ThisShouldMakeSense said:
Why dont all those protesting Muslims realise that those drawings have nothing to do with the country and people of Denmark and its exports and other businesses? Those drawings were printed by a few papers and was probably the decision of a handful of people. Why do whole countries have to pay for a few peoples decisions? Why do people need to die? Its ridiculous! I know people are taking the right to freedom of speech too far, but what about freedom from fear? People reacting like this makes me sad... Where do you think this will lead?
Let me ask you these questions: Why don't all those Christian fundamentalists realize that homosexuality is not a choice? Why don't Christian fundamentalists stop bombing abortion clinics? Why don't they quit marching in the streets with their young children brandishing graphic pictures of fetuses? Why don't they silence Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell instead of listening to their hate-filled ideas? Why did Christian fundamentalists protest at the funerals for the miners who died in West Virginia recently? I could go on but I won't.
While I do not excuse the protesters I do understand that we have people just like them in North America. By and large they are not violent, but they are just as brainwashed as those Muslims. The only difference is that by and large the fundamentalists here have learned to be a little more 'delicate' about their beliefs. I also believe that we need to clean up our own back yard before we start focusing on our neighbour's back yard. Again, I repeat: I do not excuse what the protesters are doing. I do, however, understand the hypocrisy we show when we expect them to behave like civilized people and we ourselves don't ask or demand that in our own countries. Personally, I think that all extreme beliefs create far more harm than good and that includes both Muslim AND Christian fundamentalists.
You ask: What about freedom from fear. I can assure you that no one on this earth can give you or me freedom from fear except ourselves. There are always going to be things in this world that we can fear but it is we who must overcome those fears. There was a time when I was afraid of cats. It was me who had to deal with that and overcome it, no one else could do that for me. I still have a couple of things I fear but I realize that it is up to me to overcome those fears and I work on that. Others have different fears and they must either learn to live with those fears or find ways to overcome them. We are responsible for our feelings, not someone else. It is us who must deal with our fears. I know that I fear fundamentalists of any belief because I find them unreasonable. However, I also know that it is my choice as to whether or not I will allow this fear to take over my life or whether I will overcome it. I'm working at overcoming it. Sometimes I'm more successful than others, but I work at it and try to learn how to deal with it every day. The truth is that they aren't going away and they aren't likely to change any time soon, so it's up to me to take charge of my life and find ways to difuse my fear and live comfortably.
I agree with you that this is sad. It is very, very sad. I wish it were otherwise but it isn't, so we have to do what we can to help alleviate the problem and I certainly am trying to do that. I hope you can find some peace within your own heart and then try to pass that peace on to others.
