Faith, Freedom and Frags

"Islamofascism" nonsense

I just got ticked off enough to call into a radio show (again), this time national host Jerry Doyle.  He was ranting about how George Bush backed off from the term "Islamic Fascists". While I wouldn't credit Bush with backing off because the term makes absolutely zero sense (probably more to appease the Saudi's), that doesn't change the fact that the term makes absolutely zero sense!!!

Fascism is a political and economic system that is Nationalist, Socialist, Imperialist and Militaristic, among many other things. A core tenant of the Fascist movement was that you would control the people by controlling industry. Fascism was created by industrialized civilizations in the 20th century. The Islamic terrorists and governments barely even qualify to be on par with the 18th century (and arguably the 8th), much less the 20th. How can you control people through industry when you have barely any industry!? Not to mention that Islamic Fundamentalism is centered around a religion, not a nation.

But we don't like Fascists! So, we'll call anyone we don't like fascists, regardless of what the actual meaning of the word is.  The alarming thing is that was pretty much what Jerry Doyle said when I was on. He even asked if I was in the military, and pointed out that someone who WAS in the military said they were fascists, so they must be. Seriously. He said we can't pick over the meanings of words while the enemy gets stronger. Sure, let's just call them "Islamic Bananas", cus hey, words don't matter.

I think this "Islamofascist" thing is rather telling. The folks using this word (mostly conservatives) care only about the effect the word has on people listening to it, not the truth or defining things accurately or anything like ration thought. What's important is that when you hear the word you think "Oh no! Another Hitler! Lots of new Hitlers!", and subsequently stop thinking about anything and just call for more troops and more war. Because we all know where appeasing Hitler got us.

Why I'm not blogging (much)

After much thought, I've realized why I'm not blogging very much anymore. What I really wanted, and still want, from blogging is discussion, not just my own voice in the wilderness. I truly want to understand other peoples point of view. Right now there are so many opinions and views I disagree with, and I seem to have less and less understanding of how they could possibly believe the crazy things they believe (yes, I know I'm the one with the crazy beliefs).

But I haven't been getting that, and more interestingly, I have not seen it in any other places. Usually a blog is manned by an individual, or multiple individuals of a very similar ideology. The discussions that do happen are usually in comments sections or on forums. And those are very much a hit and miss affair. Even when there are good discussions, they almost never continue long enough to reach any kind of understanding. Or, they are overwhelmed by the strident, the rude or the smug, never recovering. I've been involved in several of these and only ended up frustrated.

I want people who truly desire to get to the root of our different world views. I want some people who would commit to a long term discussion, to questions with thoughtful answers, to stopping before typing to make sure you really understood the point. It's not easy, but it's certainly worth trying. Most of what we have these days is just disagreement, not discussion. Even the "tolerant" people are usually as smug and self-righteous as the "intolerant", imagining themselves as superior than those ignorant, unwashed masses.

So, to my friends and the few who read this, I ask if anyone is really ready to talk? Obviously, it would help if you had significantly different views than mine, though I'm sure there's not a soul alive I agree with 100%. But mostly, let's just try and figure out why the other person is so hopelessly misguided! And that does need to be the presumption: misguided, not evil, or stupid, or selfish, or clueless. You guide a "lost" person by first going to where they are, and then traveling with them to known territory. And you may find out in the process that they're not lost at all.

Any takers?