Obama revises Oath of Citizenship
If you aren't willing to defend what you've fought to obtain, did you really earn it?
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Yes, you may petition the government to alter its decisions, even take them to court to do so. But the laws must apply to everyone or they are arbitrary.
When the Founders started out, what were the major associations in play? Towns and States - to which each was a voluntary member. Those States then voted to voluntarily associate themselves with a greater (and "more perfect" union) called the United States of America. I do not think any part of the First Amendment was worded without careful thought and deliberation as to its meaning and scope.
You are absolutely correct in identifying that the problem lies predominantly in a lack of patriotism - especially in our elected leaders. They aren't interested in the true American values as espoused in the Constitution, because those values favor individualism, personal responsibility, and local control of government. Those are poisonous ideas to a power-monger.
But many call themselves proud citizens and patriots anyway.
But see that's the problem. Outside the US, the majority do engage in these behaviors. It isn't the minority. Turkey is the noted exception among Muslim nations in that its government is still largely secular, yet their major international airport was bombed just this week. Iraq used to be a military dictatorship where Saddam kept the religious fanatics in line - and acted as a foil for the religious fanatics ruling Iran. Same with Egypt and the Palestinians. Not the case any more. Iran and Syria openly support with government funding radicals all over the world, including Hezbollah and al Queda. Bin Laden was well connected in Saudi Arabia, from whence most of the 9/11 hijackers emanated.
And even the minority ones in nations like France and Belgium and Sweden and England and India and the Phillippines and China act out. China has serious problems with Islamic fundamentalists in Western China near the border with Pakistan. The Phillippines is currently fighting with several Islamic rebel groups. We saw the bombings recently in France and Belgium, but only a few years ago Paris saw massive rioting and looting from the Muslims there. Sweden is facing a rape epidemic from the Muslims - admittedly immigrants - coming there. England saw one of it's Bobbies beheaded and that recording broadcast across the Internet.
The problem is that this fundamentalist behavior is mainstream in that culture - it's not a fringe element. This is a significant part of their culture and their own religious books, historical tradition, and glorified leaders (i.e. Mohammed) are pretty clear examples encouraging the perpetuation of a violent and coercive mindset. Does that mean 100% of Muslims are hardliners? No, and I never said that. But the principles of the religion violate the principles of natural law and are antithetical to the Constitution of the United States. And the practice of the majority of Muslims across the world demonstrate that it is anything but a peaceful, live-and-let-live religion. You are welcome to draw your own conclusions. The evidence to me is beyond compelling.
Is that a lot? Not in comparison to China. But who would you rather have as a trade partner: one who shared your values and ideals and wasn't constantly trying to screw you over on intellectual property or... the other one? We deal with China because of their size. We deal with the Saudis because of their oil. We deal with Israel because of their values.
is dballing related to dbhalling ?
Nobody argues that those who commit, encourage, or condone these actions should be vilified.
The problem is that many seem to just be all too willing to throw out the baby with the bathwater, as it were, and treat all Muslims as some sort of "atomic indivisible entity". You're willing to concede that if "a Jew" were to do something "they" should be dealt with, but when you speak of Muslims, you lump them all together and (effectively) punish and vilify them all for the actions of the minority.
Knoxville, Oklahoma City, the KKK, Zion Emmanuel, ... the list goes on and on.
Vilifying the innocents because of the acts of the crazies is immoral and illogical.
I don't condemn people. I identify and condemn false principles. I agree completely that if a Jew in today's day and age were to stone his/her son to death for becoming an Objectivist that they should be tried and convicted for murder. I similarly hold that a Christian or Muslim who does the same should be similarly treated.
The problem is that neither Jews nor Christians are observing this kind of behavior. Muslims are and do so on a regular basis in their own nations. That to me is a critical difference between them - one that can not be objectively ignored.
"They both need to snap out of it and shed off the nonsensicel religious demands."
It isn't nonsense to them - on either side. You are imposing your value system on them, which is why you can not possibly understand the depths and context of the conflict. What if they told you to discard all that hooey called Objectivism. Oh, and along with that your nationality as an American. And your parents, your friends, and any other family. Oh, and your home. Starting to get the picture yet?
It isn't nonsense to them. It is all those things. That's one of the reasons political negotiations for peace are utterly ridiculous. The only way that situation will be resolved is the utter annihilation of one or both of those parties or very literal divine intervention. Muslims have tried the former several times and been rebuffed, but they have the numbers and will to try again, and I would give anyone favorable odds they will try again in the next five years - especially if our next President is as hostile as Obama has been. Israel has no choice but to rely on the latter and petition help from its allies like the US.
3.3M muslims in America was the last count.
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