The_Chameleon
Grandmaster
I'd like to talk about the real war that is being waged right now. I'm going to say what needs to be said. This "War on Terror", what is it? When did it really start? Do these people have anything to be really p!ssed about? Are we completely innocent in all this? There are certain parties that would have you believe that we are. Regardless of who threw the first stone, the real story is not one of ideologies or religion, it is a story of greed and waste. It is a story of a civilization that has had it too good for too long, and another that has had to pay a heavy price for that prosperity for too long. Some will see me as a traitor for even suggesting that we are not innocent and righteous in our motives and deeds as a society. I challenge readers to consider that just maybe this isn't so.
Some will say that I am blaming the victim, but who really is the victim in all this? Why are so many of "them" attacking us, bombing our cities and lashing out with utter contempt? What drives people to take such action? Religion? Not for probably over a century has the true cause of war been religion. If that's what you believe is behind this then you've been drinking the proverbial cool-aid. The real reason they are so angry at us is because for a long time we've been cutting them down like wheat. We've been wreaking a path of destruction through their society leaving bodies in our wake. Not just bodies of soldiers, but of women and children killed as "collateral damage". We've been mowing them down not because of their religious mandate to do likewise to us (and how nice of them to provide us with such a convenient excuse) but because of something as black as the hearts of those who would have you believe this is a war for democracy and freedom.
I can tell you with full confidence that if the NATO nations had in the 70's, with vigor, collectively begun and persued the process of becoming completely energy self-sufficient and renewable energy reliant, we wouldn't be in this mess now. Friction with the Muslim world would be a tiny fraction of what it is now. The reason we tolerated them coming here (and bringing their less than compatible ways), made concessions for them, and haven't probably gone to war with them is because they have something we want. But now we're not as inclined to ask and barter, we just justify and take. We supposedly kill them because of "the war on terror", but this terrorism is a symptom of the hatred we've generated by murdering them so we can take their natural resources. For every incandescent light bulb you replace with an LED, you've probably saved a Muslim life somewhere in the world. And maybe, with a bit less waste, there'll be just a few, just a tiny few less people motivated to blow themselves up in our public spaces. But the real difference maker will be when we DEMAND change. Not the kind of change that excuses the status quo to be ramped up in intensity, but the kind of change that benefits both parties. If we truly want democracy and freedom, then we must truly want it for everyone.
- Chameleon
Some will say that I am blaming the victim, but who really is the victim in all this? Why are so many of "them" attacking us, bombing our cities and lashing out with utter contempt? What drives people to take such action? Religion? Not for probably over a century has the true cause of war been religion. If that's what you believe is behind this then you've been drinking the proverbial cool-aid. The real reason they are so angry at us is because for a long time we've been cutting them down like wheat. We've been wreaking a path of destruction through their society leaving bodies in our wake. Not just bodies of soldiers, but of women and children killed as "collateral damage". We've been mowing them down not because of their religious mandate to do likewise to us (and how nice of them to provide us with such a convenient excuse) but because of something as black as the hearts of those who would have you believe this is a war for democracy and freedom.
I can tell you with full confidence that if the NATO nations had in the 70's, with vigor, collectively begun and persued the process of becoming completely energy self-sufficient and renewable energy reliant, we wouldn't be in this mess now. Friction with the Muslim world would be a tiny fraction of what it is now. The reason we tolerated them coming here (and bringing their less than compatible ways), made concessions for them, and haven't probably gone to war with them is because they have something we want. But now we're not as inclined to ask and barter, we just justify and take. We supposedly kill them because of "the war on terror", but this terrorism is a symptom of the hatred we've generated by murdering them so we can take their natural resources. For every incandescent light bulb you replace with an LED, you've probably saved a Muslim life somewhere in the world. And maybe, with a bit less waste, there'll be just a few, just a tiny few less people motivated to blow themselves up in our public spaces. But the real difference maker will be when we DEMAND change. Not the kind of change that excuses the status quo to be ramped up in intensity, but the kind of change that benefits both parties. If we truly want democracy and freedom, then we must truly want it for everyone.
- Chameleon
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