THERE IS NO PERFECTION
Now that there is the semblance of peace in the Middle East - at least for the last few hours - the predictable aftermath is upon us. All sides are trying to pull the wool over the eyes of both their constituents' as well as the enemy that their side is the clear victor with a notable qualification.The Israeli parliament is in a full fledged critique of some obvious mismangement of the war to date.
With all the messyness, appearance of disunity, admission of weakness to Hezbollah et.al the Israeli's still elect to face the realistic music and call it what bit is - noise - rather than to pretend it is a great symphonic masterpiece.
Now imagine all of this messy 'negativity' happening in the leadership of Hezbollah or in the halls of justice in Iran. I would imagine that any sign of public criticism would be instantly met with cries of traitor, disloyalty, insanity met with banishment, and even death.
To me this is the core issue separating one side versus the other irrespective of the cast of characters playing out their diverse roles of the moment.
Either individuals have the right to freely dissent or they don't. And underneathe this fundamental principle is the most important question of all. This important question that each human being is forced to answer is: Who is the final authority in ones life?
The answer, whether individuals ascribe to it or not is, that each of us is responsible for our own final authority. It is a massive denial of the TRUTH that none of us are absolutely all powerful and all knowing.
If one wishes to project their final authority onto the President, Pope, chief Mullah, or what have you then they will do so. But they cannot deny that it is them who assigns the final authority to something or someone outside the self.
It is a messy world - was, is, and will be. The attempt to shove all the mess into a neat package reinforced by rules and regulations that govern all ones behavior, in my opinion, is a thinly veiled attempt to oversimply the complexity of answering lifes biggest questions for oneself. These questions are: Who am I, what do I really want, how best to attain and sustain it, and what is truly meaningful for me to dedicate my life to.
As I undertand it - if Hezbollah et.al take over the world there will be no encouragement to work on oneself. The answers will be shoved down ones throat. Follow the party line or die.
You think I am exaggerating? Please read the following words of the President of Iran in a speech he made today. For him the core message of the war is: "God's promises have come true.... On one side, it's corrupt powers of the criminal U.S. and Britain and the Zionists ... with modern bombs and planes. And on the other side is a group of pious youth relying on God."
If God is really playing favorites and his pet of the moment is Hezbollah and the President of Iran then I have no need of God.
From this perspective Hezbollah and the leadership of Iran are best characterized as a powerful cult that have wide spread appeal for those disaffected, who are looking for absolute answers to ultimate questions - who are assuming that perfection does exist and must be forced on to all human beings whether they agree with the details or not.
They collectively operate in the manner of two boyscouts who are seen carrying a woman across the street. At first glance one is tempted to bestow grat praise on the boys for being so helpful. This opinion holds true until you get up close and hear the woman say: But I don't want to cross the street.
My Conclusion:
We all have the responsibility to vote for which side we believe is in our best interest. In this war of ideas everyone has to weigh in whether they want to or not. A no vote means yes for the side that is more aggressive. Nature abhoars a vacuum. It is crucial to those who truly value the Bill of Rights to heed Jefferson's warning about the tenuousness of democracy: "ETERNAL VIGILANCE!"
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