Radical Islamist Thoughts 2015-30

Posted in Current Events by

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

Bosh the Bobbin 2015-31

Posted in Humor by

Let me be honest with you.  I do NOT know when I wrote this poem or why at the time. I do NOT know what it means now! I MAY have known right after writing it, but that was probably long ago. So, I challenge any that dare to consider what I might have been getting at then, what in the world was I thinking, and does it make sense to you? If you do know, perhaps there is a problem with you too – LOL!

Bosh the bobbin? What in the world does that mean? What possessed me to write such a thing? Was I high or was I low, so low perhaps I know not know? Tis for you to think of what I meant, because I cannot, for I am spent! My cousin commented and said I was sometimes weird, and so I am proving what he actually sent.       1-26-2015

Bosh the Bobbin   2015-31

Bosh the bobbin

High in the air

Hair of the pelt

To nowhere, nowhere

Nigh on Noon,

The cry of the loon

Be gone by night

To exit the light

Say farewell to an

Expressionist dream

Carry forward the

Exorbitant team

So whether the Bobbin

The loon or the dream

In the end it’s all

That it will mean

Den Betts   = Weird??

Contrary Beliefs 2015-28

Posted in Current Events by

Contrary Beliefs   2015-28

I write this after reading about the atrocities in the middle east and the killing of a Joranian airman that was captured. He was killed by ISIS in a way that is unimaginable by being burned alive while in a cage. I do not and never understand how people can do the things they do.

Contrary Beliefs   2015-28

I list this under “current events” because it relates to almost everyday news items that are shown on TV or in published products like the newspaper. I have detailed writings about what I have shown below, and may include them in a separate category in the future.

I believe that the radical Islamists can believe in their Islam religion as much as they desire, but to feel that I must also adhere to their beliefs is wrong and will always think this way. I do NOT believe in what they believe and can say now that I NEVER will do so.  Notice, I did NOT say ALL Muslims; I again say, RADICAL Islamists, which is different. It is too easy to bunch groups together when it is not right to do so.

If radical Muslims want to believe in what was written in their holy book as pertaining to today, so be it; I do not care. But, if ANY Muslim states I must convert to Islam, I have a GREAT problem with that request. I respect the everyday Muslim people that live their lives in peace.  I am tolerant towards those of the Islam faith and many other people that believe in their religious beliefs. I have nothing but loathing towards the radicals that kill, rape, torture, behead, sell for slaves, force their religion on others, and other things that make them animals, not worthy of respect.  They do so for other reasons; unknown to me and this is not understandable. I would like to think that modern day thinking Muslims believe this also and abhor the radical Muslims that pervert their religion.

I was criticized once for saying I tolerate those of other religions.  I was told that I should also respect those of other religions. Well, actually I do, but not the ones that do things in the name of their religion that goes against common sense and decency.  That includes people of any religion, including mine. It is impossible to give respect when none is due.

Maybe I am not thinking correctly in the minds of many that know me or what I say. Guess what!? I just do not care. I care about many things, but my thoughts are what they are, and it is difficult to retract what I write, if I meant what I wrote at the time.  We CAN change our beliefs over time and I have done so in some cases.

I maintain that I am a practicing Christian, and will remain one, forever. Nobody can change my thought patterns regarding this belief.  I have stated before, “I do not just believe there is a God; I know there is a God.” Some people, not many actually, know where I come from in saying this and it will be awhile until I expound on this further and publish it. I am not ready to do so.

There are loads of theologians that believe they have knowledge of religious things and some make good money writing books about what they think.  I am not one of them; not even close. I do believe in what I write, but these are opinions, and they sometimes can or cannot be proven. Opinions are just that— a belief or judgment that falls short of absolute conviction, certainty, or certain knowledge.

I got off track so will continue a bit more.  Those of any religion, including Christianity and Islam, can believe in what they want to, but the deciding factor will be when the end time has arrived end and we all will find out just what is the truth. I truly hope that we, as a group of the world, find out what we want to find out. In the meantime, the atrocities done by those that the media calls terrorists will be responsible for those acts that are done against humanity and will be judged by the very God they say they represent.

The Christian and Islam religions had human people that in their time created or were instrumental in the creation of the religion that we follow; with even the Hebrew religion having Abraham as the human that God touched as part of the history of their existence. When will those that think they have a claim on God as being part of THEIR religion only, (if they do so) which excludes those of other religions?  How conceited they are and how primitively minded they may appear. Ten thousand years ago (for instance), there was, as is now, only one God and it continues the same way now; one God of the Universe; Period!!!! It is possible that there are some that could argue this point also.

Peace to all,

Den Betts

The FIFTH Horseman 2015-27

Posted in Head Trama by

The FIFTH Horseman   2015-27

2015-27

“A horrible thought!!! Those that read the Bible and know about the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse realize the intent of the writing about them. I believe it was during a mental lapse of mind that I came up with a Fifth one. This was about “me” at the time, when I was recovering from a head injury and feeling sorry about myself. During this down time of that era, I again, wrote this poem whereas I was reacting then due to conditions beyond my control or understanding. I no longer feel this way about life, but the opposite and think life is good and there is always – – – – .”

      The FIFTH Horseman   2015-27

WAR rode by – triumphant in the darkened sky,

Leaving PESTILENCE to do his ugly deeds.

FAMINE soon arrived with glee, to starve mankind,

Followed by DEATH to finish any having untold needs.

By far the worse, was the very, very last,

The Fifth Horseman, who came trotting slowly past.

A jeering face, a laugh in the wicked wind,

For any left behind in the maelstrom and the din,

Screaming a final promise did he then make,

As a gray forbidding cloud, followed in his wake,

“For those that survive and think they can really cope;

I believe NOT”, said the horseman called NO HOPE.

Den Betts

Despair 2015-26

Posted in Head Trama by

Despair    2015-26

“Whoa, what a subject! This poem came from the bottom of the barrel, the bottom of the pit of depression, when things seemed so horrible in my life over twenty years ago. This was probably written when I was in a state of clinical depression and where I finally found professional help to combat my feelings of despair at the time. I was more confused than ever due to a head injury and not really knowing what happened and why exactly, things were the way they were then.

 

I would ask my wife, “Why?” for everything I did not understand. She, being a working RN at the time, would calmly tell me, “It is because of your injury”. Then, five minutes later another “Why” on my part, again. The very fact she was a professional was very helpful and her ability to know the reasons for my depression helped so very much.  Jim, my therapist, finally got me to realize that it was “IT”, the head injury, and not ME the person that was the problem. He might have saved my life.

 

I include this poem, “Despair” and another one later, “Fifth Horseman”, which ties in with the Despair one,  to give the reader insight as to how those with mental situations of all types, sometimes, might feel inside when they are experiencing the things of life that happen to them. I will try not to include these types of poems in the future though, as they are somewhat depressing and bring back memories of a past life. At times, though, it is important to recall those things that affected your life.

 

Despair    2015-26

Despair, the blackness, the bottomless pit,

Oh God, when will I get out of it?

I hate this life of confusing thoughts,

This different me, inside this human box.

My mind that controls most everything,

Isn’t right, and makes me a different being.

The layered convolutes of my infernal brain,

Is like a parasite, racked with wavy pain.

Why can’t I get normal or better, more soon?

If this keeps up, it is leading to doom.

The ups and the downs I have each day,

Make me hate this life in every way.

Please God, make me better, and give me some hope,

I don’t like this life; it’s too hard to cope.

Den Betts

There is no God 2015-25

Posted in Current Events by

There is no God      2015-25

I read a news article today, on the Huff Post site that said, an actress, Julianne Moore (age 55), stopped believing in God after her mother died from a bacterial infection. She then said that she started therapy in her early 30’s due to being incredibly unhappy. She further stated that there is “no there” there, and continued with something about “structure” and that it is all imposed. She goes on and states that “we impose order and narrative on everything in order to understand it. Otherwise, there is nothing but chaos.” This all sounds a little strange, but maybe I should consider the source and circumstances.

That in itself is a sad story, but hearing it all stated as it is, is also, sad. I will not dwell on her life, which sounds like it has its problems or at least did. This reminds me of what I have read about C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) and his life. He had a similar experience and became an atheist, at age 15, after his mother passed away after an illness. Lewis prayed and prayed and he determined that there was no God because his mother died after many prayer sessions he had with God.

Lewis converted to theism in 1929 after talking with J.R.R. Tolkien a colleague who influenced him in doing so. I guess what I would like to show is the fact that many people turn from God because of “things” or “Life’s” happenings. The statement, “There is no God”  from sadness or private thoughts that make the person change their beliefs. OR, it could be that there was not a definite relationship with God in the first place. The list could go on as to the why’s of disbelief.

To those that have similar episodes in life or continued ones, I highly suggest reading the works of C.S. Lewis. He became, besides a Christian again, a Christian Apologist. This is where one attempts to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defending the faith against objections. It is said that Paul the Apostle, in the early church, was in fact, an apologist, as well as many of the early writers of Christianity.

I have told many that I myself was not a Christian, until I got married. My Aunt Norma insisted that I join the church when I was a teenager. I joined after a 2-3 week course or catechism type thing and that was it! Even after I was married I was basically going through the motions and not really committed to God or Jesus Christ. I guess this is where I can say, “I did not have a relationship with God then.

Did I proclaim, “There is no God”? No, I did not! I just did not pursue the quest of finding Him or reaching out to Him. I have stated in the past,  that Christmas, to me, meant gifts, and Easter was a time of chocolate and marshmallow chickens and that was basically what I saw or as I was brought up. To those that do not allow their children to experience the teachings of Jesus, the Bible, and all the stories that are told in it, I think that is sad also. I can now look back and know that I missed something. I was always at a disadvantage of unknowing of the stories. It is too bad that Aunt Norma did not ask my mother to allow me to learn as others did around me.

Is there a God? I say, I do not just believe so; the fact is, I do not just believe there is a God, I feel that there is absolutely a God!!!!!!  A little convoluted, but that is what I believe. Can I prove it? I could make some claims like C.S. Lewis, a Christian apologetic, did, and perhaps in the future I may attempt to do so. Right now, I will say that I have a relationship with God and Jesus Christ.   Also, I have a story that I will tell in the future that I experienced, which makes me believe in what I believe.

I can only pray that those that have had bad experiences in their lives can overcome those times and reconnect with the God that comforts, consoles, and is always close to those that have those feelings. God does not wave a magic wand to make things the way we want them to be, but He is there always, His presence is near, always. This may not be enough for some, and that is also sad, for those that have the quest of more.

Den Betts – Jan 2015

Racist 2015-24

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Racist    2015-24

The word racist only goes back to about the mid 1930’s, actually, or about 80 years ago. This word was used in regarding the Nazi theories at the time and NOT about other things such as skin color, heritage, culture or what is common today. This term replaced other words such as racialist from around 1917 and way back to 1871 were the racialism word came from then. This is just a little history to mount my discourse on the today word, racist.

Someone who I can still call my friend, named Henry, is an avowed racist and proud of it; I think. Henry does not care if anyone knows this, and I now feel, he will let you know why he thinks this way. I might have known this, or believed it, and did not want to bring it up, but he was saying goodbye to me from a visit after having breakfast and he blurted it out.  I was secretly appalled in hearing this or at least hearing him state the obvious.  Did I know this before – no.  Did I believe it before –yes.  He confirmed it to my face and I think he was waiting for my reaction.  I did not react!

I did not react and I am embarrassed to say so. I could have told Henry, just what I thought and believed and that would have definitely ended a relationship of friendship; I think. He might not have been concerned if that happened, because he also said he is what he is and doesn’t care what others think of how he believes and acts.

OK, that is Henry. I then ask, how many of us have a Henry lurking in the background that we know? Do we accept them as friends, family or acquaintances or do we do something else, like not reacting to them and their beliefs. Or, I ask, how many of us have similar thoughts ourselves, in a way, at times? Or not! It is sometimes easier to put up with than argue with, but is easy the way to not do something?

I feel it is about time that the Henry’s of the world start to fess up and admit they are somewhat slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress and backward in today’s society. Henry would or might say he is living from his life’s experiences. I think that is BS! He might have been exposed to a multitude of people that he thinks, made him racist, but he is ignoring the other balance of society that is also out there, that he doesn’t address.

We as a society are exposed to some people that the media shows as representing the whole of a particular group. The Ferguson, NYC, and Cleveland deaths are examples of both sides of the equation, in recent happenings. I do NOT want to go into these three horrible things, but I do use them to show how we, in today’s society are affected by them. Notice, I did NOT say how I feel about the three recent episodes involving police, just said they were horrible things….  I might expound on them later in a blog, on how I feel overall.

I have written an article about various subjects and am getting ready to throw them out to the world to read and in the reading by others; I will have exposed my inner thoughts about them.  I bet you can hardly wait-ha-ha…..  I have to get the guts to do so, and I am not ready right now…..

I firmly believe there is NO, repeat, NO reason for racism today, or in the past, for that matter. What and why people did in the past does NOT give anyone an excuse for being a racist. Some could use an incident as an excuse for saying they are racist and many do so. Others can use past happenings, such as slavery, as an excuse for being or acting as they do today, but that is not right either. Living in the past with your thoughts about something that you harbor in your mind, is like allowing yourself to be stagnant in life with not much growth. It might be time to drop it and move forward in life. Racism is a cruel way to be shackled in the past without an escape to the future life of enjoyment of others that live around us. What happened in the long (or short) past must NOT be the reason for our thoughts today, simple as that. We CAN learn from the past, but the past is not something to have control on us today.

Peace,

Den Betts

Exclusion 2015-23

Posted in Religious by

Exclusion    2015-23

What the heck is exclusion and how does it pertain to everyday life? Asking Mr. Webster, he said that it is the act of barring, prohibiting, omitting, or rejecting and that sounds like drastic things to do to others. I wrote a post about being judgmental and said I would follow up with this post about exclusion and am therefore doing so now.

I then ask – if anyone has had this happen to them in their life, being excluded? I have, and it is NOT nice to feel that you are being ignored, or worse, in a negative way. In one instance in my life, I was, not made to, but did feel like I was being excluded from a group for reasons that were not fair to me, but that is another subject in the future. Let me say this: It is not right to exclude others and it sure in heck is not right to be excluded by others either!

I was reading a book on spirituality for a book study group, where we went over and somewhat dissected different portions of the book.  In it, a statement was made about exclusion. This was in regard to being excluded by a religious group towards those not in the community of the same faith.

Church groups?

This can be a touchy subject for some, or for certain groups. Do we look at OUR group or community as being the correct one, the better one, the one and only one?  That can happen, and I hope your group does not feel that way or present yourselves as such. How can we have an open door policy and say we welcome ALL if we exclude certain people?

How do you think a church community would welcome these following two types of people? The first type would be three convicted persons where one was a rapist, the other a pedophile, and the other a person convicted of homicide. All three were convicted and served the time that was made by the judge. Now, think of three different people in the same church that have done the same actions, but are unknown to have committed the same acts. Would people of the church exclude any of these?

This is somewhat of a no brainer. If we do not know that the second group committed the acts, how could this fit into the equation?  In the first group we might or may not know of the acts, but let us say we found out, somehow.  Some would have a hard time with the pedophile one, but some would give an honest response to the other two suggesting they did their time and paid back to society for their crimes.

I then ask, would we as a group, really include the three convicted ones into the fold? Some probably would not answer the question, basically, because we do not really know. We know how we feel but might not be able to speak for others in the group. That is an honest answer, I feel.

Those are somewhat more extreme examples, and there are better ones to contemplate that would be more of everyday occurrences.

Someone I know went to a church that was of another faith. It might have been a wedding. Anyhow, he took communion and when he went up to the altar to commune, someone in the back, pointed him out and loudly said, “He is taking communion and is not a ——— (meaning not someone of that faith). He felt embarrassed, because his religion believed that if you can take communion in your own church, you can take it anywhere.  He also felt excluded and ostracized.

I tried to explain that the church rules dictated that he was not allowed to take communion in that church because he was not a member of that faith. He did not understand why not, and it did have a meaningful thoughtfulness to him about that religion then and probably still does. Quoting someone, again, that I respect, “On the other hand, a commitment to rules to the detriment of a person’s relationship with Christ is also not helpful.”

Rules dictate!

We as society members have different ways of believing things and sometimes let the rules dictate just how we react with one another. Maybe, we should change the rules! I look at rules as guidelines that you can follow. I said, “can follow” not MUST follow. My church has statements and messages that give this guidance to those that follow the religion, but they are not classified as rules. A friend of mine told me that our church hierarchy has sort of a “washy- washy” attitude, regarding certain things, in what they put out in those statements, and I feel I agree, somewhat, at times.

The thing is, they (the hierarchy) made a stand but gave leeway to those that read their statements and to either follow or not follow what was written. If you follow them, great and if you do not, so be it. At least you will know what you do is either well thought of or not, by the higher ups. Will you be excluded if you do not follow the guidelines?  I doubt it very much and that is why I like the statements overall. They give us an idea of what the church I follow, believes in, even though the overall practice of following what is written is not a mandatory dictate or rule. I believe that many faiths and holy places of those faiths are not really following the dictates of God, but instead the dictates of human leaders that made the decrees.

Peace,

Den Betts

Sun 2015-22

Posted in Nature by

We take the sun for granted at times! It comes up in the East and sets in the West; quite normal. It gives off light and heat, which it is supposed to do on a regular basis. We can, at times, see ourselves on the ground, as a shadow of ourselves. Our Earth revolves around it yearly giving us the seasons of life. Take the sun away and we become – – – – . 

                                      Sun      2015-22

The Sun, the giver of life

Sending out its rays to Earth

This orb, that crawls across the   sky,

Throws off it light, with all its might

Shafts filter through the spreading tree boughs

Making diamonds that sparkle in the lakes and ponds

Heat   waves shimmer off  black asphalt roads

Causing distant far mirages to appear

Many colors stab through   the clouds

Bathing us in a rainbow of hope

The Sun, so high up above

Long may it shine…..

Den Betts

Always-Never 2015-21

Posted in Statement by

                                              Always-Never   2015-21

“When faced with a dilemma of stating something and meaning it and using the words Always or Never it is somewhat dangerous at times.  We tend to say things with emphasis and those two words can get us in trouble.  Someone will remember when I did something that I said “I never did that” and just the opposite with always.   I now try to keep my declarations neutral and never say those words and always do so. Yeh right!”

Two words said sometimes that are not so true,

When you use “always or never” as an absolute.

Always is “all the time” without a perchance,

It is used when you want to convey a stance.

Never use never when you mean once in awhile,

Cause never means never and is hard to reconcile.

We tend to exaggerate and not really mean,

Those things we say when we are full of steam.

It is meant to hurt ands hurt it does, friend,

To those we say it, in ways that offend.

So never say always, unless you mean it,

And always say never if to your benefit.

Den Betts