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misscamThe war rolls on. The propaganda goes on. More lives are lost. And I am very, very troubled that one of my predictions will come true.
Before the war, I predicted (knowing full well i could turn out to be very wrong) that the war would lead to the Kurds seizing the chance to get their own territory, possibly their own land. Kurdistan. At present, over 20 million Kurds live in four countries - Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey. They are one of the largest stateless people in the world. Saddam has treated the Iraqi Kurds horribly. Gassed them, tortured them, killed them... But when I hear on the news of Kurdish troops capturing territory in North Iraq, great fear besets me.
For the three other countries who have Kurds, especially Turkey and Iran, may not allow this to pass. I cannot pretend to know the mind of the Irani or Turkish leadership, but they have not looked kindly on Kurds rising up in the past. To them, this must seem as a threat. Kurds want to govern themselves. If the Iraqi Kurds are allowed to (and really, the capturing of territory would lead to a natural claim of this, and certainly US goodwill), the Turkish and Irani Kurds may feel inspired to intensify their own claims.
I don't know. I do not know the minds of the Kurds and I certainly cannot predict the future. I'm just very, very troubled. Iraq is a divided country. It has both Sunni and Shiite muslims as well as the Kurds, and precious little of one vital resource. No, not oil. Water. It is dependent on two rivers (Euphrates and Tigris), but has water shotage already, which will worsen when Tukey completes dams and irrigation (if you peek at a map, you'll note both rivers run into Iraq *from* Turkey, hence why this is a problem). The US will have a lot of work to do if it really wants to rebuild Iraq.
Speaking of which - read some stories last week on Christian organisations (mostly American, as I recall) getting ready to go into Iraq. So far, so good. I'm considering joining a Norwegian help organisation for a few months after I graduate myself (I expect it would be a very humbling experience) to do whatever I can do... But anyway, the problem is that certain of these organisations are going in to convert - the charity is just a way to get to it. (And people in this organisations admitted so themselves, so I am not making assumptions). And that... That may be trouble.
Certain fundementalist muslims may see this as a direct attack on Islam, in a 'so that's why they attack Iraq' kind of way (again, I *do not* know this at all, because I cannot read minds). One guy in these Christian organisations even commented 'Islam is the work of Satan'.
After spitting out my juice upon reading the quote, I got pissed. So:
Dear Mr. Prejudice,
Thank you for your deep insight into Islam. So... Helpful. That's not going to piss of already angry people in the Arab world or is spitting all over what is precious to millions of people at *all*. And also, Mr. Prejudice, did you know Islam actually promotes Jesus as one of the prophets and a great teacher of God? So, if Islam is the work of Satan, and the Koran speaks positivly of Jesus, then Jesus must be the work of Satan too, musn't it?
I'm tempted to nominate you as a Git for the Hall of Gittiness. Your attitude just... Grieves me. Yes, there are muslim fundemetalists that scares the beejebus out any Western (and probably many muslims of more moderate standings as well), but I can say the same about Christian fundementalists. Did you ever think the problem could be in the *interpretation* of the religion rather than the religion itself, Mr. Prejudice? Or have you forgotten all the crimes commited in the name of Christianity? Hitler invoked Christianity (among many other just as sickening reasons) when he attacked Jews. If there is a hell, I would be very quick to nominate 'the Fuhrer' as having done the work of Satan. (And would probably have a very hot afterlife myself, but hey, such is life)
Do not judge a religion on its fundementalists. It will not benefit any religion at all.
Oh, and Mr. Prejudice? If you truly are Christian, perhaps you should remember the seven deadly sins: wrath, gluttony, lust, greed, envy, sloth - *pride*.
Just saying.
Love and many wishes for your speady gain of a thinking, caring, tolerant brain that may do many great things for Christianity in the future,
Camilla (she who probably sins a lot)
Before the war, I predicted (knowing full well i could turn out to be very wrong) that the war would lead to the Kurds seizing the chance to get their own territory, possibly their own land. Kurdistan. At present, over 20 million Kurds live in four countries - Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey. They are one of the largest stateless people in the world. Saddam has treated the Iraqi Kurds horribly. Gassed them, tortured them, killed them... But when I hear on the news of Kurdish troops capturing territory in North Iraq, great fear besets me.
For the three other countries who have Kurds, especially Turkey and Iran, may not allow this to pass. I cannot pretend to know the mind of the Irani or Turkish leadership, but they have not looked kindly on Kurds rising up in the past. To them, this must seem as a threat. Kurds want to govern themselves. If the Iraqi Kurds are allowed to (and really, the capturing of territory would lead to a natural claim of this, and certainly US goodwill), the Turkish and Irani Kurds may feel inspired to intensify their own claims.
I don't know. I do not know the minds of the Kurds and I certainly cannot predict the future. I'm just very, very troubled. Iraq is a divided country. It has both Sunni and Shiite muslims as well as the Kurds, and precious little of one vital resource. No, not oil. Water. It is dependent on two rivers (Euphrates and Tigris), but has water shotage already, which will worsen when Tukey completes dams and irrigation (if you peek at a map, you'll note both rivers run into Iraq *from* Turkey, hence why this is a problem). The US will have a lot of work to do if it really wants to rebuild Iraq.
Speaking of which - read some stories last week on Christian organisations (mostly American, as I recall) getting ready to go into Iraq. So far, so good. I'm considering joining a Norwegian help organisation for a few months after I graduate myself (I expect it would be a very humbling experience) to do whatever I can do... But anyway, the problem is that certain of these organisations are going in to convert - the charity is just a way to get to it. (And people in this organisations admitted so themselves, so I am not making assumptions). And that... That may be trouble.
Certain fundementalist muslims may see this as a direct attack on Islam, in a 'so that's why they attack Iraq' kind of way (again, I *do not* know this at all, because I cannot read minds). One guy in these Christian organisations even commented 'Islam is the work of Satan'.
After spitting out my juice upon reading the quote, I got pissed. So:
Dear Mr. Prejudice,
Thank you for your deep insight into Islam. So... Helpful. That's not going to piss of already angry people in the Arab world or is spitting all over what is precious to millions of people at *all*. And also, Mr. Prejudice, did you know Islam actually promotes Jesus as one of the prophets and a great teacher of God? So, if Islam is the work of Satan, and the Koran speaks positivly of Jesus, then Jesus must be the work of Satan too, musn't it?
I'm tempted to nominate you as a Git for the Hall of Gittiness. Your attitude just... Grieves me. Yes, there are muslim fundemetalists that scares the beejebus out any Western (and probably many muslims of more moderate standings as well), but I can say the same about Christian fundementalists. Did you ever think the problem could be in the *interpretation* of the religion rather than the religion itself, Mr. Prejudice? Or have you forgotten all the crimes commited in the name of Christianity? Hitler invoked Christianity (among many other just as sickening reasons) when he attacked Jews. If there is a hell, I would be very quick to nominate 'the Fuhrer' as having done the work of Satan. (And would probably have a very hot afterlife myself, but hey, such is life)
Do not judge a religion on its fundementalists. It will not benefit any religion at all.
Oh, and Mr. Prejudice? If you truly are Christian, perhaps you should remember the seven deadly sins: wrath, gluttony, lust, greed, envy, sloth - *pride*.
Just saying.
Love and many wishes for your speady gain of a thinking, caring, tolerant brain that may do many great things for Christianity in the future,
Camilla (she who probably sins a lot)
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no subject
Date: 2003-04-08 09:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-04-08 11:14 am (UTC)Nah
Date: 2003-04-08 10:45 pm (UTC)Re: Nah
Date: 2003-04-09 04:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-04-08 03:57 pm (UTC)