Al Qaeda and the Taliban are far from the only groups that see no problems with using terror to get things their way.
India
In India, a group called the Indian Mujahedeen says it's responsible for killing at least 21 people in a series of bomb attacks in New Delhi. They've got a perfectly good reason, from their point of view: They say they're getting even with India for 60 years of Muslim persecution, and because India has from time to time supported American policies.Indonesia
Meanwhile, in Indonesia, something went boom around the Jakarta airport. Nobody was killed, nobody was injured, but as of a few days ago the explosion was being treated as a "suspected bomb." Since the explosion blew the cover off a small electrical hub, I think it's possible that it's a case of defective equipment, rather than delinquent people, but I also understand Indonesian authorities wanting to be sure. They've had their hands full with terrorists lately.India, Again
Back in the east Indian state of Orissa, people have been killed in "Hindu-Christian riots." The latest death was a police officer who was shot as he fled a burning police station. Four or five hundred Hindus had torched the building, then shot at the police as they fled the flames.Like the Indian Mujahedeen, that bunch may have had a good reason (from their point of view) for arson and murder. The police were taking sides: they'd fired on a crowd to keep it from attacking Christians. Several people died as a result.
On the other hand, of the 140 people arrested in connection with one set of riots, 60 were Hindus accused of attacking Christian churches, 80 were mostly Christians, accused of disturbing the peace.
In the Indian state of Karnataka, a record of a sort was set, with 14 churches attacked in one hour last Sunday.
The Christians may have been asking for trouble. Some of them said that "right-wing Hindus" didn't approve of the Christian opposition to violence in Orissa.
Besides, someone killed a Hindu leader, Laxmananda Saraswati, and four other people last month. At a Hindu school. Between 20 and 30 gunmen burst in and started shooting. The idea seems to be that they must have been Christians.
Christian missionaries are a suspicious lot in the eyes of some Hindu groups. There are stories of forced conversions.
All [Insert Religious Group Here] Are Not Terrorists
I have good reason to hope that all Muslims are not terrorists, or supporters of terrorism.I don't think that all Hindus are terrorists.
And I know that all Christians are not terrorists: mainly because I'm a Christian myself.
However, some 'Christians' are terrorists. The Ku Klux Klan, in its various manifestations, used terror as a weapon against people it didn't approve of. Some people who identified themselves as Christian were members of the Ku Klux Klan. That didn't make all Christians Klanners.
I think there is good reason to believe that the same goes for terrorists who identify themselves as Muslims, Hindus, or members of other beliefs.
It's prudent to remember that the War on Terrorism is a war on terrorism. Not a war on Islam.
In the news:
- "20 feared dead as Hindu-Christian riots spread in India"
CNN (September 16, 2008) - "New Delhi blasts death toll rises to 21"
CNN (September 14, 2008) - "Suspected bomb explodes near Indonesian airport"
CNN (September 14, 2008)
4 comments:
You've got a pretty warped sense of geopolitics if you think it's just Us vs. Them, dude. Religious fanatics who want to have their own way? What about this:
http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2008/09/18/palin_email/index.html
Yeah, so? His point is that the War on Terror is war against terrorism. Just because religious fanatics happen to be involved in some of the more prominent cases doesn't mean that it's all about religious fanatics. Or even that all religious people (fanatic or not) are terrorists.
And where the heck does he say anything about Us vs. Them?
Blue Dog,
I'd recommend reading more posts in this blog, before you assume that I subscribe to the 'Us vs. Them' outlook.
For anyone interested in my 'simplistic' view, try using this blog's search function, looking for the word 'complicated.' Or, check out posts referenced in "Islam, Christianity, Religion, Culture
and the War on Terror," "Tolerance, Bigotry, Racism, Hatred:
Real or Imagined," or other topical lists of posts.
Blue Dog,
As for the page whose URL you provided: Here's a copy of the dateline and first two paragraphs.
"Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008 11:49 EDT
Sarah Palin, anointed by God
"If you need a good reason to vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin in November, here it is: 'Sarah is that standard God has raised up to stop the flood. She has the anointing ... Back in the 1980s, I sensed that Israel's little-known Benjamin Netanyahu was chosen by God for an important end-time role. I still believe that. I now have that same sense about Sarah Palin.'
"That's a quote from an e-mail that's now circulating in the evangelical community; a friend passed it on to me. As best as I can tell, the text of the e-mail was originally written by Jim Bramlett, an author and former vice president with the Christian Broadcasting Network. (You can read more about him in this WorldNetDaily article about his claim that he's obtained recordings of angels singing.)"
Please. An email circulating in some online community? That is the digital age's equivalent of 'I heard some guy say he heard.'
I realize that liberals don't like Sarah Palin. Apparently they don't approve of her, any more than the white trash that's in the White House. Not my words: that's from an op-ed on the CBC website.
Offhand, I'd say there are more than enough chauvinists on all sides.
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