Category Archives: Current Events

I WILL post some items in this category, when I have the guts to do so. I anticipate some non politically correct stuff being posted here that might pith some people off.

Eco Echo 2016-14

Posted in Contemplation, Current Events by

I hear some people (and politicians) complaining of certain restrictions on what they must do in life that is different than before, based on climatology reasons, especially due to air pollution, created by us, the people. The same can be said for our water problems such as in Flint with the lead! Who is to blame? Who can we accuse? Who will pay for it? (Ha– I know some of the answers, but not all of them).

Eco Echo 2016-14

What will happen, who will say what, of the poor light

in a world of blight, if the sun doesn’t shine bright.

What will be said if the sky is so ugly, a poor display

turning from rich blue to dull grey, each and everyday.

 

Will there be finger pointing and yelling around then,

blame cast, accusations toward others, again and again.

Is the fuse already lit and the countdown begun,

to a daily dull filtering of our yellow sun

 

Shall the future of the world be dictated to  – now

by those of the present – we that befoul

Will our grandchild’s grand children despise our lot,

for waffling, wavering, wasting – for not saying NOT!!!.

 

Will the present haunt them like a ghost from the past,

in a forever struggle to live, breath and – just last.

Should the dollar, the mark and yen be the rule,

prescribing to all – until the world becomes so cruel.

 

What does it take to hear the sound of anguished din,

the echo of the ecology – crying in the wind……

Den Betts

Muslims and the Islam Religion 2016-12

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Muslims and the Islam Religion 2016-12

I am not a Muslim, but as a Christian I still do relate to their religion in some ways. I do not believe in all the thoughts that Muslims have and in return they do not believe in many of the things I believe in with Christianity. Regardless, we can exist together, but only if we try to do so……..

That being said, let me just say I do have a feeling of tolerance with what Islam is all about. Tolerance to tolerate, or put up with, conditionally, also to suggest a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices are different from others is a definition that I read. I can live with that word and do so. I was told that I should respect instead of just tolerate Islam, but I do not think I want to do that. Respect is earned and there is nothing that has been done for me that is part of the equation regarding Islam. So I will have tolerance toward those of this faith, and I would hope Muslims can understand this thought process.

There is too much history of Christianity and Islam that I do not want to get into right now. I do feel that if I was a Muslim, I would be concerned as to how the radical, non-moderate Muslims are projecting the thoughts to others about Islam. This means the extremist Muslims that do the horrible actions they do in the name of their faith.  I also believe that Reformist Islamists are a possible way to make the world better in its thinking and actions.

If they would want me to convert to Islam, they are not doing a decent and good job of showing how the religion works. I could get into the history of the time of Mohammad, but will NOT do so now.  I believe that other Muslims have to step up and do a number of things today. And, they will still NOT convert me to Islam; period……

The leaders of Islam in the form of the Ayatollah’s, Imams, Mufti and other religious leaders of the Islam faith, have to decide what they should do to improve the negative feelings of people not of the Islam faith. This may very well be impossible to do for many reasons. Again, reform the Islamic thinking!!!

That being said, I have also read that this may be impossible with the beliefs that Muslims have overall. For instance, I had a problem with trying to understand the thinking of the radical Muslims as stated in the paragraph about radical Muslims. They may NOT look at themselves as radical, or as terrorists, but instead, as true believers that are following the dictates of the founder of their religion. Does this mean killing, kidnapping, etc.? To them, maybe that is so. If this is so, then is the religion of Islam NOT one of peace and love, but instead war and hate? I hope not….. And I still think there is hope for the future with Islam having a key role in changing the thought process of the radicals.

When President Bush declared a war on terror and against terrorism, he did so with no great plan of how we would win that war and, in reality, we are not. You cannot win a war against terrorism. We cannot win a war against the Muslim followers that believe they are right and doing godly things in the name of their god, Allah; just is not going to happen. This group may be able to be curbed to a degree, but winning against those having ideological beliefs that they hold, will be difficult to accomplish.

I have read an article from the Baramas Group that goes into much detail (too much, actually) about various countries that have certain laws on the books about the Islam religion and the state. They do not separate church (mosque) and state, but have a faith based Islamic government. This presents many problems for not only Muslims, but non-Muslims that live there. Sharia law was not a Mohammad idea, but involved later after his death and this needs reformed also.

The countries are Saudi Arabia, that does this, and many of the countries in African and the Far East are also part of this believing atmosphere. I would not want to live in these countries because of this belief system. I would not really know how to react or instead behave there. I guess my living in a country that has religious freedom is where I belong. Even here in the U.S. we have religious freedom, but there is intolerance of other religious that still has an undercurrent here in the U.S. A fact of life!

The radical Muslims that are terrorizing the world are, in a way, on a Crusade of their own. Some decry the Christians for actions taken around 1100 to 1300 AD, whereas the Christians used religion as a means to do many things “in the name of God”. So, in essence, the Muslims that terrorize, are doing so, and many yell “All ahu  Akbar,  or God is Great” , during the course of their dastardly acts. In effect, these radicals are doing the exact same thing as the Medieval Crusaders.

The Islam followers were not really called Muslims then, but instead, Saracen’s. This term was used in the medieval era and was in regard to those living in desert areas in and near the Roman province of Arabia. This word is interesting and I encourage those reading this to look the word up.

Until we as a world, not a country, decide that those that do things in the name of God, are wrong and then when and if we unite as a whole to, NOT COMBAT, but instead seek out those that do the things they do and THEN talk, discuss, rationalize and try to convince them that the old archaic ways of thought, that many of their religious leaders promote, are incorrect for today— we MIGHT make inroads to having a more peaceful co-existence. After reading this long last sentence, I have my doubts that this would work……

Den Betts

Political Intrigue 2016-10

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                                                                Political Intrigue 2016-10

I start this piece with a question. What kind of President do we want to have in January of 2017, when the new one takes over? (Well it is a matter of intrigue, in January of 2016). I ask this the day before the Iowa Caucasus.

I want a President that is knowledgeable of world events, aware of domestic problems and with the ability to lead the country with the help of Congress. Wow, what a chore I have thought of for this President to be able to do or at least he SHOULD be able to do.

Our Congress is in political turmoil right now. The members are divided by party lines to the degree that compromise is an antiquated word and not used in the halls of Congress. We need a leader that will bring together the two factions and have them decide to work toward the common goal of the betterment of the country and not their own agendas.

If the health care law in effect now, Obamacare, is not a good law, then I want a President and members of Congress to not shelve it, but improve it and make it a better law. Politics is, or it should not be, a dirty word. This can be accomplished if those in power, including the President, can decide to do something good for the country and not take sides and help destroy it.

We have had a tax system that is beyond belief. It has to be fixed and changed and made to work for the common man and not the rich and well do in the land. This can be accomplished, if the ruling parties can work together. It is time for all the politicians to put aside their differences and work out a plan of action to make this archaic system work. Yeh, right!!!!!

Of the millions of Muslims in America, between 5-12 Million, they have a voice and the politicians need to listen to their voices too. We should not, as a country, stop Muslims from entering our shores, and to do so is not the American way. I cringe at the statements being made by people that state we should do so. It only takes the opening of a history book to remember seeing the Japanese being held in USA internment camps during WWII and the pictures of the Jews in Germany in killing camps,  to realize that history SHOULD NOT repeat itself today.  Immigration laws on the books should be reviewed and changed, if need be, and new laws made to insure a just resettlement of those that want to live in the best country on Earth.

I started this post with a question of what kind of President do we want to elect in 2016? I ask again this question and wonder what your answer will be to yourself. I want one that will, above all else, want the best things to happen for ALL the people of the United States. Big order, but, it is a big job. Not realistic thoughts, but ones I would like to happen………….

Den Betts

Girl and Child 2016-09

Posted in Contemplation, Current Events, Statement by

I came up with this after watching an article on TV that described how mothers with addiction have babies that are born addicted to the drugs their mother was using. It was horrible to watch as the child lay there wracked with spasms. Other people were also shown and, they too had problems that affected them.

What will it actually take to eradicate the use of drugs, or the NEED of using drugs? A “war on drugs” failed when it was playing out.  Drug usage and crimes that involve those using drugs is rampant and part of life today. So sad!!!

 

Girl and Child 2016-09

Her mother was a prostitute also,

The father an unknown man,

       The pain was more than discomfort

        The itching almost insane.

 

She had no skills to offer except herself,

Quitting school early, she could not read.

       His lungs cried out in agony,

        The breath in and out, dry and parched.

 

The hope she had as a little girl,

Was lost in reality at thirteen.

         The twitching of the body increasing,

          But his mind had no control.

 

A number amongst a pile of statistics,

Stacked on a desk of a human service worker.

         Life tubes, wires, monitors and tape,

          Telling the caregiver of continued life.

 

What chance or choice does she really have,

With the uncaring majority of others?

               The “crack baby” struggles for living,

               An addict with a bleak dim future.

The mother, the son, both victims,

Of the way of life in this modern world.

 

Den Betts

ISIS AND Others that Hate the World 2016-08

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ISIS AND Others that Hate the World 2016-08

I do know any ISIS fighters “over there” in the areas racked by turmoil, killings, and such. I do not know the why, the reasons, of their hatred of the world’s populace and the rationale of their thinking. Nor do I understand the reasons for those in control in the Middle East that support terrorism.

I have feelings though. I have thoughts that they, whoever they are, do hate others for some reasons. I do not think it is actually a religious reason, and there has to be a cause that makes more sense. To follow a god and do the things they do is not normal. It is contrary to what a god would want to be done. If they are following a god it is NOT my God.  Of course, I also believe there is only ONE God, so in my mind it is an invalid reasoning…..

What I do know is that ISIS stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or ISIS for short. It is a spinoff from the terrorist group Al-Qaeda and is also known as ISIL or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The Levant is an area of the eastern Mediterranean. It gets a little confusing from this point and I do not want to dwell on the particulars. There are many people with Arabic sounding names and like many groups the founders of the various groups come from different backgrounds and mergers.

Many Muslim leaders have denounced and condemned this ISIS group and their ideology and actions and state they, ISIS,  has strayed from the path of true Islam; nor do they reflect the religion’s true teachings or virtues that it has in place. The group has named a Caliph or religious leader that claims religious, political and military authority over ALL Muslims worldwide.  This was self-imposed and not recognized by many or most  Muslim leaders of the world.

ISIS is a Wahhabi/Sunni religious group that also hates other Muslim groups such as the Shiite Muslims, which is a belief that goes back to the time right after their founder Mohammad died. To study Islam and its history is interesting but still a hard read.  There is much that has happened to bring the religion to where it is today. The ancient beliefs of their founder, Mohammad were what they were due to the time period and those beliefs are archaic. Just like the Bible stories of before Jesus where the God of then is not the God of now. Did God change and does He think different now than before?

The religious leader of Iran, called the Supreme Leader, named Ali Khamenei, is someone who I do NOT respect or like. He is a dictatorial leader, who controls many of those that adhere to his way of beliefs. He and the IRGC or Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps have somewhat total control of the Iranian country. The IRGC has large business interests and are somewhat also controlling large parts of their economy. Imam Khamenei’s control of the business empire in Iran, has over 95 BILLION in assets and between the two, are able to pay for many of their dangerous terrorist activities.

Our President Obama with Secretary of State Kerry’s work has given whole hearted support to the continuation of what I call evil things they do, namely the so called Nuclear Treaty. WHY!!!?????? To appease those that hate you is really stupid and we the people are more stupid for allowing them to do it. The Iranians got a Treaty and time will tell as to how they adhere to it regulations.

If and a big IF, Iran comes out with a nuclear weapon eventually, we can only blame ourselves for anything horrible or bad that occurs, or the hold they will have on the world at that time. I shudder to think of how things will be if this happens.

What CAN we as a country do? I have copied an excerpt from a Congressional Testimony by a Mr. Mark Dubowitz regarding “Iran Financing and the Tax Code below:

  1. Designate the IRGC for terrorism;
  2. Designate additional IRGC entities and individuals and foreign companies that do business with the IRGC;
  3. Sanction the Supreme Leader’s financial empire for its use of funds from corruption to support terrorism;
  4. Prevent tax breaks for companies doing business in Iran;
  5. Prevent the re-opening of the U.S. parent-foreign subsidiary loophole;
  6. Develop a rehabilitation program for designated Iranian banks that relies on a change in illicit financial conduct. I left one item out due to not understanding it.

These are NOT the only recourse to combat terrorism, but it is a start. We need to do something other than carpet bomb the hell out of Syria, and other areas of the Mideast.

The recent terrorist killings in Paris, the bomb put in the Russian airplane and other atrocities do not give me or anyone much hope of a near peaceful world to be. The group, named ISIS, is beyond being a terrorist religious group, and is now a horror group that has no normalcy in the world today. Innocent people are being affected daily because of their actions.

These include many in the area of Syria, Iran, Iraq and other areas with Muslim people living with this horror. Some of our leadership wantabe’s, in the U.S. have resorted to suggesting things that sound like the Hitler days of the 1930’s, which is stupid in my mind.  I also think, President Obama is not very effective as a leader today and as an outgoing President he is not making leadership decisions that are rationale.

We live in a world today that is interesting. The ISIS followers are making it more so, and in ways that may just have far reaching results.

I pray to God, the only God of the Universe, that we survive this.

Den Betts

Mirror, Mirror On the Wall 2015-156

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Mirror, Mirror On the Wall 2015-156

Look into a mirror at yourself and what do you see? Touch your right ear!!! In the mirror it appears as if touching your left ear, whereas, it is actually your right ear, of course….

That is what a mirror does, is it not? It makes things appear different. It does not tell us the truth of what it shows; it lies, or does it ????!!!!!

We sometimes do that to ourselves or about ourselves at times. We become like the mirror— lying to ourselves. It is human nature to a degree. We want our best side, our good thoughts, and the personification of ourselves to others the way we want it to be.

How much we want the mirror like shown in the Disney movie “Snow White” and ask, “Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all.” Or something like that was said. It is very much too easy to allow the mirror to lie to us also.  The mirror does not really care and only tells or shows us reality. It is not being judgmental –  only factual. It is up to us to throw the spin of what the mirror is plainly showing.

The same goes for the perception we have of ourselves and how others see or perceive us. We think of ourselves as being one way and at times, others think the opposite. We want others to see us as we do and when we find that is not the case, we might be dejected or worse.

Don’t blame the mirror (messenger) for telling us why it or they say, or perceive for they are only being what they are, when doing so.

It is also our fault for allowing others to plainly lie to us when they state something or look us in the eye and want us to believe in what they did or are doing. Again, let the mirror of life decree what is really there or is happening.

I had a Facebook friend post pictures, statements and articles on FB that were debunked years ago and proven to be wrong/incorrect. The statement this person made was, “I just post them, I don’t check them”. I told this person that many of the posts they made were incorrect and untrue. They were originally made to incite, distort and deceive whoever got them. They continued on and on, and I decided to unfriend this person only because of what they were doing, which I differed with as an untruth happening. I still like this friend, just not what is posted by this person.

The mirror DOES lie at times, but many other times just distorts for many reasons. If the mirror lies enough, it can become, to be thought of, as a truth and maybe that is why we have to be careful, with what we hear or see……

I watched the TV in December of 2015 and a politician stated that he saw people dancing in the street in New York right after 911 occurred. He claimed he was in New Jersey at the time, I think. Either he had wonderful 20/20 vision and a telescopic one at that, or perhaps he was referring to a TV he was watching. The mirror of his mind was making this up or he was the only one watching TV at that moment.   I can state that I DID see some people elsewhere doing so, but that was not in America, but instead overseas in a Middle East country.

The mind benders of life change things for many reasons. We, as society as a whole, have to be extra vigilant not to be caught up in their passion of control over us. Sometimes it only takes a little change of the truth to make us (in the mirror), believe in what they want us to believe.

The year 2016 will soon be here and with its coming; more claims on TV about this and that will be thrown at us. I say, “Be aware, be on guard, and consider what you hear and who is saying it and what they are saying for what reason.” This goes for people and the media in general. Do NOT be comforted by the mirror of life, but instead be thoughtful and let your good judgement be the mainstay of life………

 

Den Betts

Fear Frenzy 2015-155

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                                                    Fear Frenzy 2015-155

The quality of fear is unknown; it drops from the Internet like a fire tornado in full fiery force. It is many faceted, and convoluted in its makeup. The Media feeds off this feeling and spreads the tentacles far and wide for their own reasons….

Why do we feed on this occurrence? Why do we listen to the “loop” of news casts over and over of the same things that they present to us?

So, what is fear? When we fear something or someone, we have an emotion. We see a threat, usually by living beings or things. When this threat happens, things happen.  Our feeble brains change and our organs, some of them, change in their makeup.

What do we do? We have a change in behavior and we do something or do NOT do something to hide or get away from the thing or event that makes us fearful. We “perceive” this as a risk to our health or lives and see danger to our status of living, to our security, our wealth, or anything of value.

This is a normal reaction. We do have reactions to normal perceptions, which can even cause paralysis and maybe this fear is judged as rational that is thought of as an appropriate thing or irrational which is inappropriate and therefore becomes a phobia.

The constant news on CNN or network TV stations on a continual basis about ISIS threats is an example of a phobia.

Does anyone really think a battalion of ISIS terrorists are going to storm the nearby mall and shoot it up? Hey, it COULD happen, and so can a fiery fire tornado occur too.

TWO civilian people, residents of California, plotted, planned and initiated a provoked attack on a nearby business and killed and wounded many people. They were of the Muslim religion and now everyone is concerned about the influx of ANY Muslim into the country. I will not pick on Mr. Trump alone, but will include him into the mix of those advocating a law that would prohibit Muslims from immigrating into the U.S.A. temporarily.

This is insane!! Yes, it IS, and I repeat IS, possible that some bad, misguided Muslims could come into the country and do harm, but that is true for anyone coming into the country, not just Muslims.

We have enough home grown jackasses that have ideas that are not good and they call themselves by many names and believe many things. The low life guy that killed the 9 people in the church in Charleston S.C., is an example of this. That was about race, not about religion.

FDR, or Franklin D. Roosevelt, stated in his inaugural address in 1933, “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself”, and that is the whole of it. I think people running for office or any party could remember the below quote by FDR (with the underlining by myself):

“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is…fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and of vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.”

So, I say to those politicians of today, read the above and become leaders of men, instead of creators of chaos and fear. I say, quit trying to get votes by making paranoia a way of life. I could say to the TV companies, to quit this mindless continued portrayal of fear mongering that you harbor in the quest for ratings.

 

Den Betts

JFK Quote #2 2015-117

Posted in Current Events, Quotes by

                                      JFK Quote #2     2015-117

“Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.” JFK 

When will we as a society realize that being intolerant is not the way to be? We do NOT have to like the ways other people are that are different than us, but being tolerant of them is something we could try to achieve.

If we believe in something that is not the same as others, so be it. Also, so be it, if the others do not believe in what we believe; simple as that….. To condemn or oppress those that have the opposite thoughts is a persecution of others that cannot be reconciled.

The turmoil that pervades the world today, in the name of religion, is an example of this intolerance. Just where will it go? I do not know or course, but can see where nations of the world MUST do more than react in a war like atmosphere, and instead rely on intelligent means of communication to combat these feelings. I worry that the intelligence is not there though. These processes of thinking are not one about one religion, but about ALL religions to consider obtaining an answer to the problems that affect many or all of us today.

 

Den Betts

Centrist Beliefs 2015-67

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Centrist Beliefs  2015-67

I begin this with a disclaimer. If you are a liberal, conservative, or moderate, the following may upset you. Well, at least, maybe, make you definitely not be in agreement with what I am saying. That being said, you have fair warning whether or not to continue reading. I am not writing to upset anyone, but my statements may do so in the process. This could also have been titled “Get off the Fence” or “Middle of the Roader”, but the central theme is, in a way, seeing two opinions or actions that have merit in everything.

I read many articles online, in the paper and hear many statements from those I know that expound on what the people writing and saying believe.  I do NOT have a problem with their thinking the way they do, just have come to the realization that many things said or written are not what I believe in all the way or all the time.

What is a Centrist?

I consider myself a centrist. A centrist can be many things and can also be part Republican, Democrat or Independent, somewhat.  At least, we vote for those in political office that are running for this and that positions. We do not have an actual Centrist party but we do deal with the center right and center left areas in the political spectrum.  I like to think we see the bigger picture and are voices of reason while we are centered in thinking.

I make no claim to be a member of any party, and will vote for the person who I believe is best for the position, not his or her party they belong to at the time.  I want debate, not to win, but rather to find best ideas and solutions, often formed through spirited conversations that inter-mingle issues and ideas from many sides, that when brought together, create better solutions.

Debating issues

I will debate an issue, but do not feel I do so to win, but rather to find best ideas for a problem. By doing so, through spirited discussions and considering the issues and ideas from many sides, when brought together, they may create those better solutions. I learn from having any, one on one, discussions. I am not afraid to claim I have changed my mind on an issue, and do not consider changing to be one of weakness or giving in to another’s viewpoint. Such a change could be due to different facts being brought to my attention that I did not know or was not aware of before the discussion.

As far as political candidates go, I support candidates based on their good character, and rational, collaborative approaches to solving society’s greatest issues. I feel that rational approaches must include effective listening and even compromise during debate. Inability to compromise stalls forward action, harming all concerned and is, in fact, the antithesis of good governing. Sometimes I am completely wrong and usually time tells and lets me know I screwed up in my decision making process.

One of the crusty politicians of our time in the past was a Democrat, Tip O’Neal.  He and Republican President Reagan were always at odds for this and that, but, Reagan said of O’Neal, “He was his friend, after 6 PM.” O’Neal loved politics and government because he saw that politics and government could make a difference in people’s lives. We, today, as a society are not seeing compromise in our leadership and it is telling in the way things progress in our capital. That is too bad, but is part of the way things are run by all parties that make up the political scene today.

Name calling and defaming cartoons

I refuse to call anyone a name, because that is degrading and goes beyond the norm of decency. I believe that showing facts about a person is better, and the person I show them to can reach an opinion their selves about the person in question. History will show the right and wrong of actions today and it is unclear how well history will speak of this time, the leaders and what we do. I think we MUST take a stand and speak up and be heard. Publishing defaming cartoons is not the way to debate either. To do so is showing your character to others in an undignified way for those to see.

The same goes for many other issues that are at the forefront of today‘s news.  It is too easy to stay on the political subject when stating to be a Centrist. I feel it is the big issue to discuss, but I go further and claim to be one (a Centrist) for many other issues beyond the political spectrum.  OK, I am stretching it a little, but it is making a point of my feelings about other issues; that being, much of a middle of the road type person.

We have had in the past twenty years, happenings that make people decide to go with one side or another in their thinking.  Liberal or conservative thoughts about a subject are there to think about today. Conflicts in the Middle East, religious uprisings, and the multitude of newsworthy items all make for opinions that encourage discussions of the viewpoints to be discussed.

I must admit that in certain areas I tend to sway one way or another and not take the middle ground stand. But, even when I state a certain side of an issue I try to do so with facts, not opinions based on past experiences or someone else’s ideas of the subject. Also, what I thought about a subject when I was 25 is not, in many cases, what I think today as a senior citizen.  I still think I can change my mind about a subject, when new or additional info is presented.

Conflicts yesterday and today   as an example of Centrist thinking………..

I can state that I feel our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan is different now than when we first began the “long war” in those areas. OK, I was somewhat in agreement in getting involved at the onset, but have most definitely changed my opinion today.  Why? I cannot agree in the cost of doing business in those places. The actual money cost and the loss of life and wounded is, in my mind, is not worth it. I feel now, we should never even have begun the conflicts in the way we did, which have affected our country in so many ways.  Of course, tell that to a parent or spouse of one of those that have died or become horribly maimed and I am sure that they want to think those loved ones did not die or become wounded in vain. The same goes for Vietnam.  It could also be the rules of engagement that the leaders put in place that bothers me more than anything; not sure right now. The problem in my mind is WHAT to do now that the problem has presented itself. I will wait till another time to state what I think should be done, but for now, just say that I am undecided in my mind.

That being said, the 2015 situation with ISIS is sad.  I truly, CANNOT understand the rationale of the ISIS thinking. It is stated that it is a religious undertaking on their part. I say BULLS—. The actions by ISIS are barbaric, primitive, and totally not a religious undertaking on their part. Religion is used as an excuse, but it is an archaic reasoning of the past and not true for today. Again, this is something for another post.

Den Betts

Radical Islamist Thoughts 2015-30

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This post is somewhat convoluted and I apologize. The current actions of ISIS, the radical Islamist group creating turmoil in the mideast ,makes me bring up many expressions of thought. I welcome any comments or additional thoughts on this issue, thank you………

Radical Islamist Thoughts  2015-30

I was reading the newspaper and read that President Obama or his administrative people are refraining from using the words Islamist, radical, and terrorists in their language to the press. They want to use a more generic “violent extremism” instead. Obama is trying to be mindful of the impact that his words can have abroad, it stated.

Hmmmmmm!  The French Prime Minister suggested that the world is “waging a war against Islamist extremists, and the British Minister stated that Europe and the U.S. face a “very serious Islamist extremist terrorist threat”.

My question is “Who are we trying to appease” by not calling the terrorists— Islamists, if that is what they are? It must be mentioned by any that do so, to explain also, that it is the terrorists that try to justify their actions by invoking the religion of Islam and their own deviant view of it, and it is NOT the typical Muslim adherent to the religion that are doing the vile things the terrorists do.

The word “Islamist” is caricaturized by describing a supporter or advocate of Islamic fundamentalism and is said to make a moral conservatism, and attempt to implement Islamic values in all spheres of life. If that person or group uses terrorism as means of doing so, then it is indeed appropriate to use the words together.

A general in the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) told a conference in January that “You cannot defeat an enemy you do not admit exists.”  The same words were used by a Democratic congressman, Tulsi Gabbard, who stated the same context, on Fox news. Is is in response to President Obama’s article in the press.

The battles with ISIS in the Mideast are ones that are taking a toll on many people of many countries. There are many people that have been displaced, killed, mutilated, beheaded, etc. by these Islamist killers. They are supported by unknowns and this compounds the problems. They, the Islamists, are sons and daughters of people that live in the areas that do their deeds and I question this. In this, I wonder if family members see their sons or daughters as being righteous in their actions. Some religious leaders do not just support them, but promote their causes of killing, for various reasons. Many times the actions are against the everyday people that live there, the majorities, of which, are Muslim.

I bring up the battle cry that the terrorists sometimes use, as was done in France, in January 2015, of Allah Akbar, or God is the Greatest, in English. (This phrase is used by Muslims for nonviolent reasons also, as a note.)  This signifies or tries to show that what they do is for their god, Allah, and that their god approves of the action they are doing. Nothing can be further from the truth. Just as the word God was used during the Crusades, using the word god today for their actions is incorrect. The Crusades are mentioned, because it is an example of how those that committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ, used religion as a basis of doing wrong. And it was wrong! It was wrong to kill innocent people to justify the religious reasons at the time. I believe that leaders and fighters of conflicts might well be careful in using God as a reason for their actions. Nobody can speak for God in what they do!!!

President Obama at a breakfast recently (Feb 2015) made a statement using the word Crusades, and the former VA Governor Gilmore stated that his (President Obama’s) remarks were the “most offensive I’ve ever heard a president make.” I do not agree. The whole text of the speech reads differently and it was taken out of context in my opinion. This happens many times unfortunately and this type of action is wrong also. The President also stated “Part of what I want to touch on today is the degree to which we’ve seen the professions of faith used both as an instrument of great good, but also twisted and misused in the name of evil,”.

Right-side radio host Rush Limbaugh made the Christianity reference the subject of one of his segments on his show. “Why would you attempt to downplay Islamist extremism?” Mr. Limbaugh said. “Why would you attempt to put in perspective the actions taken today by Al Qaeda and ISIS and Boko Haram and the Khorasan Group and all of the rest of them by claiming that just as many atrocities have taken place in the name of Christ?”  Why? Becasus it may be true in the past and it is hard sometimes to admit it…….

These are examples also, of using sound bites to promote the opinion of the day. It becomes political and if ALL the facts or total speech is available then the truth comes out. It is the way it is though and I have to be careful I do not allow these sayings to sway my opinion.

That being said, I think President Obama and those of his administration are incorrect in many things they do, and many of the other foreign policies they promote can also be criticized. I feel fortunate that he is in the last tenure of his leadership and although there are many areas of his Presidency that can be applauded,( or not) this type of policy thinking  and trying to be politically correct in his speeches, are not correct either.

Den Bett