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

Dream Gone? 2016-07

Posted in Contemplation, Poems, Statement by

I think this is somewhat of an unfair poem I wrote, but feel I must post it today on Martin Luther King Remembrance Day. It is about a man that I DO respect, and a cause that was great, but because of a misguided individual, the dream was interrupted. Is the dream actually gone or just not a reality today; don’t know.

 

Dream Gone? 2016-07

He had a dream so long ago,

One that inspired others; young and old.

Giving hope to those oppressed,

“Keep the faith” he said and overcome

all, he stressed.

 

So long ago, is not now,

things have changed, since then,

The standard has fallen and with it the dream

Nay, not it, but its hope and reality.

Overcome by other things, overshadowing all.

 

A revival once a year, more to honor,

Soon forgotten afterwards, the essence of his doing.

A crime of remembrance, without the action.

Lip service by many of power and fame

Looking for recognition for a day.

 

Pride in self and others no longer there

Easier to wail and wallow in white dust of death.

Excuses thrown out for fellow man to hear

To recognize as a reflection of themselves

In a mirror of their dismal lives; so sad.

 

So hard to crawl out of the troughs of despair

To fight the injustices of those against you.

To say no to temptation from peer groups around,

And stand up with pride of the right kind.

Straight, mighty, with both feet on ground.

 

The wind carries an echo of “I have a dream”

A haunting reminder of a better life ahead.

A hope, with faith of final success,

Equality for all with peace earned

for those deserving, working for that dream

 

Den Betts

Insane World 2016-02

Posted in Contemplation, Poems, Statement by

The horrible things that are happening here in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world by people doing crazy things, for whatever reasons, brought me to the point of asking a child’s question of WHY!!!!

 

Insane World 2016-02

What is the reason for the insanity today,

the genocide of people

against their own?

 

Does it go back to a clannish or tribal

day of time and life

The mystic mood, decreeing

action, distant drum telling

the way, but not the why.

 

More than macho, more than religion

more than a full moon, it has to be!

Why  is for children to ask, in their

innocence of life.

 

Nations, cities, groups, and

such, all bent on self-destruction

of one another to each other

A pity, a waste, a total

Inexcusable happening, but

is life, as we know it.

 

I ask WHY, like an innocent child

of the world? Can you

help me with an answer

that makes sense?

Den Betts

Earth Brother-Sister 2016-05

Posted in Contemplation, Poems, Religious type by

I think of all the conflict, hatred, bad blood, and religious turmoil on Earth that we see on the news regularly. Do not people of all faiths, heritage, race and ethnicity realize that we are ALL brothers on this planet? We do not HAVE to exist in perfect harmony, but there is NO reason for the horrible relationships that occur on a daily basis.

I don’t care what God, or even if people believe in God, but, common sense should rule. Each of us has to share what we have and exist together, in a better way than what we do. The God I believe in said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34). And that should NOT be that difficult. It takes an effort, leadership, desire, etc., but it should NOT be that hard of a thing to do.

 

Earth Brother-Sister   2016-05

 

Be my brother/sister

 

ye of another race

 

Hold my hand

 

as we both say grace.

 

Be my brother/sister

 

ye of another faith

 

Let us both believe and live

 

in eternity, when we leave.

 

Be my brother/sister

 

ye of another heritage,

 

Down  through time

 

may be greet as friends.

 

Be my brother/sister,

 

ye of this planet Earth

 

Not of blood,

 

but one of worth.

 

Den Betts

Grateful 2016-04

Posted in Poems, Statement by

How many things can you think of in the sense of being grateful for having them or experiencing them? How many things do we take for granted and should not have done so? Being grateful is, to a degree, being thankful also, at the same time. To live life at its fullest, and appreciate it at the same time can be hard to express, but I look in the mirror and I am Grateful for so many, many, many things…………

Grateful  2016-04

To be able to smell the flowers

see the trees, watch the birds fly,

and hear the honey bees buzz by

To attain the age of seventy, whereas

others dear have not; still be able

to walk and not have gone to pot

To have gone white water rafting

seen the Mammoth Cave, have fun at

Disneyworld and go to the Grand Canyon

and just stand and rave

To be called an ex-jarhead vet

and to have been an auxi-cop too,

and President of ASHRAE, plus have

sat on church council as President too,

plus have owned a thing called a ferret as a pet

To believe in  the God. as one to follow

and a family I’m proud of – a gem;

To be grateful for the things I have

and thankful that I have them.

Den Betts

Guns 2016-03

Posted in Poems, Statement by

I watched TV today, and listened to the President who, with tears running down his cheek, spoke about what he will do to help, in a small way, to lessen the killings that occur in our country today.          His plan will NOT stop the insane killings, but may help to save lives, in a way. The politicians who decry his efforts are owned by those that are against any common sense answer, and that is more than a shame.

          Guns 2016-03

How many times must we hear the words,

“Its not guns that kill, killers kill!”

How many times on the TV news,

Must we see the tears on a mothers cheek.

A child gunned down on a residential street,

Or a massacre in a family restaurant.

Do the lawmakers need additional vile lessons,

Of man’s inhumanity toward each other?

Or do the PAC’s or the NRA or others,

Control them that much, to stay in office.

The killing semi-automatics are not needed

By any populace of this country today.

While the gun powers outgun the police,

As the apathetic  citizens read or watch.

“Outlaw guns and only outlaws will have guns”

Is hype that is compared to only one thing, bull

“A rigid enforced law that guarantees prison, forever,

With no parole, if a weapon is used, might work.

But a bleeding heart society might feel sorry for him,

And his “time” will be lessened for more killing.

What is the answer; whatever it may be

Is much better than the way it is today.

Den Betts

Interview with God 2016-01

Posted in Contemplation, Poems by

OK, I did NOT talk with God and get the results shown below! That being said, I have talked with God and our discussion will remain mine; for me to know, and for you, to sometime, find out. I had the below words come to mind, probably after seeing or hearing something that upset me in life, on TV, in person or when or whatever, so I am not that weird, just a little………..

Interview with God 2016-01

I asked Him, “What is life all about?”

He told me all that I had to know.

I talked about the world and its problems today,

He listened and didn’t respond right away.

 

I told him I wanted to know what I could do in giving

He stated “ I should follow the way!”

I inquired as to what the way really is

He answered with a parable of life and living.

 

I heard and grew afraid of what I heard,

He softly talked and I started to feel good, but then

I asked about his grand plan regarding Earth,

He spoke and said, “I had one, but it’s not working!”

Den Betts

Mirror, Mirror On the Wall 2015-156

Posted in Current Events by

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

Posted in Current Events by

                                                    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

Begin the Ending 2015-154

Posted in Contemplation, Poems by

Confusion reigns in the minds of people that are not capable of comprehending their existence. Where to start the understanding process and when to stop, creates a confusion of existence to some. What is written may not be rational to those that have never experienced the complexities of life in a convoluted way of being.

 

Begin the Ending     2015-154

 

When is the beginning or the end?

How does the mind comprehend

what is right and what is wrong or incorrect

The ending does not justify the whole

or the beginning.

 

The continuation does not seem important

when the ending is known beforehand

The absence of valor is not cowardice

in the mind of the one afraid.

 

Infinity is never ending, no beginning

and no stopping

The absence of living is forevermore,

ever ongoing without ending.

 

Pain is an expression of living,

knowing of one’s existence.

A lack of feeling is non-living

and a total void of existence

 

I hear the voice of reason, but

the words are meaningless.

The sound of my internal thoughts

cry out for recognition, but are garbled

in the process of understanding.

 

What was once known is now confusion,

my mind is capable, but cannot comprehend

what is and what should be

I think, but do not care or

feel confident of rationality.

 

Den Betts