Patrick Kafir is the team leader of
Clarity & Resolve. A site with a fun and straight to the point approach. C & R has a lot to offer: beautiful writing, original images and insightful commentaries on the war launched by Islamo-fascism againts freedom. One can also find at the C&R website,
Clarity & Resolve Kafir Gear, a little shop fearturing items with the cool C & R logo, Kafir FOR Infidel in Arabic.
Patrick has kindly agreed to answer a few questions for Pro-Freedom Artists.
Your craft and blogging.
1- Patrick Kafir, you are an artist, a musician and a devoted dog owner and you seem animated by the passion to write. Could you comment on the source of that passion?I don't know if I'd call myself an artist, Diane. I don't mind being called a graphic artist, but I'm no Michaelangelo. I love to create, and I've always done so throughout my life, whether with pen and paper, music, writing, and now using digital media.
I've found myself spectacularly inspired in the creation of graphics and with web design - perhaps more so than ever in my life. It's definitely something that I find myself doing more and more these days. The possibilities are virtually (pun semi-intended) endless right now for digital arts. It's yet another benefit of a free society and the wondrous innovations that are inevitable when people are able to pursue excellence in an open and competitive environment.
- What is your approach and what do you hope to communicate through your work, whether it is music, writing or images?
At C&R, I also try to communicate a sense of "Yeah, the situation we currently face in handling those who oppose freedom - those who are demonstrably willing and ready to kill us - is pretty messed up, but ultimately, we're going to win." "We" being anyone, anywhere who loves freedom.
More than anything, I want to convey a message of hope. I can't say that I always succeed in this at Clarity & Resolve since the subject I cover there is so often grave and horrible. But in my day-to-day life, I try to stress that life is beautiful - that we are beautiful. I want people to feel wonder and awe and I want them to feel love. Not just the love of family or nation or religion, but a universal love which recognizes goodness wherever it exists, and which also recognizes the inseverable ties that bind us all.
2- Open publishing via the web is a powerful incentive for creating: what do you think is behind your own creativity?
I think the single most powerful factor in publishing today is its accessibility. Virtually anyone with a computer and an internet connection can write, create art, make music, etc., and then publish it to the world. Of course the downside to this is a lot of drivel, unwanted attention, and negativity, but more freedom is always better when it comes to expression, I think. This innovation of linking the world and empowering people to be heard and to share ideas is enormously powerful. That's why totalitarian states and ideologies don't like it.
[The Peaceful Religion of Mushroom Clouds]At the foundation of this awesome technological creative boon is the same ancient human spirit that's always driven us to create and to share. We've always loved to create, to tell stories, to impress others, to reach for the sublime, and to challenge ourselves. I'm sure we always will.
The primary impetus behind my own creativity is the simple fact that I love being alive. I'm grateful for every breath I draw, and I'm grateful to enjoy the freedom to express myself as I see fit. Creativity is selfish in that it is often purely a matter of satisfying ones own personal drive for excellence and gratification. But when we share the fruits of our creative efforts with others, sometimes the magic of communion happens, and we find a deeper meaning. This is grand and exalting, I think.
3- From reading your blog, we see that words, music, and visual arts are clearly important to you. Which artist, and what specific works in these fields have captivated your imagination?
When I was younger, my favorite author was
Dostoevsky. I read all of his novels. He made me look at humanity in a way I'd hitherto not thought of. Pity, he was apparently an antisemite. I also loved
Steinbeck,
Herman Hesse, and
Honore de Balzac. And
Gabriel Garcia Marquez, whose prose is poetic, even in English. I haven't read any fiction in years, though. I find
Oriana Fallaci's writing to be very impressive - what a cool woman.
Jared Diamond's
Guns, Germs & Steel is pretty amazing, and I wish more people would read it. I really like science writing too. I usually have a few books going at once, and I don't know how I get through any of them.
[Surface to Air Dog Snow]
I love all music. I'm primarily a drummer, but I've been known to play guitar on occasion. Growing up I loved the Beatles because my Dad had all their stuff. As a teenager, I was into the Grateful Dead, Metallica, and Public Enemy. Now I listen to practically all genres. Yesterday I listened to Maria Callas, Erik Satie, and the Dave Matthews Band.
[Uncle Sociopath Rocks the Courthouse]
I've always been fond of impressionist paintings, especially
Van Gogh's, and I've always admired graphic artwork as well. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention cartoon hero, Tex Avery, a true artistic genius. Art is everywhere because art is simply a depiction of the human experience. The only art I truly dislike - in all its forms - is postmodernist stuff. My favorite visual artwork these days is a brilliantly planned and skillfully rendered Flash site. I love Flash - it's truly an
amazing artistic tool. Computers are giving more and more people the power to create stunning artwork.
[Van Gogh, Wikipedia]4- Patrick, what does the name Clarity and Resolve stand for?
.......
It signifies using ones ability to see what is good and what is bad around us, so that we can stand up for the former and against the latter.
[Islamic Family Values]5- Your website is quite rich in content. Could you describe it for us?
I would describe it as one man's attempt to frame a highly dynamic and sometimes overwhelming world in which the space between the forces of good and evil have been drastically reduced - the two collide far more frequently and dramatically these days. In my mind, we have some huge issues to tackle in this century: famine, disease, environmental decimation, and degraded biodiversity, to name a few. Before we can get to these issues, we need to first conquer the "little" issues, like jihad, communism, racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. Clarity & Resolve is a way station on this journey, I guess. It's also a place for anyone who is frustrated with the persistence of anti-freedom/anti-human forces, and those who support them.
[Iranian Shia Islamocrat: Near Future Will Be in the Hands of Islam]
It's also a place to laugh, because frankly, that's sometimes the only way to deal with the wretched lunacy I traffic in for my writing. So, there's a lot of sarcasm, black humor, and of course, Photoshops that mock jihad. Good ol' Photoshop.
Truth be told, Clarity & Resolve isn't half as rich as I might like it to be. I just don't have as much time as I'd like to spend on it.
Hamza vs. Hamza]
6- Do you have any favorite posts? What do you look for in the posts you read?
I don't know what to tell you regarding which of my posts are my favorites. There are many that I've felt satisfied with once finished, sometimes even laughing out loud, but I never remember which ones. Like my imagery, I leave it to the beholder to choose which, if any, is of great merit. Writing is something magical to me. It is familiar and almost pedestrian to me, but a consummate joy each time I do it - like taking the same pleasant route to work or to the market each day. You forget which day was which - they blend - but it's always a wonderful walk because you smell wet earth or the new grass and flowers. The airbites your face or just lightly touches it. You notice new things that make you appreciate the moment and your part in it. You feel the sun and the rain on your skin - you feel intensely alive. You see old friends and you make new ones. You learn. Just like yesterday and just like tomorrow.
7- Many bloggers have said blogging is a wonderful tool. Could you share some of your own experiences as a blogger with us?
I love blogging. I studied (and continue to study) Islam in great depth after 9/11. I was alarmed, saddened, and outraged by what I learned and what I see happening every day to Muslims and infidels alike in the name of Allah. I became acquainted with the 9/11 every day lifestyle of the average Israeli. This new awareness started to weigh on me to the point of depression, so I said, "To heck with it - I'll start a blog." I figured if nothing else, I'd be able to vent and lay out my ideas and conclusions in a concrete way.
[Mass Moonbat Epiphany]Overall, it's been vastly rewarding. I hear from people all the time who say they read Clarity & Resolve every day, and that they're grateful for the work I do. That's kind of humbling. These are intelligent people who make a point of taking the time each day to read my analysis and perhaps to share a laugh with me. They appreciate the time and effort I put into this blog. I'm extremely pleased that people are seeking out information about the free world's war against jihad/sharia and other totalitarian ideologies, but I'm genuinely touched and thankful that some of them are seeking it at C&R.
I've been mentioned in an Australian newspaper article about blogging and traditional news media. I've been contacted by a foreign embassy official in Washington D.C., and I've gotten email from around the world - most of it positive. Blogs are bringing people together, and that's a great thing. It's part of the first step in a global phenomenon which I feel will increase our awareness that we have far more in common than we have in opposition.
I'd like to mention briefly how important it is for bloggers to police themselves. You should have your facts straight and corroborated, and you should refrain from a purely ad hominem line of criticism. You should admit when you're wrong and learn from your mistakes. I think that accountability and honesty are two vital ingredients for a good blog.
8- There are so many good websites; could you name a few favorites? Which ones do you read daily?Yeah, there are a lot. It's really hard to keep up. The only sites I religiously go to each day are news sites like Google News, Yahoo! News, and Jpost.com and Ynetnews.com to get information and news on what's happening in Israel. I get a lot of my news right in my
Safari browser with the built in RSS reader. I love it. Never has so much information been available on demand in all of mankind's history.
Believe it or not, I very rarely read blogs. I don't really have the time, unfortunately. I always make a point of reading
Robert Spencer's blogs because as far as I'm concerned, he's the preeminent infidel authority online (and off) when it comes to Islam and Islamic terror. I try to get to Charles Johnson's
Little Green Footballs when I can, because there's such a huge community there, which always results in copious amounts of information. Plus, Charles is a smart, funny guy and he has great taste in music.
One of my favorite sites is
Best Flash Animation Site.com. You'll always find mind-blowing work there. It's also fun to go to Photoshopping contest sites like Fark and Worth1000. I check out a lot of graphic arts sites to see how far the envelope's been pushed sinbe I last checked, which is usually a good deal.
For science sites, I like
NASA,
Edge.org, and
Ray Kurzweil's AI site (KurzweilAI.net).
9- Could you tell us about your companions, the canine squad and the other members at C & R?
For reasons of security, I can't say all that much about my human companions. I do write about the Religion of Peace, after all, and I speak freely. Suffice it to say that I've been blessed by a wonderful family which has helped me to get through all of the difficult times in my life, and they mean the world to me.
The Canine Defense Forces is a scrappy group of dogs who were all assembled from previously failed dog combat units, but who have gotten their act together to perform like true pros for the elite C&R team. Maggie (Agent Choco) came from the mean streets of Tacoma, Washington. Action Jack escaped from a puppy mill in Minnesota. Specialist Rudy (who resides with some dear infidel friends of mine) - I don't even know his background story. He's kind of a shadowy figure. Friendly too. He also has a new partner, whom I'll be introducing soon. Watch for upcoming K-9DF news! These dofs are lean, mean infidel-protecting canine machines, and I'm proud of all of them.
As far as other members go, I consider everyone who comes by to read or comment at Clarity & Resolve as part of the team. Some people bring up points I've missed, some disagree with my commentary, some are downright hilarious. All are welcome and appreciated. They inspire me.
10- What is behind the burqa car?
The burqa car is nice because it kind of illustrates the absurdity and misogyny inherent in Islam. As decent and reasonable people, we must question an ideology which is so dreadfully insecure about its women's autonomy that it imposes a portable means of confinement on them when they leave the home, and as is the case on the great Muhammadan peninsula, actually denies them the simple mobility of a car.
[Burka car]
I explain it the way I explain all of the anachronistic, anti-human attitudes found in Islam: It's a politicoreligious ideology which was formulated in a barbaric place at a barbaric time, and it was designed to remain unchanged. Add to this the fact that Muslims believe that the Koran is the inerrant word of God, and one begins to understand why the Islamic world struggles so desperately with the concept of progress.
Fallacious arguments from Islamic apologists notwithstanding, Islam has always been anti-woman. It attaches a pathologically shameful stigma to the feminine sex that is borne out in the Koran and sunna. This has ruined the dreams and hopes - and human rights - of countless little Muslim girls.
When you have the putative word of God (the Koran) prescribing oppression of women and the account of the ideal Muslim man (Muhammad, in the sunna) fulfilling and expanding upon such prescriptions, you have a disaster of colossal proportions for Muslim women. It's not right.
Incidentally, I've long suspected that if Islam is to stand a chance at reform - indeed at survival - it will likely be because of its women.
11- What does Christianity mean to you? How do you describe or imagine God? Do you think God really exists?
Christianity is the faith I was brought up in. It was instrumental in providing me with the ethical foundation upon which I've built my moral sense. Christianity shaped Western civilization, and made it better. It gave us "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar and unto God the things that are Godââ‚â„¢s," which left us plenty of room to eventually eschew theocracy during the enlightenment and to embrace democracy. This stands in stark contrast to Islam's rigid insistence that God's law be imposed upon all men of all times in all places.
[Iraq: Avian Defense Forces]The beneficial Judeo-Christian contribution to mankind cannot be overstated in my opinion.
I'm an atheist/agnostic (I don't really care which label people use to describe me), Diane, so what God may be like is of little concern to me. I don't meant that in an arrogant way, and I sincerely respect the profound and poignant relationship that most of us have with our Creator. I just don't believe in supernatural agency or phenomena, so it's really a non-issue for me.
That being said, I still consider myself to be a Christian on many levels. Much of the codified Christian moral precepts are simply self-evident guidelines to being a good human being, I think.
12- Do you think those values we cherish in the free world are universal to humanity or are they somehow exclusive to Christianity? Do we find values similar to our Christian values in other major world religions?
I think that all humans have the same moral template, which is used uniquely from one culture to the next. There are certainly universal morals and values, but the extent to which they are developed depends on the culture they occur in. Western civilization has emerged - largely by accident - as the best social environment to nurture the concepts of freedom and pluralism. Again, I feel that Christianity was an essential influence in this process.
[American Infidel Cowboys Love Kids]Life, love, freedom, and plurality are just, more or less, my favorite things. Or rather, these things make all other good things possible, in my opinion. These are values that the West and Christianity have imbued us with. They are invaluable. I try to accentuate their value at Clarity & Resolve, and I also try to show how bad it is when and where they are absent.
13- For about three decades in the West, God has not been a regular subject of our public debate. Since 9/11 and the Islamic assault on the West, religion and its role, if any, in determining the norms of our civic society has returned full force. Just think of the recent Danish cartoon debate. As a consequence, God or more generally speaking, religion with all its emotional baggage seems to have returned to claim a place in our public lives. For example, we now hear Americans often referring to Europeans as being Godless. What do you think our American friends mean by this?
I think it's mostly people on the right who worry about the degree of religiosity among the average European. However, I feel a case can be made that secularism can be taken to the same unhealthy, dangerous extreme that religion sometimes is. I would venture to guess that Americans and Europeans both are no more or less religious than they have been in recent history. But (and I'm speaking in general terms here) the former is comfortable with publicly expressing religious sentiments, while the latter appears to have adopted the notion that open satisfaction with ones Christian faith is somehow shameful.
[Rock of Ages]
Europeans, for whatever reason, have largely been more receptive than Americans to the fuzzy thinking found in ideas like the noble savage and the innately, irremediably flawed white European. Such thinking does have the superficial glow of progressivism and enlightenment. However, it only muddies the water more because it ignores the fact that all peoples have been, at one time or another, good and bad. It is popular among the intelligentsia in Europe (and America) to claim that Europeans (and Americans) have more to be ashamed of than proud of in their heritage. Christianity appears to have been bundled into this package.
[Gloria In Excelsis]
At the end of the day, I think that the supposed divide between Europeans and Americans is mostly insubstantial, and exists more in political circles than social ones.
Finally, I'm not in Europe, and I haven't spent much time there (I really loved it, though), so I'm probably not qualified to make any sort of conclusive assessment of the European soul. I just hope that they don't sell it out to Islam.
[Scoring Halaal Goals for God]14- We can certainly understand that many Europeans are still traumatized from the horrors of WWI and WWII. Before these terribly conflicts, so costly in treasure and human life, they went through centuries of the religious wars. Do you see a relationship between their past and what appears to be a real reluctance to face the threat of Islam both from within and from outside their own societies?
European leaders made some egregiously foolhardy decisions in the seventies which have resulted in a large, prolific, and hostile Muslim citizenry today. I think that's where the reluctance to confront jihad and dawa (the non-military, missionary spread of Islam) come from. Europe has a very big problem now, and I don't know if it's reversible.
[The Multicultural Misery]15- The left has always viewed and prided itself as the real defender of human rights. Yet in the current context, they are vigorously opposed to almost any forceful action designed to put an end to dictatorships. How is it that the left excuses these dictators, who are the worst offenders of the very human rights the left purports to defend? How you explain this?
Something malicious and tragic happened to the left while no one was paying attention. There's a new left that, through naivete or design, has forgotten what the word liberal means and how it relates to liberty and individual rights - to freedom of conscience. This departure from classical liberal values is very similar to Islam, fascism, and communism. I guess that a surfeit of freedom and rights breeds a particular form of collective idiocy that, sadly, ends up getting people killed and supporting the most vile acts and actors.
[Genocide Intervention Fund]
I'd like to say that it's only the fringe of the left that hates Israel, hates America, and loves Castro and Hamas. You know, the same way that only the fringe of the right supports the KKK or David Duke. I don't know if that's true, though. It seems that an increasingly large contingent of the center left are allowing themselves to be pulled down by the lunatics who are clamoring to offer up the West's neck to Islamofascism.
[Hamas: Mass Murder of Civilians OK] These people are the new useful idiots, and this time they're furthering the agenda of jihad as well as communism. Ironically, they themselves would go under the sword or the burden of jizya if the Religion of Peace was somehow able to vanquish those of us who unabashedly defend the West and Western values. Also ironically, we defend these idiots from their own idiocy. Maybe that's one of God's little jokes!
16- Recently in the United States, some retired Generals were critical of the Sec of Defence for his handling of the Iraq War. The strong left lobby and the powerful news media (MSM - NYT) locked on to this issue, fanning the flames in a major offensive to get rid of Donald Rumsfeld. In effect, an effort by them to decapitate the civil leadership of the US military. As a Democrat, what do think of this? I think it's case study #whatever of a leftist bias in big media. It may be part of what we will later realize was big media's last gasp. Blogs are here now, and people are tired of being insulted by a rank partisan, disdainful media elite.
But yeah, these people hate George W. Bush with a passion that I've seldom seen equaled. They'll sink to any level if they think it'll hurt Bush. Sadly, it just hurts our ability to effectively address and combat the forces that threaten us. It's really a shame because it fosters an environment of petty divisiveness at a time when America - and the world - need unity more than ever.
I think that is probably one course of action that is being pursued right now. We certainly know who to contact inside Iran and we certainly have C.I.A. and special ops guys on the ground as well. I don't think that there will be any way to avoid armed conflict when all is said and done, though. Ahmadinejad - or "Armageddonjihad," as I call him - wants holy war, he wants Israel destroyed, and he wants the Islamic rapture. Unfortunately, a disturbingly large number of influential voices are providing him with the cover of legitimacy.
I just hope that when we hit them, it will be fast, overwhelming, and decisive. Like any American, I'm sick of watching our guys die. As a human being, I'm sick of watching bloggers imprisoned and young girls and gay men being murdered by the despicable mullahs in Iran.
17- What are your thoughts on the future of democracy and capitalism?It's mankind's only hope. No other form of governance and economy has thus far been devised which so closely mirrors man's nature and serves our needs and desires. With the proper resolve and support, it will proceed to its natural end of wiping out most human suffering. We're in a bottle neck right now - a crucial one - and we need all the hope and tenacity we can muster to get through it intact.
Media, communication, information
18- The image provided by the MSM is quite different in reality from that of the real world, which is reported, discussed, and analyzed in the vast blogosphere, 24/7. Which media source - traditional or the net - will be the most persuasive in the short and medium term?
Mainstream media (in its present form) still has the upper hand, because people are familiar with it, and the saturation of the masses with the computer isn't yet complete. This is about to change, though. Within the space of a couple of decades, we've gone from a few geeks building the internet as we know it on clunky, slow, and expensive machines to the common person having access to the internet - and participating in its evolution - at lightning speeds on cheap, well-running machines. The TV revolution that built modern media and the telegraph/telephone/radio and printing press revolutions before that took centuries to bear their fruits.
[It's the Jihad, Stupid]The phenomenon of blogging was bound to happen. The good blogs were bound to stand out. Traditional media will be absorbed by the new media, which will then become mainstream. The difference will be that people will have more choices about where to get their information and analysis, which is, of course, a very good thing.
18- Do you think the explosion of information in the blogosphere will have a definitive impact on way the MSM determines what is news and how it will cover, what it traditionally calls, "the story"?
It already has. The big guys read the little guys, and in some cases, the little guys are now big guys. Mainstream media is now being fact-checked and analyzed in real time in a milieu freely available to millions on demand. It makes sense for big media to pay attention to what is being discussed on blogs because, after all, people are paying attention too.
When I saw myself being quoted on MSNBC last year, it really hit me how mainstream citizen journalism has become in such a short amount of time. It was really an eye-opener, because I'm not famous by any stretch of the imagination. I'm quite anonymous, in fact. Nevertheless, there were the words I'd written in the privacy of my home, being broadcast to millions on the television. Incredible.
19 - What are your thoughts on the Mainstream Media's coverage of Jihad?
It usually falls into two categories: Woefully ignorant or shamefully dishonest. I suppose that ignorance in journalism is to be expected to some degree when covering exotic and complex topics like Islamic jihad, but that excuse is wearing pretty thin these days. Pick up the Koran, pay attention to the news wires, and stop the uncritical acceptance of what CAIR and agenda-driven academics are peddling.
[HIGHWAY SA]
The dishonesty is worse. It's a deliberate choice to mislead and it justifies the horrendous acts carried out by the mujahideen. It enables them. The willful distortion of simple facts, especially when it comes to Israel and the undeniable connection between mainstream Islam and Islamic terror, is disgraceful. Calling them "militants" or "activists" is disgraceful and insulting to their victims.
This is a serious matter, and the media is letting the public down in a big way. Thankfully, there is internet media to help fill in the moral, psychological, and factual gaps.
[Dar al-Gitmo Times]20- What are your observations on the cartoon madness? What do you think is the real story behind the MSM refusing to publish these cartoons?It's fear. Everyone knows
what happened to Theo van Gogh.
Salman Rushdie or
Ibn Warraq or
Ayaan Hirsi Ali. They're afraid of Muslims coming after them and their family to redeem the "honor" of their religion's founder. I was afraid too. I still am. These people - not all of them, mind you, but enough of them - kill when they feel their faith has been insulted.
Where's the guy who gave us
"Piss Christ"? Where are the actors from The Last Temptation of Christ and The Passion of the Christ? I'll tell you where they aren't: In front of a mob of enraged Christians or Jews whipped up into a murderous fury, running for their lives.
Leftists are fond of the canard that we have surrendered our freedoms out of unwarranted fear through our adoption of the
Patriot Act and our construction of
Camp X-Ray in Gunatanamo Bay. They don't seem to mind accommodating the barbarians who kill over cartoons, though.
21- What are your thoughts on the fairness and balance - or lack there of - in the MSM coverage of Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
I'd like to see how these people would react to their neighbors, family members, and loved ones being blown to bloody pieces and bone fragments in their streets. They should be ashamed of their hypocrisy. When their jihadis friends came to America, they were terrorists. When they came to Madrid and London, they were terrorists. In Bali and Beslan, they are Islamic terrorist killers. In Israel, they are equated with the IDF who are struggling to protect Israeli sovereignty and security, while preserving the lives of Palestinian Arab civilians. There is no moral equivalence here, but that's what so many in the mainstream media are trying to feed us.
Alan Dershowitz said in The Case for Israel that Israel is the Jew of the world. That is, among nations, it is simply accepted that it's all right to unfairly criticize Israel for spurious faults while ignoring the glaring wickedness being perpetrated by so many others. Where does this unethical and stupid prejudice come from?
[Culture of Death: PA, Terrorists & Kids]There's definitely some antisemitism to it, but there's also the element of a pervasive leftist slant in the media. I think it goes back to what we were talking about earlier regarding the leftist penchant for self-effacement and inflated veneration for the supposed victims who kill the innocent because we force them to. It sounds simplistic, but I think a lot of these people in MSM see Israelis - as per their distorted worldview - as the soulless white imperialists living off the suffering of aggrieved, noble brown people.
I don't know how else to explain it, but I will say this: It's intellectually lazy and ethically reckless.
22- Who are your favorite observers / columnists and who stands out as being particularly awful?
I really like
Robert Spencer, because he's a veritable repository of information on the Religion of Peace. Oriana Fallaci is unparalleled for her keen sense and fiery conviction. There's a radio talk show host from Boston named
Howie Carr who I like because he makes me laugh. I don't always agree with his politics, but he's very entertaining. I listen to him sometimes when I'm in the car.
For the moment, I think I'll decline mentioning by name the scoundrels whose print gets under my skin.
23. Patrick, what are some of the projects you wish to complete, "before the bones", as an old Muslim friend of ours says?
Ha! That's a cool expression. Well, my aim is to not get to that point at all, or at least to choose when I do. I want to live long enough to see the time when we can choose whether or not we want to die. It may seem like science fiction, but we are quickly approaching the era where what once seemed miraculous will become commonplace - all through technology and our integration with it, or rather, its integration with us.
[Smiles Are Universal]This is all contingent on whether we can get over the stupid stuff like jihad and other forms of tyranny over mankind's body, mind, and soul.
In the meantime, I just want to become a better person and to keep learning. I want to improve my artistic skills. If I can, I want to help others. I want to raise awareness of the suffering of people and animals. I want to have a lot of fun, and make life fun for those around me.
About life
24. What are your thoughts on life, what matters and what does not really matter?
Life matters. We matter. Whether you are a Christian, a Jew, a Muslim, or an atheist, you matter and you deserve peace, security, and happiness. No one matters more than others by virtue of their religion, race, or other nominal distinction. Those things matter to us as individuals within discrete groups, but they shouldn't matter one whit when it comes to how we treat each other as a whole. Whatever we believe comes after this life, one thing is certain: right now we're all here together and it is wholly possible to be good to each other, no matter where we come from. Life itself matters, and I think we should honor it across its broad spectrum.
[American Infidel Crusaders Love Kids]Science matters, and I don't think enough of us appreciate that. Faith is sustenance for man's spirit, but science is what makes life better in a practical sense. It has lifted us out of barbarism and, along with art, has transformed us into something better. It is also truly exhilarating to apprehend how it all works, and our part in it.
What doesn't really matter is the meaningless divisions we construct between ourselves as people. They shouldn't matter, at least. They mainly serve to hurt us and inhibit our progress toward unity and peace.
Life is precious, and whether you believe in God or not, you are a lost soul when you discount the inestimable value of life. You are then throwing away the most priceless gift we have. To do so in God's name is unutterably vile, in my view.
Many thanks to Patrick Kafir for his fun and thoughful commentaries.
- Additional interesting links from C&R -
Chief DeWayne Browning in Iraq
Vietnam vets in Iraq see 'entirely different war'
