format_quote Originally Posted by
Dahir
What are Western values?
They were a nice idea... like ancient Babylon. It was intended to resolve the arguments that were caused by tribal differences in tradition. We decided that "truth' was dependant on individual interpretation so we wouldn't decide among the tribes, who had the 'real' religion. We would simply allow everyone to worship in whatever tradition they chose to follow, leaving the issue of faith up to the people.
You see, the Judeans viewed the Babylonian exile as a punishment from God, but that wasn't true. It was never a punishment. It was a favor. When they lived in Babylon, they didn't cease to be Jews. They weren't deprived of their heritage. They could be who ever they wanted to be... but it was entirely up to them. Somewhere during their stay in Israel, they forgot that and became addicted to a stupid rock - as if that rock had the power to decide who they were. They faught amongst themselves over it, and were cut from it - so they could learn faith, which is carried in one's heart and nowhere else.
America took that ideal to a whole new level. The idea was to create a land that anyone could live in. We have all sorts of people here, from all kinds of different faiths and traditions, but they decide who they are... no one else decides that for them. All of the people here decide and define themselves. That's how this country was started. Many came here to avoid religious persecution elsewhere.
It was a wonderful idea - but it fell apart. Too much freedom is a bad thing. At times, freedom itself can cause conflicts, such as the case with the necrophiles in New Orleans. It's true we should allow others to worship as they see fit, but that doesn't give one group the right to disrespect another. The rituals of the necrophiles require a corpse and those are usually obtained by invading cemeteries and desecrating graves that do not belong to them. In cases like this, how do you rule? You have no choice but to deny them religious freedom because that freedom interferes with the rights of others. So they scream that freedom is fake and it's just an illusion. It's a difficult balancing act, but I did feel at one time, we were on the right track.
Other places brought me sorrow. Places like Jerusalem, where hundreds of thousands have died in wars over a stupid rock! So and so did this on the rock. So and so did that on the rock. It's witchcraft. No one should die because of a... rock! The Jews go nuts over the remains of an old wall there, but it wasn't the rocks that made their Temple - it was their laws that decided how that Temple would be built and yet, they'd throw their laws out the window for a pile of stones and then lecture others on Avodah Zarah. Ha!
In America, when people follow a religion it's because that religion actually matters to them. They feel it and it comes from inside them. Here, I can talk to God if I want, and people can think I'm crazy, but so long as I'm not causing harm to others, they can't do a thing to stop me. I can learn whatever language I choose to, follow what ever tradition moves me, and write what ever I wish. In my corner of the world 911 was just a question Osama bin Laden once asked. He wanted me to answer it. That question was: How does it feel? It was a fair question, and it's my country's fault it had to be asked the way it was... so many had asked us before but we didn't listen. The words I write are mine and no one, here, can take that right away. Bush can try, but I'll just tell him what he told Zarqawi: Bring it on!
The western ideal was working... it's just not being upheld very well these days. Our governments are allowing us freedom while denying other countries that same right. None of us working class realised that was happening. We were being distracted by a disgusting array of problems on the home front. Things that hurt us like the cost of housing going through the roof, the fact that companies can deny us health-care or the fact that even though we paid, all of our lives, towards our retirement, the money will be gone before we reach retirement age. I realize now that these things were meant to distract us. An evil government has taken power and seeks to destroy what this country once stood for.
Western Values used to mean... for the people.
Ninth Scribe