"The righteous Judeo-Christian God against the evil God of Islam"

[Q]

- Which team will win? Stay tuned!

--------

Published on Thursday, October 23, 2003 by CommonDreams.org

Good Versus Evil Sells Violence To Serve the American Empire

by Tom Turnipseed

"...Not to be out done in cashing in on the violent clash of good versus evil and the fears of their flocks are televangelists like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and Franklin Graham who view the escalating carnage in the Middle East, Iraq, and Afghanistan as biblical prophecy pitting the forces of their righteous Judeo-Christian God against the evil God of Islam. They also believe in and support a global crusade of their religious adherents against Islam's one billion people who comprise one-fifth of. the world's population.

Reverend Robertson says that Islam is a violent religion because its prophet, Mohammad, was a warrior. Jerry Falwell has opined, ":I think Mohammad was a terrorist". "...he was a violent man, a man of war". "...Jesus set the example for love, as did Moses, and I think Mohammad set an opposite example". The Reverend Franklin Graham, who is the son of the Reverend Billy Graham and heir to his giant televangelist empire, called Islam, "a very evil and wicked religion". These religious prophets of conflict have been upstaged recently by a "crusading" military prophet of conflict who is in a position to act out his religious fantasies.

Making the headlines and the evening news shows this week has been Army Lt. General William "Jerry" Boykin, who was recently named Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Boykin is a self-professed Judeo-Christian zealot who has appeared before conservative religious audiences in uniform and told them that the war on terrorism is a battle between a "Christian army" and Satan and that Muslims worship an "idol' and not a "real God". The comments were first reported in the LA Times and aired by NBC News which included excerpts from video-taped speeches. A spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations called Boykin's comments "ill-advised and bigoted" and asked that he be reassigned. General Boykin is a hands-on stalker of terrorists who belong to this "very evil and wicked religion" that Reverend Graham preaches against.

Boykin heads what is essentially an assassination program run out of the Pentagon. He is in charge of overseeing the Defense Department's "High Value Target Plan," coordinating the activities of military special operations units and the CIA in tracking down and killing those identified by the Bush administration as enemies in the "war on terrorism." Among the targets are bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, Taliban leader Mullah Omar and many other lesser known figures. Ever the crusader, General Boykin also said, "George Bush was not elected by a majority of voters in the United States. He was appointed by God". ---

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1023-03.htm

[quaker bill]

1. I likes John Stewart's take

"My god's bigger than your god" sung to the ken-l-ration jingle. Funny in it's sickness.

I used to think Dr. Strangelove was funny for it's stretch of reality. It does not seem like so much a stretch anymore.

Thinking that these people are insane is an injustice to the mentally ill.

[Tyler Durden]

7. I like George Carlin's take even better.

"You believe in God?"
"No."
BANG! Dead.

"You believe in God?"
"Yes."
"You believe in MY God?"
"No."
BANG! Dead.

MY God has a bigger dick than YOUR God.

[DinahMoeHum]

14. . . .and remember, "G*d" is "Dog" spelled backwards!!

n/t

:evilgrin:

[emad]

2. Typical theist turf war.....

always claiming an exclusive hotline to Him(HER)Upstairs...

[Pow_Wow]

3. pro wrestling's influence

has gotten out of hand.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Raise us above the distinction and differences which divide men

None of these people have any clue as to what Islam is, or, for that matter, what God is, really. People who are following a spiritual path usually view God as One, and find unity with fellow travelers, no matter what religious label they have. I have sat in peace with rabbis, imams, ministers, lamas, Native American shamen, and swamis. When we talk it is of That which we cannot know, but That which is all things. If religion is brought up, it's like, "wow, that's interesting, a different take on the same thing."

It could be that the people you mentioned are just at an evolutionary stage where they don't see the Unity in diversity that the mystic sees. Or it could be that they are speaking from fear-and fear is not God, but rather a shadow. Or it could be that they are speaking from the ego and are giddy with the seeming power that they have.

From a mystic's viewpoint, I think it is important to read and note these articles, and then to concentrate on peace within one's self. And here's why: when you feel strong emotion against people like this, the only ones you are empowering are those people. If you cultivate peace within yourself, these people no longer have a hold on you. (And no, cultivating peace is not easy. I've gotten there a couple of times, though, and that's why I know it is worth it).

[Mairead]

5. I once chatted with an imam who, saddened by the hatreds, pointed out

that it is permitted to muslims to consult a rabbi when in need of spiritual advice, and for an imam to offer spiritual counsel to a jew.

[Bridget Burke]

6. "Boykin heads what is essentially an assassination program..."

Except without the Hashish.

I love etymology!

[madrchsod]

8. it`s the same god

there isn`t two gods in the religions of the middle east,there`s only one.it all depends on what name each tribe calls him but all the three religions trace everything back to abraham.

[Solomon]

9. We know that, even the muslims know that,

but try telling a "christian" that. You will be spat on, told to get on your knees and pray, and even worse, pitied by them.

[GreenArrow]

11. "even" the Muslims know that

Especially, the Muslims know that, as Jesus plays a prominent role in Islam and is mentioned in the Koran more often than Mohammed (according to an Egyptian aquaintance.) I would think very few Christians are aware of that, and most Muslims would be.

[Solomon]

12. Green Arrow. This is a great irony that I can't get christians to see.

That Islam is more inclusive than Christianity is. Islam basically accepts anyone who believes in one God, for Christians however, there's a whole series of beliefs that one must have to be accepted. It boggles the mind.

[youngred]

10. Here's an idea

Let the rabid christian Zealots fight the Rabid Muslim Zealots and let them kill each other off. Save the rest of the normal people from their madness

[Brian Sweat]

13. Excellent! We should have a steal cage death match.

[Atlant]

16. Couldn't we just come up with a rabies vaccine instead?

> Let the rabid christian Zealots fight the Rabid Muslim Zealots...

Couldn't we just come up with a rabies vaccine instead?

Atlant

[DinahMoeHum]

15. Considering that Christians, Jews, and Muslims are, by faith,

the "children of Abraham", this is real arrogant.

Yeah, I dare call it blasphemy.


:evilfrown: