Macron is right about this. Turkey’s support for the Islamic State has long been obvious in numerous ways. Back in 2015, in my book The Complete Infidel’s Guide to ISIS, I noted that Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was aiding the Islamic State in the ultimate hope of co-opting its caliphate and making it part of his own revived Ottoman caliphate. Even though the Islamic State has lost its holdings in Iraq and Syria, Erdogan has not given up on that hope.
“Macron says time for Turkey to clarify ambiguous stance on Islamic State,” by Michel Rose, Reuters, December 3, 2019:
LONDON (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron accused Turkey on Tuesday of working with Islamic State proxies and said Ankara’s ambiguity toward the group was detrimental to its NATO allies fighting in Syria and Iraq….
Speaking alongside U.S. President Donald Trump, Macron directly linked Turkey to Islamic State fighters, while dismissing Trump’s concerns that Paris was not bringing home French Islamic State fighters held by Kurdish groups in Syria.
“The common enemy today is the terrorist groups. I’m sorry to say, we don’t have the same definition of terrorism around the table,” Macron told reporters.
“When I look at Turkey they are fighting against those who fought with us shoulder to shoulder against ISIS (Islamic State) and sometimes they work with ISIS proxies.”
Turkey has threatened to block a plan to defend Baltic states and Poland against Russian attacks unless the alliance backs Ankara in recognizing the Kurdish YPG militia as a terrorist group.
The YPG’s fighters have long been U.S. and French allies on the ground against Islamic State in Syria. Turkey considers them an enemy because of links to Kurdish insurgents in southeastern Turkey.
“I think any ambiguity with Turkey vis-a-vis these groups is detrimental to everybody for the situation on the ground,” Macron said. “The number one (priority) is not to be ambiguous with these groups, which is why we started to discuss our relations with Turkey.”…
Dapto says
For once Macron doesnt talk out of his arse.
Frank Anderson says
The Law of Large Numbers: That which is not prohibited is required. You can’t be wrong all the time! Sound Jewish teaching: There are no perfect people, good or bad. Macron, Trudeau, Merkel and others test those theories every time they speak.
Lavéritétriomphera says
@Frank Anderson,
Bonsoir,
Macron is right and he truly said NATO is “dead brain”, I agree with him. I believe we must leave NATO primarily because of Turkey, secondly to draw closer to Russia. Moscow and Saint Petersburg are European cities, the Russian are mostly Europeans, therefore we cannot afford to ignore them.
It seems the sultan does not have unanimous support in his country, he lost Istanbul for the second time on June 23.
“Erdogan is not invincible” Pinar Tremblay said https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Four-immediate-consequences-of-Erdogans-loss-of-Istanbul-593563.
I wish the political development in Europe and Turkey will help the Kurds (Medes) who should not be excluded from the négociations when it comes to the Islamic state.
Amitiés
Frank Anderson says
Kevin, most sincere greetings. I am sorry that I am confused by your comments. I hope you are doing well. Frank
gravenimage says
Lavéritétriomphera, I’m afraid Moscow has a *huge* Muslim population, and recently Putin opened the largest Mosque in Europe there alongside Abbas and-yes–Erdogan.
Moreover, Putin is now setting up huge arms deals with Turkey.
Lavéritétriomphera says
Bonsoir,
@Frank ,
what is it that you don’t understand?
@gravenimage,
Whenever we ignore Russia, the Russians recall us. They are also Europeans and cannot be eliminated from the European scene. Most of Muslim Russians are Tatars from Asia, however some Tatars are orthodox.
Keep in mind Soviet Union and Russia will not help Turkey without getting anything in return. The orthodox Russians remember Istanbul was a Greek city where are located Hagia Sophia and the patriarchate of Constantinople.
If Macron does not say his mind when it comes to Islam, he is not always in the wrong when it comes to politic much as Putin, Merkel, Trump. I believe they all know the Islamic world has lost the battle of the ideas and cannot survive in the long term. But, at the moment the Islamists are “on the ropes” and dangerous.
Amitiés
Frank Anderson says
Kevin. What is written in English has so many thoughts joined that it is hard to sort. Suppose I try to break it into a little more manageable parts for analysis
.
1. Macron is right-I agree with him on this issue.
2. NATO is brain dead-TOTALLY AGREE. It [MAJOR members] has lost sight of the reasons for its formation and major members are doing their best to destroy it while at the same time destroying their culture, society, economy and future. Without the US, it would not win any conflict. And there is doubt even with US aid that it would win in its paltry condition. That is unfair and unreasonable to the US, which has bailed out Europe for more than 100 years at great and continuing cost. The time for gratuitous support from the US to allow lavish social programs in Europe is OVER. Pay your own bills, including your defense. If France wants to import millions of welfare parasites, the US should not be paying for it..
3, We [France?] should leave NATO-As I recall France threw NATO out in the 1960’s under De Gaulle, and its cooperation has been tense and less than enthusiastic ever since. In my life, France has not been a harmonious ally to NATO or the US. I think the national behavior reflects a lack of self-respect which would interest a Psychiatrist or Psychologist. I think the quote, “Inside every Sadist lies a Paranoid” suggests a starting place for introspection.
4. Because of Turkey-Turkey is an enemy and NOT an ally to Europe. It is following perfectly the teaching to lie and deceive in order to obtain advantage. It is flooding Europe and THREATENING to send more invaders. It thinks it is holding 50 B61 US nuclear bombs hostage at Incirlik air base. Should we stop pretending and throw Turkey out, or dissolve the alliance? I’m sure Erdogan would be thrilled to see NATO go away.
5. To draw closer to the Russians-I spent a year as “guardian angel” for 27 college juniors from the former Soviet Union. What I learned from them is that not much has changed regarding the government’s intentions internally and externally. One told me she was instructed by her parents, terrifically successful people, to do whatever was needed to not come back. I helped her achieve their goal. NEVER forget, Georgian Stalin made a deal with Austrian Hitler that lasted as long as it was convenient. Stalin was delusional that he could stall Hitler long enough to recover from the purge that murdered or imprisoned the majority of the leadership of the Soviet military. If Hitler had not attacked in 1941, Stalin would attacked in 1942, and taken all of Europe.
6. Erdogan does not have all the support-Hitler never had the majority, much less the unanimous support of Germans. He was able to put together a cabinet only because Alfred Hugenberg threw the Nationalist party support to Hitler for a temporary role in the cabinet. When no longer needed, Hitler expelled him from the government. Erdogan has enough power to do what he wishes and that includes the conquest of Europe so he can be remembered as the first muslim to see the flag over all of France.
I wish better for you and France, because we all need better.
Frank
Lavéritétriomphera says
@Frank Anderson,
Bonjour,
English is a synthetic language contrary to Romance languages where we are in danger of getting bogged down by details, but you understood my comments.
French have a Latin/Mediterranean culture as well as a Latin mind. Macron did not think he was rude saying NATO is brain dead.
As De Gaulle said, we cannot ignore Eastern Europe and Russia is in Eastern Europe, and we cannot also ignore that France has a Mediterranean coast and we have to live with that, accept it.
“the US, which has bailed out Europe for more than 100 years at great and continuing cost.”. I do not think Europe is solely responsible for the American debt! https://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&ved=2ahUKEwiyw9yfyqTmAhVOcBQKHafeCmsQFjADegQIDRAH&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FNational_debt_of_the_United_States&usg=AOvVaw1LCSuupChUteixby6NlodK.
French-American relations always been positive, because against all odds we agree on the merits. Sadism is a perversion, paranoïa is a psychosis. I do not think the marquis de Sade was a paranoiac, he is just disgusting (yuck!).
We cannot rewrite history but we must be aware of negative preconceived ideas: there is nothing that says Stalin would have attacked in 1942, and taken all of Europe … and succeeded.
Who told you Hitler had the majority and the unanimous support of Germans? https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1933_German_federal_election&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiG26ad5KXmAhWZD2MBHSC4AqMQFnoECAwQAg&usg=AOvVaw0Xp1UtY9c3jp7Ig2qzUNEM .
That said, I think Turkish are not like the disciplined Germans, they are Mediterranean and twenty percent of them are Alevis, they can be orthodox, atheist and so on … Consanguinity does not help Muslims.
In conclusion, I believe France and Europe are not lost, the pope is not a psychopath, Russia is no longer communist, Erdogan is not Hitler, Muslims are not the Germans during WW2.
The Americans would have got their independence with or without France’s help.
Napoleon has been defeated while USA was just forming.
Nazis would have been defeated with or without USA’s intervention, because as my mother said these persecutors could not win.
Japanese would have probably never attacked USA on December 1941 if Matthew Perry did not force their door in 1854.
And I am not the only one in France who understands English and respects USA.
Our future will be what we make of it and if nobody is indispensable in this World we cannot create peace alone.
Peace upon you, upon USA and why not upon the world.
Amitiés.
Lavéritétriomphera says
@Frank Anderson,
I am sorry but it seems I cannot post my comment.
Amitiés
Frank Anderson says
Kevin, a meaningful description of a friend, or the kind of advisor I am, is someone who tells you what you need to hear instead of what you would like to hear. You have told me recently that you have read the koran. I explained that a decision was made over a thousand years ago to publish the standard koran scrambled in order of the longest chapter first. The koran is flooded with repeated stories and verses, along with details intended for believers that have no interest or application for non-believers.
In my opinion, having read the standard koran and the Abridged Koran, most people are left confused, misinformed and misguided by reading the standard koran alone. Bill Warner’s Trilogy, actually 4 books, is available online as Kindle Books through Amazon. I have purchased and read entirely 3 of the 4, leaving out the longer Simple Koran. Warner’s comments and editing serve the readers’ understanding and clarity in remarkable benefits. Just as Hitler made no secret of his evil intentions, islam keeps no secrets of its plans, goals and methods. I ask and suggest again that you would benefit by reading these books.
I wish you and France well, and better than seems to be the trend. Frank
Lavéritétriomphera says
Hi, I’m Kevin’s friend who asked me to post his comment that do not appears when he tried to post it several times. Hope that it will be fine.
@Frank Anderson,
Bonjour,
English is a synthetic language contrary to Romance languages where we are in danger of getting bogged down by details, but you understood my comments.
French have a Latin/Mediterranean culture as well as a Latin mind. Macron did not think he was rude saying NATO is brain dead.
As De Gaulle said, we cannot ignore Eastern Europe and Russia is in Eastern Europe, and we cannot also ignore that France has a Mediterranean coast and we have to live with that, accept it.
“the US, which has bailed out Europe for more than 100 years at great and continuing cost.”. I do not think Europe is solely responsible for the American debt!
French-American relations always been positive, because against all odds we agree on the merits. Sadism is a perversion, paranoïa is a psychosis. I do not think the marquis de Sade was a paranoiac, he is just disgusting (yuck!).
We cannot rewrite history but we must be aware of negative preconceived ideas: there is nothing that says Stalin would have attacked in 1942, and taken all of Europe … and succeeded.
Who told you Hitler had the majority and the unanimous support of Germans?
That said, I think Turkish are not like the disciplined Germans, they are Mediterranean and twenty percent of them are Alevis, they can be orthodox, atheist and so on … Consanguinity does not help Muslims.
In conclusion, I believe France and Europe are not lost, the pope is not a psychopath, Russia is no longer communist, Erdogan is not Hitler, Muslims are not the Germans during WW2.
The Americans would have got their independence with or without France’s help.
Napoleon has been defeated while USA was just forming.
Germany under dictatorship would have been defeated with or without USA’s intervention, because as my mother said these persecutors could not win.
Japanese would have probably never attacked USA on December 1941 if Matthew Perry did not force their door in 1854.
And I am not the only one in France who understands English and respects USA.
Our future will be what we make of it and if nobody is indispensable in this World we cannot create peace alone.
Peace upon you, upon USA and why not upon the world.
Amitiés.
Lavéritétriomphera says
@Frank Anderson,
Bonsoir,
English is a synthetic language contrary to Romance languages where we are in danger of getting bogged down by details, but you understood my comments.
French have a Latin/Mediterranean culture as well as a Latin mind. Macron did not think he was rude saying NATO is brain dead.
As De Gaulle said, we cannot ignore Eastern Europe and Russia is in Eastern Europe, and we cannot also ignore that France has a Mediterranean coast and we have to live with that, accept it.
“the US, which has bailed out Europe for more than 100 years at great and continuing cost.”. I do not think Europe is solely responsible for American financial problems.
French-American relations always been positive, because against all odds we agree on the merits. Sadism is a perversion, paranoïa is a psychosis. I do not think the marquis de Sade was a paranoiac, he is just disgusting (yuck!).
We cannot rewrite history but we must be aware of negative preconceived ideas: there is nothing that says Stalin would have attacked in 1942, and taken all of Europe … and succeeded.
Who told you Hitler had the majority and the unanimous support of Germans?
That said, I think Turkish are not like the disciplined Germans, they are Mediterranean and twenty percent of them are Alevis, they can be orthodox, atheist and so on … Consanguinity does not help Muslims.
In conclusion, I believe France and Europe are not lost, the pope is not a psychopath, Russia is no longer communist, Erdogan is not Hitler, Muslims are not the Germans during WW2.
The Americans would have got their independence with or without France’s help.
Napoleon has been defeated while USA was just forming.
Germany under dictatorship would have been defeated with or without USA’s intervention, because as my mother said these persecutors could not win.
Japanese would have probably never attacked USA on December 1941 if Matthew Perry did not force their door in 1854.
And I am not the only one in France who understands English and respects USA.
Our future will be what we make of it and if nobody is indispensable in this World we cannot create peace alone.
Peace upon you, upon USA and why not upon the world.
Amitiés.
Frank Anderson says
Kevin, I see you were able to post your comment.
France was helpful and possibly essential in freeing the US from UK rule. Many people thank France for its help. I am certainly one of them.
Financial costs are the tip of the iceberg. France resists accepting a mutually cooperative partnership and wants to be the boss. It is not likely to happen, even though France was the 4th country to develop and deploy nuclear weapons. (US, Soviet Union, UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, South Africa, North Korea, Iran, Brazil. . .) How will a muslim controlled France or UK act armed with nuclear weapons? We can find out very soon!
The quote I mentioned is an exaggeration of the self-image issue I believe present in France’s struggle for identity and power. I think a professional would explore the issue starting with questions of how secure is the self-image of the nation, just as the question arises in examining a person. Is the person, the individual or the nation, comfortable with himself, or does he feel inadequate? I am pretty sure from all my work that few of us are satisfied with our present, and wish to do better. But do we strive to do better by our own efforts and accomplishments or do we seek to improve by depending on others to help, either voluntarily or by some level of coercion? It is normal for a child to reach a stage of development where independence must be declared from parents. It can be painful to both. France is not a child, having history far longer than the US; but it may be fighting the same battle for identity in its quest for power.
Stalin’s ambitions of conquest into Europe appear from the treaty signed in August 1939, which started his expansion into Poland, his attack on Finland, and his occupation of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, which continues to this day through the Russian occupation of Kaliningrad (Konigsberg), then territorial advances (invasions) into various areas of other bordering countries prior to July, 1941.
Several historians share the view that German military advantage peaked about the time of its invasion of the Soviet Union, because its enemies were gaining in their technology and numbers. The cost to Germany of finishing off the UK before attacking Stalin would have been very low compared to the damage caused by the UK to Germany as the war progressed. We can thank Hitler’s groundless fixation on Aryan brotherhood that restrained his efforts when they could have been made. Strong support can be given to the argument that Hitler LOST the war instead of the Allies winning it.
You observed in your first comment, “It seems the sultan does not have unanimous support. . .” Losing a local election for a second time is a great joy until the “sultan” shows his displeasure. It is true that muslims are not WWII Germans, they are worse. The WWII Nazis were at least temporarily defeated as they sowed their seeds of evil in the fertile minds of muslims. Otto Skorzeny, one of Hitler’s favorite “problem solvers” went on to train muslim terrorists. Notice that muslim marching formation follow, generally, the Nazi model of right hand on belt and left either swinging or carrying a flag or rifle. Mein Kampf is still a popular book in muslim audiences. The British designated Grand Mufti of Jerusalem became a strong Nazi collaborator, raising 2 divisions of brutal muslims for the SS. Unanimous support is not necessary for evil dictators to kill and enslave entire countries.
It took me 15 years from my bitter and painful divorce to attend a seminar of divorce recovery and start healing. Early in the program it was explained that before entering a new relationship it is not just helpful, but necessary, to be at peace with myself before I take on the challenges of having a peaceful relationship with another. Being at peace does not mean eliminating all negative issues; but does mean being able to deal with them after recognizing them, admitting them, understanding them and limiting the ability of those issues to hurt or distract from the joy of a successful relationship. France may be in a similar struggle with its loss of position as a superpower. I doubt France is headed toward a peaceful and successful future by taking in millions of people who have lived for 1400 years on a “final, perfect, complete and unchangeable” model of conquest, murder, slavery, looting and abuse. “A snake will always be a snake, true to its nature, no matter how well it is treated.” I suspect fixation on good relations with Russia and other countries is just as fruitless as Hitler’s fixation of the UK that poisoned his judgement. “Those who cannot remember the lessons of the past are condemned to repeat them.” Jorge Santayana, The Life of Reason (1905).
I sincerely wish you and France well. Whether we like it or not, we must accept a connected future. Frank
Lavéritétriomphera says
Postscript: I omitted the Wikipedia links and the words American debt replaced by American financial problems and it has worked.
Lavéritétriomphera says
Erratum: Who told you Hitler had (not) the majority and the unanimous support of Germans? https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1933_German_federal_election&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiG26ad5KXmAhWZD2MBHSC4AqMQFnoECAwQAg&usg=AOvVaw0Xp1UtY9c3jp7Ig2qzUNEM.
Frank Anderson says
Kevin, any election after January 30, 1933 was carefully supervised and almost certainly rigged. One example of many sources is Shirer’s Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. It is presently about 1000 pages in the English publication. I suggest that reading the approximately 200 pages covering from the end of WWI to January 30, 1933, is quite like watching today’s news. Continuing to read will show the fraud that was part and parcel of Hitler’s eventual dictatorship, all granted by “legal” means. Hitler never obtained a majority vote in any election before his appointment as Chancellor. He was appointed Chancellor only after receiving support from the Nationalist Party and months of “lobbying” including substantial bribes to the son of the President Hindenburg. From there, the burning of the Reichstag and suppression of the Communists and other parties made fair elections impossible.
Lavéritétriomphera says
@Frank Anderson,
Hi
“a meaningful description of a friend, or the kind of advisor I am, is someone who tells you what you need to hear instead of what you would like to hear.”.
Very true,
I must say I have serious problems with groups’s leaders that refuse freedom of thought. The ban of freedom of expression leads to intolerance which leads to a perception of unfairness.
Therefore I reject the Islamic ideology.
If France has lost her position as a superpower, she is still a powerhouse in Europe, and EU is an economic giant and a political dwarf.
I will try to describe nowadays French and European identities.
We love our country and need recognition, and we do not want that the West forget our contribution in the western civilisation (for example Henri Becquerel, Pierre and Marie Curie who discovered radio-activity for better or for worse).
Therefore French are patriots and Europeans, but like English Russians … Germans, among others, we do not forget WW2 and we do not want to get thought this again. Europe is still traumatized by what happened, by all the wars and totalitarian systems we have experienced (war of religions).
And nowadays Muslims are experiencing a totalitarian system plus the added difficulty of a religious war. If they want to use our experience they will understand that war against poverty, illness, radicalism, intolerance, is the best holy war (jihad) we know of.
Aside from the Turks (and it is not sure), the Europeans feel guilty because of their empire, the slave trade, colonialism, We are not at peace with ourselves.
De Gaulle wanted to construct a commun European identity from the Atlantic to Urals, and we are not out of the woods yet.
However do not compare Germans who massively followed their fürher with Turks and indisciplined Mediterraneans.
France is obviously not the EU’s boss. But three out of the five most powerful countries in Europe (Spain, France, Italy) are Latin/Mediterranean, and keep in mind we have always rub shoulders with Mediterranean Muslims, we fought them as illustrated in this medieval Spanish song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeZ95Gxqtp8.
We know them well and they are many that ask questions about Islam and they are interested in Christianity.
Middle East is a religious tense area but I say that Islam which is an obsolete religion, is sooner or later condemned. Something else will emerge from the confrontation between these two apparently very different worlds (Christendom vs Islamic world). This spiritual path is necessary if we want tolerance and Peace, but we need freedom of thought for this to work.
The roots of the American culture are Greco-Roman (Mediterranean), the most religion practiced in USA is Judeo-Christian (Mediterranean), so you are concerned by what is happening in Europe and Middle East.
Hope to read you soon
À bientôt
Lavéritétriomphera says
Erratum: we do not forget WW2 and we do not want to get through this again.
Frank Anderson says
Kevin, good to see your note. I suggest that Islamic ideology either has inspired others to force uniform thought or is simply one of many that sees its own shortcomings and refuses to face them. There is to me a good reason I continue to suggest watching and pondering Patrick McGoohan’s 17-episode Prisoner series. It is available on at least 2 streaming networks, Tubi and Pluto, which I access through Sony and Roku devices.
In 1986, after I had been unemployed and unable to find a job for about 2 years, I got a call from a temporary job operation offering me a position in San Francisco if I could get there and be in the office on 3 days’ notice. While in SF, the public broadcasting network started the Prisoner. I immediately purchased a video recorder and taped the show, managing to get all the episodes before my job ended. At the end of each episode there would be a short panel discussion explaining the meaning and insight to be gained. To my great joy at the time, I was immediately given another temporary job in New Orleans, where the PBS station ran Prisoner again; so I made a second set of tapes. The tapes were near wearing out when I found the DVD’s. PPP
I think the ultimate message of the story is that what others think is much less important than what we think about ourselves. When we endure misery and sacrifice to satisfy others, to obtain their approval, to surrender to their control, to be part of a “community” we allow ourselves to be absorbed in a collective and surrender our individuality.
You wrote “We love our country and need recognition; and do not want that the West forget our contribution. . .” If a client said that to me, I would ask, “Why?” What difference does the approval of others make? I have heard a number of times a description of insanity as “Spending money you don’t have, to buy things you don’t need to impress people you don’t even like.” Spending money France does not have to pay millions of welfare parasites who see those payments as their god given right fits my understanding; especially when it takes France into the caliphate and denies it a French future.
The drive for acceptance and approval takes away from more productive efforts. Some people will never appreciate us, respect us, obey us, work with us, no matter what we do. Harming ourselves to satisfy them is a waste. I will spare you the number of times I have broken off connections with people and groups for their failure of basic courtesy and ordinary respect. I don’t need them; and have better ways to spend my resources than trying to please them.
WHAT SANE PERSON wants to go to war? But what sane person allows his phobia of war to force him into one? The desire to avoid another war more than any other single factor caused WWII. If France and the UK had stood up to Hitler over Czechoslovakia, there was an active plot to kill Hitler and end his campaign of terror and conquest. Czechoslovakia had French designed and constructed fortifications in the Sudetenland (which were surrendered without a shot), and a well-prepared military (which provided many weapons used in conquering France), which in combination with France, UK and Polish forces could have crushed 1938 German forces; assuming Poland had the foresight to see it was next on the menu. France and UK imposed hateful, crushing burdens on Germany when both were just as responsible for WWI as Germany. The US was little or no restraint on the abuse in the Armistice. In my personal war from 1982 to 1996, and continuing, my ignorance, inexperience and lack of courage made it far longer and more devastating than if could have been IF I knew then what 14 years of combat has taught me now. Is the lesson lost that spineless appeasement never works except to invite aggression?
France by your description craves to be a leading and influential part of a group instead of being satisfied with being France. Being “your brother’s keeper” has limits. When it causes harm to the keeper one limit appears. When it harms the brother, another limit is established. In between those 2 extremes is the condition of being a brother’s friend. I suggest that is where a balance appears that allows a life of peace and progress. In my experience, with a “whole bus load of friends” life’s challenges are manageable. I have helped several parents who have destroyed themselves in the process of giving temporary and wasted support to hopeless children. I have been helped by, and helped, friends to survive a life that many would not. And I am not finished yet.
I don’t see where muslims are just now experiencing a totalitarian system. Islam has been totalitarian from its start. To write they are experiencing a religious war as though for the first time is to ignore a declared and never ended or ending religious war islam declared 1400 years ago which will end only when the entire world either “Converts, Submits to humiliation, or Dies.” Suggesting the possibility of a change of view, a reform, a different goal, is to suggest apostasy or blasphemy which islam punishes by death. Their “final, perfect, complete, unchangeable” goal is world conquest and domination. They must leave islam or be part of that war. Please consider my suggestion to read a few books as a start to understanding.
I think there are several questions to ponder concerning the “importance” of Russia and whatever influence they are allowed to have over any other country’s future.
1. If Russia is such a great country to seek as a “friend” why are Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria in or joining NATO? Do they know something about Russia’s reliability as a friend and ally that France is missing?
2. Why has Russia invaded Ukraine after killing by theft and starvation 10 million of its citizens in the Holodomor and moving in Russians to occupy their land? They are simply continuing and completing what they started in the early 1930’s instead of trying to make amends.
3. What was the Russian response when asked by East European countries to end its occupation in the 1950’s and 60’s? Compare that to the US and NATO response to France’s order to vacate bases.
I hope you think of the third teaching that drew me to the Jewish community over 25 years ago: “Ask every question repeatedly. Each time the question is asked and answers honestly sought, the tarnish of error and deception will be reduced. Only in God’s Presence, at the end of this life, will we be given the whole Truth.” Peace be with you. Frank
gravenimage says
Lavéritétriomphera, I don’t think we should ignore Russia–but neither should we count on their being staunchly anti-Jihad, either, given their recent history.
WPM says
Even a broken clock reads the right time twice a day ,Macron can not be wrong on everything all the time. Off subject ,but at this moment French pensioners are rioting in Paris over changes that Macon is making to their pension system ,I guess the new “refugees” are not an edition to tax rolls someone has to pay for diversity so lets cut benefits to older citizens who pay into the system for most of their adult lives. While France is at it take back captured ISIS fighters who happen to be French citizens .
Jay says
Macron, Trudeau, Boris Johnson, and other world leaders at this last NATO conference , should all learn some manners! Add brainless princess Anne to that list as well. Their disrespect for Pres Trump and First Lady Melanie was completely uncalled for and beyond rude!! Pm Churchill would not be pleased.
Those that do not study history are bound to repeat it! Take note, if it were not for the USA during WWII,
they and all of Europe and England, would all be speaking German !
Pres Trump and First lady Melania are always a class act, poised and ready to represent and defend the USA at all times!! They are the shining example for the world to see!
Trump 2020. The world needs his leadership!
??????????
WPM says
Poor Panirkudi108 is off his meds again I see.
gravenimage says
🙂
elee says
Turkey is a Trojan horse inside the walls of the west. Its got millions of fifth columnists in Europe and now it proposes to soften our Baltic defenses.
gravenimage says
France’s Macron on Turkey: “Sometimes they work with ISIS proxies”
………………..
It’s a rarity, but Macron is spot on here.
Infidel says
How did ISIS get their recruits into Syria? They didn’t go via Damascus or Baghdad: both the Assad and the Baghdad regimes made sure of that. That only left Turkey. All foreign Jihadists who wanted to join them would usually go to Ankara, then travel to Gaziantep and from there to Raqqa. and Mosul. And it’s not like Turkey doesn’t have a good handle on who travels in and out of their country.
So the idea that Turkey was ever fully opposed to ISIS is a joke. They may have put on a charade of opposing ISIS, given how united world opinion was against it, but ISIS was very much their way of trying to horn their way back into reconquering Arab territory
There’s also the recent ties Turkey has been forging w/ countries like Qatar, Pakistan, Malaysia, Somalia and Sudan. Add to that the fact that they’re trying to woo the ex Soviet stans, and they look like they’d create the modern equivalent of an Ottoman caliphate
Lavéritétriomphera says
@Frank Anderson,
I have posted a comment a couple days ago, and it did not appear. I am not available for the moment.
Hope to hear from you soon
Frank Anderson says
Kevin, I saw your comment. It did get posted more than once. I read it and shared my thoughts. I understand the unrest going on and look forward to seeing calmer times in both our countries.
Basic fact, public pensions whether for all citizens or just government employees are financial sinkholes. They are started to buy votes. They have only lower limits-they must always go higher in cost and lower in age and work requirements. They must eventually collapse like any Ponzi scheme. “There is no free lunch” especially when the public treasury is paying. Paying people to NOT work is a perfect formula to get them to quit working and take. Good luck with stopping that madness.
Lavéritétriomphera says
@Frank Anderson,
Bonjour,
I mentioned my last answer to your comment that did not appear.
America is a great nation but we think Americans are naive and big headed when it comes to inventions, discoveries. They do not seem to realize their weaknesses. USA debt is enormous and sometimes Americans have difficulties to understand they have missed the plot.
Europe and France are not lost, De Gaulle was right when he said “Europe from Atlantic to the Urals. There is no ocean between Russia and Western Europe and we deal with it wether we like it or not.
France will be lost without her twin sister Italy, southwest France is heavily influenced by Spain and England would never have existed as a modern state without France. France cannot be France without her neighbors. Children do not have to pay for parents’ mistakes, therefore Muslims are ordinary people victim of a totalitarian system and religious war.
Christendom has been a totalitarian system and we have experienced religious wars too, I would not have wanted to be qualified as an heretic in this period.
« You wrote “We love our country and need recognition; and do not want that the West forget our contribution. . .” If a client said that to me, I would ask, “Why?”
I only suggested that the Americans should be just a bit more humble, especially when it comes to the deterrent effect They, after all, did not re-invent the wheel.
I don’t really care that France is no longer a superpower. I only suggested that she is an European country, EU is a superpower and nowadays Russia is not our enemy .
Muslims are ordinary human beings and they must be put back in the right place just like anyone else who crosses the line.
Well, yes, Christendom is older and has existed for 2000 years and Islam has existed for 1400 years. We needed 600 years to establish a relative religious peace. In the seventeenth century America was a religious refuge.
After experiencing different totalitarian systems and suffered quite strongly, it is normal we do not want to see that happen again. We know now that freedom of thought and expression is necessary for social peace, which was not a foregone conclusion.
I stand by my words, France Europe USA are not lost. The contrary is exactly what the enemies want to hear. Freedom of thought is poison for the Islamic totalitarian system, we therefore know what has to be done.
WHAT SANE PERSON wants to go to war? But what sane person allows his phobia of war to force him into one?
All wars can be avoided provided that we rebel against those who want war.
Hitler did not hide his true intentions (Islamists are doing the same), so we must understand what happened and learn from the experience.
The Roman emperors recruited German guards because they were faithful, that says a lot about what they thought of the Italians, Greeks…
Do not compare Germanic peoples with Mediterraneans.
France is not a member of the Anglo-Saxon club, and we would be lost without our sister Italy, we share the same culture “French are bad-tempered Italians” Cocteau said, and Spain has strongly influenced southwest France and vice versa.
“Ask every question repeatedly. Each time the question is asked and answers honestly sought, the tarnish of error and deception will be reduced. Only in God’s Presence, at the end of this life, will we be given the whole Truth.”.
Very true.
Best wishes from Toulouse France
À bientôt
Frank Anderson says
Kevin, happy to see your note. We both like to make long comments.
I must agree that US debt is the greatest of many problems we face. Much of it arises from buying votes along the way and like France’s pension system, will not be resolved with happy people.
I think it is ironic that DeGaulle’s vision of Urals to the Atlantic is so similar to Hitler’s.
Seeing muslims as innocent children of evil parents misses the brainwashing that starts at the earliest ages. 1400 years of unchangeable indoctrination leaves no room, no option for a next generation to see any need to depart from the evil, intolerant, uncivilized violence that is central to islam. A few will see the horror and seek to escape. But new monsters are being created faster than civilized people. I see the same kind of brainwashing that took place on the young in Hitler’s Germany and Stalin’s Soviet Union (example: Pavel Morozov) with great success.
Heresy is dangerous even now. I was a heretic in 1982 when I refused to help steal 200 million dollars in present value from my client/employer. The managers and directors violated their corporate duties and wanted me to assist them. Christianity has not over the centuries taken kindly to disagreement. For all the great wisdom and inspiration I found in Judaism, the local community does not like to have its delusional treatment of islam questioned.
Needing that others recognize us, and remember our contribution indicates to me an internal insecurity or lack of self-image that is confident and satisfied. That kind of issue was a major subject in the divorce recovery seminar that helped me recover from my very destructive divorce. We are not ready for a successful relationship with others until we are satisfied with ourselves. It is an error to enter a new relationship before ending the first and understanding our values and places where we need to improve. I remember one of many great sermons I heard, this one in a Presbyterian church, about the injunction to spread the Word everywhere, starting in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was described as a state of mind rather than a place. If we do not practice the peace and brotherhood internally, our message to others is lacking and defective. I think wisdom is present in that observation.
Russia makes itself an enemy by killing people, invading countries, annexing territory, and addicting Europe, particularly Germany to its natural gas, among other things. Arming and assisting violence in Syria, arming Iran in preparation for its holy war to bring back the missing Twelfth Imam, selling a willing Turkey missiles to test against US F-35 airplanes, . . .how many more actions? If this is not an enemy, what is? Saying the same about Hitler, that he was not the enemy, led to increasingly aggressive actions which were finally the cause of WWII. IF France, UK and others had resisted Hitler in 1938, it is possible that only one person would have died instead of 50 million or more.
I wonder how muslims can be “put back in their place” by destroying France, the rest of Europe and the world. Europe has been trying for 1400 years and seems to be failing. There is no reform or change permitted in islam. You have read the koran, which is published to confuse and misdirect non-believers. Do you know from your reading which verses are still in effect, controlling, and which have been superceded? Many times in the course of reaching “final, perfect, complete, unchangeable” status, changes in previously “final” statements were made. What are the rules now that despised, hated, worthless non-muslims (kafirs) must confront? Would any well-brainwashed Nazi take any counsel or guidance from hated Jewish sources? I think it is fair to compare such hope of a peaceful reform to Viktor Frankl’s “delusion of reprieve” because confronting the reality is too horrible to deal with at the moment.
Avoiding war is not accomplished by surrendering to evil. Europe did not want war; Germany did not want war; Hitler did. How does that fit with the proposition?
It will never be lost on me that France aided in great ways the creation of the United States of America. My lodge was visited about 200 years ago by one of the French heroes of the Revolutionary War. I suggest that connections that may have some vague value, but which are largely mythical generalizations, cloud judgement. Hitler’s fixation on Aryan identify led to many errors in judgement that could have been avoided otherwise. Do I remember William the Conqueror, aka Bill the Bastard, came from Normandy? France will not be lost in the absence of anyone or anything. I have lost much and many people along the way for a number of reasons. I am still here and doing the best I can to make the best and most productive life possible. But I have not continued as I have by destroying myself or allowing others to do it for me. I wish your country saw that and reconsiders its path of self-destruction. There are still good, valuable and honorable contributions for us to make.
Always, Peace and Best Wishes. Frank
Lavéritétriomphera says
@Frank Anderson,
Bonsoir Ami,
I cannot post links.
Keep in mind you are not European, therefore you do not know that England, France and Russia do not trust Germany (to put it mildly), England is leaving EU, Macron has been received by Putin and It seems Russia and France get along well when it comes to Iran.
After all, we all know the wicked make war and the good guys provide the weapons.
USA increases dominance; arms flow to the Middle East sure, says SIPRI.
I agree with you, Russia is an imperialist European country that colonized Siberia, but the ukrainien and Crimea affairs are more complex than at first sight.
I must to confess we know the anti French sentiment in USA. As an exemple, I read on this website that the only good French guy was Pasteur (sic), “cheese eating, and surrender monkeys” does not make me lought and so on.
So we remind you that you should be a little more modest, after all England that has always been very interested by French culture (and vice versa) is our former colony and she founded USA. As you said France helped you to achieve your independence.
De Gaulle truly said Europe from Atlantic to Urals, but even if the Nazis were probably inspired, among others, by Arthur de Gobineau: essai sur l’inégalité des races (Essay on the Inequality of the Human Races, 1853–1855), I am sure the French would never have accepted Hitler’s crazy ideas.
However from Carolus Magnus (Charlemagne) France is no in position to give any lessons to anyone when it comes to imperialism.
Long ago I asked to an Iranian women why they did not rebel against the Islamic government : “if we revolt we are killed” she said, and she added that Mohamed had no excuse whatsoever.
I have probably Muslim ancestors but the Islamic “gene” does not exist, brainwash does not always succeed, and for an obvious reason we cannot count the apostates from the Islamic “religion” while others have naive beliefs. The Muslim leaders who do not believe in their claptrap, are the worst because they use the Islamic teachings for personal purposes. They must be fought relentlessly.
I never said we must avoid war whatever the cost, but let us be serious if we have to fight terrorism, we cannot confine people just because they are Muslim and neither we can deport all of them! These options cannot be retained even if we are absolutely obliged to combat illegal immigration.
However no one can prevent the least successful culture from yielding to cultural evolution. Islam is condemned sooner or later.
France is going through a social crisis even worst than the yellow vests one. I don’t know how we’re going to get out of this. As long as we do not say as La Rochefoucauld in 1789: “No sire, it is not a revolt it is revolution”. I just hope reason will prevail.
Bien à vous tous
Frank Anderson says
Kevin, and greetings to you friend.
If race and genes make any difference to intellect and judgement I am 100 percent European. At the arm-twisting of a “friend” I took one of those “tests”.
I was alive, but very young for the battle of Dien Bien Phu. I went through 12 years of military school in time for the Vietnam war. I did see Israel defend itself in 1967 and again in 1973. I was alive when the Russians had their way killing people in Hungary, East Germany and elsewhere. I also remember the standoff of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. The number of books I have read on 20th century history related subjects is in the hundreds. Every American probably has not duplicated my reading or experience; some have done more. Many, especially the younger, are dumb as boxes of rocks and know nothing and do not want to be bothered with facts or truth, and especially history.
France joining with Russia and Iran to me seems, politely, an unfortunate choice for France’s future. Think about its position in the future as it relates to their ambitions. France would in my opinion be in the same position as any occupied country under Hitler, just another troublesome piece of real estate populated by rebellious troublemakers. We should know what happened to suspected troublemakers in Poland at Russian AND German hands for example..
The best illustration of trust comes from the honor system I lived with at military school. Teachers would pass out tests and leave the room. Each of us wrote and signed a pledge before returning the test. In 12 years there were a few cheating cases. But generally one could leave his books and come back to find them just as they were left. Of course there were bullies. I suffered under many of them until I got big enough, mean enough and strong enough to beat them senseless. Then I had peace. I did not obtain peace by submission.
Yes there is anti-French sentiment widespread in the US. SOME of it is well-earned. Other is not. There is an advantage to candor, facing and telling the truth even when it embarrasses or hurts. I once stood in for a lawyer who dreaded to face a judge over his slow compliance with a rule. The judge was rightfully “displeased” and asked me why he had not done as required. My answer was direct, “Sloth, Your Honor!” The judge’s reaction was kind to me and merciful to my lawyer friend, getting the case moving for the benefit of the client. Candor can repair many “wrongs” because it helps clear the past and create new opportunities by a display of commitment to truth.
There was a key figure in the Revolutionary War, Lafayette. I took a document from my lodge to a distant city to be “conserved” that was nearly 200 years old commemorating his visit. The document is displayed proudly today.
How can leaders of any country spend billions for yachts and private jets, tens and hundreds of billions on ego trips for garish building projects, and more billions promoting war and slavery, when people they say deserve charity are starving and dying from disease? Why are non-muslims making far greater sacrifices to relieve hardship, some of it real and other feigned, compared to oil rich governments who line leaders’ pockets with outrageous luxuries?
I wrote and conducted my official adopted mother’s funeral with the conclusion that there are some questions in this life for which there is no answer. Perhaps that is a permanent condition; perhaps it is temporary. The practical response is to keep looking in hope for temporary.
I wish for you and France the same as I wish for me and the US, Frank
Lavéritétriomphera says
Hello Frank,
I give my regards to all your jewish friends,
”But the Jewish teaching is clear that the word chosen reflects the acceptance of a duty, a burden, to live a life and carry a message.”.
Hindus, Buddhists, greek philosophers also believed and taught this, and it is enough for catholics to read the epistles of Paul, to understand the new covenant is different from the older. We’re getting “elected“ by our own merits (I understood).
Jews are not all in agreement about what the term “chosen” means, some of them as Muslims leaders do, state that this “election“is genetic (born from a jewish mother, or in a muslim family) or that a conversion to judaism or islam is needed. Therefore it seems obvious to me that as a result of genetic or conversion, some “believers“ understand they receives the divine preference over infidels. They have, wether they wanted or not, to accept the rigorous doctrine along with any kind of rituals: circumcision, kosher (halal) meat, ritual bath and so on in addition to the brainwashed that comes with it.
As far I am concerned Islam is dangerous because Muslims have the duty to establish a worldwide caliphate along with sharia, and to become a canon fodder if required.
“It does not mean, according to the teaching, that Jews are better than non-Jews.“.
However some Jews keep telling people that the “chosen” people is superior to others and I guess they must justify their election https://www.newsweek.com/jews-are-smartest-race-world-and-superior-humans-israeli-lawmaker-claims-977896 .
“ My personal struggle is to teach myself that I am sufficiently worthy, valuable, to live.”
+1
“There is so much that Christians are taught about Judaism that is terribly inaccurate.”
Almost certainly,
French Jews I know, are not very religious like the rest of the population, but the rise of antisemitism is a disgrace for France.
“You shall love your neighbor AS yourself.”
Self hatred makes it difficult,
And everyone is equal before God wether “selected” or not.
Islam is the Baal Moloch cult, in ancient Mesopotamia the gods were facing competition with one another. That probably explains why Allah is so exclusive. Baal is the master and his servants who bow down before him, must obeyed every word, and there always has been a shrewd tacticians to take advantage of the situation.
It is difficult to question ourselves and to run the risk to be exposed to a social exclusion. But in spite of the social pressure I believe many Muslims are now leaving Islam.
Peace upon you, and USA
Amitiés
Frank Anderson says
A little good news along with a few comments, Kevin.
I had a great day in the shop, finding a drill bit that I hid in plain sight for several hours of searching, and getting very close to seeing my “next” idea work. I thought I needed it to drill one hole and wound up drilling a second for which that bit was the only tool.
I would never make a blanket accusation of Jews agreeing on anything, even the time of day. Every week for about 5 years I would ask people at Friday services to join one of my Mothers by Choice for supper. By collecting the strays, she had the pleasure of company that was lacking in the assisted living home where she lived. Getting a dozen Jewish people to agree on a place to eat can be exciting! My comments are about what I collected from more than 20 years of listening. Like everywhere else, the teachings do not reflect the practice. What people do with the teachings is their problem. Mine is putting those teachings to work in my life with the goal of making myself a better, peaceful and productive person.
I believe I mentioned earlier the observation of Sigmund Freud that endeavoring to understand ourselves is the ultimate form of aggression. I have known a number of people who could not face the challenge, and even more people I see daily on the news, who refuse to look honestly in a mirror. When a narrative is so disturbing to reason that “black becomes white” or “evil becomes good” self-examination can be devastating.
I could write many chapters on the times and places I have been excluded. There is a book I read more than 50 years ago which addresses forced changes in life, Time Storm. After a while those forced changes turn into blessings because new opportunities are created. I thought it was terrible in 1986 that I did not get a permanent job in San Francisco. Looking at the place now, what a relief!
I may be operating with a delusion or a myth. But like Frankl’s “delusion of reprieve” if it helps me continue, it is good. The First, Most Important Mitzvah of 613 counted and ranked by Maimonides is “All rules bend as necessary for the preservation of life” based in the Command, “Let there be Life!” Remember, whatever else Jesus was or is, He was Jewish and lived and taught Judaism, Rabbinical Judaism in contradiction of Priestly or Sacrificial Judaism. Romans controlled Israel through their absolute control of the Priests and Temple. He disturbed the peace and control of Rome, which is why he was killed by Romans. There is almost exact agreement in the teachings if not the practice between Reform Judaism and Christianity on all but 2 subjects that I see. Those shared teachings of peace, respect and joy are in total contrast to the teachings of islam.
I am always sharing a wish for peace, respect and joy. Frank
Lavéritétriomphera says
@Frank Anderson,
Bonsoir,
I never made a genetic test but my father was from a Celtic descent and my mother from a Mediterranean and Germanic descent and I am French. Anecdotally, as Macron, my eyes are blue and my skin is very pale, anyway the cultural borders did not exist in the Neolithic period. So the Europeans are probably farmers’ offspring from Middle East and Egypt.
“France joining with Russia and Iran”,
In my opinion there is more than meets the eye
I will say no more here, my comment on this subject has deliberately been censured on a political French website.
If France was subjugated over the course of her history she survived. We won the Hundred Years’ War. As far I am concerned I believe Joan of Arc was a political puppet created by French nobility.
That said, Russia offers commercial opportunities and there is no anti French sentiment in Russia. On the contrary Russia of the tsars and even after, has strongly been influenced by France. French was the court language in Russia and they virtually copied us on everything (art, architecture, language…), and they were not the only ones to do so during our long history.
Now if I am not aware of the French government motivations in matter of foreign policy, it seems Macron wants to play a role in easing tension and in facilitating relations between EU, Russia and America.
“Then I had peace. I did not obtain peace by submission.”.
Ask persons who are held in slavery or servitude what they think about that?
“Many especially the younger are dumb as boxes of rocks“.
“After Notre Dame Cathedral fire, young police officers said that the church was just an old stone building that should be replaced by a new one!” (I heard). They don’t respect their splendid historic heritage generously funded by American patrons. No comment.
I am saying this just by the way, but I do not think these young men and women are dumb as a boxes of rocks, they are just ignorant. And I also believe this is being the case of the Americans who erroneously criticized France and other countries. They are just ignorant and they probably cannot identity France on the map.
“Every American probably has not duplicated my reading or experience;“
Very true and I should like to say to these Americans : “Learn more and you will less appear obtuse, and your country would become less the laughing stock of the world”.
However I know people of value exist in USA.
“How can leaders of any country spend billions for yachts …”
I do not have the answer, the social crisis is currently very serious in France and I am afraid the government could be completely overwhelmed by events.
I believe this is symptomatic of a general malaise that is affecting most of the western world.
We have to reconsider what we have chosen in life.
“there are some questions in this life for which there is no answer”.
That is why Islam is condemned because the Muslims wonder wether they will get all the answers from the Quran which they believe is the uncreated word of God. As far as I know Allah is supposed to know everything, but I should like to tell to Muslims that God may not have shared everything.
Our future is in our hands.
The very best to your great nation
Amitiés
Frank Anderson says
Kevin, I try to pay attention to people rather than genes or generalizations. I don’t think I would stand well with others if considered by generalizations instead of my own conduct.
Granted that France has survived many conquests. With that experience, why would another be risked?
Russia being attributed with the absence of anti-French sentiment is almost certainly delusional. Common with muslims, anything that is not Russian and subject to their control is unfavored.
I once had a conversation with my Rabbi about islam. He was blinded and refused to consider current actions because in the past there was an excuse of tolerance to Jews under Islamic domination. What happened hundreds of years ago has very little to do with what is happening now. Islam continues its violence without interruption. Russia continues its aggression regardless of what happened hundreds of years ago. They speak Russian NOW.
Neville Chamberlain wanted to play peacemaker between Czechoslovakia and Germany. Edouard Daladier joined in the Munich meeting where Czechoslovakia was excluded. Meddling “peacemakers” prevented the killing of Hitler before he could get WWII going. Chamberlain’s inflated self-image and over-estimated talent for negotiating caused WWII.
Anyone who has ever studied the art of negotiation understands there are times to end negotiations without a deal. A bad deal makes obtaining a good deal doubly hard, because the bad deal must be removed in order to make the good deal. I cannot imagine Macron having anything beneficial to offer in deal-making with Russia on behalf of the rest of the world.
How did the Iron Curtain and the Soviet Union collapse? Millions of people put their lives on the line to bring them down after 70 years of murder and slavery. What would the price have been to prevent their rise in the first place 70 years ago? You might consider finding a book Red Victory about the civil war in Russia between the Whites and Reds.
It matters little who funded historic treasures. The respect most deserve for a variety of reasons continues. Look at the muslim destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha’s that had been carved into a mountain for centuries. Notre Dame may have been started and completed before the US existed; I don’t know. But it is still deserving of care and respect now and in the future. Islam hates such treasures.
I think you know my comment about billion-dollar yachts and private jets refers to oil-rich muslim countries who lavishly support terror, but let muslim people live in abject, miserable poverty as those super-rich show off their wealth.
One of the points mentioned in Warner’s books is that “final” words were changed many times before the writings were “complete”. Most or all of what was written in Mecca was renounced and replaced in Medina. There on its face is a violation of the rule against reform. But 1400 years it is still being used to brainwash slaves into submission. What is not “known” is simply made up as we go.
I am not greedy: I wish all of us, and all our homelands well. Frank
Lavéritétriomphera says
@Frank Anderson,
Bonsoir,
I try to pay attention to people rather than genes or generalizations. I don’t think I would stand well with others if considered by generalizations instead of my own conduct.
+ 1
A great strategist never reveal his strategy and there is the official and unofficial discourse.
America, EU and Russia and possibly China have every reasons to form a commun front against terrorism.
An Arabic proverbe says : “three things have to be clean up : the Jews, the Persians, and the flies”.
Saoudi Arabia and Iran actively promote terrorism. And they are not prepared to stop fighting against each other.
US has recently increased military aid to Saoudi Arabia, and Russia is deepening military ties with Iran (I read). However I do not ensure the quality of the armament they certainly bought at a high price. As far I am concerned, I do not believe Iran for financial and technical reasons is able to develop nuclear weapons, but Donald Trump is right, Iranians (and Saoudi) need monitoring because they present a danger to themselves or others.
There is no anti French sentiment in Russia, they are very proud as we are. It is also important to remember the historical experiences of the French and Russians forged in wars and in totalitarian regimes for centuries. Both do not want war, and they believe that USA leaders are warmongers, we just had to hear Hilary Clinton. I do not think this is the case with Donald Trump who seems to be a man of peace.
The rabbi is right, the Muslims did not persecute the Jews as Christians did, they created a capitation but they did not creat inquisition and concentration camps.
In Tunisia the Jews were protected during WW2. We cannot rewrite history but some Jews criticized us for having revived the sleeping giant.
Notre Dame 1163-1345 is a masterpiece of the gothic art (French style), and we must thank American patrons who furthermore saved Versailles castle. French and even worse the Italians, did not care about “old stuff”.
After his nomination, apart other things, Macron ordered a custom set of porcelain tableware reportedly worth half a million euros. In fairness to him, he does not expose his golden tableware contrary to the king.
Historical research and archeology deny the Quran. Islam is a Mediterranean religion which has experienced changements as circonstances demand.
For better days to come,
Amitiés
Frank Anderson says
Hello Kevin,
I agree that many reasons exist for alliances in resistance to terrorism. The problem will always be the basic question, “Whose side are you on?” Russia and China have their own plans, interests, priorities and rules or lack of rules. Are they using terrorists as one of their tools against us? Look at the countries they are supporting. Consider the countries they are opposing! Look at the price (NOT just in money) those countries pay for the support they receive.
There was a book written many years ago about the pilot who flew a MiG-25 Foxbat to Japan, where the US inspected it and eventually returned it to the Soviet Union. Among other information, the design was confirmed to have been stolen from Canada as part of the total Soviet infiltration of the Avro Arrow project. Cancelling that project when its compromise was discovered more or less destroyed Canada’s military aircraft industry. I read the book in English, MiG 25 Pilot. It might be available in French; I don’t know. The book might be worth your time reading.
Among other subjects discussed in the book was the economic conditions under Communism and the effect those conditions have on all forms of motivation, personal, industrial and political. Communism may have ended in Russia as far as the name goes. But many of the same people are in charge and do many of the same things that were done before. China is still Communist, with a hunger to spread its control beyond its borders and enslave more people.
I suggest that thinking of an alliance of Russia, China, France and other allegedly civilized countries against one form of terrorism is just as much a matter of convenience as the UK/US alliance with the Soviet Union against Hitler. I am not sure of the exact quote; but Churchill said something like, “If Hitler attacked Hell, I should at least have some favorable comment about the Devil in Parliament.” How long did that alliance last after Hitler died? Why was NATO formed? The proverb frequently mentioned here on Jihad Watch, about a snake will always be a snake no matter how well it is treated, may have relevance to our discussion.
You may have seen my thoughts on Iran already having nuclear weapons. They have been working on obtaining them from the fall of the Shah, if not before. If Argentina, Brazil, and South Africa have achieved nuclear bombs sufficient for testing and several other countries very close, with their small economic and technical resources, Iran has the bomb. They have been cooperating with, and probably funding, North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs. There is no reason to test a bomb in Iran that has already been tested in North Korea. There is no reason to have more or less 20,000 centrifuges and a nuclear reactor which automatically produces enough Plutonium to make between 25 and 50 bombs per year, other than to make bombs. Iran HAS nuclear bombs NOW. It is only of question of how many at the moment and how many do they want before starting to use them to bring back the missing Twelfth Imam that is part of Shia Islam teaching.
Thinking about my own life, there seem to be many kinds of friends, with true, generous, balanced even selfless and altruistic, fair friends at one end of a spectrum, and abusive, taking, bought, pretend friends at the other. Bought friends are there only as long as they profit at minimum or no cost from the relationship. When they start paying, even temporarily, the relationship melts, eventually going away as completely as an ice cube evaporating (subliming) in a vacuum. I could write true stories about many true friends I have known in my life, starting with the people who gave me life, adopted me, educated me and guided me to this day, even if only by memory and inspiration.
Other friends were, as Masons teach, a “checkered pavement”, a mixture of details that add up to worthy even if not perfect. In truth I think many friendships appear in that realm of analysis. The day I claim to be perfect has not arrived. I am doing the best I can and always looking to improve. If there is a hallmark of good, healthy, friendship, my wish to improve is shared with an expectation my friends will improve along with me, never at their loss or expense. If I must improve by harming someone who believes I am a friend, I am despicable and unworthy of friendship.
I have endured many bought friends in my life. Sometimes because it took a while to recognize them; and others because I felt a reason existed to accept some hardship. But sooner or later, I found it was better to accept being alone for a time, move on and seek new and better friends, who had some sense of balance in their treatment of me as I have of them. I see a fair use of this experience for national in addition to personal matters. After all, leaders of countries are also people.
The most extreme example today to my knowledge of a bought or abusive friend is standard, ordinary, traditional, orthodox islam. No secret is made of the ambition to conquer, kill, enslave, rob, rape and pillage all in fulfillment of “final, perfect, complete, unchangeable” teachings that were changed several times and ways in the course of manufacturing the koran.
One of the best ways I found in my life, which sadly took many years to learn, is to consider a person by his friends and heroes. Those are the people and examples he will try to copy. I could have avoided an abusive business partnership if I had known that when listening to my ex-partner before we combined our offices. After about a year, I saw my error and realized I did not need to pay him to supervise and manage me. I moved on and paid my bills without paying his.
When I was forced to retire, I had enough to provide “my daily bread”. Christians and Jews share this prayer. I think a Jew could say The Lord’s Prayer as sincerely as any Christian, but for its intimate identity with Christianity. The words are in my opinion much the same meaning as many Jewish prayers. But none of those words or meaning is shared in islam; and those who collaborate give aid and comfort to people who would destroy the liberty that you take as part of your name.
After weeks of weakness and being unable to go to my friend’s shop where over the past 11 years I have invented a machine, I was able to go today (Wednesday) and have a good day watching it work. Having done this kind of work since 1964, for the most part as a hobby, it is fun to watch this thing do its job. I hope you have the same pleasure and rewards from your days. Frank
Lavéritétriomphera says
Salut Frank,
I am not sure to respond to every topics.
Who told you Iran has nuclear weapons?
North Korea is atheist and Iran is an Islamic republic. They have not much in commun other than perhaps the hate for others which is a distinctive characteristic of dictatures. However Iran and … North Korea should certainly know Russia and above all USA have developed effective anti-missiles.
Nor even if united, North Korea and Iran offer to little counterweight to US and Israel. However, Iran is too busy with Saoudi Arabia and Pakistan. North and South Korea are not out of the woods yet.
I agree with you, it is certainly not going to be easy but certain venomous snakes need venomoid surgery before, like the sleeping beauty who was waiting for the prince charming, “Iran brings back the missing Twelfth Imam”. The myths have a hard life (ho là là)
From the battle of Bouvines in 1214, the Franks do not trust Germanic peoples, and England but that does not mean we are the allies of Russia and China without preconditions.
We must not forget that Angela Merkel has placed EU and Europe in a very a difficult position and England is leaving, no, is fleeing EU.
Industrial and military espionage can be attributed to all nations.
“You will be judged by the company you keep” We cannot prevent that those we regularly fellow with, are like us and need us, and sometimes they need money.
And we all know a friends can betray, but sometimes we ignore the reality is that it is the time for them to look after us as well. We must look into our conscience prior to laying a charge.
And as a basic principle we should know that we do out of love what we don’t do out of interest. However we are the only ones able to “walk our life path” and I believe we must help each other even if someone’s head annoys us, but Islam teaches Muslims to exclusively help Muslims.
Islam is a mixture of Jewish and Christian beliefs and it is above all the Baal’s cult remastered in the seventh century. Arab girls were being buried alive in pre-Islamic times, in principle Islam has abolished human sacrifices and sharia represented a considerable progress. Keep in mind Hindu widows were being burned alive in India until recently.
During my working life, I understood firm beliefs help to deal with existential problems and emptiness. Some only have their convictions to hold on. They have no longer heroes but they deserve all our respect.
However certain fundamental beliefs are based on ignorance and Muslims are ordinary people who are victims of a twisted system and circumstances, information will help to dispel some myths and let’s take courage because the Islamic boat is sinking. Truth will win (Lavéritétriomphera).
I believe to be in good physical condition we must be careful with things we eat, exercice regularly and well HYDRATED, but to be in mentally healthy we must retain our critical judgement.
I wish all of you a very happy festive season.
À bientôt Frank
Frank Anderson says
Merry Christmas Kevin,
One of the many good sermons I have heard in my life was Christmas season 1994 when I was “guardian angel” for 27 college juniors from the former Soviet Union. We heard from a Presbyterian preacher with a Th.D., that every day is just as valid as every other day to wish a Merry Christmas. We do not know what day Jesus was born. Whatever day it was, it, like all other births, is a reason for hope, joy, comfort and good wishes. A birth is also a call to responsibility. According to Presbyterian teaching, all children are the responsibility of all adults. The parents have the rights, such as they are; but all of us have the duties.
Some people do not know that a Ph.D. is 77 semester hours after a Bachelors degree. A J.D., which I earned to be a lawyer, is 88. A Th.D. is 4 years and a Rabbinical degree is 5. I also spent 2 years about 10 years after law school studying accounting without earning a degree.
I am hungry to learn from any source, preferably positive that teach what I should do, but also negative to teach actions to avoid. It has taken over 50 years of prayer, study and thinking for me to reach where I am on religious issues, and as my Baptist Uncle predicted when I started asking demanding questions, the choices seem right for me. I cheerfully follow the person I understand to be Jesus.
Nobody told me Iran has nuclear weapons. But, as a degreed engineer and licensed lawyer, who read the book Fat Man and Little Boy over 50 years ago in military high school, and has paid attention to many issues of science and technology, I can come to no other conclusion by the legal measure “preponderance of evidence”. Iran knows that as long as there is doubt, they are free to pretend they don’t have bombs, while they build them in uncontrolled and unlimited numbers. Other countries will accept the deception that they don’t have them because wishful thinking gives excuses for delay and indecision.
Along my way a Jewish survivor of the death camps (Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl) made a helpful impression on my life through his book Man’s Search for Meaning. In that book he proposed “the delusion of reprieve” as the survival tool he discovered that kept inmates from committing suicide under hopeless and horrible daily circumstances. I think denying Iran’s current possession of some bombs is equally delusional.
Delusions that help one survive in hopeless conditions, where there is no alternative other than suicide is preferable to ending life. The First, the most important, Mitzvah, according to Maimonides, is that “ALL rules bend as necessary for the preservation of LIFE.” But, when alternatives exist, and more can be created, operating on delusions is a waste.
I would not spend my time with generalizations about religiously common or divergent views. North Korea needs money. Iran has money. Iran wants nuclear weapons. North Korea has nuclear weapons. Reports have been published for years about cooperation between NK and Iran. It takes a piece of Highly Enriched Uranium (90 percent or better U-235) about the size of a softball, about 4 inches or 105 millimeters (about 10 kilograms), to make the crudest, least efficient, but most reliable atomic bomb, like Little Boy used on Hiroshima. Take 25 softballs of low enriched uranium (less than 4 percent U-235) and fly them to North Korea for final enrichment, and get back a core for a crude bomb, or 2 cores for better designs, or maybe 4 for a really good design.
Subsequent design improvements to Little Boy allow bombs to be made from “pits” about the size of a hollow baseball, less than 3 inches or 75 millimeters in diameter, and weighing less than 10 pounds, and perhaps as little as 6 pounds. The total bomb can be as light as 50 or 60 pounds.
It took the US about 3 years to make the first atomic bomb, not knowing if it could be done, much less how. Computers at the time were millions of times slower and smaller than computers we now have on desktops. Take away to need to start in the absence of knowledge and experience, and consider the fact that South Africa exploded an atomic bomb before its change of regimes and disarmament, how can one accept that Iran has been working on nuclear weapons, building and operating 20,000 centrifuges, and reactors making Plutonium, since 1980, and still does not have a bomb? How long did it take France to obtain both atomic and Hydrogen bombs? How much did it cost? No reasonable doubt that was pocket change to Iran today adjusted for inflation.
I don’t know of any similar museum display to that of the Atomic Weapons museum in Albuquerque New Mexico. I had the chance to spend time in it twice and saw models of bombs ranging in size from basketballs to busses. I have a photo of one the size of a basketball that is light enough for a man to carry it. I do not know how to add it to my comment. Below MAY be a picture if my experiment works. [Did not work this time.] If you are where a visit is possible, see for yourself. If not, perhaps you can see some of the exhibits online.
The first logical step to dealing with any problem is to recognize a problem exists. If it does not exist no further steps are taken, because there is no problem. Once a problem’s existence is accepted, the next step is to be dissatisfied with the presence of the problem, prompting effort to define and understand it. If the problem remains worthy of concern, possible solutions are examined, looking for rational choices of which should be tested. This is the foundation of feedback control systems in engineering, and practical problem solving elsewhere.
Iran has nuclear weapons and chafes for the opportunity to use them. Some book titles worth considering for the subject, The Islamic AntiChrist, Joel Richardson, Why Israel Can’t Wait, Jerome Corsi, The Apocalypse of Ahmadinejad, Mark Hitchcock, The Iran Threat: President Ahmadinejad and the Coming Nuclear Crisis, Alireza Jafarzadeh. Obviously, I have read all of them.
Always very best wishes for joy and freedom every day. Frank
Lavéritétriomphera says
Merry Christmas frank,
In fact Christmas is the Roman celebration or the winter solstice (Sol Invictus – Sun Undefeated -) This celebration was hold throughout the empire. The conviction that after darkness the light is back on, certainly helped the Romans at the time of the barbarian invasions. I love Christmas and I am not worrying about what Muslims might think or say.
[According to Maimonides, is that “ALL rules bend as necessary for the preservation of LIFE.”
But, when alternatives exist, and more can be created, operating on delusions is a waste.”].
I agree with Maimonides. In French we say : « se bercer d’illusion est vain », but let me tell to Maimonides that firm beliefs are very helpful. Hope is the “daily bread” of desperate people and everyone find some way to survive.
[“the delusion of reprieve” as the survival tool he discovered that kept inmates from committing suicide under hopeless and horrible daily circumstances.].
So true.
We can actually see the outcome since some survived.
“I cheerfully follow the person I understand to be Jesus.”.
When I was a little boy clutching my mother’s hand in the church, I can still see the eyes of the statues they seemed looking at me and I was afraid. I did not like the interminable offices; and even though it was expressly forbidden, my brother and I could not help laughing during the mass.
I take of from the Bible that Jesus was not a Christian in the sens of the word that we would understand nowadays. I have a high regard for the apostle Paul and his teaching but I am not going to give up my freedom of thought and conscience in any circumstances.
That is why I have a great appreciation for Greek philosophers especially Pythagorus.
Frank you are a true American, nice and clever, but as far I am concerned I know that “The first logical step to dealing with any problem is to recognize a problem exists” but first of all, we must select the troubling issue, ensure we don’t hit the wrong target.
The Persians are boastful, remember the shah and Xerxes and they have difficulties in keeping secret. USA, Russia, China, England, Turkey, Israel, France … know if wether or not Iran has the atomic bomb. This state-mafia is flat broke and needs water more than ever, but and here is the but, the Persians await the missing twelfth imam. Therefore we must worry about an impostor or a lunatic who will show his teeth.
Even though Iran has the nuclear bombe, it must be transported to its destination and that is where the problem lies. North Korea knows that.
However I agree with you the mullah regime that is on a knife’s edge, is dangerous. Madmen are capable of anything.
“The event of September 11 have demonstrated the need to never relax ou vigilance against those who oppose our enjoyment of peace and democracy”.
I believe some American scholars who said that our two countries agree on content (against all odds).
Joyeux Noël à tous
Frank Anderson says
Kevin, Good morning. I am up early planning a trip to the shop for some more inventing improvements.
Emperor Constantine chose December 25 for the date of Christmas to pre-empt Mithra’s birthday celebration. Like any other date, it is a guess; but one used for political purposes back then, and long since forgotten.
Under the inspirational teaching I received my first day at the Jewish Temple, firm, well established and supported beliefs are good. But even they should always be subject to examination. The first 2 of the 3 insights I gained that day were 1) Wisdom is all around us and is its own authority, regardless of footnotes, sources or location. 2) Wherever wisdom is in human hands (control) there is always some measure of error or deception, because humans are not perfect. That is the reason for the third guide to ask all questions freely, repeatedly and honestly, so that the current answer becomes clearer and closer to the truth. God’s tolerance of our errors comes from the fact that we are not created to be perfect. Where is the challenge if we were?
Frankl’s survival tool that helped him survive the death camps was his study of other inmates. His book is well written, almost certainly in German originally, and easy to read in order to see the man sitting across the room teaching the reader.
My Uncle, Grump, told me that my conclusions about religion were the most important decision that I would make in my life. That was in 1965. Seven years later I think, I believe, I hope, but I cannot prove to you or anyone else that I was shown God’s Presence. My decision is not yours or to be forced on anyone else. You have the same right and duty to find your connection because that is what Exodus teaches, “God does not want any of His Children to live under any form of slavery.”
My official adopted father taught me how to shoot when I was 4 and how to drive an automobile when I was 5. He had major heart disease before statin drugs or bypass surgery; so he knew his time was short. I have always done better work by focusing on one thing at a time. Yes, trying to identify every problem at once and solving them all at the same time fails every time I try it in many places, including the machine shop where I am heading shortly.
Nuclear bombs are small and easy to hide. I hope by one means or another you can see for yourself. A single standard shipping container can hold the largest 20 megaton bomb model on display at the museum. The real bomb weighs about 20 tons, so it is well within the weight limit of the container. Models of the standard 375 kiloton warhead for the Trident, Minuteman, MX missiles are cones about a meter or so long and more or less 325 millimeters in diameter. They weigh about 200 pounds in real life. 155-millimeter artillery fired bombs weighing less than 100 pounds, have adjustable ratings from about 150 tons to 1500 tons.
All that we read about re-entry technology has no relationship to bombs not being carried by missiles above the atmosphere for detonation at or near ground level. A bomb detonated about 300 miles above ground never “sees” atmospheric heating, but covers an area about the size of the US with an electromagnetic pulse. Iran has IRBM’s that they know how to launch from surface ships to accomplish this purpose NOW. They have been practicing for more than a decade and have bases in Central and South America for land launching.
For better, safer, and certainly more peaceful days for all, especially France and the US, I still wish you and all you love Merry Christmas. Frank
Lavéritétriomphera says
Bonsoir Frank,
The celebration of the winter solstice was the national day of the Roman Empire, and existed a long time before Constantine. In some ways the Christian emperors have “actualized“ Sol Invictus who was a solar God that effectively had links with Apollo and Mithra. That does not mean Christianity is an updated Mithraism. We do not sacrifie bulls.
However we have kept the solar calendar, almost all church choirs are oriented to sunrise and the Roman towns were oriented to sunrise and sunset, the Pope is the pontiff Maximus …The sun is omnipresent in the Catholic Church and Christianity.
You will notice that Allat was the Arabian moon goddess and Ilah or Allah was the moon God. The moon is omnipresent in the Islamic religion.
[God’s tolerance of our errors comes from the fact that we are not created to be perfect. Where is the challenge if we were?].
+ 1
As far I am concerned Americans always overstated the Soviet Union and we remember the dramatic moments of the Cold War and the ensuing psychosis, and what we feared the most, thanks to God, did not happened.
Remember in the early 2000s, the administrations of George W. Bush and Tony Blair asserted that Saddam Hussein’s weapons programs were still actively building weapons, and that large stockpiles of WMDs were hidden in Iraq. All that was false.
If Iranians bought Russian an French planes, it seems you don’t consider they are completely broke and braggers. I know I am not a political insider, but I doubt logistic and technologic capacities of the Iranians because the human capital left (and leaves) the country.
Shiite Iranian leaders are in bad shape in the interior and in the exterior of their own country.
The tensions between Pakistan and India that are nuclear powers are a matter of concern too.
For better days.
I wish you the very best and a happy Christmas to everybody.
Amitiés
Frank Anderson says
Hello Kevin. I was successful Monday morning at the shop. I cleared the machine in preparation for making more changes to make it work better (I hope). Some changes work while others disappoint, but teach. I have turned what would bore some, many, perhaps most people to death into an engineering project that has fascinated, entertained and educated me for more than 11 years.
I agree, and understand Mithra was around for a long time before Constantine. He “borrowed” December 25 to take it away from Mithra worshipers in the marketplace of religions so that his favorite, Christianity, would prosper. I have read a book which includes discussion on the subject, Constantine’s Sword, that tells about his efforts.
We have different views about the Soviet Union. They made too many threats and did too much harm to be trivialized into irrelevance. Look what was done to people under their control from Lenin on. The book Red Victory describes the slaughter of the civil war. Stalin killed by brutality and starvation 10 million human beings in Ukraine over about 18 months (The Holodomor). Stalin had death quotas for his regional governors. It didn’t matter who they killed or imprisoned, as long as they met their quotas. If the quotas were not met, the governors filled partially the gaps with their bodies.
WMD’s include chemical weapons. Ask the Kurds about “Chemical Ali” and the tens or hundreds of thousands killed by Saddam. Saddam not only had WMD’s, he used them to kill thousands.
Totalitarian regimes always have money for projects they want because they are willing to starve and beat people forcing them to do without while the preferred projects and people do well. NK builds ICBM’s and a variety of shorter-range missiles, and nuclear bombs while its people starve. There is no economic justification for nuclear power plants in Iran other than the incidental production of enough Plutonium each year to produce between 25 and 50 bombs for each operating plant. Did you notice today’s news about Iran using heavy water in one of its reactors? The reason for using heavy water is to increase the number of neutrons that breed Uranium 238 into Plutonium 239.
The total cost of the power over the short and limited life of the plants is otherwise crippling to the economy. I know something about that because I have advised contract matters for 6 nuclear power plants, including 1 cancelled because of outrageous cost and another “decommissioned” because of “technical problems”.
France has a pervasive nuclear program with the Phenix and Super Phenix breeder reactors. Has anyone ever made public the true cost of the electricity they generate? I mean the total cost from all sources from the start of construction to the end of life for the plants. I read somewhere that 84 percent of the electricity generated in France comes from nuclear power plants. How much does it cost? How does that cost compare with other sources?
I agree that the Pakistan v. India conflict is not likely to end well. One of the points made frequently here on Jihad Watch is than somewhere in the order of 500 million Hindus have been killed by muslims in the 1400 years of conquest, and rising daily. It all depends on who is estimating and what areas they consider. India cut loose West and East Pakistan in the process of independence from British rule to give muslims a “homeland”. That “homeland” has become a base for continuing the attack to take over all of India. East Pakistan became Bangladesh and West Pakistan became Pakistan.
More than one Israeli, most notably to me, Benjamin Netanyahu, said “If islam put down its weapons there would be peace. If Israel put down their weapons there would also be peace after every Jew is dead.” I doubt there is a lot of difference in the muslim/Hindu confrontation to the muslim/Jew. Grim thought for the Hanukkah and Christmas season.
As Islam gives only 3 choices to infidels, “Convert, Submit or Die” and we have only 2 responses logically available to us as alternatives, Resist or Escape, those who consider liberty worth any price are facing conflict. Liberty is never given; it must be earned and kept by great labor and sacrifice whenever challenged or threatened.
Back to the shop for more fun. Peace be with you and all you hold dear. Frank
Frank Anderson says
Hello Kevin, as taught by my Presbyterian scholar, Merry Christmas, and of course Happy New Year!
Human calendars can be off. Equinox and Solstice are not subject to our control. Imagine the challenge faced by the Jewish Lunar calendar, which requires a leap month every so often because of the wandering of various events.
I suggest reviewing Hitler’s forced economic actions before WWII. I have one video documentary interview of an economist who was young at the time, and familiar with Jalmar Schacht, Hitler’s Finance Minister for a time. The economist pointed out that the tools of coercion used by the Nazis made things possible that would not have been accomplished in their absence. Concentration camps have a very powerful effect on resistance. I agree with your estimate of the final result if a war does not interrupt the process.
Nuclear power generation is a sensitive subject in many places. For that matter so are true cost reports on “alternative energy projects”. I have never seen any numbers on the cost of electricity from windmills or solar panels. I do have experience with natural gas and coal fired generation along with the nuclear work I have done. There is no free lunch.
When the previous US administration offered to guarantee construction projects for the Southern Company and its cooperative partner Oglethorpe Electric Membership Cooperative for 2 new units to be built in Georgia, I wrote a letter to the President of the Southern Company for a friend who was a shareholder. The answer I received was nonsense, being very polite here. The projects are now far behind schedule, far over budget, the general contractor has bankrupted, and the US government is being hit for Billions (US billions)/ Milliard (in other countries) on the guarantees. The same is happening in South Carolina with 2 other plants.
When I was in law school 40 years ago, Three Mile Island happened. Almost all of the plants contracted but not under construction were cancelled. Then, it was known that the pressure vessels get hard, brittle and dangerous from radiation over a period of years. Then, it was expected that the pressure vessels could be annealed in place to give more life. That has not worked. So, because of one part of a plant is no longer useful after 40 to 60 years, the whole thing is wasted.
I have never seen any discussion of using the turbine, generator, switchyard and transmission equipment by a different source of heat. I can see where a second reactor could be connected while the first is removed. The time to remove and replace one is more or less the time the second runs before it needs to be shut down. Other sources of steam could work: As long as it has the right temperature, pressure and volume, the turbine does not care, nor does the generator. But the major part of the plant is useful far longer than the pressure vessel. I know of fossil fuel plants that use far more damaging steam temperatures and pressures that are running after almost 100 years.
In THEORY, Judaism, particularly Reform Judaism, is supposed to be an exercise of free thought. A couple of “jokes” have the ring of truth: 1) Get 3 Jews together and get at least 6 opinions. 2) Israel is the only country in the world with 6 million Prime Ministers, only 1 of whom is in office at any given time. As I learned to my sadness, the Jewish proposition that there are no perfect people was demonstrated when I dared to discuss the “sensitive subject” of islam. Life moves on.
We learn from each other, both by what we say, and by what we think in the process of sharing. Learning and examination are not part of islam.
Best wishes. Frank
Lavéritétriomphera says
Bonjour Frank,
The Jews have a Mediterranean/middle eastern culture, therefore they have difficulties to agree among themselves. If Judaism is not a perfect religion it teaches freedom of thought which is a good starting point. But I don’t appreciate the formalistic nature of Judaism. I by far prefer philosophies where the chosen people are not the sons of … but the ones who know they haven’t the single and indivisible Truth.
I appreciate to exchange views with [french] Jews, even if in France no one listen to no one, and that is unbearable. We have a Latin character and French Jews are not different from the rest of the population.
I believe I do not really appreciate Israelis, I think they feel too sure of themselves and have preconceived ideas. However, I had a very interesting correspondence with a well known Israeli Jew. Clearly he did not believe in the rabbis’s usual stuff.
That may stagger you, but he confirmed the existence of pro Islamic Israeli rabbis. He made it clear they are manipulators. It seems they want to turn Muslims against Christians and vice versa, and why not, Muslims against Muslims and Christians against Christians. These rabbis are being fought in Israel.
Well yes, dictators use terror for political ends, just look at pediment of churches, the faithful were/are scared by the last judgment. It was just a way to suppress the naysayers and perhaps to make the bad guys more “gentle” and peaceful. Islam leaders use the same tactic. So they can stuff their pockets while they seduce women or rapt slaves and sometimes little girls … with the assent of the Muslim population.
Like the paranoiac who is terrified of aggressiveness of others, the dictator is scared stiff of his people while sucking money out of them. Even now French are pallid when they hear about the breaking wheel, however we made a revolution for better or for worse. The dictators must know that everything has an end including empires. Remember nazi propaganda that said Third Reich was to last a thousand years!
The foremost French political mouvements are not prepared to give up nuclear energy for a reason of energy-sufficiency, but they promote renewable energies.
I agree with you, we learn from each other and from Islam too, because sometimes we must face falsehood to get to the Truth. We all know that Satan and his minions say sometimes the truth against their will!
Best wishes from Toulouse called the pink city because the old town is built completely of pink bricks.
Amitiés
Frank Anderson says
Good Day, Kevin
It was 1993 that I had my first real contact with the Jewish community when a friend invited me to services at the Reform Temple. Before that I knew some Jewish people, including Brother Masons, and had a very good opinion of them. My official adopted father’s genuinely best friend where we lived was Jewish. After my father’s death he would stop by our house, knock on the door and gently ask my mother, “Are you all right; Do you need anything; Can I do anything to help?” Several other Jews along the way made positive impressions, even though true to Jewish teachings, they were not “perfect”. “The good outweighed the bad” as Masons teach about the “checkered pavement”.
My Jewish “mother by choice” who continues to inspire me even though she died in 2007 shortly after my surgery, told me a certainly true story about a married couple of professors who converted to Judaism and joined the Temple. In spite of Abraham, the Patriarch, being the very first convert giving origin to the teaching to welcome converts as full and respected members of the community, the teaching is followed poorly by some and totally rejected by others. After a number of insults and discourtesies the converts left. That is much like what happened to me and my “significant other”.
I cannot exaggerate the wisdom I gained before I left. What others do with their misuse of that wisdom is their problem; not mine. For the most part, I have daily peace and can face all the challenges of life.
I think there is an advantage to being adopted. There seems to be much more freedom to make new paths in life. I have a family tree that goes back a single generation to my birth mother and ends. I mention here quite often a question that I do not claim is original, “Is it healthier for us to see ourselves as the result of random accidents; or the Children of a Loving God?” As I see the contrast between islam and Judaism/Christianity, the self-image of value and origin leads to far greater benefits than losses both for the individual and any community that may be described.
We had many Israelis as part of our community, both from immigration and from assignments for a year following completion of their military service. I suggest their confidence is earned; however uncomfortable it may be. Since 1948 Israel has never been conquered or occupied. It has a sense of purpose and all the motivation needed to not just survive but to excel. Remember, your cell phone was invented in Israel. For years rockets and mortars dropped explosives into Israel, while everyone said there was nothing to do that would stop them. Now Iron Dome stops most of the incoming rounds, and more advanced defensive weapons are on the way. Strange that we do not hear about South Korea getting Iron Dome technology to protect it from the North’s rockets and artillery.
There is no surprise that collaborators in national destruction are present. Look at the thousands, tens, hundreds, even thousands of thousands of collaborators during WWII. People are capable of being stupid and evil.
The problem I see with nuclear power generation, especially when it involves breeding more fuel than is consumed, is that the reprocessing industry is a major and attractive subject for those who wish to take over control of France. France has nuclear weapons, without question. It has a number of means to deliver them. But in addition, it has enormous capacity to make more as a direct result of its breeder reactors and reprocessing industry. Given the demographic trend through invasion and births, France is already to a major degree muslim controlled today and will be muslim majority very soon. Then what happens?
I wish you and France well. Frank
Lavéritétriomphera says
bonsoir Frank,
Judaism, Christianity and Islam are man-made ideologies and I do not believe in “elitism”.
“ Given the demographic trend through invasion and births, France is already to a major degree muslim controlled today and will be muslim majority very soon.”
Who told you that? The subsaharan Africans have the highest fertility and they are mostly Christian. The country is not controlled by Muslims. They are concentrated in some areas to the exclusion of others.
Then what happens?: at worst there would be a partition and a civil war, at best and more likely there would be an assimilation which has already happened in the past.
Muslims who fled the Ottoman Empire, were told by Louis they could stay provided they convert to Catholicism what they did.
Macron suggested to Muslims that they have no choice but to accept French secularism and his decision shall be final. The Muslim community is divided on the issue. A lot of them have dual citizenship and it seems Algerians aspire to a political democracy. Algerians are not all radical Muslims, a lot of them are atheist, or convert to another religion.
It is difficult to give a clear picture of the status quo in the Muslim world because of a situation you are all aware, but I know the Bible is in hight demand among Algerians. Some of them live as Muslims for social reasons although they do no longer believe in Islam.
The church is underground in North Africa and Middle East as was the case during the period of the Roman Empire. Middle East is and always has been the scene of an important religious and political ferment.
France is a nuclear and space power but we cannot do what we want because of the family. A Portuguese told me his country and Spain will never accept France becoming Muslim. They have together with Italians a great influence on France as a result of immigration, history culture, lifestyle, language … religion. l never said France is the leader. As far I am concerned Italy and Rome are and always have been the leaders.
“I think there is an advantage to being adopted.“. Yes but it must not be the result of a total surrender. As far I am concerned I prefer the Gospels rather than the jewish Bible, but I do not believe in the eternal hell.
Israel is an oases of democracy amid dictatures and that is remarkable, but they have same problems as the rest of the western world (with a few others). More than 20% of the Israeli population are Muslim.
However French-Israeli relations have been complex and ambivalent for decades, but do not trust with appearances there have often been tacit alliances. Jews are not prepared to give up their love of France and her culture https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/16/opinion/can-a-jew-love-france.html , and we respect them.
The cell phone has been invented by the American Martin Cooper.
Amitiés and all the best for the New Year’s Eve!
À bientôt
Frank Anderson says
Happy New Year Kevin!
My attraction to Jewish teaching starts with the fundamental candor, a trait I treasure and that has served me well many times, I heard my first time at a service that wisdom is all around us, in many places and does not depend on the authority of the place or the “speaker”. If it is wise, it is wise no matter the source or location. Right behind that observation is that whenever wisdom is in human control there will always be some measure of error or deception, or both. I don’t see an intellectually honest way that I can disagree with you that religion is imperfect. I have my problems with all three that you mentioned. I know very little about others. I see where my belief, as it is and as it has developed over more than 50 years, helps me live. That does not mean my belief should be forced on you or anyone else. I am still learning.
My impression of the demographic condition and trend in France comes from my reading here on Jihad Watch. Also, I notice that “refugees” granted entry and considered for asylum often do not include Christians. At one time 98 percent of “refugees” admitted to the US were muslim. Christians and other non-muslims were rejected. I suggest that demographic numbers in Africa have little to do with the demographics of those coming to France OR the US.
I think a look at the results of the partition of India into India, East Pakistan (Bangladesh) and West Pakistan (Pakistan) gives a preview of a partition of France. A civil war in France would be a disaster to be avoided if possible. I don’t know how other than to assert French values at home. I am not familiar with any experience in history where a muslim population assimilated with infidels. You may consider reading Modern Day Trojan Horse: The Islamic Doctrine of Immigration by Sam Solomon and E Al Maqdisi. Macron’s suggestion to accept French secularism looks like wishful thinking to me.
I was adopted when I was born. It worked out well for all involved.
You are entirely correct, in my opinion, that Israel is not perfect. But it is in spite of its imperfection worthy, as the idea is described by Masons. Much more good can be said than bad.
In 1973 I was hired to write a computer program to calculate load flow and voltage drop on distribution substation radial networks. Six people tried for a year to write the program. I was given 6 months to either write the program or leave without further excuse. I wrote and tested the program to meet the original requirements in 6 weeks. Later I learned how to calculate fault currents and added that to the program. Then, I was assigned the task of installing a microfilm system in the office because it was exploding from huge volumes of paper files, and obtaining a radio system because the one in use was barely useful.
By good fortune, I considered all 3 major suppliers of industrial radio equipment, Motorola, GE and RCA. Motorola won the contract and installed a system that was considered the strongest and most reliable in the state. Doctor Martin Cooper was working for Motorola in Israel when the Motorola cell phone was invented. I could tell a number of Motorola stories that would bring joy and encouragement at the quality of their products and ethics of their management. Motorola, or at least some parts of it, has been purchased and no longer independently produces cell phones.
I always wish you well. Frank
Lavéritétriomphera says
Happy New Year for 2020 Frank!
“My attraction to Jewish teaching starts with the fundamental candor”, that is all on your honor, but I am afraid this fundamental candor will not help you to understand the so called Abrahamic religions which are Middle Eastern/Mediterranean ideologies based on cultural elitism. You can only have problems with them.
I believe “to be a part of an elite” is not a honest attitude since these “chosen” people are merely thinking they are superior. This is often indicated by a superiority complex which is a source of discriminations and conflicts. The communities that advocate “elitism” are not open, and (their) fundamental candor cannot always be taken for granted.
Let me add to that the fact that Mediterraneans are not naturally genuine. they are cynical, untrustworthy. Cynicism is a Greek school of philosophy, that says it all. Italians can go and pray the Virgin Mary before shooting somebody and hoping everything goes well.
As far I am concerned I prefer Greek religion and philosophies (except for cynicism) to fundamentalist judaism and Islam.
I have not worked on the the fact that wisdom could be all around us. Wether true or not this is not my priority right now. One thing is certain: I believe Jews, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Atheists are people with their daily concerns and they are doing what they can with the tools they have.
“That does not mean my belief should be forced on you or anyone else. I am still learning.”.
+1
France is a former colonial power, and we have legal and [illegal] Christian subsaharan emigration, however sometimes the graduates return in their countries of origin.
The French authorities never accepted the partition of the country and why would things be any different nowadays?
“I am not familiar with any experience in history where a muslim population assimilated with infidels.”.
In the past Muslims changed their religion in Spain, France and in Mediterranean islands …. I probably have Muslims ancestors. More recently in Georgia, Ajarian converted in-mass to Christianity http://www.eastwestreport.org/25-english/e15-4/186-religious-conversions-in-ajaria-georgia, there are multiple conversions to Christianity in Kabylie (Algeria), entire villages are leaving Islam in Egypt (I heard), but that could only be the tip of the iceberg. For reasons of safety the converts in Turkey, Iran, from elsewhere in muslim countries cannot mention their conversion out loud because they are accused of being the Christian troyen horse in the Islamic world!
“Macron’s suggestion to accept French secularism looks like wishful thinking to me.”.
Of course not, read French history: if Macron does not do the work, somebody else will do it.
“You are entirely correct, in my opinion, that Israel is not perfect … Much more good can be said than bad.”
I personally have not made up my mind on that point.
Seventy years have passed since France recognized the existence of Israel and supported the decision for Israel to join the United Nations. I see nothing wrong with that, but I am not just familiar enough with Israeli policy.
Looking forward to reading you
Mes meilleurs vœux pour cette année 2020 à mon ami Frank
Frank Anderson says
Hello, Kevin
I think you do not understand the Jewish teaching regarding the word “chosen”. I will be the first to agree that often teaching and practice can be different. But the Jewish teaching is clear that the word chosen reflects the acceptance of a duty, a burden, to live a life and carry a message. It does not mean, according to the teaching, that Jews are better than non-Jews. I could write quite a few stories about Jewish people who have in my life done wonderful and saintly things either for me or in my presence, starting long before my first visit to a congregation.
My personal struggle is to teach myself that I am sufficiently worthy, valuable, to live. The measure of that challenge is to make myself better than I was, and am at the moment. It is not to inflate my self-image to the deception that I am better than you or anyone else.
There is so much that Christians are taught about Judaism that is terribly inaccurate. In more than 20 years in the Jewish community I learned a lot that helps get to the real meaning of religion to an individual who understands his responsibility to himself and does not see a vital requirement to accept a label. If necessary, I can live with being a community of one, because I have hope that I am never alone.
In 2 Gospels the Great Commandment is expressed with a slight difference but with the same meaning, “You shall love your neighbor AS yourself.” That to a person who has spent his life on many numbers and much mathematics is an expression of equality, not superiority in either direction. We have a duty to value and protect ourselves as we do our neighbors. We are useless to our neighbors if we do not protect and care for ourselves. Interesting how that could apply to groups in addition to individuals. I have never seen any remotely similar teaching in islam. Is it hard to choose between goals of life, liberty, joy and responsibility, or death, slavery, war, abuse, misery and conquest?
Continuing best wishes always. Frank
Lavéritétriomphera says
Bonjour Frank,
Jews in USA are Americans and they are different from French Jews who are different from the Israeli Jews and so on. A French Jew told me the Haredim ”hate” liberal Jews. So everything depends on the context.
“Like everywhere else, the teachings do not reflect the practice. What people do with the teachings is their problem. Mine is putting those teachings to work in my life with the goal of making myself a better, peaceful and productive person.”.
+1
“I believe I mentioned earlier the observation of Sigmund Freud that endeavoring to understand ourselves is the ultimate form of aggression.”
Yes it is, but It is better to refuse to look honestly in a mirror rather that to look to much in the mirror, and to full in love with oneself or to keep self-hatred.
Even if there is always a solution some challenges cannot be faced at the right time “slow and steady wins the race!”.
We learned from Sigmund Freud, who was a precursor, to never deny the anima-animus described in Carl Jung’s school https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anima_and_animus.
That is why I prefer Greek philosophies to judaeo-christianity. The Greeks never truly condemned human nature.
“Let there be Life!”
I fully agree with that and reject Islam which is an ideology of death, the Islamists love death as demonstrated by suicide attacks.
We must not manage the truth, because if we believe in the Gospels and especially if we read John’s Gospel, it is clear that Jesus has been rejected and condemned by Jews under the authority of Rome.
Even if it is true that Jesus was Jewish, Christianity has been created by the Fathers of the Church and they were Latins and Greeks. They were human beings with their virtues and faults (read Saint Augustine’s biography).
When I was a little boy, I thought that God was living above the clouds, sitting on a throne, brandishing flashes and that he had the voice of a great thunder. I know now this god was Jupiter [deus pater = God Father] who was the emperor of the universe supported by ranks of [celestial] officials. That was how the Romans imagined the world. The Catholicism is Roman and our culture and religion are Greco-Roman.
We cannot run from are origins and culture.
I always enjoy and learn something from my friends,
Hope to read you soon!
Amitiés
Frank Anderson says
Wonderful Day, Kevin!
Jews are different, both from each other and from non-Jews. Some people hate everybody who is not exactly like them. Others hate many who are not close enough to their expectations. Some people don’t care at all; and others actually enjoy, treasure and benefit by a diversity of friends. I am in the latter group. I have a diverse combination of friends and examples who make my life richer and better; and teach me to stay away from those who insult or discourage me and others. What they do to others, sooner or later they will do to me.
Exodus, according to my Rabbi of over 20 years, teaches that no matter how well things start, things change. It also teaches that the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob AND Jesus does not want ANY of His Children, all who call upon Him as Father, to live in any form of slavery. The unresolved irony of this wonderful, treasured, inspiring friend is his blind acceptance of the “religion of peace” mantra. We disagree.
At the end of my time in the Jewish community, things changed. Instead of being welcome, I was not. The talented Christian Music Director who served for decades was fired because he insisted on having the single rehearsal for High Holy Days services instead of cancelling it so the President of the Board could try to hire the visiting cantor. The failure of hospitality to guests and visitors was contrary to the core teachings of Judaism. There was no point in submitting to this kind of unpleasantness and discouraging conduct.
I keep what I learned, hopefully obviously, but am happy to open new doors after closing that one. I explained earlier, and possibly more than once, how I feel that God was with me even when I was not with Him. He did not care about my label or affiliation. It may be a delusion or fantasy, but it helps keep me working toward life and health.
I suggest considering the Jewish teaching that all wisdom in human hands (control) includes some measure of unintentional error and intentional deception. Masons are taught to treat the Bible as “The rule and guide of my faith. . .” What is written anywhere in the Bible is close, but not perfect, because humans wrote it and no telling how many times since made changes. Please consider reading Burton Mack’s Who Wrote the New Testament for his thoughts and analysis, recognizing that even they cause questions. “Questions are a burden to others; Answers a prison to oneself.” (Goethe?) (a prominent quote and theme in the Prisoner series)
I treasure the teaching I saw by accident my first day visiting a Temple, the Doubter’s Meditation, on Page 711 of the Gates of Prayer in use in the early 1990’s. “Cherish your doubts, because doubt is the handmaiden of truth. It is the acid which eats away at the false. . .” We will know the complete truth when we face God at the end of this life.
We agree that anything can be taken to an extreme. If self-examination leads to inaction, that is certainly an extreme and self-defeating response. If self-ignorance is the other extreme, action without self-examination, the probability of error is huge. I have made many serious, painful and expensive errors in my life because I did not make enough examination including the obtaining the benefit of counsel. Each day I try to do better.
Because of my adoption, I have no origin or culture to escape. I am a free man. One of the meanings associated with my name is Free Man. So, I am free to establish my culture for life and health. Abraham, The Patriarch, left his culture to start Judaism and Christianity, according to the story 3700 years ago.
The culture of Kevin (like the cultures of France, Greece, Rome, Europe and all others), regardless of its examples and inspirations, is just as worthy and valid for you, as my culture that I discover for me. That is a terrifying concept for those who would control or enslave us. I wish you well. Frank
Lavéritétriomphera says
Bonjour Franck,
We are attracted to those similar to ourselves.
“Some people hate everybody who is not exactly like them”
That is the definition of what fascism actually is.
As far I know if we read through Islamic scriptures, we learn that Muslims are taught to be tolerant exclusively towards Muslims.
“and teach me to stay away from those who insult or discourage me and others.”.
+1
“Jews are different, both from each other and from non-Jews. “.
I meant to say we cannot run from our collective unconscious no matter our race and beliefs. Our culture is a part of the collective unconscious of the nation to which we belong. You are American and you do not see religion as we do.
In France people ask why you believe in god, in USA people ask why you do not believe in god (I read), that is extremely telling.
We do not forget the religion wars, the witch-hunt and Voltaire is still well liked https://www.azquotes.com/author/15138-Voltaire/tag/religion
As far I am concerned I cannot stand extremists like radical Muslims or born-again Christians who forbid freedom of thought. I do not mind Jews, wether liberal or not, provided they comply with current laws.
“It also teaches that the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob AND Jesus does not want ANY of His Children, all who call upon Him as Father, to live in any form of slavery.”.
Jesus did not take position on slavery. He said “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”John 8:34. This comes back to the words of Socrates “It is better to be the victim than the persecutor.”.
“The failure of hospitality to guests and visitors was contrary to the core teachings of Judaism.”.
You did the right thing.
Mediterraneans have a lot of defaults but hospitality is sacred, Judaism is a Mediterranean/middle eastern religion. You are welcome as long you do not damage their honor. In USA Jews are Americans and sometimes Americans are not without fault as I learned by reading misleading comments insulting to France in this website. But I know there are persons who are respectful (including Jews) in USA, so I can see the difference.
I agree with you: life is a continuous process of learning but there is no need to worship a god with no restraint. We are all in the same boat no matter If we shine the shoes of a god rather than the boots of another.
“What is written anywhere in the Bible is close, but not perfect, because humans wrote it and no telling how many times since made changes.“
OK Bible is man made, but the four evangelists never claimed the gospels were the words of God unlike the Quran’s authors.
“Questions are a burden to others; Answers a prison to oneself.“.
Everything depends of the context, you may say, but answers can liberate oneself, whereas ignorance is a prison. Dictatorship goes with ignorance.
“Cherish your doubts, because doubt is the handmaiden of truth. It is the acid which eats away at the false. . .”
I very much agree, I would add that “listening“ to our doubts is the way that leads to tolerance.
Self examination can lead to masochism, the use of guilt can be very damaging as seen in people who experienced brainwashing
Abraham lived in Ur of the Chaldees and his cultural background was probably Sumerian. Jews’s cultural legacy goes back to a civilisation regarded as the oldest in the world!
Your are an US citizen with an US cultural background, and I am French with a Latin/Mediterranean/ European cultural background. I love philosophies but I retain these words of Shakespeare “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy” Hamlet (1.5.167-8).
I believe the only way to be free is always to think for oneself and by force of circonstance self acceptance.
I appreciate our correspondence but I won’t be available for a couple of days.
Hope to read you soon,
Amitiés
Frank Anderson says
Good Day, Kevin!
If we have good sense it is a good idea to associate with agreeable people. There have been many people in my life who were dangerous. Of course, that does not mean people exactly like us. I would be alone if that were required. One of my favorite law school professors who enjoyed my unusual independence (because I was older than many of my classmates, had a lot of unpleasant experience even before law school, and was paying my own way instead of depending on others) pronounced me “the outstanding witness of the uniqueness of the individual he had ever seen.” I have told that story with great respect and admiration for him, pride and a big smile ever since, now over 42 years.
Kevin, I was asking why should I believe any of what I was told about religion from 1965 to 1972. I agree that many never ask that question, including those who are threatened with death if they do. I with all respect to you doubt that blind following is uniquely the burden of any one nationality. People are scared and lazy. They don’t want to make decisions. Look, for example, at the list of people targeted for persecution and death in Nazi Germany, along with Jews were Masons. Both teach, not saying either practice perfectly, independence of thought.
Even better than Socrates’ alternatives, it is better to be neither. I think it was Nietzsche who said, “One must either hammer or anvil be.” Nonsense. Both are being beaten. A life of liberty does not include being beaten or beating others, because both guard and prisoner are still spending their lives in prison.
Again, I politely suggest reading Burton Mack’s Who Wrote the New Testament, to see HIS thoughts and opinions, and such facts as he presents on the origin of the 4 Gospels in particular. Like all human works, Mack’s is not perfect. Even though imperfect, his thoughts are worth considering. He suggests, among other things, that a lot of “attribution” was going on while committees debated, negotiated and wrote the various books of the New Testament. The names were taken to add authority and were probably not the true sole authors. There are many fundamentalist Christians who claim not just the Bible, but specifically the King James Bible, is the perfect word of God. I disagree; and I believe I may have told you why earlier.
We agree that questions lead to better information and more liberty for those who dare to seek honest answers.
It is hard for me to think of anything that cannot be abused. My favorite target for personal struggle is guilt. Of all forms of slavery denounced by The Exodus, guilt is the worst because we do it to ourselves, and we know where we are vulnerable. One of the 2 differences I see between Christianity and Reform Judaism, as to the teachings, is the treatment of guilt. Guilt and punishment are tools of oppression. Jews are taught to Atone where wrong has been committed to permit social healing and peace. That’s not to say the practice follows the teaching. I do not see a similar emphasis in all my years among Christians on that effort.
We agree on the way for personal freedom. I am still working on it.
I always wish you well. Frank
Lavéritétriomphera says
Bonsoir Frank,
“ If we have good sense it is a good idea to associate with agreeable people. There have been many people in my life who were dangerous.”
You know as well as I do we did not choose our family and we don’t always have the choice of our collaborators. Sooner or later we are all thrown into the face of adversity but I believe you would agree with me when I say that we are all lonesome pilgrims on Earth.
“the outstanding witness of the uniqueness of the individual he had ever seen”.
From a [Pythagorean] point of view you are, without doubt, an old soul, a man of experience.
I will tell you why I have been interested in philosophies.
In my childhood I studied catechism but I had my doubts. For example I could not believe in the eternal hell and that it had rain non-stop during forty days and nights to the point the waters increased and lifted up the Noah’s ark, and it rosed high above the earth. I just could not swallow a camel. But as everybody else, I took advantage of the situation and tried to ignore the disadvantages. My parents loved me, and at my solemn communion I, the newest member of the family, was the star. My parents gave me a Bible that I read and that I still have in my bedside table. Later in my teens I could freely study philosophies and religions but even if I fully believed in the immortality of the soul, I did no longer believe the Bible was the word of God. I was also interested in Buddhism.
Now I am firmly convinced there are members of any religion including Muslims, that do no longer believe in their sacred book, but are not willing to forego advantages and deal with social problems caused by an overt apostasy.
Furthermore I believe we cannot teach our children to think for themselves without installing a sense of compassion and morality in them, and to achieve this it is occasionally necessary to recourse to religions and philosophies.
From my professional interest, I state that “believers” in life are in better position than the ones who believe death will resolve every problem or the ones who simply no longer believe in nothing at all.
The problem with Islam and fundamentalism of all kinds is the leaders have taught “believers” to be afraid to think and act for themselves.
“ A life of liberty does not include being beaten or beating others, because both guard and prisoner are still spending their lives in prison”.
The tormentors do not make that difference. Ask T Robinson, C Tasin, P Geller, R Spencer who survived an assassination attempt, what they think about it. I will be interested to hear what they have to say on this subject.
“but specifically the King James Bible, is the perfect word of God.”
The Bible was written when the Roman Empire was falling, panic on board, it was necessary to salvage something from the situation. So the Romans created the Catholic Church that ruled what was left of the Roman Empire until our days. It was necessary to disciplined the population and the barbarians, to this end and to avoid any eventual questioning an “updated“ version of the Bible had to be presented as the perfect word of God.
“Jews are taught to Atone where wrong has been committed to permit social healing and peace.”
The same goes for Christians “Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” Mathew 5:26.
May the Force be with you,
Amitiés
Frank Anderson says
Welcome back Kevin.
I think we are free to choose our family just as we are free to choose or reject others. Here’s why: My adopted family, everyone, kept the secret of my adoption for 38 years. Then at the worst possible time my adopted mother told me, “I didn’t expect that much out of you. You are not really my son. You were adopted.” When my ex-wife heard that she had her own comments as she started packing to leave.
A year later my adopted mother died, giving me the first letter of my birth mother’s last name. I wrote and conducted her funeral because I would not allow a stranger to attempt to serve a person he did not know. Then I went back to my birth state and started asking questions, leading in 4 hours and several steps to having my birth mother’s telephone number. Two hours later I figured out what to say that would not give her a heart attack or sound like blackmail and called her.
She said she could not meet me at the time. I gave her my current contact information and if for some reason that did not work another way to find me if I am alive. It took about 4 days to get back from my birthplace to where I was living. There were 2 messages on my telephone answering machine and 2 letters, 1 from my mother and the other from my half-sister, both inviting me back for Thanksgiving. Of course, I went.
My telephone call gave my mother the strength and self-image she needed to claim her rights as a person. She had been living in hardship for most of the time since she gave me up to adoption. She had about 20 years of freedom and respect, then she died. When she died I was invited to the funeral and asked to identify myself as a “friend of the family”. I understood that it was time to move on.
Many times in my life, great and minor, it has been necessary to cut loose from relationships. It has helped me help clients who were destroying themselves with deadbeat relatives and expensive junk. It is generally painful for a time, but the pain reduces even if it never ends. I take my experience to be a lesson that just as we are free to choose our friends, so also are they free to choose or reject us.
I am not sure when the lesson came to me. But once it did, I lived better by moving away from “bought” or “pretend” friends. It is better to be alone than to be dominated by abuse. My sense of what may be a myth, my faith in something I cannot prove, but which I feel has been shown to me, is that I am never alone. And I have many friends to this day while staying away from those who are not.
You wrote about your doubts. I have mentioned the 3 Great propositions I received the first day I was a guest at a Reform Jewish congregation. The third “happened” as I was reading through the prayer book between Torah Study and morning services. It is called the Doubter’s Meditation and appears on page 711 of the Gates of Prayer in use in the early 1990’s. I think it is possibly the greatest statement of wisdom I have encountered in my life. This is it directly from the book:
Doubt
Meditation
Cherish your doubts, for doubt is the handmaiden of truth. Doubt is the key to the door of knowledge; it is the servant of discovery. A belief which may not be questioned binds us to error, for there is incompleteness and imperfection in every belief.
Doubt is the touchstone of truth; it is an acid which eats away the false.
Let none fear for the truth, that doubt may consume it; for doubt is a testing of belief.
For truth, if it be truth, arises from each testing stronger, more secure. Those who would silence doubt are filled with fear; the house of their spirit is built on shifting sands.
But they that fear not doubt, and know its use, are founded on a rock.
They shall walk in the light of growing knowledge; the work of their hands shall endure.
Therefore, let us not fear doubt, but let us rejoice in its help: It is to the wise as a staff to the blind; doubt is the handmaiden of truth.
It will soon be 30 years since I received that guidance. I think making right things that are wrong should be done to fair measure; but there is a teaching showing a balance of justice and mercy. The teaching says that God has not one but 2 thrones. One for Justice and one for Mercy. If He sat on the throne of Mercy all the time, we would destroy ourselves. If He sat on the throne of Justice all the time, He would be forced to destroy us. So, He sits on the throne of Mercy 23 hours a day and the other hour on the throne of Justice to “keep us in line”. Since we do not know which throne is occupied at the moment, we have reason to be cautious, but not terrified into inaction.
Always, Peace be with you. Frank
Lavéritétriomphera says
Re-bonsoir Frank,
Keep in mind both of us are living in democracy, we could not hold this debate in an Islamic state, so I never forget the mission of Jihad Watch: the need to denounce the dangerous Islamic jihad.
I stand by my word: we do not choose our family, relatives, children, professors, boss … Fatality exists but can be limited by a personal effort.
“I didn’t expect that much out of you. You are not really my son. You were adopted.”.
As soon as you were adopted, you have been completely her son, totally, because she kept the secret of your adoption for 38 years. I do not know the exact nature of your relations with your adopted mother but I have always believed adoption, without a sordid secondary benefit, is an act of love.
And I am in a good position to know that it is sometimes necessary to take children away from biological parents who have gone mad.
What ever be the case, it can be imperative to leave a toxic environment.
In totalitarian regime the personal freedom and human rights as we understand them are not respected, and I do not ignore what is going on in no-go zones.
I believe Wafa Sultan is right: the Islamic ideology is inherently sick insane to the extent it does not condemn or even it encourages an insurmontable social pressure due to a poisoned environment.
“It is better to be alone than to be dominated by abuse.”.
Very true, in French we say: “il vaut mieux être seul que mal accompagné [better alone than in bad company] “.
The most abject solitude is to feel alone in the crowd (loneliness). The most beneficial solitude is when you are in meditation. Religions and philosophies should encourage meditation which can only exist if we allowed ourselves freedom of thought, but Islam forbids freedom of thought and the followers of Allah are lonely in the Islamic jail.
Doubt is the négation of the blind faith, but doubts cannot be stated if freedom of thought is forbidden, tolerance cannot exist without doubts and search of Truth, Justice cannot exist without tolerance. Truth/Justice makes us free. We understand better now why totalitarian regimes which are prison systems, forbid freedom of thought and expression.
I do not how fairness could exist without compassion (?). As a lawyer you know what means mitigating circumstance and rehabilitation.
After all bible, among others, tell us divine Justice is tempered by compassion, but I am sure that mercy should never be confused with an irresponsible indulgence that is leading us into disaster.
I appreciate as always our exchanges of views.
Amitiés
Frank Anderson says
Greetings Kevin,
If there is any jihad that is not Islamic, and not dangerous, I have never heard of it.
I disagree over the ultimate power of choice. At some point in personal interest, right and duty, one may make a decision who or what to include and exclude (people or property) from importance. It works both ways. Others have the right to say who they wish to count and exclude. Being forced into a relationship is another form of prohibited slavery (The 2 Lessons of The Exodus). I no longer count the number of times such a decision, either mine or others, has been necessary. Many of those decisions have been expensive, painful or both. Each time it seems that closing one door leads to opening another that would not have been opened otherwise.
One of my first acts after obtaining my law license was handling an adoption. It was great for all concerned, including the child, who had been part of my family by choice all her life.
Since my personal “miracle” in 1972, I believe I have never been alone, even in the worst of times. I see where I have received mercy a number of times, and have taken a number of opportunities to pass it along.
I always wish you well. Frank
gravenimage says
Interesting exchange, Lavéritétriomphera and Frank.
Lavéritétriomphera says
@Frank Anderson,
Salut Frank,
December 25 has been chosen by the Romans as their national day because of an error in winter solstice calculation. The matter is that simple, and Jesus Christ replaced Sol Invictus or Sun Undefeated when the empire become Christian. The Hindu Persian “god” Mithra has probably lived millennia before Jesus.
Staline was a murderer and the Russians were scared stiff of him and vice versa. He knew that Russia was not in position do dictate her law to America and to the rest of the world. Iran is in the same situation and in trouble, the mullah-s know the Islamic republic is condemned, and in spite of their best efforts they cannot dictate their law to Middle East.
Americans made very sure to have a foot in the door (just as they did in Europe after WW2), I am thinking in particular of Saoudi Arabia.
“Totalitarian regimes have always money for projects they want”
Not at all, even if they are willing to starve and beat people. That is propaganda and all the more true when the leaders use extravagant some of money for their own interests. Sooner or later the fruit will fall from the tree when it is ripe. French Revolution and the collapse of the Soviet Union were due to Inflation, general shortage that cast fear and chaos (It’ll be fine, it’ll be fine …).
“The total cost of the power over the short and limited life of the plants is otherwise crippling to the economy … France has a pervasive nuclear program with the Phenix and Super Phenix breeder reactors. Has anyone ever made public the true cost of the electricity they generate? “ That is a sensitive subject in France.
Islamic world is heterogeneous. However before and after the Pax Romana the Mediterraneans, wether they were/are Pagans, Jews, Christians, Muslims …, always had difficulties on agreeing on any topics.
Liberty cannot be dissociated from Truth/Justice. I believe a religion/philosophy like Buddhism, Neopythagorism, Gnosticism associated with freedom of thought, will be our future.
As long as people will be forced, consciously or unconsciously, to adhere to sinister mystics, we won’t enjoy true peace.
“Peace to men of good will”.
I am happy to be your corespondent because I learn through our contacts.
Amitiés