??? Sorry, you shot the wrong guy

Submitted by Michel (United States), Jul 31, 2007 at 12:42

Yausa, Dhimmi

Amazing you are still around. I am truly sorry, but I have not the slightest idea as to what you are talking about.

Since I left this forum several months ago due to being simply way too busy, I am totally out of the loop and to be truthful, I can not read all the way back to March, as so much negativity and controversy tires me out rapidly. Too much anger for my taste which depresses me.

Are you still to the opinion that I wrote at the time under several different identities? Kind of consider this as a compliment, as my English to my opinion still sounds like a Swiss translating from German.

But No. man, I still am the simple Swiss/US exec living in the CA wilderness with the dogs, chicken and a cat.

And yes, I am still a not an expert on the Quran or Muslims, even though I did keep my promise to Janus at the time to go and visit our own local mosque in Oxnard, about 30 miles away, on the coast. All I can report is that I did not hear anything but the same, as In any methodist, presbyterian or catholic church, just a bit differently packaged. Certainly did I not hear any hatred being spilled against any infidels. To be truthful, it was rather boringly normal. A bunch of people gathering to enjoy the same type of spiritualism as we normal white caucasians need to every once in a while.

Is it representative? I will not and can not be the judge.

I still am internally split between anger and hatred against those suicide bombers and doctors in Britain especially, who broke the sacred oath of do no harm, which should supercede and transcend any religion and symphathy for the common Muslim across the world who is singled out for the actions of an admittedly inhuman minority amongst his culture.

It touched me on the other hand too, to read about a fellow business traveler who reported to be too afraid to use the airplane restroom for fear to instill fear in his fellow passengers, just because he looks middle eastern. there are many more such examples for such and an entire people starts to sound like my own fathers people (Jews) at the time..... it is a tragic mechanism, indeed.

At the same time, I must be honest to myself too by admitting my own sentiments of radicalism, when I read daily about the atrocities of their militants, as currently demonstrated with the Korean hostages.

I am appalled about the cold pragmatism of our own administration selling $20+B each in weaponry to the Saudis, Egypt and Israel at the same time, future fuel for future conflict. The saudis are NOT our friends, are a macchiavellistic bunch of degenerates, hypocrites serving both fronts, yet nevertheless we keep on and on and on, making the very same mistakes we made with IRAN, IRAK and others. These weapons will eventually kill our own in a future conflict which is of course the problem of another generation, right?

And so the vicious circle goes on and on and who am I to not empathize with you, Noah, Susan and so many others who promote a kind of seclusion policy, build walls around our country and let them destroy themselves. In an era of globalization however, simply not a feasible approach anymore. We are too networked, and , most of all we are Muslims too.

I have, as so many, grown tired and annoyed by this deadly mechanism of action and consequences. I do no longer offer ideas, as I myself have come to the conclusion that this conflict is never going to burn out by itself. Neither appeasement nor seclusion is going to work. Neither the republicans nor democrats offer ideas I deem to be convincing.

Side note though. Wasn't it interesting, how all of a sudden all frontlines between sunni, shiites, kurds etc. were forgotten due to the simple fact that their mixed soccer team won the Asia Cup? Isn't it interesting how quickly religion takes a second priority, as soon as there is another real reason to live and celebrate? Well, it was just a tiny piece of circumstantial evidence, but may be that could be an approach for that middle eastern powder barrel. To help them have more such reasons to put religion in some form of a backseat as we do here.

People in the western countries simply have no time to always think about religion first. We have a life to live. Maybe that's the reason why so many of our own Muslims have no reason or motivatiion to be militant or terrorist. They are as we are too busy to live a challenging and busy life. Hell I do not know. But is certainly was a nice tidbit of info supporting my general stance, would'nt you agree?

Hatred, Dhimmi, isn't the solution. Unconditional love sadly isn't it either. Treat peaceful people (still believe it is a majority) with respect and tolerance, while clamping down hard on all the others with a vengeance at least provides some symptom fighting, while certainly not addressing the root cause. It keeps the fire down at a glowing ember state, but isnt extinguishing it.

I still believe that widespread hatred against an entire people will only radicalize more of them to feel cornered and further creates a negaive mindset in ourselves. We are already in the process of becoming a nation of paranoids and spend energy we could use for something better. As individuals, as well as societies.

Most of all, amongst ourselves, we should try to not end up in infighting, simply because we have the freedom to debate various ideas and have different opinions.

One of the reasons for my departure here was that I felt more aggressively attacked than an Al Khaeda Terrorist, simply because I still promote a moderate approach and tolerance towards any of my fellow citizens, no matter their origin or heritage or religion. Kind of a credit first, doubt later ideology. While I personally may very possibly be naive or wrong, as certainly I was a minority here, fighting such ideas or persons with such anger only creates the openings for any representative of another religion to create the evil empire you warn us about.

Last, Dhimmi, once and for all, I never was anyone else than Michel C. Zala. I never lied about myself or my identity. It is a freedom I cherish, based on self confidence and lack of any baggage and not to forget due to living in a society, which allows me to voice my opinions freely without fear of repercussions.

I offered you proof on several occasions. Skype ID is MCZala. Feel free to beep me, if you wish. I am usually online in the mornings. As with Janus I am sure I would enjoy a friendly and personal exchange. You could bring me up to speed as to what happened since march. I prefer always to hear personally about such, than to read written text which always sounds much harsher than the people really are.

You yourself always struck me as a person with a great sense of humor, even though your writings at times came across as quite acrid. Well, obviously humor is a tool which can span a wide array. The key thing is that you have it and I respect and like people with a good sense of humor. Keeps one sane during insane times, doesn't it?

Well, believe it or not, I actually every once so often watch one of the black and white movies by Laurel and Hardy or Buster keaton or Monty Python. They are absolutely true that a solid hearthy laugh seems to release some serotonin in the brain which acts like a kind of drug with almost euphoric efficacy. Everything, even a serious matter like this one seems to become a bit more bearable afterwards.

Well, my invite stands. You may find, that I myself am not quite as devilish and uninteresting.

But if not, that's alright too. Please know that I herewith send you my respect.

Take care of yourself and try to take it easy.

Mi

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