Instinct

I am an absorber of history.  I have my favorite parts of history, as do most amateur historians.  The part of history I am most interested in is World War II.  Mostly the German and Jewish perspective.

During one of my WWII courses, I had a professor say unequivocally that under the right circumstances any of us were capable of killing.  And I knew it was true as I know it is remains true now.  The part WWII plays in this are the people who had to do some of the most awful things in order to survive.  They had to take value of their own lives over the value of someone else’s.  While watching one of my videos on the events of WWII, I got to thinking about my own instincts.

Watching these videos wasn’t the first time I got to thinking about my instincts.  When I say instincts I am talking about the instinct to fight or to flee in the event of terror.  I think 8 times out of 10, my instinct is to fight.  I consider  myself a protector of sorts, and I know that I would rather someone bully me (who can defend myself) than bully someone who cannot defend themselves.

Now, I wonder where does this instinct come from?  My father played the largest part in my life as compared to my siblings.  And my mother still points out that I worshipped the man (in fact she believes I still do).  He always, ALWAYS taught me “If someone hits you, you hit them twice as hard.  If they hit you again, you double your first efforts.”  Is it because of that teaching and my feelings toward my father that I would rather fight than turn the other cheek? 

Remember, I said 8 times out of 10.  My mother taught me to turn the other cheek.  That if you don’t run, they can’t chase you.  If you don’t fight, the person antagonizing you won’t have any reason to continue the attack.  She was right and wrong on so many levels.  It is her teaching I reflect on if the consequences of fighting are more troublesome(?) than the consequences of fleeing (or doing nothing).

Since my mother played the largest part of my upbringing, I spent a lot of my younger years not lowering myself to the level of my bullies.  I know now, because I am CONSTANTLY reflecting on it, that it is wiser to choose one’s battles.  Sometimes the bully really DOES need the SH*T knocked out of them, just once, to prove to them and yourself, that you are indeed capable and STILL on a level above them…even if it is only one level.

When I think about what is going on in the world around me I hope that my first instinct always remains to be fight rather than flight.  But I hope that before I allow that instinct to take action, that I consider the weight of the consequences on both sides.

The Burning of Sacred Texts

Heaven help us. I am severely concerned about the state of our country when a man in south Florida wants to go about burning a sacred text. I don't mind that he wants to protest. He and his followers are welcome to protest how ever they would like to OTHER than burning a sacred text.

There is a way to "bite [your] thumb" at a group of people, of offenders, without destroying something sacred. The last group of people who burned sacred texts were the Nazis. Are we about to agree that they had "God" on their side when they did that? Are we going to let THEM (or, did we, rather) get away with saying that? Hell, we didn't even let them get a way with saying "I did what I was ordered to do."

I agree with what Axelrod said today, "yes, those [ignorant, backward, b*st*rds] have a right to do what they want to do (burn the Quran (Koran)), but that does NOT make it right." I say, burn their flag, burn their prayer rugs, but leave that book alone!!

Not only are they wanting to insult the Taliban or Al-Quaida, but they ARE going to insult the AMERICAN Muslim population and anyone who is sympathetic to or friends with Muslims. I don't personally know anyone who studies Islam, but I DO believe in religious tolerance and the freedom of religion. Obviously, since I practice that right of freedom on life basis. What is more is I like learning about other religions. I don't force my beliefs, and I appreciate it when I'm not being forced on someone else's beliefs, yet I STILL believe in the right.

That PRIG in south Florida and his followers are welcome to find some where else to claim their citizenship.

Now, I am just ranting. To put it a little more simply and concise. I am terrified for my fellow Americans. I am outraged at the stupidity of this man and his followers. The only thing this "burning" will do is put lives in danger and make the fundamentalists, more fundamental. I may not be a Christian anymore, but I'm pretty sure that burning a sacred text is NOT the same as a burning bush.