Fundamentalism

[mrbiggs]

It's important to note that eskreemr's statistics are from 1995. In other words, before there was any significant anti-Muslim sentiment in the U.S. Which is why there are about as many Catholic hate crimes as Muslim.

[L.O.A.S.]

Burn Billy Graham, burn...

Would it make a difference to you if those quotes did not come from Billy Graham? Take a look at eskreemr's source, or do a google search and find out all the wonderful places the internet will take you.

[esskreemr]

Would it make a difference to you if those quotes did not come from Billy Graham? Take a look at eskreemr's source, or do a google search and find out all the wonderful places the internet will take you.

Ooops, sorry! This quote:

"AIDS is the wrath of a just God against homosexuals. To oppose it would be like an Israelite jumping in the Red Sea to save one of Pharoah's chariotters."

Should be attributed to Jerry Falwell. Originally the names of the quoted were at the end of their respective quotes. During my cutting and pasting, I inadvertently put Falwell's name one quote to low.

To be fair, Jerry updated his statement on AIDS as divine retribution:

AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals; it is God's punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals.

and his statements about the events of 9/11:

God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve.

[Inquartata]

terrorist - a radical who employs terror as a political weapon; usually organizes with other terrorists in small cells; often uses religion as a cover for terrorist activities.

Show of hands: who here has felt actual terror at the hands ( or mouth ) of Pat Robertson? Or Jerry Falwell? Or Billy Graham?

Got any religious edicts by them, directing their followers to go forth and kill the unbelievers wherever you find them? Any evidence that they've financed or trained murder squads?

If you're really scared of these guys..."Shut up, and go and change your armour".

[Inquartata]

I'm sure they (the Christian Right) have Las Vegas up pretty high on the lists of places that they will gloat over upon their destruction by the wrath of 'God'.

And yet all of the tornados seem to seek out the Bible Belt. The hurricanes? Earthquakes? Floods? Pestilences? Ice storms? They go everywhere EXCEPT Las Vegas. What does Las Vegas get? Intimations of a future water shortage. Maybe.

If I were presuming to speak for God, I'd be pretty disgruntled about the whole thing.

[esskreemr]

Show of hands: who here has felt actual terror at the hands ( or mouth ) of Pat Robertson? Or Jerry Falwell? Or Billy Graham?

You've got 14 hands raised up top and some 20 or so with a split decision. Quit asking for a recount just because you don't like the outcome.

[Inquartata]

Then some people have a really whimsical definition of "terror".

It's not apprehension. It's not doubt, or grave mistrust, or even revulsion. It isn't suspicion, or dislike, or scorn, or uncertainty. It certainly isn't paranoia over vague future possibilities.

It's "intense, overpowering fear".

Been overpowered lately?

[mrbiggs]

The muslim terrorists are obviously more violent, but the christian extremists affect the average American much, much, more.

[esskreemr]

Then some people have a really whimsical definition of "terror".

Ask the women trying to enter Planned Parenthood clinics with protestors screaming "murderer", "****", etc. while Christian Extremists do their best to reduce the availability and knowledge of birth control by disseminating false information.

It's not apprehension. It's not doubt, or grave mistrust, or even revulsion. It isn't suspicion, or dislike, or scorn, or uncertainty. It certainly isn't paranoia over vague future possibilities.

It's "intense, overpowering fear".

Not all acts of terrorism result in terror. Your definition is too limited.

Free Online Dictionary:
ter·ror·ism Pronunciation (tr-rzm)
n.
The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.

Oxford English Dict:
terrorism as "a policy intended to strike with terror those against whom it is adopted; the employment of methods of intimidation; the fact of terrorizing or condition of being terrorized."

Webster's New International Dictionary:
terrorism - "the act of terrorizing, or state of being terrorized; specif.: a The system of the Reign of Terror. b A mode of governing, or of opposing government, by intimidation. c Any policy of intimidation.

Free your mind Inq, and the rest will follow.

Been overpowered lately?

Yes, every time I read another news story where Bush is upping the federal funds for "Abstinence Only Education" which has been shown to 1) have little or no statistically effect on sexual behavior, 2) neglect the necessary education aspects of a healthy sexual relationship thereby putting the victims at greater risk of early/unwanted pregnancy, stds, and unhealthy/false beliefs about sex.

I also live in terror that someday, if I chose to have children, they will be subjected to the nonsense of Intelligent Design.

I also live in terror that the we will start another World War by continually invading Muslim countries just because we are annoyed that the dictator that we helped put in power and fund didn't want to play ball the way we wanted.

[Inquartata]

The muslim terrorists are obviously more violent, but the christian extremists affect the average American much, much, more.

Which would you rather have, H5N1 influenza or athlete's foot?

[mrbiggs]

Which would you rather have, H5N1 influenza or athlete's foot?

The question of the thread is which affects me more. Between those two, I again would choose the athlete's foot.

[RITFencing]

Which would you rather have, H5N1 influenza or athlete's foot?

That's a flawed metaphor. One is much worse, but much less likely.

[Slim]

The question of the thread is which affects me more. Between those two, I again would choose the athlete's foot.

No, no. Which is more threatening to you was the original question.

[mrbiggs]

No, no. Which is more threatening to you was the original question.

Oops, sorry. Thanks for pointing that out.

But I still hold that athlete's foot is more threatening to me than influenza. That's why I'm careful to wear shoes as much as possible in locker rooms, yet don't get a flu shot.

[Slim]

That's a flawed metaphor. One is much worse, but much less likely.

Actually, it's a very good metaphor for this discussion. Being in a building that gets hit by a hijacked plane, or accidentially watching a few minutes of the 700 club?

One is much worse, but much less likely.

[RITFencing]

Actually, it's a very good methaphor for this discussion. Being in a building that gets hit by a hijacked plane, or accidentially watching a few minutes of the 700 club?

One is much worse, but much less likely.

As was pointed out earlier, there are worse things than the 700 going on because of Christian Fundamentalists.

[KShan5[PrFC]]

Islamic fundamentalism=9/11.....? I don't really see where anything else is scarier.

[Inquartata]

Ask the women trying to enter Planned Parenthood clinics with protestors screaming "murderer", "****", etc. while Christian Extremists do their best to reduce the availability and knowledge of birth control by disseminating false information.

Ooh! Protect me from adverse opinions and criticism! Worse than a beheading, those!

Not all acts of terrorism result in terror. Your definition is too limited.

Eh...if there's no terror, it can't very well be terrorism. When a word contains another word, that's pretty much an indispensible part of the definition...

Free your mind Inq, and the rest will follow.

I prefer to keep it securely imprisoned in my head, thank you.

Yes, every time I read another news story where Bush is upping the federal funds for "Abstinence Only Education" which has been shown to 1) have little or no statistically effect on sexual behavior, 2) neglect the necessary education aspects of a healthy sexual relationship thereby putting the victims at greater risk of early/unwanted pregnancy, stds, and unhealthy/false beliefs about sex.

By that standard, Sen. Shumer, Boxer, Kennedy and Pelosi are terrorists. Their ideas of good policies certainly frighten me as much as any Republican policy can frighten you...

I also live in terror that someday, if I chose to have children, they will be subjected to the nonsense of Intelligent Design.

And of getting anchovies in your pizza, no doubt. That horrible Domino's "terrorist" organization! My word.

I also live in terror that the we will start another World War by continually invading Muslim countries just because we are annoyed that the dictator that we helped put in power and fund didn't want to play ball the way we wanted.

Well, we didn't put either the mullahs of Iran or the Assad family into power, so you can relax on that score.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Would it make a difference to you if those quotes did not come from Billy Graham? Take a look at eskreemr's source, or do a google search and find out all the wonderful places the internet will take you.

Yes, I'm sorry. I've Googled some quotations now and am willing to alter my previous posting. I meant to say "Burn all those above-mentioned right-winged fascist morons. Burn!" (And I meant that figuratively speaking so you needn't worry that I'll ever carry out my wish. You're safe.)

Also one of you ex-presidents seems to have some...interesting views:

"I don't know that atheists should be considered citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God." (George Bush Sr.)

So much for 'christian love'.
I've said it before and I stand by my statement: most religious people are mental.

[esskreemr]

Ooh! Protect me from adverse opinions and criticism! Worse than a beheading, those!

Eh...if there's no terror, it can't very well be terrorism.

Ummm... no. You see, Inq, words have alternate meanings, sometimes as many as 5 or 6. Over time, words develop meanings different from what the root of the words implies. The word can have a meaning in common usage different from when applied to a political, moral, or judicial setting. The word can change meaning depending on it's 'role' in a sentence. It's known as context.

context - [kohn'tehkst] -
1. The part of a text or statement that surrounds a particular word or passage and determines its meaning.
2. The circumstances in which an event occurs; a setting.

When a word contains another word, that's pretty much an indispensible part of the definition...

Oh, I see. You're one of THOSE people. The kind who would define every derivational word by its root as in "conservative (kuhn'sehr-vah-tiv)- 1. Of a nature to conserve."

By that standard, Sen. Shumer, Boxer, Kennedy and Pelosi are terrorists. Their ideas of good policies certainly frighten me as much as any Republican policy can frighten you...

Are they a part of a Militant organisation with the stated desire to overthrow the government as we know it? Never mind, don't answer that.

And of getting anchovies in your pizza, no doubt. That horrible Domino's "terrorist" organization! My word.

Anchovies should have been part of ANY charter/treating banning biological weapons.

Well, we didn't put either the mullahs of Iran or the Assad family into power, so you can relax on that score.

Another good reason we should have 'Iraqed' them first.

Iraqed - (Ih-rahkd')

1) A series of events consisting of a) unnegotiable demands that are impossible for the demandee to meet, b) funding/encouragement of indigenous rival groups, c) Heavy propaganda and misleading statements by the demandee, d) and assurances to allies that every diplomatic avenue is being pursued to ensure a peaceful end to the situation. Inevitably leading to a predetermined war or attack. ( See Germany's invasion of Czechoslovakia for more information and an example of the tactic)