Posted by cockeyed on May 16, 2005, at 0:37:03
In reply to Re: my feelings of disgust, posted by Dr. Bob on May 15, 2005, at 1:58:45
I'm not sure if I'm addressing this msg. properly or...well, I'll just note that I'm confused. First, I did not intend to be uncivil. I have issues with the term "faith". I was raised in a tradition of veiled intolerance, a parochial, often hypocritical interpretation of Christianity of the us against them variety. Our side was always correct, other religions or faiths were, if not "misguided", than heretical or pagan and those who practiced those faiths were to be pitied and left to god to "forgive".
It's very hard to be so circumspect. I did not intend to be uncivil. I stated that I regarded the concept of jihad as barbaric. I have come to regard many of the historical actions of Catholicism, the religion to which I was unyieldingly faithful, as barbaric and, perhaps worse, as calculatingly cruel and self-aggrandizing, much as the nazi phenomenon in Germany from '33 to '45, and the subversion of communism as practiced by the USSR which became an exercise in fascism and criminality as abhorrent as was nazi-ism. I think the fact is that I do not have the ability to understand civ-ility in light of 9/11. I was born three months after Pearl Harbor. That attack was an act of war. And it is my opinion that the destruction of the twin towers represented an act of war by militant Islamic jihadists. But I find that I confuse my personal disillusion with organized religion and...rage. I believe that's the most succint and accurate term. I find myself conflicted. I'd like to speak rationally and civilly about this psychological issue but I don't know if I have the skill to do so. But it's important to understand that there are many citizens who have been in a very real sense, traumatized by this event. How are we to discuss this damage. For me it's very real. and very confusing. Because I wrote about my sense that for many people Osama Bion Laden is a Savior figure, a hero to the downtrodden. I love my country but I often see echoes of the German Reich. And that is extremely troubling. yet this country after WWII acted to a way which allowed the conquered peoples to rebuild their societies. And I expect that the US will do the same in Iraq. But my misfortune seems to me to be that I have issues of personal anger which might lead me to write in an offensive or uncivil manner. I do not intend to do so, but I appear to have been judged as doing so. I accept that and will try to deal with my issues of anger without harming or offending others.
But the issue of FAITH is a bit of a land mine. I wonder why? Why should people of one faith attempt to impose their modes of belief upon others. Why a jihad? perhaps I don't understand the nature of that term. I take it to mean literally picking up a weapon and going out to conquer those who are not of the jihadists faith. And I can not understand that. So perhaps ignorance on my part has led to a perceived lack of civility. I tried to speak plainly and honestly but I recognize that i've gone beyond the pale. I'll try to keep my comments on FAITH limited to my own problems and issues which unfortunately have raised up to haunt me. But maybe I'll try another board or try limiting my ramblings to the mess in my head. By the way, has anyone...nope, that's not for here. I quit. thanks, more cockeyed than ever.
poster:cockeyed
thread:497921
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20050417/msgs/498373.html