I have before talked about religion. I am a Wiccan. But I firmly believe freedom of Religion means any Religion.
And despite Cardinal Carlin's speech ala Dogma, I do hold the Catholic and Christian Religions responsible for Mistakes of the past.
Especially since Christians tend to hold the entire religion of Islam responsible for the actions of the extremist few.
After all the Christian factions have extremist examples who've killed in the name of their religion. As does Judeasm.
So for better understanding and debating I ordered materials from the library on Islam and the Koran for research. Because as a sadly ignorant friend put it "I don't have time to read the language of the goat fuckers". It is because of him I am starting this project.
In the entire Library system there is a disturbing lack of material on Islam compared to Christianity. Given they have the 2nd most amount of followers of all religion (Christianity is 31% across the globe, Islam is 23%.)
More disturbing: I am terrified of leaving a library with a pile of books on the Koran. Why? Because in our current society in the US I am certain this blog entry alone will get me on some kind of Watch list. Since 9/11 the nation has become hateful and intolerant of Muslims over the actions of a select few who were really messed up in the head. They have terrorized the religion and certain presidential candidates of suggested they wear idebtifying markers-much like Hitler's yellow stars for the Jewish people.
Talks of building a mosque in New York City were screeched at for six years because it was found to be "too close to Ground Zero". I was saddened to read while researching it that what had been hoped to turn into a Religious Community Center has instead been turned into more overpriced NYC apartments. This is basically equivalent to "Sorry you can't build a church and sunday school here we are going to build a luxury resort and hotel instead".
http://www.theawl.com/2015/10/the-sad-true-story-of-the-ground-zero-mosque
Mind you pre 9/11 the greatest terror attack we had ever faced was domestic. The Oklahoma City Capital attack, which ended in over 160 deaths and injuring over 650 others, not to speak of the buildings and car damages ranging a 16 block radius.
The men responsible were Fundamentalist Christians who did not like recent events.
Yet if you go to google Maps there are plenty of churchs in proximity. Why?
Because we understand that the act of terror was the byproduct of two men who happened to be Christian, not caused because they were.
So why can't we appreciate the same of Muslims and Islam?
Racism. Fear. Ignorance.
I can deal with these. Education can combat these.
Its those who refuse to listen to anything outside their own world view that I fear. They are the Timothy McVays and Osama Bin Ladens of the future.
Not the majority of any religion faction.
(Hell have you looked at Satanism? Not even they condone Terrorism).
Counter Argument to "But the Koran says they can kill non believers"
So does the Bible.
As Jesus put it, let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Thus if we are blaming entire religions, Christians may not.
"You aren't a patriot you terrorist sympathizer!"
Three of my four grandparents served in World War II. My grandmother had connections to a four star general. Her brother and her father both served. My father's cousins served.
And oh yeah, my father was a first responder to 9/11.
He doesn't like it when anyone calls him that, because he wasn't a cop or a fireman.
He was a member of the EPA out of Edison, New Jersey. He and his team of chemists were at Ground Zero as of 9/12 for months. They tested the air and rubble and smoke for what chemicals had been released with the towers' collapse. This was done for the well being of those who had been and continued to be exposed to those compounds.
Even at 10 I firmly believed if my father left the next day for Ground Zero NYC i would lose him. No, I did not think the terrorists would attack again. But I was right. My father still lives, technically
But when it was done, what came home was a shell of a man. He became apathetic, because how else could he deal with what he had been reminded of every day for months? He was in many ways a ghost. His apathy was one of the major factors that tore my family apart and keeps us apart to this day. He was never perfect, and there were issues even then-but he tried on occasion. When I was seven my parents memorized the first 151 pokemon, in order, so they could talk to me.
When I was 14 and suggested Dad and I resume our old tradition of Sunday Funnies with Manga. He wouldn't consider it. He drifted and while I still have him in a crisis, he lost much of his spirit then.
Dear America. We are at a precipice. We are in many ways akin to Germany after the first World War. Our nation is in debt with no idea how to pay it. We are afraid. And we are looking for someone to blame.
Do not let us become the Germany of World War II. Hell, don't let us become the USA of World War II. While not as bad as Concentration Camps, the Japanese Internment Camps are a blemish on our nation's history from when we turned on our own people.
Islam does not equal Terrorism. But many have it in their heads that it does. The wrong google search can get you locked away for curiousity.
Which is why while I am ordering materials on Islam, I am also ordering materials on Christianity to compare and contrast. And so no one calls national security to pick me up on the way home. (The locals are mostly almost all white right wingers).
Our founding fathers made this country on the premises of freedom of religion. They had seen England torn apart time and time again-not even by what god you believed in, but how you worshipped.
We like to say United we Stand a lot. The other side of that coin is Divided We Fall.
And we are divided.
"Love thy neighbor."-A Certain Middle Eastern Prophet Who Gave Food to the Hungry, Healed the Sick, and Promoted Life Skill Training
