Aaah, Easter
Apr. 20th, 2003 02:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
misscamNot that it has any religious significance for me, non-Christian and all. But I'm following Norwegian tradition and reading crime books. For some reason, we love crime at Easter. Books, films, TV series...It's all 'Easter crime'. I'm reading good ole Agatha Christie - Murder in Mesopotamia. Oddly appropriate, somehow (Mesopotamia is what we call Iraq now).
Which reminds me... Anyone else heartbroken about all the priceless treasures looted from the Iraqi museum? We're talking 100 000 artifacts here - the history of great civilizations. It's like stealing the past. On top of everything else... Poor, poor Iraq. (Except the ones who did the looting, whom I give 'shame! shame!' instead) Archeologists in the US are upset, especially given the American troops failing to protect the museum (while protecting the oil ministry. Rather gives an interesting idea of priorities, doesn't it?) despite several warnings this would happen. Then you have the anti-American demonstrations in Baghdad... *shakes head* This is doing nothing to quell the fears I've had since it became pretty clear the US was going into Iraq. But we will see, I guess.
Had a rather irrational annoyance yesterday at a FOX journo delcaring 'our prayers are with the troops.' (I have the same kind of annoyance at 'God Bless America' - the kind of 'yeah, what about the rest of us? Do we matter?' reaction) If I were to pray for anyone in this situation, it wouldn't be the American troops. Sure, they are in battle, but they are Goliath (and no David in sight). Their military supremecy is unchallanged. Compared to Iraqi losses, they've hardly been scratched. Who would you say needs prayers the most?
No, I would pray for Iraq, and then all those who live under existing supressing regimes and then I'd pray for us all. But I guess we all reach out for what we have a connection with - American would naturally want to reach out to their troops. I read that FOX had the most growth in ratings during the Iraq war period now, and they were also the network with the most patriotic spin on it. (Read about it here. While at it, you ought to peek here)
Also heard that the Easter sermon at the Pentagon was/is held by a guy (I forget his name) who declared Islam to be evil. *groans* Poor Islam. Like all religions, it has certain things in it that in the wrong hands can be misused. But so does Christianity. Islam also has some really interesting and poetic writings, many of which speak of mercy and compassion. Allah is declared to be 'a hundred times more compassionate than your mother'. As they say, Bismillahi ar rahman ar rahim. In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate. You know, that doesn't sound very evil to me.
Of course, I have hardly begun to even scratch the surface of Islam and is still a long, long way from understanding it. I'm really trying to go into it without prejudice, but it isn't easy. With so much islamic extremists and related terrorism, it's hard not have. But would you judge Christianity on the Crusades and the Spanish Inqusition? Is a religion its ideals or its practices? What is the product of the religion and what is the product of the culture? And can you truly seperate the two?
I wonder. Sometimes, I wonder if I wonder too much. Oh well. What good is life if you never wonder at all?
Which reminds me... Anyone else heartbroken about all the priceless treasures looted from the Iraqi museum? We're talking 100 000 artifacts here - the history of great civilizations. It's like stealing the past. On top of everything else... Poor, poor Iraq. (Except the ones who did the looting, whom I give 'shame! shame!' instead) Archeologists in the US are upset, especially given the American troops failing to protect the museum (while protecting the oil ministry. Rather gives an interesting idea of priorities, doesn't it?) despite several warnings this would happen. Then you have the anti-American demonstrations in Baghdad... *shakes head* This is doing nothing to quell the fears I've had since it became pretty clear the US was going into Iraq. But we will see, I guess.
Had a rather irrational annoyance yesterday at a FOX journo delcaring 'our prayers are with the troops.' (I have the same kind of annoyance at 'God Bless America' - the kind of 'yeah, what about the rest of us? Do we matter?' reaction) If I were to pray for anyone in this situation, it wouldn't be the American troops. Sure, they are in battle, but they are Goliath (and no David in sight). Their military supremecy is unchallanged. Compared to Iraqi losses, they've hardly been scratched. Who would you say needs prayers the most?
No, I would pray for Iraq, and then all those who live under existing supressing regimes and then I'd pray for us all. But I guess we all reach out for what we have a connection with - American would naturally want to reach out to their troops. I read that FOX had the most growth in ratings during the Iraq war period now, and they were also the network with the most patriotic spin on it. (Read about it here. While at it, you ought to peek here)
Also heard that the Easter sermon at the Pentagon was/is held by a guy (I forget his name) who declared Islam to be evil. *groans* Poor Islam. Like all religions, it has certain things in it that in the wrong hands can be misused. But so does Christianity. Islam also has some really interesting and poetic writings, many of which speak of mercy and compassion. Allah is declared to be 'a hundred times more compassionate than your mother'. As they say, Bismillahi ar rahman ar rahim. In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate. You know, that doesn't sound very evil to me.
Of course, I have hardly begun to even scratch the surface of Islam and is still a long, long way from understanding it. I'm really trying to go into it without prejudice, but it isn't easy. With so much islamic extremists and related terrorism, it's hard not have. But would you judge Christianity on the Crusades and the Spanish Inqusition? Is a religion its ideals or its practices? What is the product of the religion and what is the product of the culture? And can you truly seperate the two?
I wonder. Sometimes, I wonder if I wonder too much. Oh well. What good is life if you never wonder at all?
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no subject
Date: 2003-04-19 10:57 am (UTC)Did you see the video of the Museum Director crying? I felt so bad for her.
You know, I don't hate my country, but sometimes I'm ashamed to live in it.
no subject
Date: 2003-04-19 11:44 am (UTC)And yeah, I did see. I wanted to hug her. Iraq's proud heritage - trashed in a day. How would you feel when your life's work was about preserving this? It's a great, great tragedy. I can't believe Iraqis would do this to Iraqis.. apparently some of the looters returned some artifacts due to feeling bad about it, but that was only like 50. My heart weeps for Iraq, especially because I fear what's to come. But we will see (become a bit of a motto for me.. we will see).
But keep in mind - if you are unhappy with your country, do something about it. When you can vote, make your voice heard. You have a voice and a right to be heard. Such is democracy.
Apathy and lack of knowledge (and hence a lack of understanding)I fear is America's greatest enemy. Perhaps it is also the world's.
no subject
Date: 2003-04-19 03:59 pm (UTC)Ashamed to be American when this crap happens? You bet. Yes. GWB and his pack of scumsucking vandals, fortunately, are not America, and anybody who tries to imply it's treasonous for me to call them the scum of the earth - click. I hang up on them. The America I'm proud of is Walt Whitman and John Coltrane and the peace movement, thank you.
Yes, unfortunately it's true about the FOX network (which we lefties have always called "FAUX news"). Maybe even more sad is that in a recent poll, only 28% of Americans polled thought there wasn't enough attention paid to Iraqi casualties.
no subject
Date: 2003-04-19 10:42 pm (UTC)