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- Smoking Guns
- Rep: 330
Re: US Politics Thread
mitchejw wrote:Not a single religion was born in the US - except consumerism
Native American tribes would disagree. But you know full well that the European settlers who made America what it is today, brought Christianity with them.
But let's continue to pretend that Christianity isn't not only the dominant religion (80%+) today, but the religion of 99.9% of the people who built this country. Voodoo is more American than Islam.
The founding fathers were a mish-mash of fundamentalist Chiristans to religious mocking atheists. It's why our constitution is the only one in the free world that doesn't mention God. Over the years numb nuts politicians who desperately want America to be a theocracy try to fight the seperation of church and state but always lose. Especially bad was the early-mid twentieth century, like when they forced the word God into the pledge of allegiance, which was written specifically not to mention anything about God or religion. Politicians constantly try to make Christianity the official religion of America. But they can't. Because America does not have an official religion. Because that's stupid. And unconstitutional. Voodoo is on the same level as Christianity in America.
- Randall Flagg
- Rep: 139
Re: US Politics Thread
If you think I'm a believer or think Christianity should get any preference, you're wrong. I'm simply stating that the European Christian culture, holidays and communities are the backbone of this nation.
What some are trying to do is label all violence on mass scales as terrorism. That's where I'm coming from. Terrorism is violence stemming from a foreign ideology aimed at bringing change. Dylan Roof wasn't a terrorist. He was a white supremacist who murdered 9 (I think it's 9) innocent people because they were black. Maybe his aim was to kickoff a race war. Maybe he just wanted to kill. But white nationalism is a domestic issue stemming back domestically at least 150 years. So it's a hate crime. But it's not terrorism.
The distinction is important because a common response to concerns about terror is to compare it to some domestic violent act like a school shooting. The actions we can take to prevent/deter terror are completely different for domestic issues.
Re: US Politics Thread
I was actually just responding to the mention of Christianity and the foundation of America.
My definition of terrorism is a motive higher than committing a mass shooting or bombing because you're pissed off or picked on. That there is a clear motive to make a political statement, not just get a high body count. McVeigh and Roof were clear terrorists in my mind because their attacks were not aimed at their victims but were political statements and were targeted at the state. In Roof's case he wanted to start a race war that would take down the country, to the point he felt bad and almost didn't kill his victims, but his act was too big and meant too much to back down. No different than 9/11; the acts of terror were all aimed at America, to make a statement to evoke a reaction, it was not aimed at their victims. Their acts were steeped in their own ideology. Roof, just like the 9/11 hijackers, wants to be a martyr.
Was Charles Whitman a terrorist? I don't think so.
Re: US Politics Thread
mitchejw wrote:Not a single religion was born in the US - except consumerism
Native American tribes would disagree. But you know full well that the European settlers who made America what it is today, brought Christianity with them.
But let's continue to pretend that Christianity isn't not only the dominant religion (80%+) today, but the religion of 99.9% of the people who built this country. Voodoo is more American than Islam.
First, the native Americans have mostly been erased from existence thanks to those very Christian whites
You know...the pick and choose American Christian that chooses which parts of Christianity to follow based on convenience.
Organized religion is for chumps.
Christianity isn't the solution to our problems....it is the problem
Re: US Politics Thread
I was actually just responding to the mention of Christianity and the foundation of America.
My definition of terrorism is a motive higher than committing a mass shooting or bombing because you're pissed off or picked on. That there is a clear motive to make a political statement, not just get a high body count. McVeigh and Roof were clear terrorists in my mind because their attacks were not aimed at their victims but were political statements and were targeted at the state. In Roof's case he wanted to start a race war that would take down the country to the point he felt bad and almost didn't kill his victims, but his act was too big and meant too much to back down. No different than 9/11; they were all aimed at America, not their victims steeped in their own ideology. Roof, just like the 9/11 hijackers, wants to be a martyr.
Was Charles Whitman a terrorist? I don't think so.
My political science teacher used to say "one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter" - I find it applies to so many examples given in this discussion about the definition of terrorism and why it's so hard to define...
It's a bit subjective
- Smoking Guns
- Rep: 330
Re: US Politics Thread
Actually I believe Mormonism was, Latter Day Saints. Also Quakers was pretty prominent in the US, but I wikipediad it and it seemed to begin in UK just prior to American settling.
Mormonism is 100% American all the way. Turns out the Israelites came to America 500 years or so before Christ. Then after his resurrection he visited...Missouri. Yea, that Missouri. That's where the garden of Eden was afterall, according to them, so it all makes sense.
Sounds crazy sure, but that's just because we've heard the other (just as crazy) story all our lives about the big JC preceding this one. Otherwise it wouldn't seem as nuts.
Scientology too is made right here in America. It's a religion I guess, but personally I'd classify it as a cult.
Re: US Politics Thread
Ahhhhh....yes....beautiful Missouri...
Truly could not have picked a better place....
The only time I went there in my entire life, two people died because they drank too much at a massive boat party. The swam under a boat, knocked themselves unconscious and died....
- Randall Flagg
- Rep: 139
Re: US Politics Thread
Ahhhhh....yes....beautiful Missouri...
Truly could not have picked a better place....
The only time I went there in my entire life, two people died because they drank too much at a massive boat party. The swam under a boat, knocked themselves unconscious and died....
So about 1/5 of a normal weekend in chicago?
