The Jihadist Problem

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Thomas Friedman was in London when those car bombs were found, and he was inspired to come up with another review of this jihadist problem:

Two trends are at work here: humiliation and atomization. Islam’s self-identity is that it is the most perfect and complete expression of God’s monotheistic message, and the Koran is God’s last and most perfect word. To put it another way, young Muslims are raised on the view that Islam is God 3.0. Christianity is God 2.0. Judaism is God 1.0. And Hinduism and all others are God 0.0.

One of the factors driving Muslim males, particularly educated ones, into these acts of extreme, expressive violence is that while they were taught that they have the most perfect and complete operating system, every day they’re confronted with the reality that people living by God 2.0., God 1.0 and God 0.0 are generally living much more prosperously, powerfully and democratically than those living under Islam. This creates a real dissonance and humiliation. How could this be? Who did this to us? The Crusaders! The Jews! The West! It can never be something that they failed to learn, adapt to or build. This humiliation produces a lashing out.

... Of course, not all Muslims are terrorists. But it’s been widely noted that virtually all suicide terrorists today are Muslims. Angry Norwegians aren’t doing this — nor are starving Africans or unemployed Mexicans. Muslims have got to understand that a death cult has taken root in the bosom of their religion, feeding off it like a cancerous tumor.

(Source: Thomas L. Friedman for The New York Times)

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The Jihadist Problem

♠
Thomas Friedman was in London when those car bombs were found, and he was inspired to come up with another review of this jihadist problem:

Two trends are at work here: humiliation and atomization. Islam’s self-identity is that it is the most perfect and complete expression of God’s monotheistic message, and the Koran is God’s last and most perfect word. To put it another way, young Muslims are raised on the view that Islam is God 3.0. Christianity is God 2.0. Judaism is God 1.0. And Hinduism and all others are God 0.0.

One of the factors driving Muslim males, particularly educated ones, into these acts of extreme, expressive violence is that while they were taught that they have the most perfect and complete operating system, every day they’re confronted with the reality that people living by God 2.0., God 1.0 and God 0.0 are generally living much more prosperously, powerfully and democratically than those living under Islam. This creates a real dissonance and humiliation. How could this be? Who did this to us? The Crusaders! The Jews! The West! It can never be something that they failed to learn, adapt to or build. This humiliation produces a lashing out.

... Of course, not all Muslims are terrorists. But it’s been widely noted that virtually all suicide terrorists today are Muslims. Angry Norwegians aren’t doing this — nor are starving Africans or unemployed Mexicans. Muslims have got to understand that a death cult has taken root in the bosom of their religion, feeding off it like a cancerous tumor.

(Source: Thomas L. Friedman for The New York Times)

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Chocolate Cure

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Monk is peculiarly nauseous this afternoon after the nap. He wants to eat something, but his stomach feels poised to rebel if he eats anything. Being the brave boy that he is, Monk plunges onward through a couple of scoops of chocolate icecream.

And something cool and a little sweet seems to be the answer.

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Chocolate Cure

♠
Monk is peculiarly nauseous this afternoon after the nap. He wants to eat something, but his stomach feels poised to rebel if he eats anything. Being the brave boy that he is, Monk plunges onward through a couple of scoops of chocolate icecream.

And something cool and a little sweet seems to be the answer.

xXx

A Soggy but Rain-Free Fourth of July

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It would pick this evening to stop raining. Everyone gets to unload their July 4th fireworks, after all, bah humbug. If they didn't, I guess they would only release them sporadically for the rest of the month. This way they get it out of their system, as well as exhaust their supply.

Why didn't I think to use the leash before, all these years. Instead of yelling my head off like a maniac for Bo to come back from the door, I finally realized that I could hold him off with the leash - allowing me to look so much more sane, as well as keep my blood pressure within a human range.

Not that the leash helped a lot. The extra twenty minutes outside did not have Bo take care of one bit of extra business. Though, he did tinkle when we first stepped outside. Maybe we're good, but one no longer enjoys the luxury of being able to take Bo for granted.

xXx

A Soggy but Rain-Free Fourth of July

♠
It would pick this evening to stop raining. Everyone gets to unload their July 4th fireworks, after all, bah humbug. If they didn't, I guess they would only release them sporadically for the rest of the month. This way they get it out of their system, as well as exhaust their supply.

Why didn't I think to use the leash before, all these years. Instead of yelling my head off like a maniac for Bo to come back from the door, I finally realized that I could hold him off with the leash - allowing me to look so much more sane, as well as keep my blood pressure within a human range.

Not that the leash helped a lot. The extra twenty minutes outside did not have Bo take care of one bit of extra business. Though, he did tinkle when we first stepped outside. Maybe we're good, but one no longer enjoys the luxury of being able to take Bo for granted.

xXx