Israel Declares War on Hamas (bloodshed again)

The Old Testament God is the most sadistic evil monster ever written about. That makes all Abrahamic religions essentially devil worshipers. Islam especially is fundamentally incompatible with basic human rights. That's not my opinion, it's a cold hard fact.

 

soulcompromise:

I thank you for taking the time to post this excellent, honest, well-written, and VERY insightful message; I found it most informative and soul-stirring, and raises many questions and gets one to actually THINK.

I am a survivor of the 9/11 attacks (I was in a bookstore at ground level when the first plane hit on that horrible day; I then worked only several blocks away)

It was on that terrible day, IMHO, that rampant Islamphobia truly began; as I have always greatly enjoyed reading about different areas of the world, the religions, customs, and histories of other nations, I had never thought of Muslims and Islam in any terms other than religions and a way to worship, ways that are ancient and steeped in history.

To me, a religion is simply that; if people will stop and take the time to READ for a change, they will find that there are religious fanatics and extremists in virtually all religions and faiths.

Given the insane, uncertain times we now live in, a "terrorist" can be of ANY ethnic background,color, faith, or religion.

Common sense SHOULD dictate that.

I was raised to know that there are but TWO kinds of people in this world; the GOOD and the BAD.

Now, more than ever, I think it is past time to all realize this, and fight hatred, intolerance, and violence with every ounce of courage and strength in our veins.

Again, thank you for posting such an insightful message........

 

Any non-Muslim (or anyone, for that matter) should read this in-depth, exhaustive (illustrated) article.

One can indeed learn much of great value...........

Islam - Wikipedia

 

As a socially responsible person, I want to level with you. My heart is torn when I meet a survivor, or any New Yorker for that matter.

Are they angry at me because I'm Muslim? Do they hate me? Is my safety at risk? What things does it say? Do I owe them? Do I owe myself?

My initial reaction though relates to ground zero. Every time I walk across a spot of pavement that has contrast; I remember the memorial at ground zero. I haven't been there, but since I converted to Islam, I can see that.

I want to ask for your forgiveness, and I wonder to what extent I am at fault. I'm at your mercy.

I think it's very important to disambiguate extremism from faith. But I think there is more to it than that as well.

I don't want the problem to be real, but it's sitting here with me like an ever-present thundercloud waiting to rain.

 

Another very educational, detailed, and historical article.............

Quran - Wikipedia

 

I once contributed that religion is the vehicle by which we experience spirituality.

Now I see more. Academically, religion as seen anthropologically is a belief system. It is part of how we govern our values and teach our children. For some it is very much a way of life.

As an adult, it's my investment in transcendence. I seek to actualize spiritually. When I pray, it's like a small journey into my own heart and soul. It's a tiny victory, an answer to a prayer, and I feel more at home then.

If we look at the way our needs are structured, we can prioritize. My priority is easier to meet when my heart knows its way.

 

Soulpoker:

I cannot even imagine what it must be like to feel what you are feeling; you have done NOTHING to feel guilty of.

Clearly, you are someone with a level head and a keen mind; not to mention simple common sense.

I am part German on my mother's side; I shudder when I think that extreme fanatics during WW2 exterminated millions of Jews, all at the hands of an evil, highly disturbed dictator was caused by evildoers that also hailed from the country of my German grandparents.

Simply put, my friend, their are DANGEROUS fantatics in EVERY ethnic group, in every race.

On the news last night, I saw the ruins of a largely-destroyed mosque; it was clear that this was an ancient structure, and to see it in ruins was truly sobering.

Then, too, the many thousands of innocent people caught in the cross-hairs.

Despite what some might say, there NEVER was a GOOD war; my late mother (who went to school in the 1920's) told me that, when discussing wars in her history class, her teacher soberly said to the class:

"War is nothing but a feast for vultures/"

My mother never forgot that.

May peace always be with you.......

 

All of you guys condemn the present dirty war. The main losers are the regular people who are trapped in Israeil and Gza strip lands. It will happen again and again and again until the two political sides want to solve the main problem really. I don't believe these two criminal politicians from both sides want to take a final step toward a solution. It doesn't matter now who has occupied the holey land or who kicked out the domestic Palestinian people from their homeland, it is a matter of accepting 2 states to live both Israeli and Palestinian people live peacefully together. BB has killed all the peace processes during the last 4 years, and he gave permission to some other criminal governments like Iran to support Hamas by sending armed types of equipment. So we can see that regular people are the main losers, and the arms producer factories are the main winners under the criminal programs of the politicians.

 

"Regular people" (i.e.everyday citizens) have always suffered tremendously in ANY conflict throughout history; and, of course, we all know how stubborn "Powers That Be" can be, each side refusing to give an inch.

As I type these words, we have many thousands of "ordinary people" who have found their lives, and, indeed, their worlds, totally disrupted and largely destroyed.

Food, water, power, medical supplies, medical services......so much taken for granted that suddenly becomes precious commodities.

Who is the victor, when all the fighting ceases?

Going by the many hundreds of deaths....the widespread mass destruction, the thousands without a place to call "home", NO ONE can truly boast of a true "victory"................

 

Of course, you are right there is no Victor at the end of each war, but both politicians sides are victors. The two side governments feel victory but who pays the price? it is so clear the people pay the price !!
Gaza strip size is 140 squares mils which is at twice as Washington DC, but more than 2 millions people live there. It is the most populated zone in the world. It means more than 14000 people live in one square mile ( 3500/square mile, in Washington DC) so you see there is no safe place during any conflict, beside that the electricity, and water sulay from Israel so these people are always hostages and are kept in a big person.
On the other hand, the same situation is for Israeli people, they are surrounded by several Arab countries. This people live always in a critical and fearful situation which never any shield like Iron Done can protect them.
So what we should do to come to the finally peace? Would you please say you solution ideas?

 

There are no solutions to generational religious hate that won't take generations to undo.

 

Horrible situation on all sides of this. I just wonder what the outcome would have been if in some years past, Israel would have declared that the Palestinians had a right to their own state / country and pulled back from Palestinian territories? I'm not against Israel , however the occupation by them has been declared to be illegal by numerous countries. Could be wrong, but it seems as if that might have been a game changer.

 

At present, I cannot see any solutions (short or long term) regarding this bloody war; recall, not all that long ago, extensive reports from the Ukraine were dominating the news.

Now, it all seems so long ago and distant (even though the conflict, sadly, is still ongoing)

When a war also involves religious factions, things indeed become even more complex, and, sadly, even more deadly.

Not even the most astute of military minds can predict at when (if ever) this war will be resolved.

I truly feel for the "everyday folks" caught amid all the bloody chaos............

 

A very good point to bring up.

We can only speculate at "what might have been".................

 

Here is some interesting reading (and history) on the Gaza Strip...........

Gaza Strip - Wikipedia

 

On the whole--some humans are a sorry god damn lot!! We've always fought wars --first with clubs and rocks--now with modern killing machines. Humanity will never learn until it's too late, it seems.

 

.....we are all rapidly regressing back to the Stone Age....and it won't be pretty.......

 

See also:

West Bank - Wikipedia

 

Thanks for that reference.

 

The Holy Land (so difficult to put this land into "holy" terminology, these days).......

Holy Land - Wikipedia