Contemporary Political Ramblings

Separation of Church & State

But really.. the most controversial union would that of the Holy church and government.. I say this because it’d be absurd to not acknowledge the very close relationship the two have with one another, “separation of church and state” or not.

Every major war, massacre, genocide, was based completely around which God said what. That being said, war is a tool of governments and states trying to impose power or defend against other powers. To summarize, there is a union between the institutions of war, government, state, and religion.

We look to the Middle East as an example of religious radicalism… we believe that Islam is a religion that advocates the death of many - one that looks to alienate all other races and religions.. but far before our Middle Eastern conflicts one religion played the very same role - Christianity. Let us not forget the Crusades in which Christianity waged war in an effort to purify Muslisms, Orthodox Russians & Greeks, Mongols, Cathars, Hussites, and various others including Jews.

Wait… purifying Judaism? Sounds like a bunch of Nazis to me.. and yet today they play a heavy influence - and I hate to say it, especially taking an Independent stance - in the Republican party. Sure, many sour Republicans love the opportunity to turn their noses up at Democrat victors and say, “the majority of voters who put Obama in office were blacks who wanted to see a black president in office.”

That statement is true, anyone who disagrees is sadly mistaken. A great number of blacks - who tend not to cast a ballot unless a candidate is politically relevant to them - did come out to see Obama make it into office. To witness history. In fact, not nearly as many minorities came out to promote Obama since the Clinton administration.. Was Clinton black?? Did we all forget to adjust the colors on our televisions?

Why is that relevant to anything? Because minorities, many would say, don’t realize the importance of voting in the most democratic process of all but they choose not to vote unless they feel there’s a reason to. Why is that wrong? I see it as tasteful discretion. Why vote for the sake of voting? But okay, let’s still count it as a wrong because it could very well be perceived that way as well… now, didn’t the majority of American voters who put Bush in office not know a thing about him? Didn’t they, in fact, come out and say in masses “we support him because of his religious faith.”?

George Bush colored the Middle East red with slanderous comments pointing to their inclination to wage war on a religious basis but I honestly feel his starting a fight was not only for personal gain but also for religious purposes in itself. Quite frankly, no blindly supporting Christian voter was saying “no” when he occupied the pagan nations of Iraq and Afghanistan. After a 4 year term of mistakes, still.. “we support him because of his RELIGIOUS FAITH.” But okay, we’ll say Iraq is a war mongering nation primarily based on the text of a made up religion.

Curious though, don’t we support Israel in the current Israeli/Palestinian war? The same Israel which is comprised of Jews who claim to own the land which has been occupied by Palestinians for centuries? And why is that? Because their holy book SAYS the land belongs to them.. so with that being said, we’d be hypocrites if we didn’t lend support and ammunition to them since we’re so dependent on text as well.

You know what else is interesting? The relationship between the constitution and the bible - not so much in regards to content but to its broad interpretation. Years ago black people were enslaved because our constitution said that’s the way it had to be… now we all live “united” under that constitution. Slavery was okay because the Holy Bible itself advocates slavery and yet the majority of muslim blacks are now faithful Christians. Even gays were prosecuted and still are because of the Holy Bible - an entire people looked down… beaten and killed.. and at their funerals, protestors say, “GOD HATES FAGGOTS.”

Shah Mohammed Pahlavi of Iran many years ago tried to ban religion and promote focus going towards education. The secret police claimed that he was a totalitarian ruler in every sense of the word, after his overthrowing in the Iranian Revolution. Of course, Pahlavi is not a man I would want governing me, but he didn’t try to get rid of religion and promote education because he was a crazy bastard (though he was), but because that’s the most progressive thing to do to prosper your nation and government. Intelligence should overthrow the learnings of the church - not violently. We should just look towards the conflicts in front of us with a blind, non biased view of things - incorporating religion into executive decisions automatically brings bias into the equation.

If there is a God. And this is him. Why do we support him? Why do we blame our actions on him? Have any of us met him? Has he spoken to us? Answered our prayers? When these genocides take place, where is he to say “this is not my way”? Where is he to part the red seas of blood spilled by those fighting so hard to speak the words he himself has yet to speak?

If people want to believe in a God, I say okay. There’s nothing wrong with believing that there’s more than the world we currently live in - I know I pray there’s more than this. There’s never anything wrong with having a support system; somewhere to go. But what clearly plays no role whatsoever in politics, should stay out of politics. There’d be far less bloodshed without murders concluded by “God told me to do it.”

Patience Is A Virtue

The news makes me smile… which I don’t think is that good of a thing considering the current crises we’re faced with at the moment. Yet still, hardships aside, to take a satirical look at things… everyone’s so focused on fixing everything NOW. 

Guys, Rome wasn’t built in a day.. and speaking of which.. on the topic of America’s downfall through the greed of its money-hungry CEOs and investment bankers, did you know that the same exact thing happened in Rome? Many people pay close attention to - or are at least aware of its glorious nation, but they disregard the politics behind its development. Rome was packed with greedy, corrupt politicians and then it - according to a few historians - fell because of the economic issues that arose from the structure which had developed around said corruption.

…Is this a foreshadowing for the doom to fall upon America? No. Not at all. The largest difference is that America is a democracy, or it at least tries its hardest to be in that it follows a democratic design. We have a president in office - though inexperienced - who has new age ideals and methods that could very well be the way out.

Not to play the blame game, but even the most conservative of Republicans would agree in this very Socrates-esque argument:

1) The economy was in as good a shape as it could be during the Clinton administration.

2) The economy was devastated by the end of the Bush administration.

3) Therefore, the Bush administration is responsible.

…but this is hardly a valid argument.. so to further it, you’d continue on by saying:

1) America’s involvement in Iraqi affairs on the false pretense that they had “weapons of mass destruction” led to what is now nearly a decade of fighting.

2) Each day of each year of the fighting cost our nation billions of dollars.

3) Therefore, we plunged our nation into the red zone of debt.

4) This was done under the Bush administration.

5) Therefore, it was the Bush administration’s fault.

…And the Bush administration was a Republican one. 

In the election, many were glad to see a Democrat rise up.. if not because we thought the candidate was most likely to fix things, then because we wanted to see what someone in another party could do. Also, McCain’s primary stance was that he was war-savvy, and although we’re in a war-related conflict, knowing how to maneuver and “win” a comparably Vietnamese war (guerilla warfare included) would just cost more money and more lives. 

Iraq was a personal vendetta, not a nationwide mission. Our focus should be on Pakistan (Al-Quaeda HQ) and Afghanistan (Osama bin Laden’s home town). Period. 

All of that being said.. why is everyone complaining that Obama isn’t doing a good job? He’s been in office for about 3 months trying to undo 8 years of wrongdoings… I say cut him some slack and let’s see what he can accomplish.. the problem we’re stuck in right now won’t and can’t be fixed in a matter of months.. he said it himself that suffering will have to accompany the eventual recovery of our economy and international standings. It will take sacrifice and time, people.. so try to get on the same page and fix this. We CAN fix this, we just need to stop criticizing and start coming together.

Not to spit candy, but unity and patience is what’s necessary right now.

Addressing the Statement: “America Is A Failure”

It’s unfortunate to have a deep, extensive understanding of how things work… especially from a historical viewpoint. Not to say that I have a real grasp on things, but let’s take a look at what’s fairly obvious: super nations through history.

Whether Alexander’s Greece and the hope of unity through violent expansion or Rome’s vast nation; the might and power of the various legions under Persian control or the numerous soldiers of Sparta (these among many, just bringing these up in particular due to recent displays in pop media culture, ie: Gladiator, Alexander, 300) and the gates in which they defended - all have fallen. Through various uprisings and nations at the world’s throne, America has risen to the top of the ranks and is arguably #1.

Often times, America is even regarded as the “world’s police-” and how appropriate a title. From getting involved in the controversial Vietnam War to the occupancy of Iraq and the search for an international sense of democracy, the children of America have been screaming “mind your own business” for years, it would seem. Many would argue it started way before the Vietnam conflict - but for all intensive purposes, I simply won’t get into that - as in most cases, it’s all a matter of speculation and opinion.

I wonder, if you’re a super power.. is it your role to help others? And if you do try to help, are you truly helping - how can you? And who decides? Can it be that in attempting to lend a hand, you’re inadvertantly imposing some form of government or structure that needn’t be established in the first place? - as many would argue is the situation in the aforementioned States (Vietnam, Iraq). And then if you choose neutrality, what do you say to those that scream: “Save Darfur”? Wouldn’t that be asking the nation to play the very role that it has come under so much fire for..?

So many are quick to point out the flaws of America, but not enough are level-headed enough to see that it’s far harder to actually find solid solutions. Of course our government has its flaws - Iraq will forever display the blunt deficiency that we can produce at times, but when has true perfection ever been shown through a super power’s actions? It seems that there are far more people lying down in the wake of looming tanks about our heinous response to 9/11 than there were about the A-bombing of Japan after Pearl Harbor - I think it’s obvious to see which comeback was “more deserved,” and yet here we are.

Another point which needs to be addressed is the general feeling towards American soldiers. They rape, beat, and kill mercilessly and we spit on them. After a debatable defeat against Vietnam, witnessing brothers in arms massacred all around them, and losing limbs and blood on far away soil, soldiers were greeted not by parades or cheers but by protestors and all around hate. Funny that in the days of Ancient Rome, when soldiers raped and burned houses with people still in them, they returned home to smiles and flowers (literally)… they were honored.

I’m not saying rape is okay. I’m not saying entering Iraq for no reason is okay. What I am saying, is that there are no longer any solid lines which inform us as to what exactly is “okay” and just plain “wrong.” America, land of the free, has given its people so much freedom that hypocrisy is a seemingly daily event. Do you want soldiers to defend us or do you want our borders unprotected? If they’re there, is it okay to spit on them and protest their actions even though it’s a higher source that dictates those very actions?

I’m confuzzled. But… bottom line: America is not a failure… compared to the masters of commanding and conquering… the champions of nation prosperity.. the leaders of yesterday.. America is far more advanced (not only technologically but morally) - so give the old girl some credit!