Current Events Discussion

[Jan]

As sort of an offshoot to the JMS interesting posts thread, I thought I'd open this up for comments & discussion about What's Going On In The World Today. As always, please make the extra effort to be very polite. We all know how horrid Jan looks in that Moderator hat, right?

So to start things off, let's touch on Looney's comments on this post of JMS:

I know this is a bit Off-Topic, but this is another in a cycle of very frightening news that maybe shouldn't be made fun of, but EVERYONE should be made aware of. I read in his statements that Sessions basically said those claiming to be "People of Faith" should be treated with more respect. I'm not saying those are the exact words, but the gist of it read that they should be given special consideration and that is an extremely slippery slope backwards. All people should be treated with respect no matter what they claim their affiliation to be. Sorry, I didn't think it deserved an entire new topic in the Off-Topic, but I felt it was something people should definitely be made aware of just as I am sure JMS would want people to know before we start giving Psi Cops special consideration.

Good point, Looney. Riffing off of that...

(Note: I'll try to phrase this carefully but it may still come across as an attack on faith/religion/beliefs/politics/lots of stuff. Please believe that if it does, it's my failure to word what I mean properly.)

I've noticed over the past few years that being 'at war' seems awfully popular. The 'war on Christmas'. The 'culture wars'. The 'war on women/men/lgbtq+'. At the risk of sounding like Garibaldi, why is it always a 'war' and never a struggle, a campaign, a scuffle, brawl, tussle, skirmish, fracas, melee? Is war so romantic? Do people actually like feeling attacked/persecuted? And yes, when it comes to a few religions, I've noted that some adherents do seem convinced that anybody not with them is against/at war with them.

[phazedout]

Just riffing off your last comment on the war thing, i think of myself as an ecumenical atheist, I'll respect your right to worship in your chosen fashion, if you respect my right to not do so. I believe most of the major faiths have a tenant of mutual respect, that's all I ask.

[Looney]

Just riffing off your last comment on the war thing, i think of myself as an ecumenical atheist, I'll respect your right to worship in your chosen fashion, if you respect my right to not do so. I believe most of the major faiths have a tenant of mutual respect, that's all I ask.

Exactly. I'd add to that your choice of religion should not grant you special treatment over my not choosing a religion.

[B5-Stefan]

I've noticed over the past few years that being 'at war' seems awfully popular. The 'war on Christmas'. The 'culture wars'. The 'war on women/men/lgbtq+'. At the risk of sounding like Garibaldi, why is it always a 'war' and never a struggle, a campaign, a scuffle, brawl, tussle, skirmish, fracas, melee? Is war so romantic? Do people actually like feeling attacked/persecuted? And yes, when it comes to a few religions, I've noted that some adherents do seem convinced that anybody not with them is against/at war with them.

On one hand:
War is all around: Dilgar war, Earth-Minbari war, war against the Shadows, freeing Earth war, Telepath war, war against the Drakh. Even 500 years in the future is still war around.

EDIT: See, there is another war: FLY WAR.

On the other:
I assume that even nowadays religious groups feeling "at war" are mostly minorities in their religion. Regardless of which religion: Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism or others.

But: we all here believe in "Parliament of Dreams". Isn't it?

B5-Stefan

--
Dr. Franklin to his father General Franklin: "Life is life, whether it's wrapped in skin, scales, or feathers. Now if you respected these beings instead of constantly trying to murder them, you'd appreciate that!"
[Babylon5, GROPOS]