Are Terrorists REALLY the Enemy?

Okay, so the title is not exactly what I mean. Of course they are enemies. Maybe I should have asked if the are the ONLY enemy. I think not. I think lots of groups that end in "-ists" are the problem. The ones I am most concerned about are EXTREMISTS. One of the definitions in Webster's dictionary for extremism is "advocacy of extreme measures or views : radicalism". How often do we hear of radical Muslims? Are they the ONLY radicals?

Not sure when I want to go with this. But, I will start by listing a number of extremists or radicals who do NOT make this world a better place or a safer place:

• Radical Muslims - Of course we have to include them as they are responsible for a lot of violence and hatred around the world, much of it focused on Israel and those who are Israel's "friends". I have heard both that the basis of Islam is peaceful and that the Quran tells Muslims to give other people a chance to convert and if they don't, kill them.
• Radical Right-to-Lifers - I'm talking about the people who have bombed or otherwise attacked abortion clinics. Freedom of choice or anti-abortion are moral choices. So, regardless of how you feel about this, it is really NONE OF YOUR EFFING BUSINESS!
• KKK - Yes, the Klan. We do not hear much about them anymore fortunately. However, their history speaks of intolerance and violence to those of other colors, races, religions and more.
• Radical Politics - Like with religion, it is perfectly okay for people to share their views and beliefs with you. However, NO ONE has the right to push you to think or act in a way that is agreeable to them. And when you don't, a lot of these people start using stronger words or even violence. Seriously!
• Unions - Yes, unions. No, not all of them of course. I think it would actually be humorous if the teacher's unions all got crazy and started wiping out school boards and such. The unions I am talking about are the construction unions. The ones who blow up an inflatable rat in front of businesses who opt to hire NON-union labor. The ones who picket and yell and call people scabs. The ones who blow up (not the air type of blow up) a rival non-union company's business. The ones who burn down my brother's house because it was being built by non-union labor. WTF people!!! Learn a little about capitalism (the thing the USA used to have before Obama started turning us into a socialist nation) people. You want the contract for the job? Why not offer a FAIR fee? $30-40 per hour to hold a fucking sign? Are you serious? And you wonder why people do not want to hire unions! Open your effing minds!
• Radical (insert religion here)

This is what I want to focus on - religious fanatics. Have you ever seen the movie "Dogma"? I know it's fiction and I know it is just a movie. But, there is a line in there by Rufus (Chris Rock) who was the 13th disciple and black. Yes, pretty funny. Oh good, IMDB has the quote - "He (God) still digs humanity, but it bothers Him to see the shit that gets carried out in His name - wars, bigotry, televangelism. But especially the factioning of all the religions. He said humanity took a good idea and, like always, built a belief structure on it." Right?!??!?

The Bible is a book written by men. I am sure we could do some research and find that there are all these books and gospels that were written but never included meaning we might not have the full story. And I'll bet we could research The DaVinci Code's comments about Christianity being endorsed and revised by Constantine I (the first) where maybe things were taken from multiple beliefs and religions to make a "super-religion" that is the Christianity that we know today.

I try to live by the Golden Rule - do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I try to respect others and to do the right thing. I call myself a Christian even though the analytical side of me as an engineer makes me want to question a number of things. Regardless, I CHOOSE to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and my Savior. That is faith. Others may fight me on this. You have to be a Baptist. You have to be a Luteran. You need to become a Jehovah's Witness. Or, gasp, you have to be a Catholic! It is my belief that the early Catholic church was responsible for a LOT of bad things and it still covers up a lot of bad things today - i.e. Father Molester.

Religious wars have occured since.... well, I'll bet from the time that someone decided to start up a second religion. You HAVE to believe what I believe and if you don't, I will kill you. And these people might have the very same Bible (or other book). And they do it ALL in the name of God (or whatever name they call him). Nice.

So, there is my dissertation on who all the bad people are. Okay, maybe not ALL of them as there are plenty more. You can call them extremists. Call them fanatics. Call them radicals. Call them anything you want. There are WAY more enemies other than JUST the terrorists which was my original point. I think what we need to do with all these people who preach hatred, who push their views and beliefs on others and who are violent with people who do not share their thoughts is to preach tolerance right back at them. Stay on your course. Speak your mind. Never be afraid to voice dissension. Always be open to different opinions; but, NEVER EVER back down from your values or you will have accepted defeat by these extremists!