Celerity
Well-Known Member
Why do Muslims hate us so much ?
Part 1
I often ponder this question. I often ponder the question in a broader sense - Why does the world hate us so much ?
I can't slip into the minds of the masses, not to the degree I would like to. As well, when it comes to people from around the globe, they are representing their land - And in today's age of freedom (Global Freedom, yes) what people think are no longer based in religion, secular histories or as many stereotypes as it used to be.
The people are also more intelligent. They are more plugged into the human race than ever before. We have an idea now, pretty accurately, of how people live in other regions of the world.
We may not have our fingers on the pulse of the globe, We may not receive accurate news - And we may not care. What we can do now (In answer to "What the hell do you know about _______ ? Have you ever even been there?!) is get an idea of how we would percieve the lifestyles of the many people we share our world with - through our eyes.
We will look at the family living in Rwanda. Regardless of how the news affects our ears from their region - Rwandans love their children too. They have families, jobs, buildings and electricity. Car companies sell to their markets, and they don't have to hunt to get food. Life there, is actually very close to what an american might enjoy. But there are differences.
Rwandans may not care what another Rwandan is wearing. They may not care not because they are more advanced and forgiving of a culture than ours (Or yours) but because they simply aren't exposed to so much variety and market competition that labels and styles become THAT important.
They may not be jealous of their neighbors. In a land that lies between the vast riches of the West and the precipice of the wild tribals, They may not consider what model or equipment their car is - But the fact that they have one may be all they need.
In fact, I'm pretty sure of that.
This formula works for all cultures, everwhere. Some aren't too concerned with Internet connections as they are getting good work. Others are completely stressed out about the results of a Soccer game while others are more concerned with their water is coming from. Others take to the streets with rifles and fire to flush out an invading army while still others run in fear of how little they compare to the larger forces outside of their own gates.
This is why it's so important to realise why the world seems to HATE the US. But I could type on and on about cultures, one at a time - Or I can get to what really matters.
Why does the Middle east, and particularly muslims hate Americans ?
What does that mean ? That means that in a land, a land that is very different than the land that chances are, you know well, There are people that take religion very seriously. When I say seriously, I don't mean they go to their rites once a week, or follow through the motions of it. They are serious. They love their religion, their religion keeps them warm . It makes them want to go on with life. They all work as one people, bound by not what they believe - But what they all revere as TRUE. In fundamentalist Islam there is no grey area. It is all true - And there is no one better suited to translate what the Koran means in today's terms than the Ayatollah. And the Ayatollah told not only the people of Iran - But the people of all Islam - EXACTLY what the Koran tells of .. well, Everyone else in the world.
But I digrees, all religions have some sort of hardline, deep devil inside of them. Well, perhaps not some - But the top 3 that rule the world definately have touches of the dark entwined. And while other religions have a grey area of how things work - Islam is blessed to lack that. Things are the way they are in Islam - And there is no questioning of that.
"Why not question authority? Why not question the Koran?". These are thoughts that simply NEVER occur in Islam. The idea of questioning Mohammed is as alien to them as it may be to you to NOT question. The very idea that you would question makes you weak in the mind, the very idea that you COULD question makes your religion fundamentally weaker. Makes sense, no ?
You may think that this is the past - And that today, we are far better people. "I think once the Muslims get to know us, they'll change their mind."
You've never been wronger.
Recently I went out to a nice meal. I'm not a bloated rich american by any stretch of the imagination. I grew up ultra-poor and I appreciate every bit of food that is placed in front of me. I recognise that for most of the world - like, 99% of it, the life that I lead is like winning the lottery. But while sitting at this restaurant I began to slip into the mind of the enemy - To observe american culture at it's funkiest.
A family dined to my right. 3 adults, and 3 children. The children's ages were from 8 to 12. The played, laughed and made funny noises much to the dismay of the other patrons (Including me). Their parents told them to stop, in a hushed voice. The kids continued on. When they got so loud that people around began to scowl - The parents would quietly ask (Ask) their children to quiet down and be considerate of the world around them. The children ignored the requests. After dinner (Which mostly comprised of 3 fork fulls of the good stuff and tall, full glasses of chocolate milk and milkshakes) Were tossed in the garbage, out came the Gameboys and the children sulked and played video games. The adults got up from the table, had to lead their childrens bodies into their coats (All the while the games didn't even pause) and guide them out of the restaurant. Another party was waiting at the host station - 2 adults and 3 children all being given the same primer... "Please kids, If you behave yourselves we'll go out for ice cream after dinner." (ICE CREAM !)
Allah Akbar.... Maybe they're RIGHT ? Try the experiment for yourselves. Watch how many people tighten their expensive coats to protect themselves from the outreached hands of a homeless man. See how many of them will yell at and flip off fellow humans on their way to work. Watch what you say about the way someone looks. Check out who you respect. Count your money. Worship the rich. It all goes towards what the rest of the world views us for - The mark we leave on this place.
--------------------------------------------
A brief word about Muslim dignity and honor:
On November 28, 1943, Franklin Roosevelt met secretly with Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill in Iran. When Roosevelt returned home, he sent a telegram to the Shah thanking the Iranian ruler for his hospitality. The President explained that he'd noticed the hills in Iran were bare. American agronomists had learned to prevent soil erosion and enrich the landscape by planting trees on slopes like these. Roosevelt suggested an experimental tree-planting program.
The Iranian leader thanked FDR. But privately the young potentate was highly insulted: According to Moslem standards, the gift demeaned his virility. Stalin was far more understanding of Mohammedan culture. He offered the Shah tanks and planes.
------------
Here is something good to watch - This about wraps it up in a way that our soft minds can handle...
Through cartoons !
Why do Iraqis hate us ?
-> Steve
Part 1
I often ponder this question. I often ponder the question in a broader sense - Why does the world hate us so much ?
I can't slip into the minds of the masses, not to the degree I would like to. As well, when it comes to people from around the globe, they are representing their land - And in today's age of freedom (Global Freedom, yes) what people think are no longer based in religion, secular histories or as many stereotypes as it used to be.
The people are also more intelligent. They are more plugged into the human race than ever before. We have an idea now, pretty accurately, of how people live in other regions of the world.
We may not have our fingers on the pulse of the globe, We may not receive accurate news - And we may not care. What we can do now (In answer to "What the hell do you know about _______ ? Have you ever even been there?!) is get an idea of how we would percieve the lifestyles of the many people we share our world with - through our eyes.
We will look at the family living in Rwanda. Regardless of how the news affects our ears from their region - Rwandans love their children too. They have families, jobs, buildings and electricity. Car companies sell to their markets, and they don't have to hunt to get food. Life there, is actually very close to what an american might enjoy. But there are differences.
Rwandans may not care what another Rwandan is wearing. They may not care not because they are more advanced and forgiving of a culture than ours (Or yours) but because they simply aren't exposed to so much variety and market competition that labels and styles become THAT important.
They may not be jealous of their neighbors. In a land that lies between the vast riches of the West and the precipice of the wild tribals, They may not consider what model or equipment their car is - But the fact that they have one may be all they need.
In fact, I'm pretty sure of that.
This formula works for all cultures, everwhere. Some aren't too concerned with Internet connections as they are getting good work. Others are completely stressed out about the results of a Soccer game while others are more concerned with their water is coming from. Others take to the streets with rifles and fire to flush out an invading army while still others run in fear of how little they compare to the larger forces outside of their own gates.
This is why it's so important to realise why the world seems to HATE the US. But I could type on and on about cultures, one at a time - Or I can get to what really matters.
Why does the Middle east, and particularly muslims hate Americans ?
In reality, Islam, like most other religions, has both its positive and its negative sides. It imposes a host of admirable responsibilities on its adherents: for example, zakat, the presentation of regular, substantial contributions to the poor. Allah also demands that his followers "give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness," "cover not Truth with falsehood nor conceal the Truth when ye know (what it is)," and "treat with kindness your parents and kindred and orphans and those in need."
However, Allah issues many a darker order as well. And the percentage of modern Islamic adherents who have focused on Allah's calls to combat is dismaying. Today, the descendants of the Persians who fought the Greeks in 480 BC are devout Moslems. In the '30s, one of them labored diligently to become an Islamic scholar. He pored over the Koran for years. As he demonstrated his superior knowledge of Allah's pronouncements, he rose in the ranks of Iranian holy men. Finally he achieved the penultimate title--ayatollah (roughly equivalent to a Catholic cardinal).
His name was Ruhollah Khomeini, and he wrote books, pamphlets, and even taped and distributed his speeches to inspire the citizens of Iran with sacred virtue. The ayatollah's words roused Iranians to overthrow the shah and usher in a government based on strict Islamic doctrine. What did the ayatollah's pronouncements say- Among other things, that infidels are like dogs. Their existence is an affront to Allah.
Here's how the ayatollah himself put it: "...Moslems have no alternative... to an armed holy war against profane governments. ...Holy war means the conquest of all non-Moslem territories. ...It will ...be the duty of every able-bodied adult male to volunteer for this war of conquest, the final aim of which is to put Koranic law in power from one end of the earth to the other. "The leaders of the USSR and of England and the president of the United States are ...infidels.... ...Every part of the body of a non-Moslem individual is impure, even the hair on his head and his body hair, his nails, and all the secretions of his body. Any man or woman who denies the existence of God, or believes in His partners [the Christian Trinity], or else does not believe in His Prophet Mohammed, is impure (in the same way as are excrement, urine, dog, and wine)[sic]."
Concluded the Ayatollah, "Islam does not allow peace between... a Moslem and an infidel." Though many of us imagine that the promotion of harmony is a prime objective of every major world faith, the ayatollah disagreed. "The leaders of our religion were all soldiers, commanders and warriors," he wrote, "...they killed and they were killed."
The concept of a peaceful prophet was so alien to the ayatollah that he was convinced Christ's message had been deliberately distorted by Westerners. Said Khomeini, "This idea of turning the other cheek has been wrongly attributed to Jesus (peace be unto him); it is those barbaric imperialists that have attributed it to him. Jesus was a prophet, and no prophet can be so illogical."
What does that mean ? That means that in a land, a land that is very different than the land that chances are, you know well, There are people that take religion very seriously. When I say seriously, I don't mean they go to their rites once a week, or follow through the motions of it. They are serious. They love their religion, their religion keeps them warm . It makes them want to go on with life. They all work as one people, bound by not what they believe - But what they all revere as TRUE. In fundamentalist Islam there is no grey area. It is all true - And there is no one better suited to translate what the Koran means in today's terms than the Ayatollah. And the Ayatollah told not only the people of Iran - But the people of all Islam - EXACTLY what the Koran tells of .. well, Everyone else in the world.
But I digrees, all religions have some sort of hardline, deep devil inside of them. Well, perhaps not some - But the top 3 that rule the world definately have touches of the dark entwined. And while other religions have a grey area of how things work - Islam is blessed to lack that. Things are the way they are in Islam - And there is no questioning of that.
"Why not question authority? Why not question the Koran?". These are thoughts that simply NEVER occur in Islam. The idea of questioning Mohammed is as alien to them as it may be to you to NOT question. The very idea that you would question makes you weak in the mind, the very idea that you COULD question makes your religion fundamentally weaker. Makes sense, no ?
You may think that this is the past - And that today, we are far better people. "I think once the Muslims get to know us, they'll change their mind."
You've never been wronger.
Recently I went out to a nice meal. I'm not a bloated rich american by any stretch of the imagination. I grew up ultra-poor and I appreciate every bit of food that is placed in front of me. I recognise that for most of the world - like, 99% of it, the life that I lead is like winning the lottery. But while sitting at this restaurant I began to slip into the mind of the enemy - To observe american culture at it's funkiest.
A family dined to my right. 3 adults, and 3 children. The children's ages were from 8 to 12. The played, laughed and made funny noises much to the dismay of the other patrons (Including me). Their parents told them to stop, in a hushed voice. The kids continued on. When they got so loud that people around began to scowl - The parents would quietly ask (Ask) their children to quiet down and be considerate of the world around them. The children ignored the requests. After dinner (Which mostly comprised of 3 fork fulls of the good stuff and tall, full glasses of chocolate milk and milkshakes) Were tossed in the garbage, out came the Gameboys and the children sulked and played video games. The adults got up from the table, had to lead their childrens bodies into their coats (All the while the games didn't even pause) and guide them out of the restaurant. Another party was waiting at the host station - 2 adults and 3 children all being given the same primer... "Please kids, If you behave yourselves we'll go out for ice cream after dinner." (ICE CREAM !)
Allah Akbar.... Maybe they're RIGHT ? Try the experiment for yourselves. Watch how many people tighten their expensive coats to protect themselves from the outreached hands of a homeless man. See how many of them will yell at and flip off fellow humans on their way to work. Watch what you say about the way someone looks. Check out who you respect. Count your money. Worship the rich. It all goes towards what the rest of the world views us for - The mark we leave on this place.
--------------------------------------------
A brief word about Muslim dignity and honor:
On November 28, 1943, Franklin Roosevelt met secretly with Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill in Iran. When Roosevelt returned home, he sent a telegram to the Shah thanking the Iranian ruler for his hospitality. The President explained that he'd noticed the hills in Iran were bare. American agronomists had learned to prevent soil erosion and enrich the landscape by planting trees on slopes like these. Roosevelt suggested an experimental tree-planting program.
The Iranian leader thanked FDR. But privately the young potentate was highly insulted: According to Moslem standards, the gift demeaned his virility. Stalin was far more understanding of Mohammedan culture. He offered the Shah tanks and planes.
------------
Here is something good to watch - This about wraps it up in a way that our soft minds can handle...
Through cartoons !
Why do Iraqis hate us ?
-> Steve