Comments on: What We’ve Forgotten http://www.workingdefinition.com/2006/01/10/what-weve-forgotten Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:16:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: john k http://www.workingdefinition.com/2006/01/10/what-weve-forgotten/comment-page-1#comment-493 john k Sat, 21 Jan 2006 09:38:34 +0000 http://www.workingdefinition.com/?p=137#comment-493 Less Bush, more Romania, please. How is your day to day life living there? estielmo(at)yahoo(dot)com Less Bush, more Romania, please. How is your day to day life living there?

estielmo(at)yahoo(dot)com

]]> By: dan http://www.workingdefinition.com/2006/01/10/what-weve-forgotten/comment-page-1#comment-490 dan Mon, 16 Jan 2006 23:26:31 +0000 http://www.workingdefinition.com/?p=137#comment-490 In a quick response to CRBS- I would just like to ask the (yes, rhetorical) question of how such intolerant religious zealotry can appeal to anyone to undergo such acts of faith, if you will, by committing suicide for their cause? Admittingly, the kamikaze had to convince themselves that their cause was just, but you must know that they had little choice either way- it was fly your plane into a ship or be shot. Kamikaze, for all involved, were an act of desperation, not one of wartime policy. The populace was convinced that if captured, they would suffer unimaginable torture and enslavement by the US. Furthermore, Japan's defeat and subsequent rapid rise through industrial modernization has to a large extent agnosticized the country and turned people against religion as a matter of state policy (despite what China would have to say about it). Where did religion itself originate? Could the cavemen have seen lightning and reason it as a static electrical discharge? Could the Mesopotamians suffered draught and famine and plague and attributed it to climate change or lack of generic-brand vaccines? No, all religion has stemmed from a need to explain the unexplainable - in short, from ignorance and destitution. Religion (and, I should mention, the US military's recruiting offices) are quick to capitalize on the wealth of poor, hopeless and most of all ignorant young men and women who are looking for an answer, a job, a reason, whatever. The religious institutions are often the only sources of money in these regions, and they invest it for their causes shrewdly. Take a poor kid who'll probably starve to death or work as a slave and fill his belly, give him a gun (or an explosive vest), and point at the enemy, and you've got your answer. Now of course the counter argument to this is the whole "the 9/11 hijackers weren't that poor, and you certainly have to have a little education to fly a plane into a building" schtick. I think this is a point where religious zealotry, combined with a hearty dose of ultra-nationalism, had brainwashed people into doing what they did. But watching the recent film "Munich", the point of "doing anything for your country [whether that be actual or percieved]" was quite poignantly raised. What would YOU do if you thought the whole world was out to get you and kill all of your people? Just ask Mohammed Atta, or for that matter, Ariel Sharon. In a quick response to CRBS- I would just like to ask the (yes, rhetorical) question of how such intolerant religious zealotry can appeal to anyone to undergo such acts of faith, if you will, by committing suicide for their cause? Admittingly, the kamikaze had to convince themselves that their cause was just, but you must know that they had little choice either way- it was fly your plane into a ship or be shot. Kamikaze, for all involved, were an act of desperation, not one of wartime policy. The populace was convinced that if captured, they would suffer unimaginable torture and enslavement by the US. Furthermore, Japan’s defeat and subsequent rapid rise through industrial modernization has to a large extent agnosticized the country and turned people against religion as a matter of state policy (despite what China would have to say about it).

Where did religion itself originate? Could the cavemen have seen lightning and reason it as a static electrical discharge? Could the Mesopotamians suffered draught and famine and plague and attributed it to climate change or lack of generic-brand vaccines? No, all religion has stemmed from a need to explain the unexplainable – in short, from ignorance and destitution. Religion (and, I should mention, the US military’s recruiting offices) are quick to capitalize on the wealth of poor, hopeless and most of all ignorant young men and women who are looking for an answer, a job, a reason, whatever. The religious institutions are often the only sources of money in these regions, and they invest it for their causes shrewdly. Take a poor kid who’ll probably starve to death or work as a slave and fill his belly, give him a gun (or an explosive vest), and point at the enemy, and you’ve got your answer.

Now of course the counter argument to this is the whole “the 9/11 hijackers weren’t that poor, and you certainly have to have a little education to fly a plane into a building” schtick. I think this is a point where religious zealotry, combined with a hearty dose of ultra-nationalism, had brainwashed people into doing what they did. But watching the recent film “Munich”, the point of “doing anything for your country [whether that be actual or percieved]” was quite poignantly raised. What would YOU do if you thought the whole world was out to get you and kill all of your people? Just ask Mohammed Atta, or for that matter, Ariel Sharon.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.workingdefinition.com/2006/01/10/what-weve-forgotten/comment-page-1#comment-488 Sarah Sat, 14 Jan 2006 20:58:39 +0000 http://www.workingdefinition.com/?p=137#comment-488 If you are on WWII, don't forget Rosie the Riveter and the movement she sparked, or call me, and I will come give your class a a good dose of uppity woman. If you are on WWII, don’t forget Rosie the Riveter and the movement she sparked, or call me, and I will come give your class a a good dose of uppity woman.

]]> By: CRBS http://www.workingdefinition.com/2006/01/10/what-weve-forgotten/comment-page-1#comment-487 CRBS Thu, 12 Jan 2006 22:31:15 +0000 http://www.workingdefinition.com/?p=137#comment-487 Thanks :) Thanks :)

]]> By: Matt's Dad http://www.workingdefinition.com/2006/01/10/what-weve-forgotten/comment-page-1#comment-486 Matt's Dad Thu, 12 Jan 2006 20:30:01 +0000 http://www.workingdefinition.com/?p=137#comment-486 Chris, Well reasoned and said. Chris,

Well reasoned and said.

]]>