Frankendesign

People all over the world are spending today in quiet reflection of personal tragedy. Should I really open my mouth? Note, I said personal tragedy, as opposed to national tragedy. It's sad to see so many innocent people paying the price for their government's despicable history of imperialism, both physical and mental. But dare I say this—it was Simon Bolivar who reminded us that in a democratic context, people deserve their government. Bolivar definitely sought to distribute responsibility equally between the public and the ruling elite of Plato's republican society. So on this five year annivsary of the 9|11 attacks, I urge everyone to fight their own anti-terrorism campaign. Drop the religious habits that stain your political discourse. The fundamentalist physique of the Christo- or Islamofascist is not only unflattering but life-threatening, to us all. We all suffer from second-hand fascism.

I've absolutely had enough of this Holy War. While spending the weekend with my parents, I was treated to all sorts of televised 9|11 ceremonies broadcast on the dedicated evangelical stations. Paired with the concept of proverbial evil bestowed upon the attackers and the acts themselves, these programs all featured biblical quotes about the prophesies; about God's promises; about the ceremony that is birth, death, rebirth. But not one quote about being human, about loving humans, about helping humans, as Jesus himself had probably done. In reading Karen Armstrong's A History of God, I'm finally picking up on what Frederick Turner (Beyond Geography) describes as the scientific death cult. It's no longer about compassion, coexistence, and enlightenment. It's about duelling with logic and rationalism and attempting to arrive at the ends before the means are satisfied — because that's the only way religion can win. Unfortunately, it also guaruntees that we all lose.