Fanaticism

[tamarinne]

I read a story once where someone invented a "fanatic detector" - a machine that could identify the brainwaves of fanatics who thought their cause was more important than any individual human life. In the story, the machine was intended as a foreign terrorist detector, but it turned out that there were plenty of dangerous fanatics right here at home.

I don't like where this country's going, in a lot of ways. It feels to me like every attempt at tolerance, every attempt at living and working together, is shot down by extremists who are so blinded by their own belief that theirs is the one true way that any other approach to life is nothing short of blasphemy. I include both liberals and conservatives in this - I don't know if there is a moderate "middle" anymore, but if there is, I'm not seeing it in public life.

And then I saw this:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/06/AR2005120601900.html
and nearly lost it. I'm so goddamn tired of people wasting everyone's time with shit like this. The man literally sends out over a MILLION cards every year, to Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Jews, Wiccans, Atheists, and probably Zoroastrians, for pete's sake. ALL of these groups have a major holiday in November or December. If he sends you a card that says "Happy Holidays", Mr. Christian Extremist, it means he's wishing YOU a Merry Christmas, and ME a Happy Yule, and whatever holiday it is that is important to each recipient. How would you feel if you got a card that did mention one holiday specifically, huh? How about one that said "Happy Diwali"? Or "Blessed Ramadan"? Would that make you feel better?

I want to discover another planet. I want to put all the terrorists on that planet (muslim, christian, eco, or what have you). Anyone who thinks that their cause is more important than someone else's life goes on that planet. There they can fight to their heart's content, and be righteous and prideful and die knowing that they died for their cause. And Earth will be left to the people who think living together is better than dying by degrees.

Comments

[b00jum.livejournal.com]

I dunno, *this* quote made me more scared than arguing holiday terminology.

"I think it's more important to put Christ back into our war planning than into our Christmas cards," said the council's (National Council of Churches) general secretary, the Rev. Bob Edgar, a former Democratic congressman.

Yup - cause Christ was all about the war and violence..

[corwyn-ap.livejournal.com]

I suspect (or hope) he meant, Put Christ in to avoid killing and violence.

[rickthefightguy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you want a good God for your war, you really should be looking to the old testament god from 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' - now he could mow down some enemies!

[tamarinne.livejournal.com]

I've had a "Red Meat" strip on my billboard forever.

Priest: "O Heavenly Father, in the name of your son, help us to defeat our enemies both foreign and domestic, and lead this great Christian nation to resounding victory."

God: "Interesting request. But as you know, my boy is very serious rabbi, peace activist, and a fairly radical, liberal, humanitarian reformer. He doesn't really swing that way. But hey - I'm taking up your valuable time. Let me go ahead and transfer you over to the God of War's request line."