Religious War

Welcome, latecomers, to the 11th century. During your brief absence, you may have - considering the technology that surrounds you - been deceived into believing you inhabited the 21st century. Well fans of the feudal - that just isn't the case. It seems that in the midst of the Fourth (or Fifth, whichever) Great Evangelical Awakening here in America we're on the brink of a good old fashioned holy war. Our Knights in the field report the following:

-Every nation is looking out for it's own best interests - including those interests that have specific and deleterious impact on other nations.

-The banners of the Saints and Martyred are being hoisted on both sides.

-New (and old) words are making their way (back) into the daily lexicon - "Islamofacist" and "Zionist" and "Appeaser." Peace and brotherhood, apparently, are not to be tolerated.

-Both sides report that "Our way of life is on the verge of being wiped out."

One would think that, after 1000 years of observing the outcomes of situations just like this, we (humanity) would have concluded that the 'holy war' approach just isn't very effective at achieving long term stability for anybody. I mean, here we are again - a millenium later - same old story.

A few suggestions and/or options to consider since we're going to re-live the 11th century:

- This time, one side or the other, don't leave anyone (as in "not one") of the opposite religion alive - to do so will obviously result in another round of this debacle centuries down the line. That appears to have been the weakness in the previous go around.

-Or - if neither side has the stomach or resources to do that, perhaps (and I realize this is a real stretch for some), perhaps we can find another set of principles upon which to base our relationships with one another - rather than who's God is bigger and badder - or whose nation He perfers most at any particular point in history.

As clearly as I can see it - we're living by a playbook that basically results in death and destruction everytime - time for a new book???? Maybe????

Rabid dogs like Hitler and Stalin and Ceausescu and all those that would deny the dignity of humanity to further their own personal power and ego must be put down - of course. The correct, accepted, response to a man with a gun to your family is to kill him. I am no pacifist. I have, unfortunately, held a position in which I did assist in putting down rabid dogs (of the canine variety). Not for a second did it occur to me that the best way to proceed was to destroy all dogs - hence ridding the planet of that particular problem forever!

But, hey - hoist the banners - break out the proclamations and bulls - dust off the manuals on the Auto de fe - if we're going to get down to it - let's "Git her done," as the Red states are so fond of snarling.

I'm in - just let me find my cross, shield and sword - anyone want to buy a house and boat - I'm off to fight the Moors!

And my friends wonder why I'm so cynical about humanity - my answer - because we act like this - all of us.