What makes a secure world?

5 Replies

This post most likely will upset a few readers. If you are easy to upset, please do not read it. You have been warned.

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One thing about not being American is the fact that I can view their behavior from the outside. And one of the things I do have a hard time accepting is their praise of God. Everything seems to evolve around a hypocritical praise of the Lord. 

Combine this praise with their focus on anti-terrorism, and self-heroism. What do you get? A war on religion.

I am not a fan of terrorism. Just as I am no fan of war. But I do not think that praising the Lord is a good way to fight religious terrorism, or Muslims. I think that only serves to fuel the fire. 

I strongly believe that the best way to fight terrorism and violence is by education, by respect and by developing common ground. And of course time. Change takes time, and it is often felt hard for the involved parties.

The challenge we face in fighting terrorism is not easy to overcome. It only takes one party to spoil the process – as we have seen in the Israel vs. Palestinian case over the years. If one prime minister decides that the proposed outcome is not in their best interest, they decide to build a wall. There seems to be little interest in compromises and "best-for-all" solutions.

And when the US targets the terrorists around the world, with "and God bless America!", I must admit I take offense.  I do not believe in that God. I am not American. And I certainly do not think a God who tells a believer "not to kill" should be blessing a warfare. And most importantly – I know that if I was a terrorist in a Muslim country, I would use that blessing as a proof that the enemy's only wish is to get away with all Muslims (as well as other opposing religions). 

What happens then when America is blessed and no Muslims are available as a threat? Will Europe be the next target? Or will the power of China become to much of a threat? 

I suggest we start develop an educational program which encompasses all major religions, and political power. We should ensure the distribution of this not only in the Middle east and other terrorist habitats, but it should be included in our education as well. Only when we all know, understand and respect our differences will we be able to control and countermeasure terrorism, warfare and unfair political games. 

This is no quick fix – with easy to show results. This will take time – generations. We need to teach our children respect for each other, for themselves and for the unknown.

Including respecting the "God bless America" that currently wipes across the world.  As well as respecting the fact that modernization is required also in religions like Muslims. Going back to Sharia laws is not progress – that is pure regress.  

  • http://andyitguy.blogspot.com Andy ITGuy

    Kai, I think you are confused. As someone who is not an American you do have the advantage of seeing things from a different perspective. We can and should learn from the observations of others. Where I think your confusion comes in is in how you apparently perceive Americans.

    First, we are not a country of war mongers. We did not go looking for war in Afghanistan or Iraq. They came to us. We did not go looking to fight the terrorist. They came to us. We are not the Country (or religion) that says death to all who do not believe as we do.

    Secondly, we do not say “God Bless America” with the idea that by blessing us He will wipe out all other religions and countries. Christianity is a religion of love, peace and concern for others. Unfortunately it is also a religion practiced by imperfect people who make mistakes. Therefore there is going to by hypocrisy just as in EVERY other religion.

    Thirdly, compromise does NOT work. Especially when you are dealing with a religion and people who want to destroy you. Coming to a compromise will only give them time to plan better and put in place the means to accomplish their task. This world is full of too many people and religions that are too different in philosophy and concept to compromise. We tried to compromise with Hitler and look what happened.

    Maybe before you make observations and put them out there for the whole world to see you should really think about what you are saying. You said that this post would anger some, I think it is you who is angry and I believe you anger is because you really do not understand what you think you understand.

    GOD BLESS AMERICA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD.

  • Kai

    Hi Andy, thank you for your thoughts. I appreciate that. I am not at all angry, I am curious. I strongly believe in respect of others – including Americans. And I do believe in compromise – to find a win-win-win situation.

    I do not believe in a black and white world – I believe in a world of many shades, many colors, many rights and many wrongs. And I believe there should be room for most of them.

    But – I do agree with you, Andy, that extremes must be handled. You mention Hitler as one. I myself mentioned the extreme Muslims believing in the Sharia laws. And as I state, I do not believe that education alone is the solution – it will take a long time, and a lot of commitment and deal-making to get us there. However, I do believe that talk and open minded discussion is more valuable than violence.

    I do believe in making friends. And I do believe in valuing the differences between us – be it sex, culture, religion or politics.

    A world without mutual respect and room for difference will be a lot like the world Hitler wanted. And as you say yourself, we cannot accept that.

  • http://andyitguy.blogspot.com Andy ITGuy

    Kai, I agree that we need to value differences in culture, religion and such but I don’t believe that a gray world is the answer. Gray is a murky color and it leaves open too many avenues of interpretation. There can’t be many rights to the same question. This trend towards “what is right for you may not be right for me” has really messed things up. While circumstances may affect things right is still right and wrong is wrong. The grayness is what has clouded things. We have taken the circumstances and made them the basis for our beliefs. As long as I can believe right to be one thing and someone else can believe it to be another then we will never have a “true” right. Our concept of right and wrong has to be fixed on a fixed point. Circumstances and peoples own ideas are not fixed. A fixed point can’t be gray it has to be black or white. Everything that everyone does affects many other people yet many people now believe that they can do what they want without it affecting anyone else. That does not happen because we can’t live isolated no matter how hard we try. I could go on and on and give many examples but I’ll stop here.

  • Kai

    Hi Andy, I think "right" is a flexible thing. It moves with time and circumstance. As with history, the victor defines it. So I believe that right is what we want it to be, and it will always change and move and alter. But, you are right, there should be a general idea of right – a direction. But the idea (or definition) should IMO be open for discussion and allow for alterations on the way. Not so long ago, what we thought was right is completely wrong today. Copernicus had huge challenges fighting right. Archimedes fought right. Your own forefathers did the same. And in their times, most people viewed their rights as wrong. Also imagine Hitler. Had he won, the right today would be very different from what we have. Right in China is not the same right as in the US, or in Norway for that sake. My point of view is that there are many rights, and we have the right to defend and cater them. And I admit – what I describe as a solution is a dream. But if we do not fight for our dreams, what we think is right – where will we go?

  • http://www.stillsecureafteralltheseyears.com alan shimel

    Kai- appreciate your article on this. Just a couple of things: on the terrorist threat, they came to us on this one. Though not from Iraq. The Christian-Muslim thing has sadly been going on for a long time, since the middle ages. Education is a great way to combat it and teach respect. However, it takes two tango there. As long as hate and superiority is taught in places like Saudi Arabia and Iran, you cannot change the world. Israel and the Palestinians are proof of that.

    As for the “God Bless America” stuff, you have to understand that Americans are constantly reminded of our “manifest destiny” which led to us establishing a continent wide country blessed with natural resources and then becoming a superpower. I agree that it can be disturbing to non-Americans, but it is not meant as a threat to other countries.

    There are some excellent books on America’s current religious revival, oil and money. I read one that you can see on my side bar on the blog.

    good luck!