Friday, August 11, 2006

8/11/06: 3 Mile Run Neighborhood & War Rant

I listened to the latest Daily Source Code. Yesterday, the British arrested 20+ folks for plotting to blow up 10+ airplanes over the Atlantic in a near simultaneous explosion. And, the war continues between Israel and Hezbollah/Lebanon. This stuff is just so concerning. Thank goodness, the British stopped the plot. It is just amazing to see what is happening around the globe. I have been watching a lot news and following the LebanonLive blog to get a glimpse into a different point of view. I have previously read Thomas Friedman's books, several books on middle east history, and some Arab writings. I am just trying to get a view from all sides.

I find it virtually impossible to assign sole fault to any side. It seems to me that over the course of history all sides have made huge mistakes. So, what are we to do? Assume we can't agree and just keep killing until one side wins or perhaps just killing indefinitely with no end in sight? Gees, what a stupid species we are. It just frustrates me so. But, I still believe the key is that individuals MUST think for themselves. Let any incident happen and I can virtually assure you that you can pick whose position you want to predict and if it is George Bush, Condeleezza Rice, Nasrallah, my father-in-law, me, you, and anyone you know fairly well and I bet you can predict it fairly well.

So, if every major leader's position is so predictable, what is the truth value of their position. What does current happenings have to do with their ability to adjust position based on current truth. Virtually none. It is not today that determines truth. It is yesterday that determines today's truth. So, if you want to change the horrible conditions of today, change tomorrows truth by shaping the truth of today. That means we need to stop letting these political figures shape our context and our truths.

Let's start by calling killing what it is. It is doesn't matter who is doing it. Killing people, well torturing them is right in here too, is the worst thing people can do. OK, under threat maybe you don't have that much choice, but it is still the worst thing you can do. The death of anyone is NOT to be celebrated by anyone. Stop celebrating death, if you are. If you have to kill, acknowledge that it is a horrible thing. Pity those you kill. Despise the circumstances and the poor choices that led to the need to kill. And, by all means, do everything possible to find alternative methods for resolution. All of us, REPEAT ALL OF US, get all worked up and think we must kill sooner than may be true. But, rest assured, business as usual ain't gonna fix this mess either. Unfortunately, people are going to continue to kill.

But, a good start would be to start mourning the killing and the death EVERYWHERE. No more dancing in the street when someone dies. No more teaching that one who dies while killing gets multiple virgins in heaven. What the hell is that anyway? Am I to believe that a righteous, pious religious person wants to kill, die, and "enjoy" having virgins? Is that Godly? Would a thinking person believe that is Godly? I think not.

Now, in case you think I am bashing one side of the argument, let me tell you that I think the arguments put up to support attacking Iraq fall apart quickly. They fell apart quickly before the war in Iraq started. And, since killing was the plan, they were simply not questioned enough by those that had the power to change the plan. Shame on you George Bush. Shame on those that reelected him after that.

I am also disturbed to hear that some of the bombings in Iraq are not just motivated by hating Americans and sectarian violence aimed at seizing power, but by the desire to assert power over those that don't follow decrees by clerics telling store owners how to arrange vegetables so as not to have vegetables arranged too seductively. Gees, this is like creating a militant out of the philosophy that indicated that the purple Teletubbie was supporting a gay lifestyle and as such was evil. Give me a break. How can people let people kill in the support of such nonsense? How evil is the mind that sees a penis and balls when celery and tomatoes and placed close together? Worse will kill the store owner and patrons as a result of such nonsense.

We all must start screaming "stop the killing". All of it. And, that won't be easy because frankly it is stupid not to kill the person about to shoot you and your family. But, that is not the sole motivation behind the killing going on. Stand up and do the right thing, everyone. It ain't going to be easy. Be more willing to die, than to kill! Question your leaders, ALL OF 'EM. Those wise old guys, may not be so wise. Remember power corrupts absolutely.

Excuse the rant. I threw it out. Maybe I haven't thought through every point deep or long enough. But, I am just so fed up with us (all people, everywhere).


Data
Distance:3 Miles
Time:30:56
Heart Rate:150
Pace:10:19, so slow :(
Weather:Clear skies
86°
Humidity-57%

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