Posted by
Mekhong Kurt/Bangkok, Thailand on November 7, 2009:
The American Taliban is alive and well, most unfortunately, in my view.
Though I live in Bangkok, I have many American friends here, both long-term, year-round residents and those who come and go, either because their work takes them back and forth or they're retired and split their time between here and the States. The point is that though expats here are hardly typical of the average person on the streets of America, I do get considerable exposure to at least some thought from said streets.
And some of that slice of thought I hear is downright chilling. I know people who seriously propose that anyone not Christian -- especially Muslims -- be at least suppressed, if not repressed. But "let's include the Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, etc. etc. etc. while we're at it since this is a Christian nation."
Well, no it's not. And that's a large part of the entire point of the founding of the country in the first place. All these people blathering about our "Christian" Founding Fathers simply don't have a clue, and certainly haven't actually *read* -- heaven forbid! -- what those folks had to say.
It's a case of "Don't confuse me with the FACTS!!! -- my mind's already made UP!!!"
Though I never served on active military duty, I was in ROTC three years, so had to take an oath along the way. I also took oaths when I was a peace officer and a security officer. And you know what? -- not one of those oaths restricted my obligation to Christians, and not one of them came with an expiration date. I've been entirely out of such work since mid-1981, but I still feel myself obligated to protect and serve, if appropriate and need be. I have, and so long as I'm able, will. Not that I'm Mr. Hot Stuff; I just take promises seriously. Including to defend our Muslims. OUR Muslims, let me stress. And our Jews. And our Buddhists. And Hindus. And Zorasterians. And whoever. We're a nation of free people, and that includes freedom OF religion and, if we want, freedom FROM religion -- an important distinction.
I also will defend anyone's right to disagree with me, though I do hope anyone disagreeing realizes that his or her rights end at the tip of my nose, and those of all the rest of us.
Without honor for each other, what are we? Mere savages.
Fundamentally Wrong - Comments
Posted by Mekhong Kurt/Bangkok, Thailand on November 7, 2009:
The American Taliban is alive and well, most unfortunately, in my view.
Though I live in Bangkok, I have many American friends here, both long-term, year-round residents and those who come and go, either because their work takes them back and forth or they're retired and split their time between here and the States. The point is that though expats here are hardly typical of the average person on the streets of America, I do get considerable exposure to at least some thought from said streets.
And some of that slice of thought I hear is downright chilling. I know people who seriously propose that anyone not Christian -- especially Muslims -- be at least suppressed, if not repressed. But "let's include the Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, etc. etc. etc. while we're at it since this is a Christian nation."
Well, no it's not. And that's a large part of the entire point of the founding of the country in the first place. All these people blathering about our "Christian" Founding Fathers simply don't have a clue, and certainly haven't actually *read* -- heaven forbid! -- what those folks had to say.
It's a case of "Don't confuse me with the FACTS!!! -- my mind's already made UP!!!"
Though I never served on active military duty, I was in ROTC three years, so had to take an oath along the way. I also took oaths when I was a peace officer and a security officer. And you know what? -- not one of those oaths restricted my obligation to Christians, and not one of them came with an expiration date. I've been entirely out of such work since mid-1981, but I still feel myself obligated to protect and serve, if appropriate and need be. I have, and so long as I'm able, will. Not that I'm Mr. Hot Stuff; I just take promises seriously. Including to defend our Muslims. OUR Muslims, let me stress. And our Jews. And our Buddhists. And Hindus. And Zorasterians. And whoever. We're a nation of free people, and that includes freedom OF religion and, if we want, freedom FROM religion -- an important distinction.
I also will defend anyone's right to disagree with me, though I do hope anyone disagreeing realizes that his or her rights end at the tip of my nose, and those of all the rest of us.
Without honor for each other, what are we? Mere savages.
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