sides. Both sides are committing atrocities.
How sad it is that there was a time that the Syrian people protested peacefully for more freedom, only to meet an iron, brutal fist. All of this bloodshed could have been avoided.
Now every day brings fresh news of atrocities, poisonous gas, carpet bombings, barrel bombs, demented Islamists killing and raping. There has to be a way for this insanity to stop, not for more countries to feed into it.
How sad it is that there was a time that the Syrian people protested peacefully for more freedom, only to meet an iron, brutal fist. All of this bloodshed could have been avoided.
Now every day brings fresh news of atrocities, poisonous gas, carpet bombings, barrel bombs, demented Islamists killing and raping. There has to be a way for this insanity to stop, not for more countries to feed into it.
A Simple Job Program That Helps The Chronically Unemployed, Marginalized, And The Environment
In response to high unemployment during the time of the great depression, the United States instituted programs like the Civilian Conservation Corp, which provided employment for young people and served the public through its projects. Bringing back a program that will help unemployed youth and serve the public good can be modified to serve the modern times.
There is another public service program that can help integrate marginalized (often multigenerational) people of all ages back into the American mainstream. It is as simple as assembling at an assigned place every day, and then being taken by bus or van to different locations where the day will be spent picking up garbage. This is a needed job, considering the vast amounts of garbage and trash that are everywhere. Marginalized people that lack job skills and education will be offered an opportunity for gainful employment and a chance for a better life. Some will argue this will not be cheap. Marginalized people with no possibilities for a better future that end up in the criminal justice or medical care system cost the government far more.
This job program requires no training, little equipment, and is easy to implement. It provides people with the discipline and structure to work a job, something that has eluded generations. It is labor that serves the public good, and that improves the environment and quality of life for everyone. It gives a second chance to chronically unemployed people that sincerely want an opportunity.
Garbage will be removed. Cities, countrysides and everywhere else will be cleaner. People that were unemployable will have a chance to improve their lives, and the lives of their families and communities.
There is another public service program that can help integrate marginalized (often multigenerational) people of all ages back into the American mainstream. It is as simple as assembling at an assigned place every day, and then being taken by bus or van to different locations where the day will be spent picking up garbage. This is a needed job, considering the vast amounts of garbage and trash that are everywhere. Marginalized people that lack job skills and education will be offered an opportunity for gainful employment and a chance for a better life. Some will argue this will not be cheap. Marginalized people with no possibilities for a better future that end up in the criminal justice or medical care system cost the government far more.
This job program requires no training, little equipment, and is easy to implement. It provides people with the discipline and structure to work a job, something that has eluded generations. It is labor that serves the public good, and that improves the environment and quality of life for everyone. It gives a second chance to chronically unemployed people that sincerely want an opportunity.
Garbage will be removed. Cities, countrysides and everywhere else will be cleaner. People that were unemployable will have a chance to improve their lives, and the lives of their families and communities.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Continued Change No One Should Believe In And Four More Years Of Deficit Spending
Election season and the same promises are being made that get repeated over and over like a broken record - lower taxes, more jobs, new government spending cuts, etc. Once in office, knowing there is no need or way to accomplish and pay for everything promised, the politicians do the two things they do best - nothing and print money. The democrats want big government, while the republicans want smaller government with a huge military(which is still big government). The money printing presses roll, and nothing changes as per usual.
Monday, August 8, 2016
The U.S. Tax Structure Must Stop Favoring The Rich And Wealthy And Must Start Addressing Serious Problems
Will raising taxes on the rich and well off collapse the American economy? According to some economists, it will. (Political points of view seem to dictate economic points of view.) The economy will not collapse because rich people have their taxes raised. And for those who threaten to leave the United States because their taxes are raised, where do they expect to go? A European country that already has a more equitable, graduated tax structure? A low tax country with barely any government services and that is highly unstable? There are few places as stable as the United States where the wealthy are this well cared for.
Some scream socialism when taxing the rich in a more equitable manner is suggested, such as having a graduated income tax. Socialism and communism meant having the means of production in the hands of the state. Communism meant having almost everything in the hands of the state. A graduated income tax and a more equitable tax structure is not socialism, and it is not communism. Once the U.S. had a graduated income tax, and we were still not a socialist nation. Trickle down economic theories along with out of control government spending and reduced taxes for the wealthy simply makes no sense.
The U.S. economy will not collapse from a more fair, equitable tax structure. The U.S. will face serious problems if it continues to have bloated government spending, which includes a military that needs to be made far more efficient; all of which is funded by printing money.
The U.S. cannot continue to ignore the large disenfranchised population in its midst, in which millions are not gainfully employed and where many instead are employed in the criminal underworld of gangs and drug trafficking. The U.S. infrastructure needs repair. Serious environmental problems continue to be ignored. There is a long list of serious issues that need to be addressed.
There are far worse things in the world that people have to face than the rich having to pay more than their fair share of taxes. Millions still cannot afford to get sick or injured. Many people cannot afford proper care if they are sick. The world faces an extremist threat every bit as great as the beginning rise of Nazi Germany. Did American taxes go down in order to fight the Nazis? No, they went way up to fund the war effort.The United States may not believe it is at war with its enemies, but its enemies have already declared war on the United States. Nuclear proliferation also remains a huge threat, as does the ongoing threat of an existing nuclear power using nuclear weapons.
The rich and well off receive all of the benefits that America has to offer. They must also share in its burdens, even if it is not anywhere near the degree of sacrifice as the people that put their lives on the line or work a myriad of low wage jobs that keeps this nation running.
Some scream socialism when taxing the rich in a more equitable manner is suggested, such as having a graduated income tax. Socialism and communism meant having the means of production in the hands of the state. Communism meant having almost everything in the hands of the state. A graduated income tax and a more equitable tax structure is not socialism, and it is not communism. Once the U.S. had a graduated income tax, and we were still not a socialist nation. Trickle down economic theories along with out of control government spending and reduced taxes for the wealthy simply makes no sense.
The U.S. economy will not collapse from a more fair, equitable tax structure. The U.S. will face serious problems if it continues to have bloated government spending, which includes a military that needs to be made far more efficient; all of which is funded by printing money.
The U.S. cannot continue to ignore the large disenfranchised population in its midst, in which millions are not gainfully employed and where many instead are employed in the criminal underworld of gangs and drug trafficking. The U.S. infrastructure needs repair. Serious environmental problems continue to be ignored. There is a long list of serious issues that need to be addressed.
There are far worse things in the world that people have to face than the rich having to pay more than their fair share of taxes. Millions still cannot afford to get sick or injured. Many people cannot afford proper care if they are sick. The world faces an extremist threat every bit as great as the beginning rise of Nazi Germany. Did American taxes go down in order to fight the Nazis? No, they went way up to fund the war effort.The United States may not believe it is at war with its enemies, but its enemies have already declared war on the United States. Nuclear proliferation also remains a huge threat, as does the ongoing threat of an existing nuclear power using nuclear weapons.
The rich and well off receive all of the benefits that America has to offer. They must also share in its burdens, even if it is not anywhere near the degree of sacrifice as the people that put their lives on the line or work a myriad of low wage jobs that keeps this nation running.
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