Avi's Spiritual and Religious Journey - Part 2

[Avi1001]

Now, hold the phone here, Paar, how are we going to get a good argument going....if you refuse to disagree with disciple ?

Pertinent to this thread is ethical , moral and spiritual issues.
I will participate only in them.

Regards

 

[Avi1001]

Please see the post in member announcements !

Avi's is about to go viral !

 

[paarsurrey]

Now, hold the phone here, Paar, how are we going to get a good argument going....if you refuse to disagree with disciple ?

We will have good working relationship. Don't you worry?

Regards

 

[Avi1001]

Do you mind changing your religion label to: "Islamo-Jew" ?

We will have good working relationship. Don't you worry?

Regards

 

[paarsurrey]

Do you mind changing your religion label to: "Islamo-Jew" ?

I think Jew is ascribed to Judah and smells of racism; not a exemplary spiritual character, and we on the spiritual journey.

Regards

 

[Avi1001]

Paar, it's about time we get past these racism and bigotry accusations. Everyone one on the Avi thread is as clean as a whistle....even you. Now suck it up, and behave like a mensch !

I think Jew is ascribed to Judah and smells of racism; not a exemplary spiritual character, and we on the spiritual journey.

Regards

 

[Avi1001]

Another thought I have is that ISIS is making the rest of the world think about radicalism more deeply.

How long will it be before radicalism hits Europe, hard ?

How can we prevent radicalism ?

The answers are similar to what I have been advocating earlier....education. Creation of a strong middle class.

Poor people are easy to radicalize.

 

[sun rise]

Please see the post in member announcements !

Avi's is about to go viral !

As long as it's not "postal", we'll all be fine.

 

[sun rise]

Another thought I have is that ISIS is making the rest of the world think about radicalism more deeply.

How long will it be before radicalism hits Europe, hard ?

How can we prevent radicalism ?

The answers are similar to what I have been advocating earlier....education. Creation of a strong middle class.

Poor people are easy to radicalize.

I believe the evidence is that middle class young men are the most likely to become radicals. Idealism plus lack of judgement can be toxic and research has shown that the brain is not mature until the mid-20's.

And in some cases, such as in my case, maturity came later - after life had applied a cluebat a few times.

 

[Avi1001]

How does war work ?

Lets see if we can remember.:

First, the Generals say we will not have a ground battle. Just send in the jets and we will have an air war.

Then they tell us, it is well known throughout history that one cannot win an air war...so we have to send in the troops.

Then we send in the troops.

Am I missing something ?

 

[sun rise]

How does war work ?

Lets see if we can remember.:

First, the Generals say we will not have a ground battle. Just send in the jets and we will have an air war.

Then they tell us, it is well known throughout history that one cannot win an air war...so we have to send in the troops.

Then we send in the troops.

Am I missing something ?

I might get in trouble (what else is new) by bringing up Israel vs Hamas. I'm avoiding right and wrong, at least for now, but that situation is instructive. So far Hamas has negated everything Israel has done - build a wall and they build tunnels and so forth. Hamas puts their installations into civilian areas to cause casualties when Israel bombs them. Israel meanwhile plays "whack-a-mole" with Hamas until both sides get tired an declare another truce to get ready for the next round.

The only difference here is that the US is hoping that local peoples are the ground army while we supply the (hush hush) special forces advisers and the bombs. If the local populace really wants to get rid of the terrorists this strategy will work but it will take time. Given the terrorists ability to get everyone angry at them by torturing and murdering everyone who does not bow down to their feet, this might work.

Side note: Divine intervention is required to finally solve the Israel-Palestine situation but it's possible that a miracle is not required in the everyone vs "ISIL" war.

 

[Avi1001]

Oh, yeah, you filled in a missing piece. The Generals tell us we have to destroy Hamas too.....send in the planes. Then it follows the scenario I outlined.

This has happened over and over...we know the outcome.....send in the clowns !

I might get in trouble (what else is new) by bringing up Israel vs Hamas. I'm avoiding right and wrong, at least for now, but that situation is instructive. So far Hamas has negated everything Israel has done - build a wall and they build tunnels and so forth. Hamas puts their installations into civilian areas to cause casualties when Israel bombs them. Israel meanwhile plays "whack-a-mole" with Hamas until both sides get tired an declare another truce to get ready for the next round.

The only difference here is that the US is hoping that local peoples are the ground army while we supply the (hush hush) special forces advisers and the bombs. If the local populace really wants to get rid of the terrorists this strategy will work but it will take time. Given the terrorists ability to get everyone angry at them by torturing and murdering everyone who does not bow down to their feet, this might work.

Side note: Divine intervention is required to finally solve the Israel-Palestine situation but it's possible that a miracle is not required in the everyone vs "ISIL" war.

 

[metis]

Essentially, as I see it, we seemingly need to make a commitment one way or the other when dealing with these groups: either we try and destroy them or we just let them fester and hope they eventually burn themselves out. Trouble is, I don't see the likelihood of either one of these outcomes happening in the short run, so we're stuck.

To me, one of the biggest disappointments is that the countries mostly affected don't want to commit themselves much, thus throwing the burden on the U.S., and I don't think this is sustainable in the long run especially.

 

[Avi1001]

Trouble is, we don't have the fortitude to finish the job. It would require the death of too many of our troops. So we go in and muck it up and leave too early.

We lost tens of thousands of solders in the last Iraq war. The last major recession was caused by the war. If Obama keeps listening to the Generals we will be drawn into a third Iraq war, this time to defeat ISIS....which we cannot win.

Our only hope is assymetry. Westerners have trouble understanding this. Until we do, we will keep losing.

Essentially, as I see it, we seemingly need to make a commitment one way or the other when dealing with these groups: either we try and destroy them or we just let them fester and hope they eventually burn themselves out. Trouble is, I don't see the likelihood of either one of these outcomes happening in the short run, so we're stuck.

To me, one of the biggest disappointments is that the countries mostly affected don't want to commit themselves much, thus throwing the burden on the U.S., and I don't think this is sustainable in the long run especially.

 

[metis]

Trouble is, we don't have the fortitude to finish the job. It would require the death of too many of our troops. So we go in and muck it up and leave too early.

We lost tens of thousands of solders in the last Iraq war. The last major recession was caused by the war. If Obama keeps listening to the Generals we will be drawn into a third Iraq war, this time to defeat ISIS....which we cannot win.

Our only hope is assymetry. Westerners have trouble understanding this. Until we do, we will keep losing.

I agree in general, but with the exception that if a true coalition of leaders in that region are willing to put ground troops with their mouth is, then it is possible to at least knock ISIS/ISIL back enough to possibly destroy, or at least wear them down. If not, they are a terrible threat to the entire region that would have nightmarish implications, much less for us than for the people in that entire region and beyond.

 

[Avi1001]

Yes, in theory that is the way to go...but in practice we know it cannot work. Our coalition partners in this battle have less fortitude than we do.

With the the warrior nations: Japan, Germany (the most genocidal country in the history of the world), and of course, the US we should have what it takes. But even if we had a true coalition of these bloody countries we could not defeat the force that ISIS has assembled.

We need to rethink our strategy...unfortunately, I do not see the leadership to do it. Lets hope someone new steps forward. I am concerned about Hillary...she seems to lack a certain common sense.

I agree in general, but with the exception that if a true coalition of leaders in that region are willing to put ground troops with their mouth is, then it is possible to at least knock ISIS/ISIL back enough to possibly destroy, or at least wear them down. If not, they are a terrible threat to the entire region that would have nightmarish implications, much less for us than for the people in that entire region and beyond.

 

[Flankerl]

With the the warrior nations: Japan, Germany (the most genocidal country in the history of the world), and of course, the US we should have what it takes. But even if we had a true coalition of these bloody countries we could not defeat the force that ISIS has assembled.

Do you really live in the year 1945, are you trolling or just not educated about the whole matter including the countries you listed?

 

[sun rise]

Yes, in theory that is the way to go...but in practice we know it cannot work. Our coalition partners in this battle have less fortitude than we do.

With the the warrior nations: Japan, Germany (the most genocidal country in the history of the world), and of course, the US we should have what it takes. But even if we had a true coalition of these bloody countries we could not defeat the force that ISIS has assembled.

We need to rethink our strategy...unfortunately, I do not see the leadership to do it. Lets hope someone new steps forward. I am concerned about Hillary...she seems to lack a certain common sense.

Sure we could defeat them militarily but it would be whack-a-mole unless we defeat them theologically. It's considered laughable but "winning hearts and minds" really is the solution.

In that regard, I ran across a CNN piece today by Amy-Jill Levin, a self described "Yankee Jewish feminist..." exploring the New Testament story of the "Good Samaritan". (How's that for a theological mash-up )

...The parable is often seen as a story of how the oppressed minority – immigrants, gay people, people on parole – are “nice” and therefore we should check our prejudices.

Samaritans, then, were not the oppressed minority: They were the enemy. We know this not only from the historian Josephus, but also from Luke the evangelist.
Just one chapter before our parable, Jesus seeks lodging in a Samaritan village, but they refuse him hospitality.

Moreover, Samaria had another name: Shechem. At Shechem, Jacob’s daughter Dinah is raped or seduced by the local prince. At Shechem, the murderous judge Abimelech is based.

We are the person in the ditch, and we see the Samaritan. Our first thought: “He’s going to rape me. He’s going to murder me.”

Then we realize: Our enemy may be the very person who will save us. Indeed, if we simply ask “where is Samaria today?” we can see the import of this parable for the Israeli/Palestinian crisis.

 

[Avi1001]

Do you really live in the year 1945, are you trolling or just not educated about the whole matter including the countries you listed?

Hi Ms. Snarkie, yes, I live in the year 1945 and you live in the year 1,000 BC. And no, this is not the DIR where you can insult me...and I am not allowed to respond.

Also, we all know you are an apologist for Germany. If France is the most anti-Semitic country in Europe today, we know Germany cannot be far behind...good luck with that !

 

[Flankerl]

This again? Where did i insult you? Back it up with links.


Apologist for Germany? Well i live in the common year 2014 where the "warrior nation of Germany" has 7(out of over 100) combat ready fighter planes of which 4 patrol the airspace of the Baltic countries and the rest of the military is downsized for the budget.
Care about backing up your ridiculous claims? Or just more snarky remarks?

Because i can back up mine: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/weekinreview/15kulish.html?pagewanted=all

I'd like to see how that is "warrior nation"-like.
Next we could discuss how the "warrior nation" of Germany wasnt involved in the mess that is Iraq or Libya.