I'll put it this way- I, g23, do not trust the motives of anybody who looks to an ancient book of text written prior to any major science- or education at all, really, landing on the human race as a whole. When the red letters of the bible go ignored, despite being the supposed truth and way to live lives.
That old Ghandi quote on Christians. You know the one. Look into the eyes of any child who put their trust in their "Father" only to be raped and denied help when they sought it. Or the eyes of any gay person, who upon coming out to their families were suddenly dead to them. Look to the history books and see the eyes of the black people who wanted only to be treated as equals. Look to the distant history, and see the crusades, of which I can't help but feel are coming back around. Maybe someone should throw me off of a rooftop. It would be easier than wading through the shit and muck of the human condition.
I always thought and have been raised in the "belief" I, me as a person, an individual, am free to think and to be whatever the hell I like living in a liberal society, but all with in the laws of that society.
If I get the idea, which I get now that that becomes no longer possible, and that it is under thread, that individuals are seen as weak, vulnerable and potential victims of any group, organization, government, religiously motivated imbeciles, I fall back on very basic instincts for survival.
That is hiding in a group to feel stronger and less weak. If there are such very big issues at stake I want to fight for it. I won't surrender.
I have a big problem though with that as the group ideology is many times not in the interest of the group or me as an individual.
In groups the dominant types fight for the position of the leader, the boss. The position of power.
They are very willing to offer the followers or less dominant members. They intrigue and put the other members up against eachother. So the group may think they are all in it for the sake of the group but in fact they are used for the interests of the dominant leader. Ruthlessly and without any consideration. Until there is a new competitor challenging that leader and winning the competition and the whole f***ing process starts again.
But what other choices do I have?
None. I am not Jesus Christ offering the other cheek when someone crushed the other.
I am not a pacifist.
I will have to fight to defend my life.
I may lose but at least I have fought and I won't have to blame myself for not doing anything at all.
There won't be a paradise for me where there are 72 virgins waiting for me.
Thank gawd.