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Rhetorical games and ideologically-driven terrorists
What should we call terrorists, some of whom claim to be motivated by their religion? Can one be an Islamic terrorist? What about a Christian terrorist? Does what we call terrorists matter?
The value judgment inherent in calling violent acts against non-combatants 'terrorism' (and those who commit them 'terrorists') is generally a reflection of something very positive in our society. Hurting innocent people in order to strike fear in the hearts of others is morally repugnant to us -- and it ought to be. Distinct from the regrettable trauma caused to bystanders in a conflict, terrorism is a purposeful expression of disdain for the sanctity of life.
There are Muslims who are terrorists (and Jews and Christians and Hindus and atheists). They place their extreme ideology over the social contract that mostly seeks the welfare of all reasonable people, even in disagreement. If they ground that extremism in religious terms and lay claim to that religion as their justification, then we should acknowledge it, not pretend otherwise.
The rhetorical games we play seem straight out of an episode of "Seinfeld." Maybe, when we refer to ideologically-driven terrorists, there is a distinction between "Islam" and "Islamism" (though I don't know how to distinguish between "Judaism" and "Judaismism," or whether there is such a thing as "Christism"). But it seems to me to say more about our inability to make our values clear than to protect the innocent when we do so.
I have more faith in the ability of most Americans to distinguish between some people and all people than the President's omission of adjectives presumes. And if those who are listening from abroad are going to take umbrage at what they know to be true, then they will not be assuaged by the game of pretend. I know that when a Jew acts against the teachings of our tradition in the name of our tradition, I am offended, and I hope others share my offense. Those are my values, and I am heartened when others join me in standing against the denigration of what I hold sacred.
By
Jack Moline
|
July 12, 2010; 5:44 PM ET
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Posted by: primaljew | July 26, 2010 7:22 AM
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"WAR BLESSINGS"? or "PEACE BLESSiNGS"? Whata ye have, What a Ye Have, What a ye Havn? PEACE or WAR?
Those Pre-Apocalyptics whom still believe (in parts of someone elses Religion systems) in things like "SiN" or "CURSE" or Even a "DEVI"L/KALi/JINN or "ANGEL"s or Avitars even Holograhms are very very SuperStupidStitious indeed.
i [WE] As Apoicalyptic-Thinkers, see them like-Children or PRE-Apocalyptarians and must must ween them off their Baby Bottles (Bibles/Qurans/Gitas/Kangyurs..) or Pacifier or even Security Baby Blanket or even Suukin ones Thumb. Chumash/Bibles/Qurans/Gita's/Kangyurs..
Pre-Apocalyptarians don't understand that Reality is To: Do-Good while surviving or even to Do Bad in order to Survive yet try try try, in the [This] Modern World Not to Hurt Any-BODY over "MY-Realigion" Pride which gets people unjustifiably killed or loved ones as in the survival process, aka Manifest (Self) Destiny; w/out the KARMA nor UMMAH nor the MANNA (from Heaven or from Earth) Pre-Apocalyptic thinking.
"SPINOZA's G-D", according to our Prophet, hir Albert Einstein {pbuh et al} was the closest, to our Prophet {pbuh} in his god concept, as possible.
PS: i [WE] used to think that All, Every & Any Pre-Apocalyptic Systems RELiGIO-BOOKS was for KIDs or something, But Now WE [i] See That It's Dangerous-Ta{utology Not-Fit-For-Todays-Kids but also unfit for Their living Pre-Apocalyptic grown Parents & Religious Leaderships!
Say Good Riddence "CHUMASH" [Mr. Moses], Good Riddence "BIBLE" [Mr. Jesus], Good Riddence QURANs [Mr. Muhammad]. Good Riddence GITA's [Mr. Vyasa]. Good Riddence BUDDHISTs [Mr. Gautama] et al.
GOOD Bye All/Every & Any PRE-APOCALYPTIC Religion Systems; HELLO A P O A L Y P T A R i a n i y" & more Good Tidings com'th YE/YO Way'ths!
Sing, HAIL-a-LU-YA-YA! O' Praise "IT" (NOt a HE nor a SHE).
Hint: WE THE APOCALYPTICari-ON's (not OFF's) hath Reversed the [Pre-Apocalyptarians Poly theo's & or Mono's theo's; Not dios)] old "WAR BLESSING"s as songs with our O.U.R. (One Universal Religion) "PEACE BLESSiNG"S new-Song!
PS: Think of Us {Apocalyptari-ON's} as G-D Engineers, or Ishvara Engineers or Allah Enginerrs who are sent [HERE] on a Prophetic [Emergency] Call by "IT" in order To Fix or CORRECT SINS/CURSES via Human unkinds abuse of Mr. ZEUS's/Seth/Osiris/Baals, Mr. Moses, Mr. Jesus, Mr. Muhammad,. Mr.Smith, Mr. Confucius, Mr. Vyasa's, Mr. Gautama, Mr. Tao's, Mr. Shinto's et al!
Posted by: faith-on-space-ship-earth | July 13, 2010 5:05 PM
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Too many rabbis, like Rav Hirshfeld and Moline, play a game of moral relativism.
They compare today's genocidal Islamic movements as no different then those of Christians (read 1000 years ago) and a tiny fraction of Jews (Baruch Goldstien is exception that proves the rule).
Meanwhile, not only do more than 70% of muslim Palestinian arabs supports suicide bombing (pew research) but they name their public squares, streets, and soccer teams after the most successful of them.
Rabbi's who define themselves first by their political ideology of liberalism more than their religious obligations to protect their community and be seekers of truth are no different then the rabbis in the 1940's who suppressed information of the murder of European Jewry in order not to embarrass FDR
furthermore, Rabbi Moline has been leading to fight to white wash Muslim hate of Jews, Israel, and the west
http://primaljew.blogspot.com/2009/05/rabbi-jack-moline-director-of-political.html