Interesting Times

Read this thread- I think its very poignant.


To: Scott Starr
Subject: special mention
Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2007 10:41:07 -0500

chomsky


http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/09/new-obl-tape-ir.html

According to the transcript, bin Laden says there are two ways to end the war:
"The first is from our side, and it is to continue to escalate the killing and fighting against you."
The second is to do away with the American democratic system of government. "It has now become clear to you and the entire world the impotence of the democratic system and how it plays with the interests of the peoples and their blood by sacrificing soldiers and populations to achieve the interests of the major corporations."


Corporations

Osama seems to have identified the major flaw in capitalism we have been discussing for years. It is also a moral flaw. Corporations are merely financial beasts that devour lives and whose belly never gets full. Only designed to make money, they act without conscious, and they are in control of our politicians, who through their own lust for money....are willing to feed the beasts with the blood of their own constituents.

(see http://geotheology.blogspot.com/2006/09/eleven-inherent-rules-of-corporate_24.html )


What saith thee?
I wonder if democracies cyclically implode due to the above design flaw? Or is it the omission of God in the governmental control of the people that makes democracies subject to the above flaw?

SS sez,

I will think about a longer answer... but the snap answer is that the problem is not necessarily the democratic form of government or capitalism per se... its the worldly value system that so dominates it. I believe that if you study the factors that brought down Rome... we are falling prey to many of the same mechanisms. I hate to admit this but, I think Bin laden is legit on a few points... of course not including his solution of violence... he is basically fighting fire with fire... it won't work because it is NOT Godly. Islam then... at least in this configuration is not Godly (and of course Islam is not a totally different animal than Christianity). The sad truth is that the concept of "Christendom" that I just blogged about is not Godly, scriptural or in keeping with the Jesus Way either.

p.s. the Sooners are hot. It ain't over yet though.


SS sez more:

I was just looking at this again. Its kind of amazing that now two of
America's biggest 'oponents' Hugo Chavez and Bin Laden have both referenced
Chomsky.

quoted from the article you sent me:

"He goes on to call Noam Chomsky "among one of the most capable of those from your own side.."

Of course the ideologues on the right have not missed the opportunity to use this as confirmation that Chomsky is crazy. However, I think it points to a larger concept. One of the things that Chomsky points out- something that is actually an ancient and well known but seldom used anymore proverb- is the concept of paying attention to what your enemy says motivates him. I can't remember the other non Chomsky quote on this, but its buried somewhere deep in my blog- about how a wise leader always listens to his enemies because they are generally honest about what motivates them. However, this kind of honesty very seldomly emanates from those who are counted among your "allies".

One of the things I have been saying for a good while (its not my idea so I have no pride enfolded in this) is that if we actually took steps to negotiate at some level with our enemies that tensions would likely simmer down. What we have instead is the idea that if we 'negotiate' in any way at all that its equivalent with capitulation and legitimizing "terrorist" tactics. Really the word "terrorism" is a semantic trick used to falsely distinguish one tactic of warfare from another. Chomsky actually addresses this with his quote that defines a terrorist as being "the guy with the little bomb."

Really its all warfare and all killing and all born out of human
selfishness, pride and sin. What shapes our conceptions of warfare is
always/never true.

Consider this quote:

"We must remember that in time of war what is said on the enemy's side of the front is always propaganda, and what is said on our side of the front is truth and righteousness, the cause of humanity and a crusade for peace."

— Walter Lippmann

Read up on Lippman. Chomsky quotes a lot from him and that is where I heard of him.

One thing is for sure... this thing in the Mideast is far from over. Its only going to get more "interesting" from here. I put the quotes around the word interesting in remembrance of the ancient Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times".

Of course from the Biblical perspective... it is understood that the real enemy is the World and the "not flesh and blood powers of darkness".

1st John 2:15-17:
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

The Armor of God

Ephesians 6:

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.