How to Change a Culture: Question of Imperialists

What is the U.S. military's goal in Afghanistan?  This is a difficult question to answer.  It ought to puzzle the most intellectual of minds because no single response could make sense entirely.  The American Revolution was a conflict to break from the bondage of an empire.  The Civil War was a battle for national identity and unity.  World War II had a concrete objective: to defeat fascist aggressors in Europe, and end Japanese imperialism.  These are wars with clear objective and victory.


Afghanistan on the other hand?  We invaded to destroy Al Qaeda, but we remain to rebuild a nation.  What could this possibly mean?  No one knows, apparently.  The fact that we support its shameful democracy is proof of our misdirected efforts.  The U.S.-backed Karzai Administration casts an inescapable shadow of corruption over the entire government.  Scandal and fraud have plagued his recent reelection, delegitimizing the very democracy we have set in place. 


Corruption aside, this sham of a government does not seem to be a whole lot better than Taliban rule.  A provision in legislation passed this April states: "...a wife is obliged to fulfill the sexual desires of her husband..."  What this could mean I do not know, though some have said this law essentially condones rape.  Mastermind of the law, Ayatollah Mohammed Asef Mohseni (yes, Ayatollah), defends the statute by refuting Western analysis, and claiming that married women do indeed have the right to refuse sex, though "If a woman says no, the man has the right not to feed her."  Oh okay, cool.  All cleared up.  Thanks Asef!


But the perverted and broken government of Afghanistan are actually not my primary arguments against the war.  No, my critique is one against the imperialist mind.  We Americans are, after all, imperialists, plain and simple.  Two countries we now occupy (facilitated by foreign mercenaries... ask me), with hundreds upon hundreds of military installations throughout the world... the aggressors in over 200 conflicts since 1945.  We alone determine global economic policy.
     
Living in the Empire has many perks, I must say.  I've had a privileged life (though not without my parents' comprehensive health insurance plan) and we are all blessed with relatively few foreign attacks (with two days of exception, of course).  This country is somehow able to wage endless wars without the public even remembering!  A miracle?  Must be! "A million Iraqis died?  Oh, hey did you see that new iPhone app?  Pretty sweet, huh.  Tiger Woods had an affair?  What sport does he play again?  Hey, pass the cocaine.  And hand me that silly as shit magazine.  Yeah, the one about nothing."
     
When I bring up Afghanistan in public, I most often get a "remember 9/11" line or some defensive variation of our "moral duty" to save those people over there.  Who are they again?  Also popular is the "we broke it, we bought it" line.  These latter defenses seem silly to me, though they are common to the 'moral' imperialists.  To address the 9/11-imperialists: Al Qaeda does not even need Afghanistan because they have such a wonderful home in Pakistan to conduct operations.  Al Qaeda left long ago, and if they ever returned from over the Kush Mountains, they would not have nearly comparable resources as they had further East.
     
The 'moral' imperialists talk about some kind of higher responsibility to save these people.  But really we should not be meddling in such drastic ways in foreign lands at all.  It is just so imperial to believe in your state's sole right to wage devastating wars and heartless occupations in the name of Freedom.  That is not Freedom, that is tyranny.  President Washington would be ashamed.  Jefferson too.  Barack Obama says we are fighting for something just, but is it 'just' to impede on another's sovereignty?  To be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands?  What American cares about those people?  Please, tell me if you do!
     
We are trying to change cultures.  Cultures that are so unlike ours we cannot imagine.  We do not understand--or even bother to understand--the Muslim world.  Perhaps we never will.  The West spent many centuries fighting its own religious wars, yet we seem to believe it is possible for a foreign occupation to end ideological feuds in a matter of years.  It cannot be done, and thus we have no business in such affairs.

America and the Crisis of Religion Part III: Why Evolution Matters

Well it's certainly been awhile since I've talked about religion, but I wanted to say something brief and vital.

The fact that 55% of American citizens believe evolution is a myth stands as testament to the state of judgement in this country. It seriously worries me when I see so many people refuse to accept the clear and overwhelming evidence of the Evolutionary process. This is not because denying evolution causes deep problems on it's own, rather it's what problems are arising from other delusions that simply must arise from this warped sense of what is real. When they look at the world, what is seen? How is news interpreted differently? What questions are being asked about the state of this nation and international community?

Refuting the legitimacy of evolution is like denying that it's raining outside when it indeed is raining. And if such circumstantial evidence is so easily cast aside by individuals due to superior religious beliefs, then what other facts of the world are being neglected? Probably some important ones.

This country needs to wise up... soon.

Evolution: Yay or Nay?

Tell me what you make of these statistics... should the United States be embarrassed by this monkey business?

It's About the Kids

As I read and watch the crazies who vehemently supported Proposition 8, the most overwhelming reasoning is that we must ban same-sex marriage for the sake of the children. Because kids with two dads or two moms will have "dysfunctional" upbringing. Well here are some of the Prop 8 campaign commercials... do you think these kids are being used (the young ones)?



To put such a cozy and innocent spin on a Proposition of Hate just seems wrong... this girl surely has no idea of what she is really doing... hopefully she'll look back in disgust of her parents:



I was going to let the Mormons get by this time without mention, but when I found out they used a theme song from the show LOST to put as the background of a loony Prop 8 commercial (loony because of the scripture... and because the LDS Church believes in magic underwear... and a man in the sky) I just had to rip on them:



Oh please, your scriptures are silly. And by the way, marriage was around long before religion was... and it's been changing throughout history. Religious people don't have a monopoly on social concerns of others, and they should have no say on state constitutions.

And to think, in England, it's actually an embarrassment for politicians to speak about their religion. Why? Because them Europeans actually understand that religion is insane!

PS: where's that black dude we just elected?

Intellectual Elitism is Bad?

Since when did being an "intellectual" become such a negative aspect of our leaders? When I have surgery done, I want the best and the brightest--not just some guy or gal who is likable.  The same should go for running the country, right?  But John Kerry was lambasted for being too much of a "liberal" intellectual, and the cowboy ended up winning that one. In David Brooks' NYT Op-ed, he explains that:

The Republicans have alienated whole professions.  Lawyers now donate to the Democratic Party over the Republican Party at 4-to-1 rates. With doctors, it’s 2-to-1. With tech executives, it’s 5-to-1. With investment bankers, it’s 2-to-1. It took talent for Republicans to lose the banking community.

Yes, the smart people are now with the Democrats, but only because the Republican party alienated their intellectuals.  Republicans have sought out to capture the "average Joe" voter by nominating very "average" people.  Social-conservatism is not progressive or forward thinking, but it is what many people cling to.  Obama was correct when he saidthat people turn to "guns and religion" largely due to economic woes--after all, religion is the "opiate of the masses."  But Obama was slammed for the remark, and was portrayed as someone who worships his own superiority and wisdom, and looks down on the common man.

It's really too bad that intellectualism has been given the cold shoulder because there are many brilliant conservatives--I know some myself.  But they have been abandoned by their base, and now grudgingly trot along behind their mediocre ticket.  

If you look back

 at some of the greatest American statesmen, you will find that they were men who were well informed, well educated, and well versed in literature.  They were philosophers and visionaries.  From the Founding Fathers to Lincoln, Wilson, and FDR.  They were masters of policy and diplomacy.  Their wisdom celebrated the dynamism of knowledge, and was their source of strength.  

Now we have Sarah Palin. 

Religion: Update and Reflections

UPDATE AND REFLECTIONS on Religion Post (9/08/08):

This post certainly stirred some debate and controversy, which I believe is part of healthy discourse. After several days of reflection, however, I'd just like to bring my thoughts back to earth.

Let me be clear: the fact that I find religion silly, does not mean that I don't respect an individual's choice to subscribe to a particular belief. I was a believer for a long time, and I am far from certain that there is nothing out there. But I will say that even if there is a higher being of some sort, is there not some point where everything just is? In other words, even if there is a god or Flying Spaghetti Monster, isn't there a line where there is nothing higher, and everything just exists for existence's sake?

Who knows, really?

Furthermore, while I am happy that I shared my opinions on religion, I should have emphasized the more important and vital aspect of it: that religion is being used by the powerful to influence the masses into going along and supporting their plots for increased (albeit short-term) power and wealth. The masterminds of the Bush Administration are not motivated purely by zealotry (though they may be in part), but by gaining strategic power and economic supremacy in the world.

RELIGION: part dos

Not too long ago one of my old buddies from the "Evangelical Students-having-fun-while-proselytizingonthebeach Club" asked if I'd follow up on one of my very early posts dealing with how fucked religion is. Here goes.

Religion is the biggest bullshit mankind EVER CREATED. If you seriously believe that an invisible man lives in the sky and talks to people via talking bushes, you are severely lacking reason. If you believe in snakes that speak, I hope you aren't in a position of power. If you think that a "merciful" god is one who sends "sinners" into the fiery pits of eternal damnation, you are nuts.

Judgmental? Sure it is. But let me put it to you this way: it's "non-believers" like me who are the minority; we are the ones who are shamed by society for not believing in the Supreme Being. We are the ones who wonder if the President would be as willing to get our soldiers killed if he didn't believe they were going to heaven.

But I'm not a "non-believer", I'm just a rationalist. There is no God, there are no virgin-births, divine sons, or giant arks. Talking bushes are simply ridiculous, just like Humpty-Dumpty and Little Red Riding Hood are only fairy-tales.

Oh yeah: Jesus and Santa are the same guy. You were duped. I was duped. It's okay.

UPDATE AND REFLECTIONS (9/24/08):

This post certainly stirred some debate and controversy, which I believe is part of healthy discourse. After several days of reflection, however, I'd just like to bring my thoughts back to earth.

Let me be clear: the fact that I find religion silly, does not mean that I don't respect an individual's choice to subscribe to a particular belief. I was a believer for a long time, and I am far from certain that there is nothing out there. But I will say that even if there is a higher being of some sort, at some point everything just is. In other words, even if there is a god or Flying Spaghetti Monster, at some point there is nothing higher, and everything just exists for existence's sake.

But who knows, really?

Furthermore, while I am happy that I shared my opinions on religion, I should have emphasized the more important and vital aspect of it: that religion is being used by the powerful to manipulate the masses into going along and supporting their plots for increased (albeit short-term) power and wealth.

America and the Crisis of Religion: #1 in the Series

Today I’ve decided to begin a series called “America and the Crisis of Religion” which will be an ongoing discussion of the threat many religious groups pose to the United States and the world. This first entry, however, is dedicated to providing a background on my own religious experiences. This will give a better view on my personal stances and will provide a solid foundation for future entries.

I was raised a Methodist, but my family was never very devout; when I was growing up, we were the ones who went to church twice a year…it was a chore to us. Eventually we just stopped going altogether. I’m not even sure if my parents believe in God, but I suppose it’s just what families are expected to do. Beyond our infrequent pilgrimages to the local megachurch, I never really thought too deeply about God, his purpose, the meaning of life, etc. In fact, until I was around 14, I didn’t even know that other religions even existed—much less even questioned the validity of my own. When I entered high school, however, my spiritual life changed drastically.

I became increasingly involved with an organization known as “Student Venture”—an Evangelical youth group devoted to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Essentially, the organization seeks to introduce young people to the word of God, and send them out to convert the world. Their official mission is:

… to give every teenager the opportunity to hear the truth and love of Jesus Christ, to grow in their faith relationship with Him, and to reach others with the message of Christ. We call it Win – Build – Send.

Weekly Bible Study meetings became a regular part of my schedule; I went on the enticing Christian ski trip—aptly titled “Fast Break!”—and even to the Myrtle Beach conference in the summer. I considered myself a messenger for Christ, though I never felt comfortable propagating on the beach and in local communities (door-to-door), and I never relented in my faith in science and reason (i.e., I constantly debated in favor of the theory of Evolution). I made great friends and I felt really good about myself—I was high on the Holy Spirit!

But something happened during my senior year, and I don’t really know what it was. I think that in that last year, I really challenged myself intellectually—my faith, my political views, and my general outlook on life made a complete u-turn. I suppose it wasn’t one specific event, but it was the influence of my teachers and my closest friends. I went from being one of the most adamant supporters of the War in Iraq, to an outspoken critic of it. I went from Conservative to Liberal, and from Evangelical to Agnostic. I realized that faith is just another way of saying “belief in that which has absolutely no evidence.”

More later.