I believe in "live and let live." In Canada, we live in a multi-cultural society which I like and am proud of. Thanks to our open doors, I've come to know so many more people than plain old white English-speaking people like myself. I know one Muslim and was very impressed by his openness, behaviour and beliefs. He lives his own life his own way and does not impose his beliefs on me or others yet openly answers any questions I may have. I know a few Jewish people, and can say the same for them too. I know some Catholics, Protestants, aetheists, Bahai's, Lutherans, and more, and can say the same for them too. I know French, English, Polish, Italian, American, British, Cuban, Irish, Ukranian, Australian, Indian, Persian and people from more other countries...they too are the same. The majority of people I know try to live their lives and live within their own religions if they have one. There are always those who try to impose their beliefs on others but I find them everywhere and in every group. So long as they do it non-violently, that's ok by me.
It's rational to feel threatened given what happened at the twin towers and the many other horrible killing and fearful events since. I try to understand the things coming at me in the world that shake up my utopian view.
For example, Pat Condell, a comedian, is known for his rants, not necessarily funny either. I've listened to two of his rants, trying to keep an open mind. He referred in one of his rants to a short film made in 2008 called "Fitna" by Geert Wilders a Dutch MP, which is causing all kinds of controversy in his homeland, and throughout the world. Is the video hate literature or a word of warning? It seemed easy enough to view yet the pages where you view it often get closed down so forces are definitely out there that do not want it seen.
The other side of the story is this rebuttal video which point by point negates the stance taken in the Fitna video. If you've come this far in reading, I trust you'll view both videos. I also found this article entitled Wilders Shore Of Free Speech Endangered by Kenan Malik in the Australian that discusses this but from the perspective of free speech.
Islamophobia. Anti-semitism. Racism. Sexism. Ageism. Homophobia. Secularism. There's an "ism" or "phobia" out there for everyone. And they are very heated, hot topics. Where do you stand?
I wonder, had we the internet back in the 1930's, how the world would have responded to the uprising of Nazism? Would our ability to communicate so instantaneously ultimately in some miraculous way have staved off the Holocaust and saved lives? Or would we be sitting much where we are today? Endlessly discussing, writing, opining, and finger pointing but still doing nothing? What is to be done?
I pray one day we'll all be more enlightened. I pray we'll find a way to help advance those whose beliefs are antiquated, unjust, unfair and harmful to others. Yes, I'm doing it. I'm doing what causes the conflicts in the first place. I'm saying my way is better. The modern way is better. I'm falling into the same old trap everyone does (I don't want to live your way, I want to live MY way!) which is why I despair for the dear old human race.
Hating to close this on a down note, I do state I am optimistic about humanity's future and our capacity to grow and change for the better, for we have proven it over time. And every new person I meet, no matter where they're from, no matter their culture, reinforces the idea we all just want to live peaceably. If this little blog has in any way made you reflect and reconsider your own stance on "isms" and "phobias", then I feel it's been worthwhile. Peace.
PS - it's highly likely some of the above links will change in time. If so, feel free to look further on your own.
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