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I got a new keffiyeh!
8 min read
Forewarning: I woke up with a migraine today, which I couldn't get rid of, so if something doesn't quite sound right then that's likely why. That being said, here is an issue that came up today.
Something I will always fight for is equality among everyone. I don't care what excuses people give to claim that people aren't equal, because they are. You don't look at dolphins and claim that they're not equal. If you're swimming in the ocean and see a shark, do you really care what kind it is before deciding to get out of the water? You can't claim someone is not equal to anyone else simply based on appearances or some other generalization. Doing so only shows your ignorance and stupidity which IS a valid reason for me to claim that you are inferior to others.
One of the most common types of prejudice I see today is that against people from Middle Eastern descent. I see where it comes from, just as I see how prejudice against Asians exists since World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Does this mean it's OK? Not at all, and actually should make is less so. It amazes me how long our culture has had the chance to learn about the other cultures and yet hasn't. December 7, 1941. Does that ring any bells for people? That's over 72 years for people to learn about the Japanese and yet so few have. They are a beautiful, beautiful people and the country is by far one of my favourite places that I have had the honour in having lived. Along the same idea, this country has had wars being fought in the Middle East off and on since 1990. 23 years. That's about 2/3 of my lifetime, and that is solely based on THIS country's history there. When did it all start? Back in the Crusades? Earlier? How many of you are aware of the history of that area? Do some research, look up the advances which were made in astronomy, mathematics, medicine, science, hospitals, politics, agriculture, libraries, music, architecture, etc, etc, etc...
I bring this up because of one of my gifts that I received from my step-mother-in-law was a new keffiyeh, and I am very happy to have one again. A black one with skulls and crossbones, with the crossbones being crossed scimitars. (Thank you, Sara!) I have been looking for a new keffiyeh for a while now. If you don't know what a keffiyeh is, you might know the term ghutrah, or shemagh, or ḥaṭṭah, or mashadah, or chafiye, or sudra, or maybe even cemedanî. Different names for the same thing simply because it is used in many different countries. I wore it today for the first time for the simple fact that it was cold out, if you consider 17 degrees to be cold. What I received while wearing it truly bothered me.
I understand that people make jokes here and there when they're uncomfortable around something they don't understand. I stopped at two stores this morning on the way to work and between both places, along with the people outside, as well as people at the VA (some patients and staff), I received a ridiculous amount of dirty looks and comments. If there were two or three then I'd simply mark it up to be simple jokes by people trying to be funny. But this wasn't the case. A rough guess on the issue would be around 4 out of 5 people were like this, and those are just the people I was paying attention to! Were some of them truly meant as jokes with no ill will? Of course! I mean, a comment comparing that to me wearing a babushka is definitely a joke. But were the majority? I very much doubt it. By the time I was walking into work and got the comment, "He's wearing his burqa..." Really, I just wanted to yell at the guy and call him an ignorant fuck, but managed to just shake my head and walk on by. Not that it matters, but a burqa is (if I remember correctly) a garment worn by women based on religious beliefs whereas as keffiyeh is worn, usually by men, to protect from the sun, wind and sand. It also works pretty damn well to keep your head warm in the winter. It is not at all based on religion, but often similar styles and colors are worn based on region.
My point is that it is this type of response that is a large part of the problem that this country has. So I wear a keffiyeh, what's the problem? Does putting that on change who I am? Because I adopt something from another culture because it makes a lot of sense, this is a reason for people to show such disrespect? Based on what? The hatred that was told to them by others who are also to lazy to learn about other cultures? I also have a rice farmer's hat. What if I wore that? I've worn it to work before and yes, I did get some negative comments and looks, but not as many. Then again, I didn't really pay attention at that time.
This needs to stop. So many people make the claim that they're not prejudiced and then their actions disagree with what they say. At the same time, they're teaching others how to feel about something even if they don't realize it. I don't like asparagus, so that means I should give dirty looks and make comments to every person that I see eating them? What about people who wear pajama bottoms out in public? To me this looks very trashy and is a social embarrassment for everyone around, and yet it's a very common thing to see. Does my opinion give me the right to give dirty looks and make rude comments to the people who do it? Not at all. These are simple examples based on the choices of, usually, young people who weren't taught better social manners by their parents which is where I get my opinion from. It's not based on a lack of knowledge about a culture. It can't be used by someone as a claim that I am racist or anything like that. But the things I saw and heard today can. It was absolutely ridiculous and I was ashamed.
I wasn't ashamed of wearing the keffiyeh, not in the least, and I will continue to do so. What I am ashamed of is that there is such a high percentage of people who have that attitude based on something they don't understand and likely won't ever try to. They're taught terms such as towel-head or Muzzie, and yet few people have the courage to correct those who use those terms. We still hear terms like faggot, nigger, gook, gringo, wop, and many others, and yet it's rarely given the attention that it truly deserves. Some people say that by ignoring it then it'll go away on its own. I think this argument has been used before, but I can't remember where. Was it with the Holocaust, or is that a bad example? Whenever it was isn't really the problem. The problem is that people are afraid to stand up and argue. They claim they want world peace and yet won't even prove it in their own backyard. The same person who uses the term "wetback" and makes racist jokes comparing black and white people argues that they're not racist because they have so-called minority friends. My argument is that if they truly weren't, then their friends wouldn't be seen as minorities. My friends sure as hell aren't. I see people I can count on when I need it. I see people that I can trust in a world where trust is rare. I see people that have grown so close to me that they are no longer friends, but family. I have friends that are African, European, Asian, Australian, Russian, Canadian, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and every damn thing in between. I have friends that love people of the same sex, of the opposite sex, and even both. I have friends who are Christian, Pegan, Muslim, Buddhist, Shinto, and many, many others including worship of the old gods of mythology. Does any of that make any difference whatsoever? No. It never has. It never will. Each and every one of them will have me by their side ready to take on anyone who wants to bring their prejudices to the table, regardless of the reason. Race, sexual preference or orientation, age, eye color, preference of serrated vs smooth blade on a knife, it makes no difference to me. I will forever fight for equality and will always see people as equals until they give me reason to treat them otherwise.
Something I will always fight for is equality among everyone. I don't care what excuses people give to claim that people aren't equal, because they are. You don't look at dolphins and claim that they're not equal. If you're swimming in the ocean and see a shark, do you really care what kind it is before deciding to get out of the water? You can't claim someone is not equal to anyone else simply based on appearances or some other generalization. Doing so only shows your ignorance and stupidity which IS a valid reason for me to claim that you are inferior to others.
One of the most common types of prejudice I see today is that against people from Middle Eastern descent. I see where it comes from, just as I see how prejudice against Asians exists since World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Does this mean it's OK? Not at all, and actually should make is less so. It amazes me how long our culture has had the chance to learn about the other cultures and yet hasn't. December 7, 1941. Does that ring any bells for people? That's over 72 years for people to learn about the Japanese and yet so few have. They are a beautiful, beautiful people and the country is by far one of my favourite places that I have had the honour in having lived. Along the same idea, this country has had wars being fought in the Middle East off and on since 1990. 23 years. That's about 2/3 of my lifetime, and that is solely based on THIS country's history there. When did it all start? Back in the Crusades? Earlier? How many of you are aware of the history of that area? Do some research, look up the advances which were made in astronomy, mathematics, medicine, science, hospitals, politics, agriculture, libraries, music, architecture, etc, etc, etc...
I bring this up because of one of my gifts that I received from my step-mother-in-law was a new keffiyeh, and I am very happy to have one again. A black one with skulls and crossbones, with the crossbones being crossed scimitars. (Thank you, Sara!) I have been looking for a new keffiyeh for a while now. If you don't know what a keffiyeh is, you might know the term ghutrah, or shemagh, or ḥaṭṭah, or mashadah, or chafiye, or sudra, or maybe even cemedanî. Different names for the same thing simply because it is used in many different countries. I wore it today for the first time for the simple fact that it was cold out, if you consider 17 degrees to be cold. What I received while wearing it truly bothered me.
I understand that people make jokes here and there when they're uncomfortable around something they don't understand. I stopped at two stores this morning on the way to work and between both places, along with the people outside, as well as people at the VA (some patients and staff), I received a ridiculous amount of dirty looks and comments. If there were two or three then I'd simply mark it up to be simple jokes by people trying to be funny. But this wasn't the case. A rough guess on the issue would be around 4 out of 5 people were like this, and those are just the people I was paying attention to! Were some of them truly meant as jokes with no ill will? Of course! I mean, a comment comparing that to me wearing a babushka is definitely a joke. But were the majority? I very much doubt it. By the time I was walking into work and got the comment, "He's wearing his burqa..." Really, I just wanted to yell at the guy and call him an ignorant fuck, but managed to just shake my head and walk on by. Not that it matters, but a burqa is (if I remember correctly) a garment worn by women based on religious beliefs whereas as keffiyeh is worn, usually by men, to protect from the sun, wind and sand. It also works pretty damn well to keep your head warm in the winter. It is not at all based on religion, but often similar styles and colors are worn based on region.
My point is that it is this type of response that is a large part of the problem that this country has. So I wear a keffiyeh, what's the problem? Does putting that on change who I am? Because I adopt something from another culture because it makes a lot of sense, this is a reason for people to show such disrespect? Based on what? The hatred that was told to them by others who are also to lazy to learn about other cultures? I also have a rice farmer's hat. What if I wore that? I've worn it to work before and yes, I did get some negative comments and looks, but not as many. Then again, I didn't really pay attention at that time.
This needs to stop. So many people make the claim that they're not prejudiced and then their actions disagree with what they say. At the same time, they're teaching others how to feel about something even if they don't realize it. I don't like asparagus, so that means I should give dirty looks and make comments to every person that I see eating them? What about people who wear pajama bottoms out in public? To me this looks very trashy and is a social embarrassment for everyone around, and yet it's a very common thing to see. Does my opinion give me the right to give dirty looks and make rude comments to the people who do it? Not at all. These are simple examples based on the choices of, usually, young people who weren't taught better social manners by their parents which is where I get my opinion from. It's not based on a lack of knowledge about a culture. It can't be used by someone as a claim that I am racist or anything like that. But the things I saw and heard today can. It was absolutely ridiculous and I was ashamed.
I wasn't ashamed of wearing the keffiyeh, not in the least, and I will continue to do so. What I am ashamed of is that there is such a high percentage of people who have that attitude based on something they don't understand and likely won't ever try to. They're taught terms such as towel-head or Muzzie, and yet few people have the courage to correct those who use those terms. We still hear terms like faggot, nigger, gook, gringo, wop, and many others, and yet it's rarely given the attention that it truly deserves. Some people say that by ignoring it then it'll go away on its own. I think this argument has been used before, but I can't remember where. Was it with the Holocaust, or is that a bad example? Whenever it was isn't really the problem. The problem is that people are afraid to stand up and argue. They claim they want world peace and yet won't even prove it in their own backyard. The same person who uses the term "wetback" and makes racist jokes comparing black and white people argues that they're not racist because they have so-called minority friends. My argument is that if they truly weren't, then their friends wouldn't be seen as minorities. My friends sure as hell aren't. I see people I can count on when I need it. I see people that I can trust in a world where trust is rare. I see people that have grown so close to me that they are no longer friends, but family. I have friends that are African, European, Asian, Australian, Russian, Canadian, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and every damn thing in between. I have friends that love people of the same sex, of the opposite sex, and even both. I have friends who are Christian, Pegan, Muslim, Buddhist, Shinto, and many, many others including worship of the old gods of mythology. Does any of that make any difference whatsoever? No. It never has. It never will. Each and every one of them will have me by their side ready to take on anyone who wants to bring their prejudices to the table, regardless of the reason. Race, sexual preference or orientation, age, eye color, preference of serrated vs smooth blade on a knife, it makes no difference to me. I will forever fight for equality and will always see people as equals until they give me reason to treat them otherwise.
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Fighting through the past
5 min read
After last week's journal, and after a few things that happened, I've been spending a lot of time thinking about life, the choices we make, and the consequences. There are things that I've known all along but didn't want to face, others that I didn't know, and still others that I thought I knew but had to admit that they've changed. Facing life is hard, and painful...
One of the things that I've known but didn't realize how true is how amazing of a wife I have. I've given her plenty of reasons and opportunities to walk away, and I couldn't have blamed her at all. Yet she stayed and continued to fight me FOR me. This past week has been amazing, though I know she's scared it won't last. But it will. It has to, for many reasons. To do this, I have to fight my way through at least the past 3 years with her, along with the past 12+ years of my life. It would be wrong to say that during most of that time I didn't show any emotion, but it wouldn't be much of a stretch to say that the emotions I showed were anger, depression, disappointment, and their cousins. The problem isn't that I felt, and still feel, all of these; the problem is that I had everything reversed. The anger, resentment, etcetera are how I feel about myself. I've made choices in my life that have hurt people, severely, and there is no way I can take any of them back. What I feel for those I love is just as extreme, but wasn't showing through the rest. When I'd get home, she'd greet me at the door and see these in my eyes and think it was how I felt about her. I had no clue. How she tolerated it all this time, I also have no clue. All I know is that I'm about as lucky as a person can be to have someone there for me like she is.
We've spent a lot of time talking recently, even one night where we stayed awake and just talked until it was time for me to go to work. Today we've spent almost all our time together which is a first in a few years. Although I know it can't last like this for the simple reason that we have work to go to, sleep to get, and a daughter to take care of, I'm enjoying what I can and fighting myself internally to make sure I don't go back to the way I was. What happened to make me realize all of this, to make me so determined to be better, I'm really not sure. I don't even care what it was. All I know and care about right now is that the past several days have been some of the best that I can remember and I want to keep feeling like this for the rest of my life. I know she's scared that it won't last. I've told her before that I'd work on it, and would for a couple of weeks before reverting back to the asshole I was, but I can't do that anymore. This is my last chance in several ways, though I'm not quite sure how to explain that, I just know it to be one of those ultimate truths that you can't fight.
So, here I am, having one of the best days I can remember, and yet I can feel my mind tearing itself into two. I've felt it before, so often that it's familiar, but this time it's happening differently. Usually it's subtle and comforting, as if it's the dark side of me showing me there is a way to avoid the pain. This time it's not subtle at all, and it's not just happening as usual, it's forced. I don't feel that gentle pull like before because I'm not giving it a chance. I've chosen to take that darker side and beat it into submission in every way possible. Surprisingly the pain it causes is partially physical, which doesn't bother me for two reasons: 1) I'm not a stranger to pain. I've felt it more than I haven't, both physical and emotional. I've learned to not let it bother me when I don't want it to. 2) It's keeping me focused on the fight, and I don't like to lose a fight. I'm going to keep this going as long as it takes, and I'm going to be the best husband and dad that I can be. There is no other option.
I know, I sound like a nutjob, and I am. I know for a fact that I'm crazy in the medical sense. So be it. But for those of you that know me personally, do me a favor would you? The next time you see me, take a close look and tell me if you notice a difference in the me that you've known for years. I'd like to know if there is any part of me slipping back to the past. If there is, I'm going to beat that mother fucker until he pisses blood.
One of the things that I've known but didn't realize how true is how amazing of a wife I have. I've given her plenty of reasons and opportunities to walk away, and I couldn't have blamed her at all. Yet she stayed and continued to fight me FOR me. This past week has been amazing, though I know she's scared it won't last. But it will. It has to, for many reasons. To do this, I have to fight my way through at least the past 3 years with her, along with the past 12+ years of my life. It would be wrong to say that during most of that time I didn't show any emotion, but it wouldn't be much of a stretch to say that the emotions I showed were anger, depression, disappointment, and their cousins. The problem isn't that I felt, and still feel, all of these; the problem is that I had everything reversed. The anger, resentment, etcetera are how I feel about myself. I've made choices in my life that have hurt people, severely, and there is no way I can take any of them back. What I feel for those I love is just as extreme, but wasn't showing through the rest. When I'd get home, she'd greet me at the door and see these in my eyes and think it was how I felt about her. I had no clue. How she tolerated it all this time, I also have no clue. All I know is that I'm about as lucky as a person can be to have someone there for me like she is.
We've spent a lot of time talking recently, even one night where we stayed awake and just talked until it was time for me to go to work. Today we've spent almost all our time together which is a first in a few years. Although I know it can't last like this for the simple reason that we have work to go to, sleep to get, and a daughter to take care of, I'm enjoying what I can and fighting myself internally to make sure I don't go back to the way I was. What happened to make me realize all of this, to make me so determined to be better, I'm really not sure. I don't even care what it was. All I know and care about right now is that the past several days have been some of the best that I can remember and I want to keep feeling like this for the rest of my life. I know she's scared that it won't last. I've told her before that I'd work on it, and would for a couple of weeks before reverting back to the asshole I was, but I can't do that anymore. This is my last chance in several ways, though I'm not quite sure how to explain that, I just know it to be one of those ultimate truths that you can't fight.
So, here I am, having one of the best days I can remember, and yet I can feel my mind tearing itself into two. I've felt it before, so often that it's familiar, but this time it's happening differently. Usually it's subtle and comforting, as if it's the dark side of me showing me there is a way to avoid the pain. This time it's not subtle at all, and it's not just happening as usual, it's forced. I don't feel that gentle pull like before because I'm not giving it a chance. I've chosen to take that darker side and beat it into submission in every way possible. Surprisingly the pain it causes is partially physical, which doesn't bother me for two reasons: 1) I'm not a stranger to pain. I've felt it more than I haven't, both physical and emotional. I've learned to not let it bother me when I don't want it to. 2) It's keeping me focused on the fight, and I don't like to lose a fight. I'm going to keep this going as long as it takes, and I'm going to be the best husband and dad that I can be. There is no other option.
I know, I sound like a nutjob, and I am. I know for a fact that I'm crazy in the medical sense. So be it. But for those of you that know me personally, do me a favor would you? The next time you see me, take a close look and tell me if you notice a difference in the me that you've known for years. I'd like to know if there is any part of me slipping back to the past. If there is, I'm going to beat that mother fucker until he pisses blood.
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I have forgotten how to love.
5 min read
Many opinions have been formed about why I am the way I am. Bi-polar, insensitive to emotions, ridiculously short temper, etc. Went to a therapist for a little while to see if that might help; it didn't. According to those sessions I'm just angry, and rightfully so considering how things have turned out in my life. I was told that the problem isn't my anger, but that I don't show it or let it out.
Bullshit.
A large part of the problem is that I'm always angry and everyone can tell. Yes, things have basically fallen apart in my life. Yes, it will be years before I can ever even pretend to have a normal life again. Yes, the things that have happened would be enough for many people to do things that they shouldn't. Have I considered them? Of course. I've thought about certain crimes that I could commit, and not minor ones. I've thought about suicide. I've thought about just walking away and never looking back. I've thought about becoming someone else. I've thought about many things and all I've discovered is that I am a very dark person and that some of the things I've considered should have scared me, but they didn't.
I have four kids. Three from my first marriage, and the fourth from another woman. My oldest is what has stopped me from doing anything. My simple hope that I will get to see her again is what I use to keep going. The other two don't seem to even care anymore and actually the younger of the two doesn't even seem to remember who I am. The only time I get to talk to them is when the oldest is able to sneak in a call or get to the phone first, and I'm pretty certain that she gets in trouble for it every time.
And my youngest? As long as her mother is in her life, that's pretty much a lost cause. No matter what we try to teach, the mother is an example of complete laziness, depending on the state for every little thing instead of making an effort. She's been arrested five times for shoplifting. She's been addicted to I don't know how many drugs. She's tried to kill herself at least twice that I'm aware of. This doesn't even count the lying, putting my youngest at risk in various ways, or anything else. I've gone to child services, I've gone to the police, I've gone to court. The result? Over three years of fighting just so I could even have joint custody of my own kid. Every time she's here it's a battle to get her to do basic things because she's used to other people doing them for her. Four adults and three kids live at the other house, and they all let her get away with whatever she wants. But what can I do? Continue to fight an almost pointless battle and hope that she'll turn out at least somewhat normal, or give up and know that it will destroy her?
Then there's my current marriage. I love her more than I can ever explain but can I show it? She's the one that was able to basically put me back together just so I can fight again but do I know how to thank her? I'm always so angry that she doesn't even want to be around me anymore. The opportunities she gives me to try have been responded to with "What's the point?" Yea, husband of the year right here.
The worst part of it is that I know all of this. I know how I feel. I know that I don't show it. I know what's wrong but don't fix it. It's not necessarily that I don't want to, but I don't know how else to explain it. I feel that every person I get close to will have their life destroyed. No matter how good my intentions are, I will destroy what they have. I will ruin their dreams. I will take the happiness they know and turn it into a pain that will likely cause them to cry themselves to sleep at night in the least. Some people would say I'm exaggerating, and yet I can't think of anyone who's gotten close to me that it hasn't happened to.
You know, I don't even remember the point of all this. Maybe it's just a rant? A stress reliever? Well, I failed at that second one anyway. So I may have not forgotten how to love, because I love so many people that it hurts most days. But I don't know how to be someone they need.
Bullshit.
A large part of the problem is that I'm always angry and everyone can tell. Yes, things have basically fallen apart in my life. Yes, it will be years before I can ever even pretend to have a normal life again. Yes, the things that have happened would be enough for many people to do things that they shouldn't. Have I considered them? Of course. I've thought about certain crimes that I could commit, and not minor ones. I've thought about suicide. I've thought about just walking away and never looking back. I've thought about becoming someone else. I've thought about many things and all I've discovered is that I am a very dark person and that some of the things I've considered should have scared me, but they didn't.
I have four kids. Three from my first marriage, and the fourth from another woman. My oldest is what has stopped me from doing anything. My simple hope that I will get to see her again is what I use to keep going. The other two don't seem to even care anymore and actually the younger of the two doesn't even seem to remember who I am. The only time I get to talk to them is when the oldest is able to sneak in a call or get to the phone first, and I'm pretty certain that she gets in trouble for it every time.
And my youngest? As long as her mother is in her life, that's pretty much a lost cause. No matter what we try to teach, the mother is an example of complete laziness, depending on the state for every little thing instead of making an effort. She's been arrested five times for shoplifting. She's been addicted to I don't know how many drugs. She's tried to kill herself at least twice that I'm aware of. This doesn't even count the lying, putting my youngest at risk in various ways, or anything else. I've gone to child services, I've gone to the police, I've gone to court. The result? Over three years of fighting just so I could even have joint custody of my own kid. Every time she's here it's a battle to get her to do basic things because she's used to other people doing them for her. Four adults and three kids live at the other house, and they all let her get away with whatever she wants. But what can I do? Continue to fight an almost pointless battle and hope that she'll turn out at least somewhat normal, or give up and know that it will destroy her?
Then there's my current marriage. I love her more than I can ever explain but can I show it? She's the one that was able to basically put me back together just so I can fight again but do I know how to thank her? I'm always so angry that she doesn't even want to be around me anymore. The opportunities she gives me to try have been responded to with "What's the point?" Yea, husband of the year right here.
The worst part of it is that I know all of this. I know how I feel. I know that I don't show it. I know what's wrong but don't fix it. It's not necessarily that I don't want to, but I don't know how else to explain it. I feel that every person I get close to will have their life destroyed. No matter how good my intentions are, I will destroy what they have. I will ruin their dreams. I will take the happiness they know and turn it into a pain that will likely cause them to cry themselves to sleep at night in the least. Some people would say I'm exaggerating, and yet I can't think of anyone who's gotten close to me that it hasn't happened to.
You know, I don't even remember the point of all this. Maybe it's just a rant? A stress reliever? Well, I failed at that second one anyway. So I may have not forgotten how to love, because I love so many people that it hurts most days. But I don't know how to be someone they need.
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Photo Developing
1 min read
I am getting extremely frustrated with my lack of options for having my film developed. Currently, my only option (that I'm aware of) is through CVS. Unfortunately, ever since they switched to only offering 1 hour development, the quality has been very poor. Several have come out with streaks or lines across the image, and 99.9% of them come out blurred. The result is that I have several rolls sitting on my desk that need to be developed and I refuse to take them to CVS again.
If anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them.
If anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them.
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Ignorance
8 min read
I don't usually respond to mass emails simply because it is someone trying to force their opinion onto me. However, I received this today, and it pissed me off. V told me I was red, that's how pissed off. Because it caused such a reaction out of me, I'm going to share it here. First, the email I received:
ANNUAL MUSLIM CEREMONY in VIENNA
Look what they're doing to their kids!
This is probably the most disturbing video I've seen in recent memory - hard to watch but please do (1 minutes, 54 seconds). Bear in mind this was not filmed in the Mid-East, but in Austria - home of Mozart & Strauss!
Does this look like a "religion of peace" to you? Is this the type of "religion" we should welcome to our shores under the auspices of "freedom of religion"? Think it won't happen here?
Did the Austrians think it would happen there? How about in New York City, where 1,000s of Muslims kneel on Madison Avenue sidewalks and streets for blocks around in response to the call to "prayer" and where they are now pushing to build a 13-story mosque on Ground Zero of the 9/11 attacks? How does a 'normal society' find a word to describe such behavior?
This is a TRADITIONAL MUSLIM CEREMONY –
Can you believe these people? They are savages!!! And, they want to do this in America, Australia and elsewhere too .. and will ... unless we stop them.
The more we can learn about the 'Islamic Behavior' and spread that knowledge, the more 'prepared' we can be to prevent this on our soil.
9/11 and various other incidents have already shown us how savage they can be, but you've never seen anything like this ceremony!
It is frightening!
Now, this is concerning a video that was attached to the email. If you wish to view it, just Google the words "annual muslim ceremony vienna" and several links will be found. I have to warn you, it is graphic, if you consider blood to be graphic. Personally, I had no trouble watching it at all. Then again, I've seen things in my lifetime that most people don't even have in their nightmares. This was my response to the email:
OK, in a world where I am trying to teach my children that ignorance is a terrible thing, I find this email horrible. I understand the points that are trying to be made, however, this is being done with a completely incorrect method. First off, Mozart and Strauss have nothing to do with religion. They are musicians, to say the least. Understandably, people who see videos like this and are horrified probably have never heard classical music from the Muslim culture, which is quite beautiful. It may take time to find the correct music since it isn't widely shared in this culture, but it is worth finding.
The fact that this is in Austria means nothing as well. Religion is worldwide, not just based in certain regions. If Christians don't want people to celebrate their Islamic beliefs, then they have no right to go around the world as missionaries and try to convert people who have done well with their own beliefs for centuries, or longer depending on what is believed as far as how old the earth is. If you (anyone afraid of Muslims) don't want them in your area, then anyone of your type has no right to go anywhere else.
Every religion has extremists, period. Basing an entire religion on what these few followers do is wrong on so many levels. True followers of Islam will promote peace, others will take the teachings out of context and do things as seen in the video. Muslims are not the only people to do this, and anyone who thinks this is sorely mistaken. Crusades? Spanish Inquisition? Salem Witch Trials? Holocaust? History is full of examples.
"Freedom of religion" as far as the Constitution goes is simple: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." This is the first amendment of the Constitution, ratified December 15, 1791, by people who risked their lives to get away from religious persecution. If I remember correctly, I have 9 ancestors that were on the Mayflower, including the only baby that was born during the voyage, and I feel it necessary to respect their choices by following through with their beliefs that people can choose their own religion.
New York City... do we really need to talk about different cultures in the city that is/was the gateway from other countries? "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." If this is not familiar to you, then I am greatly ashamed for you. Look it up.
"Let me be clear: as a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country." This is from Barack Obama, the president of our United States, whom I fully support which I have never done for any previous president. If you didn't vote for him, tough, the majority of voters disagreed with you. And regardless of how many people hate him for whatever reasons, he has done more for this country probably since John Fitzgerald Kennedy. You don't see the results? Give it a few more years and they will be astounding. Unfortunately, he will not be the one who gets the credit. But I digress. Ground Zero was the chosen spot for the mosque for one simple reason: to show that they (the Islamic community) want to be friends, not foes. Is this a wise choice of a location? Hardly. However, that does not mean they do not have the right to build it, just that a poor choice of location was made. If mosques are not allowed to be built, then neither are temples, churches, or any other building that will be used for religious purposes.
I'm just going to copy this next part:
sav·age [sav-ij] Show IPA adjective, noun, verb, -aged, -ag·ing.
adjective
1. fierce, ferocious, or cruel; untamed: savage beasts.
2. uncivilized; barbarous: savage tribes.
3. enraged or furiously angry, as a person.
4. unpolished; rude: savage manners.
5. wild or rugged, as country or scenery: savage wilderness.
Now, I assume that the definition meant for this email was number 3, since it is the only one that is partially fitting. The culture was peaceful until they were taught to be otherwise during the Crusades. Uncivilized? Considering that great advances were made in astronomy, mathematics, medicine, science, hospitals, politics, agriculture, libraries, music, architecture, etc, etc, etc... I find this hard to believe. Enraged or furiously angry? Yes, they were, based on something that happened centuries before and they use this to show their respects. If I am correct, these are Shia Muslims, which are the minority. How many different versions of "Christian" are there in the world? Choose one of the smallest, look at some of their worst (in your opinion) practices, take a video, and then pass it along for everyone to see how Christians are. Want an example of something out of context? Let's take what they're doing and apply it to the bible. Not possible? What version of the bible do you read? King James Version? 1 Kings 18:28 - And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. Back to definitions. Unpolished? Possibly, but that's hard to determine in a protest. Wild or rugged... anyone of a different culture can seem this way, so we can't really count this one.
I have taken classes on religions around the world and have spent years studying what I didn't know about others. I became ordained for a reason, to show others that religion does not have to be based strictly on what others tell you. Christians are so against Islam, yet so few realize that they are the two closest religions to each other and share many of the same beliefs. Abraham? Both have him included. Moses? Both have him included. Jesus? Both have him included. I can go on and on about this, and have done so in the past. Apparently, living so far apart and having a different culture (geographical, not religious) to grow up in causes things to be seen quite differently. Who knew?
I'm not going to continue further than this, it is long enough. In no way do I mean any disrespect towards you or your beliefs, but I do mean it directly towards the ignorance shared with others. People ask what is wrong with the world today? Simple. Ignorance is not bliss, it is dangerous. As long as people remain ignorant, they will never understand anything that happens around them.
Feel free to share this with others, or don't. I really don't care which.
I have no problems with a person's beliefs. I DO have problems when people try to force their beliefs onto others. To preach is one thing. To give a sermon, another. I can find many more synonyms for the same thing, yet each is different in its own way. Some are OK, some are not.
That which does not kill me can only make me stronger, and I don't see why everybody feel as though that they gotta tell me how to live my life. Let me live baby, let me live. - Tupac Shakur
ANNUAL MUSLIM CEREMONY in VIENNA
Look what they're doing to their kids!
This is probably the most disturbing video I've seen in recent memory - hard to watch but please do (1 minutes, 54 seconds). Bear in mind this was not filmed in the Mid-East, but in Austria - home of Mozart & Strauss!
Does this look like a "religion of peace" to you? Is this the type of "religion" we should welcome to our shores under the auspices of "freedom of religion"? Think it won't happen here?
Did the Austrians think it would happen there? How about in New York City, where 1,000s of Muslims kneel on Madison Avenue sidewalks and streets for blocks around in response to the call to "prayer" and where they are now pushing to build a 13-story mosque on Ground Zero of the 9/11 attacks? How does a 'normal society' find a word to describe such behavior?
This is a TRADITIONAL MUSLIM CEREMONY –
Can you believe these people? They are savages!!! And, they want to do this in America, Australia and elsewhere too .. and will ... unless we stop them.
The more we can learn about the 'Islamic Behavior' and spread that knowledge, the more 'prepared' we can be to prevent this on our soil.
9/11 and various other incidents have already shown us how savage they can be, but you've never seen anything like this ceremony!
It is frightening!
Now, this is concerning a video that was attached to the email. If you wish to view it, just Google the words "annual muslim ceremony vienna" and several links will be found. I have to warn you, it is graphic, if you consider blood to be graphic. Personally, I had no trouble watching it at all. Then again, I've seen things in my lifetime that most people don't even have in their nightmares. This was my response to the email:
OK, in a world where I am trying to teach my children that ignorance is a terrible thing, I find this email horrible. I understand the points that are trying to be made, however, this is being done with a completely incorrect method. First off, Mozart and Strauss have nothing to do with religion. They are musicians, to say the least. Understandably, people who see videos like this and are horrified probably have never heard classical music from the Muslim culture, which is quite beautiful. It may take time to find the correct music since it isn't widely shared in this culture, but it is worth finding.
The fact that this is in Austria means nothing as well. Religion is worldwide, not just based in certain regions. If Christians don't want people to celebrate their Islamic beliefs, then they have no right to go around the world as missionaries and try to convert people who have done well with their own beliefs for centuries, or longer depending on what is believed as far as how old the earth is. If you (anyone afraid of Muslims) don't want them in your area, then anyone of your type has no right to go anywhere else.
Every religion has extremists, period. Basing an entire religion on what these few followers do is wrong on so many levels. True followers of Islam will promote peace, others will take the teachings out of context and do things as seen in the video. Muslims are not the only people to do this, and anyone who thinks this is sorely mistaken. Crusades? Spanish Inquisition? Salem Witch Trials? Holocaust? History is full of examples.
"Freedom of religion" as far as the Constitution goes is simple: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." This is the first amendment of the Constitution, ratified December 15, 1791, by people who risked their lives to get away from religious persecution. If I remember correctly, I have 9 ancestors that were on the Mayflower, including the only baby that was born during the voyage, and I feel it necessary to respect their choices by following through with their beliefs that people can choose their own religion.
New York City... do we really need to talk about different cultures in the city that is/was the gateway from other countries? "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." If this is not familiar to you, then I am greatly ashamed for you. Look it up.
"Let me be clear: as a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country." This is from Barack Obama, the president of our United States, whom I fully support which I have never done for any previous president. If you didn't vote for him, tough, the majority of voters disagreed with you. And regardless of how many people hate him for whatever reasons, he has done more for this country probably since John Fitzgerald Kennedy. You don't see the results? Give it a few more years and they will be astounding. Unfortunately, he will not be the one who gets the credit. But I digress. Ground Zero was the chosen spot for the mosque for one simple reason: to show that they (the Islamic community) want to be friends, not foes. Is this a wise choice of a location? Hardly. However, that does not mean they do not have the right to build it, just that a poor choice of location was made. If mosques are not allowed to be built, then neither are temples, churches, or any other building that will be used for religious purposes.
I'm just going to copy this next part:
sav·age [sav-ij] Show IPA adjective, noun, verb, -aged, -ag·ing.
adjective
1. fierce, ferocious, or cruel; untamed: savage beasts.
2. uncivilized; barbarous: savage tribes.
3. enraged or furiously angry, as a person.
4. unpolished; rude: savage manners.
5. wild or rugged, as country or scenery: savage wilderness.
Now, I assume that the definition meant for this email was number 3, since it is the only one that is partially fitting. The culture was peaceful until they were taught to be otherwise during the Crusades. Uncivilized? Considering that great advances were made in astronomy, mathematics, medicine, science, hospitals, politics, agriculture, libraries, music, architecture, etc, etc, etc... I find this hard to believe. Enraged or furiously angry? Yes, they were, based on something that happened centuries before and they use this to show their respects. If I am correct, these are Shia Muslims, which are the minority. How many different versions of "Christian" are there in the world? Choose one of the smallest, look at some of their worst (in your opinion) practices, take a video, and then pass it along for everyone to see how Christians are. Want an example of something out of context? Let's take what they're doing and apply it to the bible. Not possible? What version of the bible do you read? King James Version? 1 Kings 18:28 - And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. Back to definitions. Unpolished? Possibly, but that's hard to determine in a protest. Wild or rugged... anyone of a different culture can seem this way, so we can't really count this one.
I have taken classes on religions around the world and have spent years studying what I didn't know about others. I became ordained for a reason, to show others that religion does not have to be based strictly on what others tell you. Christians are so against Islam, yet so few realize that they are the two closest religions to each other and share many of the same beliefs. Abraham? Both have him included. Moses? Both have him included. Jesus? Both have him included. I can go on and on about this, and have done so in the past. Apparently, living so far apart and having a different culture (geographical, not religious) to grow up in causes things to be seen quite differently. Who knew?
I'm not going to continue further than this, it is long enough. In no way do I mean any disrespect towards you or your beliefs, but I do mean it directly towards the ignorance shared with others. People ask what is wrong with the world today? Simple. Ignorance is not bliss, it is dangerous. As long as people remain ignorant, they will never understand anything that happens around them.
Feel free to share this with others, or don't. I really don't care which.
I have no problems with a person's beliefs. I DO have problems when people try to force their beliefs onto others. To preach is one thing. To give a sermon, another. I can find many more synonyms for the same thing, yet each is different in its own way. Some are OK, some are not.
That which does not kill me can only make me stronger, and I don't see why everybody feel as though that they gotta tell me how to live my life. Let me live baby, let me live. - Tupac Shakur
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