h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

>>In my view wars should not exist, nor should terrorism<<

Well judging by my reading of history, both have gone on for thousands of years. So I reckon it's best to face up to the reality of things. We probably can never stop war or terrorism entirely, but we can minimise it. I don't think some romantic notion of soldiers only ever attacking other soldiers helps much. People sometimes say it was the twentieth century that first saw the deliberate targetting of civilians in war. That maybe true in scale due to developments in technology. But rape and pillage of civilians has always gone on in war.

One could argue that civilians are never entirely innocent because they prop up the particular government or regime they are subject too. And so are fair game if one wants to defeat that government or regime. The problem comes when a bunch of unelected thugs seek to cause mayhem. Terrorists need to be fought by more stable structures such as western democracies, by any means possible. Because I believe for the long term benefit of the majority of people in the world, it should always be made clear that a basically fairminded structure, mostly dependant on democratic values for its continuance, will never capitulate to an extremist group, bent on imposing a narrow minded, often irrational, ideology on the majority, with absolutely no democratic structure to legitimise them.

Here is an alternative interpretation of the Qur'an and its teachings - by an Egyptian philosophy prof in Cairo - and the predictable hoo-haa that has followed.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=75826

I thought to share because it is so rare that we see the 'other' Muslim side over this way... The one that is less ideologically fixed, perhaps.


W

Now I've been saying that for ages. The responses I get from Muslims range from "stupid" to "bigot" for suggesting it.

Hi folks, thought I'd through in my ...

G K Chesterton - an English bloke who wrote a lot a hundred years or so ago said:

"'My country, right or wrong' is a thing that no patriot would think of saying, except in a desperate case. It is like saying, 'My mother, drunk or sober' ." (In the 'The Defendant (1901) A Defence of Patriotism)

What he is saying is militant patriotism (to a country or a creed) is not an argument, it's an excuse, prompted by a desire to lash out in frustration (that should be 'channelled' to something non-violent). Shame on those who argue violence is justified by violence. For those of you who have a Classical Theists faith this reaction is a tool of Satan/Iblis . If you do not speak out against violence, then you are silent supporter of it. (yes I do appreciate this violence can be argued as being conducted from one side and the other - but that is not the point - violence is wrong whoever starts it).

We are one family under God. And for Classical Theists we are brothers and sisters in faith of the same father in faith; Abraham/Ibrahim.

God help us all.

PS: And for those Atheists out there smirking at all this 'God talk' - think on this, again from G K Chesterton: In answer to the essay competition of 'The London Times' on the theme 'What is wrong with the world today' Chesterton sent in a winning reply - ME. We are all party to the worlds problems if we dont try to understand the grievences of others and resolve them before frustration builds up to the point when it can be exploited by wicked motives. Be part of the solution not the problem. Be an !