#grieving innocent terror victims is not evil

[timetobeaghost]

anti-Semitism is disgusting but Islamophobia isn't either and you clearly show some Islamophobic vibes so clearly stop being a hypocrite and say you don't care about Palestinians. You want them all dead and that's why you support Israel and deny everything it does to Palestinians. You aren't the one who should choose to forgive or not Noah cause you aren't the one he offended: you aren't Arab , you aren't Muslim and you aren't Palestinians.

No Arab, Muslim or Palestinian has any right to tell Noah how to feel about the brutal slaughter of Israelis by PALESTINIANS. Jesus.

I do not forgive Noah, because he hasn't done anything. Period.

I don't want any innocent Palestinians dead, but definitely every terrorist. Those fuckers are trying to get as many Palestinian civilians killed as possible as a mean to harm Israel, steal all their aids/food, just boycotted ceasefire talks again. Obviously they want all the Jews dead, but that is just their stated goal.

You try to defend those evil fucks and blame Israel for being attacked. Now that is an offensive opinion.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

[Holocaust Museum]

* * * *

Powerful speech.

"This ancient hatred of Jews didn’t begin with the Holocaust; it didn’t end with the Holocaust, either, or after — or even after our victory in World War Two. This hatred continues to lie deep in the hearts of too many people in the world, and it requires our continued vigilance and outspokenness.

That hatred was brought to life on October 7th in 2023. On a sacred Jewish holiday, the terrorist group Hamas unleashed the deadliest day of the Jewish people since the Holocaust. "

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY, AT THE U.S. HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM'S ANNUAL DAYS OF REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY:

"During these sacred Days of Remembrance, we grieve. We give voice to the 6 million Jews who were systematically targeted and murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators during World War Two. We honor the memory of victims, the pain of survivors, the bravery of heroes who stood up to Hitler’s unspeakable evil. And we recommit to heading and heeding the lessons that [of] one of the darkest chapters in human history, to revitalize and realize the responsibility of 'never again.'

Never again, simply translated for me, means 'never forget.' Never forget. Never forgetting means we must keep telling the story. We must keep teaching the truth. We must keep teaching our children and our grandchildren.

And the truth is we are at risk of people not knowing the truth.

That’s why, growing up, my dad taught me and my siblings about the horrors of the Shoah at our family dinner table. That’s why I visited Yad Vashem with my family as a senator, as vice president, and as president. And that’s why I took my grandchildren to Dachau, so they could see and bear witness to the perils of indifference, the complicity of silence in the face of evil that they knew was happening.

Germany, 1933. Hitler and his Nazi party rise to power by rekindling one of the world’s oldest forms of prejudice and hate: antisemitism. His rule didn’t begin with mass murder. It started slowly across economic, political, social, and cultural life: propaganda demonizing Jews; boycotts of Jewish businesses; synagogues defaced with swastikas; harassment of Jews in the street and in the schools; antisemitic demonstrations, pogroms, organized riots.

With the indifference of the world, Hitler knew he could expand his reign of terror by eliminating Jews from Germany, to annihilate Jews across Europe through genocide the Nazi’s called the 'Final Solution' — concentration camps, gas chambers, mass shootings.

By the time the war ended, 6 million Jews — one out of every three Jews in the entire world — were murdered.

This ancient hatred of Jews didn’t begin with the Holocaust; it didn’t end with the Holocaust, either, or after — or even after our victory in World War Two. This hatred continues to lie deep in the hearts of too many people in the world, and it requires our continued vigilance and outspokenness.

That hatred was brought to life on October 7th in 2023. On a sacred Jewish holiday, the terrorist group Hamas unleashed the deadliest day of the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

Driven by ancient desire to wipeout the Jewish people off the face of the Earth, over 1,200 innocent people — babies, parents, grandparents — slaughtered in their kibbutz, massacred at a musical festival, brutally raped, mutilated, and sexually assaulted. Thousands more carrying wounds, bullets, and shrapnel from the memory of that terrible day they endured. Hundreds taken hostage, including survivors of the Shoah.

Now, here we are, not 75 years later but just seven and a half months later, and people are already forgetting. They’re already forgetting that Hamas unleased this terror, that it was Hamas that brutalized Israelis, that it was Hamas who took and continues to hold hostages. I have not forgotten, nor have you, and we will not forget.

And as Jews around the world still cope with the atrocities and trauma of that day and its aftermath, we’ve seen a ferocious surge of antisemitism in America and around the world: vicious propaganda on social media, Jews forced to keep their — hide their kippahs under baseball hats, tuck their Jewish stars into their shirts.

On college campuses, Jewish students blocked, harassed, attacked while walking to class.

Antisemitism — antisemitic posters, slogans calling for the annihilation of Israel, the world’s only Jewish State.

Too many people denying, downplaying, rationalizing, ignoring the horrors of the Holocaust and October 7th, including Hamas’s appalling use of sexual violence to torture and terrorize Jews.

It’s absolutely despicable, and it must stop.

Silence — silence and denial can hide much, but it can erase nothing. Some injustices are so heinous, so horrific, so grievous, they cannot be muri- — buried, no matter how hard people try.

In my view, a major lesson of the Holocaust is, as mentioned earlier, it’s not — was not inevitable. We know hate never goes away; it only hides. And given a little oxygen, it comes out from under the rocks.

But we also know what stops hate. One thing: all of us.

The late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks described antisemitism as a virus that has survived and mutated over time. Together, we cannot continue to let that happen.

We have to remember our basic principles as a nation. We have an obligation — we have an obligation to learn the lessons of history so we don’t surrender our future to the horrors of the past. We must give hate no safe harbor against anyone — anyone.

From the very founding — our very founding, Jewish Americans, who represent only about 2 percent of the U.S. population, have helped lead the cause of freedom for everyone in our nation. From that experience, we know scapegoating and demonizing any minority is a threat to every minority and the very foundation of our democracy.

So, in moments like this, we have to put these principles that we’re talking about into action.

I understand people have strong beliefs and deep convictions about the world. In America, we respect and protect the fundamental right to free speech, to debate and disagree, to protest peacefully and make our voices heard.

I understand. That’s America.

But there is no place on any campus in America — any place in America — for antisemitism or hate speech or threats of violence of any kind — whether against Jews or anyone else.

Violent attacks, destroying property is not peaceful protest. It’s against the law. And we are not a lawless country. We’re a civil society. We uphold the rule of law.

And no one should have to hide or be brave just to be themselves.

To the Jewish community, I want you to know I see your fear, your hurt, and your pain.

Let me reassure you, as your President, you are not alone. You belong. You always have, and you always will.

And my commitment to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist as an independent Jewish state is ironclad, even when we disagree.

My administration is working around the clock to free remaining hostages, just as we have freed hostages already, and we will not rest until we bring them all home.

My administration, with our Second Gentleman’s leadership, has launched our nation’s first National Sec- — Strategy to Counter Antisemitism that’s mobilizing the full force of the federal government to protect Jewish communities.

But — but we know this is not the work of government alone or Jews alone. That’s why I’m calling on all Americans to stand united against antisemitism and hate in all its forms.

My dear friend, and he became a friend, the late Elie Wiesel, said, quote, “One person of integrity can make a difference.” We have to remember that now more than ever.

Here in Emancipation Hall in the U.S. Capitol, among the towering statues of history, is a bronze bust of Raoul Wallenberg. Born in Sweden as a Lutheran, he was a businessman and a diplomat. While stationed in Hungary during World War Two, he used diplomatic cover to hide and rescue about 100,000 Jews over a six-month period.

Among them was a 16-year-old Jewish boy who escaped a Nazi labor camp. After the war ended, that boy received a scholarship from the Hillel Foundation to study in America. He came to New York City penniless but determined to turn his pain into purpose, along with his wife, also a Holocaust survivor. He became a renowned economist and foreign policy thinker, eventually making his way to this very Capitol on the staff of a first-term senator.

That Jewish refugee was Tom Lantos, and that senator was me.

Tom and his wife, Annette, and their family became dear friends to me and my family. Tom would go on to become the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to Congress, where he became a leading voice on civil rights and human rights around the world.

Tom never met Raoul, who was taken prisoner by the Soviets, never to be heard from again. But through Tom’s efforts, Raoul’s bust is here in the Capitol.

He was also given honorary U.S. citizenship — only the second person ever, after Winston Churchill.

And the Holocaust Museum here in Washington is located on a roal- — a road in Raoul’s name.

The story of the power of a single person to put aside our differences, to see our common humanity, to stand up to hate. And it’s an ancient story of resilience from immense pain, persecution to find hope, purpose, and meaning in life we try to live and share with one another. That story endures.

Let me close with this. I know these Days of Remembrance fall on difficult times. But we all do well to remember these days also fall during the month we celebrate Jewish American heritage — a heritage that stretches from our earliest days to enrich every single part of American life today.

Great American — great Jewish American named Tom Lantos used the phrase, 'The veneer of civilization is paper thin. We are its guardians, and we can never rest.'

My fellow Americans, we must — we must be those guardians. We must never rest. We must rise against hate, meet across the divide, see our common humanity.

And God bless the victims and survivors of the Shoah.

May the resilient hearts, the courageous spirit, and the eternal flame of faith of the Jewish people forever shine their light on America and around the world, pray God.

Thank you all."

[Thanks Mikhail Iossel]

[tired-tales]

Miryam kept her spear pointed at the fallen angel. She knew it wouldn't keep her at bay for long. Alexandriel's grey, shabby wings were splattered with blood, much of it Miryam's. Too much of it. With only the sheer cliff behind her, and the angel in front of her, there was little doubt how this would end. The only thing she could do was talk and pray. She hoped it would buy the children enough time to escape. The angel, golden eyes shocking against skin like midnight, just stared at her as she spoke, and the serenity nearly drove her to madness.

"You're a monster. You know that, don't you?"

She merely inclined her head.

"How can you be so calm? What, this is just one more town's children to add to your pyre? Are you so inured to your own evil that you won't even shed a tear?"

"Would that help?"

Miryam startled, not expecting a response.

"What?"

"Would that help? Would shedding a tear reduce the monstrosity of killing innocent children? Will the parents, if they live, be even slightly comforted by the knowledge that it was shed? Would it make you feel better, if I wail and rend my garments and cover them in ash?" She paused, then somehow focused more intently on Miryam, the golden sclera and dark pupils becoming discomforting from even a dozen feet away. "Would it?"

Surprised by the genuine emotion in the question, she paused, and the creature continued before she could speak.

"I did not think so. However much I may regret what I have done, grieving will not change it. I will not dishonor the dead with my tears."

"I...you...you can't say you regret it! You're still doing it! Right now! You are literally about to kill me so you can hunt down more children."

"I can and I do. If I had known then what I know now, I would not have begun this quest. If I could undo it, I would." The solemnity of Alexandriel's words almost disguised their utter absurdity. Almost.

"THEN WHY ARE YOU STILL DOING IT?!" Half rage and half desperation, she lunged forward, trying to skewer one of the angel's wings. If she could just slow her down-

The angel batted the spear tip aside with one gauntleted hand. The other, moving with blinding speed, hooked up and around. Pulling against the haft in the opposite direction, the spear splintered, leaving Miryam with only a staff. She quickly shifted her stance, but the angel didn't pursue. Miryam hated the look of pity in her eyes when she spoke, more even than the certain knowledge she would soon die.

"How could I not?" the monster said simply.

Miryam was confused for a moment, nearly forgetting what she'd shouted before striking, and then her confusion only grew. Her puzzlement must have shown on her face, because Alexandriel continued,

"All the evils I have committed, every child whose soul burned on that pyre. How could I let them go to waste? I said I would not dishonor the dead with my tears, and I meant it. You asked why I do not cry for your children? Because if I started now, when would I stop? How much worse would I be, if I threw away their sacrifices to ease my guilt? No. I will finish this, and if I cannot say their deaths were not wasteful, I can at least ensure they will not be wasted."

Miryam's head nearly spun with the force of her fury, again overwhelming her grief and terror.

"Sacri-no I cant ev- GAHHH!" she screamed at the sky. The angel had begun to close the distance slowly, gauntlets ready to block any attacks from the impromptu staff, but she paused almost politely to let Miryam yell. When she turned back to face the angel, she felt empty, only the growing dread of knowing exactly what form her death would take. She opened her mouth to argue, to demand by what right the angel called murder a sacrifice by her victims. What came out was,

"That's stupid."

The angel actually paused for a moment, her mouth opening slightly.

"I beg your pardon?"

Never, she thought, but she said, "that's not how any of that works! You cannot change the past. You said it yourself! Grieving won't bring them back, but neither will succeeding in your quest! They'll be just as dead. Their parents will not be any less devastated. Your success will not vindicate you. The only just path is to stop now, and never use their murders as your justification again."

The angel froze as if slapped, and Miryam felt a brief glimmer of hope.

"You are right of course, and I twice the fool for it."

She almost started to lower her staff when the monster's eyes found hers again.

"I cannot change the past. But I can change the future. You are right, success will not change what I did to them. No more than failure would."

With a sudden, feral lunge, the monster batted aside the staff and shoved Miryam, the hand gripping her leathers the only thing keeping her from falling over the edge.

"But that blade cuts both ways. Stopping now will not bring them back. Will undo nothing." The monster's teeth were gritted, tension in every line of her body. The dark voids she had in place of irises and pupils pulled at Miryam's mind, and she noted with a strange detachment that she could make out constellations in the inky black.

"I did not lie. If I could undo my mistakes, if I could tell myself the cost would be too high before I ever began, I would. I would die for it, if I could." The tension left her jaw, her eyes almost soft.

"But I cannot. Compared to what has been paid, how little is left? If I cannot use their deaths as justification to continue, neither can I use them as excuse to stop. I will kill your children, and then four thousand more. I will burn their souls on the pyre and renew the seal, and I will consider the price of a mere 4,000 innocent children well worth a Myriad of peace."

Miryam desperately grabbed for cloth as the monster released her grip. But of course the monster's clothes weren't really there to grab. As she felt the mist-like robe slip between her fingers, she heard her speak.

"There is no justice to be found in this world, not for the likes of me. It will be a relief, I think, to follow them to my eternal rest. Perhaps the year in Gehinnom will be as well."

Alexandriel watched as the woman fell, watched as her body destroyed itself on the rocks. Her eyes stung, but she ignored them, gray wings unfurling. She yet had work to do.

[fallenstar193]

Writing Examples

Micheal Myers-

With every passing moment, Michael’s anticipation grows, his dark desires fueling his relentless pursuit. He’s a phantom in the night, blending seamlessly with the ominous surroundings. Shadows cling to him like a second skin, as if the very essence of evil itself were taking form. He moves closer, a predator closing in on its unsuspecting prey.

Inside the house, the victim’s unease intensifies, a subtle sense that something is terribly wrong. The faint creaking of the floorboards under Michael’s calculated steps goes unnoticed by the oblivious residents. His malevolent presence casts an ever-lengthening shadow over their lives, a harbinger of the impending horror.

The cold, lifeless eyes behind the mask remain fixed on the victim, studying her every move. Michael’s emotions, if he has any left, are a twisted puzzle, a murky abyss of darkness. He thrives on the fear he instills, reveling in the helplessness of his victims as they realize the depths of their impending doom.

As the tension in the house mounts, Michael Myers inches closer to his target. His grip on the knife tightens, and he readies himself to strike. It’s a macabre dance of death, a sinister waltz played out in the dark corners of Haddonfield. The victim’s fate is sealed, and all that remains is the gruesome crescendo of violence that Michael will unleash upon her, leaving a trail of terror in his wake.

Billy Loomis-

Amid the bustling halls of Woodsboro High School, Billy Loomis weaves through a sea of students, his facade of a concerned, grieving boyfriend in place. He hears the hushed whispers and excited chatter that ripple through the crowd like a sinister undercurrent. “Did you hear about the Ghostface murder last night?” one student exclaims, while another adds, “They say the killer’s still out there, targeting teenagers.” Billy’s heart races, a turbulent storm of joy and satisfaction swirling within him.

With practiced finesse, he joins a group of his peers, feigning shock and disbelief as they recount the gruesome details of the latest murder. His acting skills are impeccable; he wears the mask of innocence as convincingly as he wears the Ghostface mask itself. Inside, he revels in the twisted game he’s playing with the town, enjoying the thrill of being so close to the investigation.

As the conversation continues, Billy can’t help but smirk inwardly. He’s the puppeteer, pulling the strings from behind the scenes, manipulating their fear and paranoia. He thinks to himself, “They have no idea it’s me, the very person they’re talking about. I’m the one responsible for these horrors.” His dual existence as both the concerned boyfriend and the sadistic killer fills him with a chilling sense of power.

Deep down, Billy knows he’s playing a dangerous game, one that could unravel at any moment. But the adrenaline rush of deception and the satisfaction of terrorizing the town keep him entangled in this deadly dance. He listens to his classmates, their voices growing more anxious, and silently vows to continue his reign of terror, all while masquerading as an innocent victim in a world he’s turned upside down.

Megan Pax (OC)-

Megan had been having a pleasant evening at the local bar, enjoying her friends’ company and the lively atmosphere. It was there that she first spotted Johnny Sawyer, a charming stranger with a smile that could melt hearts. His wit and charisma were magnetic, drawing Megan into an engaging conversation that made her forget about the world outside.

As the night wore on, Johnny’s charm only seemed to grow stronger, and he suggested they continue their conversation outside. Megan, feeling adventurous and intrigued, agreed. Little did she know that this encounter was about to take a dark turn.

Once outside, Megan began to sense that something was off. Johnny’s demeanor had shifted, his smile replaced by an unsettling intensity. Fear began to creep into Megan’s thoughts as she realized she might have made a grave mistake. When Johnny suddenly grabbed her arm and tried to force her into the back of his truck, Megan’s instincts kicked in.

With a burst of adrenaline, Megan delivered a powerful punch to Johnny’s lip, the sound of the impact echoing in the dimly lit alley. She could taste victory in that brief moment, but she knew she had to run. With every ounce of strength she could muster, Megan sprinted away from Johnny, her heart pounding in her chest. However, her escape was cut short as Johnny, seething with anger, quickly caught up to her.

In that heart-stopping moment, Megan realized the depth of the danger she was in. Her decision to confront Johnny had bought her some time, but her fate now rested in the hands of this man who had gone from charming to menacing.

Jack Wolford (OC)-

Jack had always been the kind of guy who’d do anything for his friends, so when Sonny came to him with the desperate plea to help find Maria, one of their close friend’s missing sister, he didn’t hesitate. They piled into Leland’s old van and set off on a road trip from their small town to the heart of Texas, determined to unravel the mystery surrounding Maria’s disappearance.

Their journey brought them to a remote gas station in the middle of nowhere. Inside, they met the grizzled owner, known simply as Cook, who eyed them suspiciously as they inquired about Maria’s last known whereabouts. The more questions they asked, the less friendly Cook became. His patience wore thin, and he finally snapped, unleashing a torrent of rage at the group of curious kids.

In the blink of an eye, the situation escalated from tense to terrifying. Cook’s aggression took them by surprise, and before they could react, Jack and his friends found themselves beaten and bound, their pleas for mercy falling on deaf ears. Panic set in as they realized they were at the mercy of a family who seemed to be hiding something sinister.

In a desperate bid for freedom, Jack managed to break free from his restraints, his heart pounding as he fled through the back. But his escape was cut short when, in the darkness, he stepped right into a concealed bone trap. Agony shot through him, and he couldn’t suppress a guttural howl of pain.

Before he could fully comprehend what had happened, a hulking figure emerged from the shadows. This man, known as Leatherface, loomed over Jack, his grotesque mask concealing any trace of humanity. The night had taken a nightmarish turn, and Jack’s pursuit of answers had led him straight into the clutches of a relentless and merciless force that would test his will to survive like never before.

Betty (OC)-

Betty, known as the Doll Face Killer, was an enigmatic and elusive figure in the quiet suburban town. She lived in an unassuming house, a facade that masked the chilling secrets that lurked within. Next door to Betty resided her neighbor, Black Nancy, a woman of deep mystery herself, and her son, Johnny Sawyer.

The relationship between Betty and her neighbors was a peculiar one. Betty maintained an icy distance from Nancy and Johnny, seldom exchanging more than a curt nod in passing. Yet, rumors about her peculiar habits and eerie doll collection spread like wildfire among the residents. Some claimed to have glimpsed life-sized dolls in her windows, their so called lifeless eyes seemingly following the curious onlookers. Only rumors much.

Black Nancy, on the other hand, was known for her stoic demeanor and the air of solitude that surrounded her. She rarely socialized with the other neighbors, keeping to herself and focusing on her son Johnny, who was equally enigmatic. Johnny, a tall and brooding young man, carried an aura of quiet intensity that intrigued and unnerved those who crossed his path.

The neighbors often speculated about the strange trio living side by side, but no one dared to pry too deeply into their affairs. Betty, the Doll Face Killer, kept her secrets well-guarded, and the neighborhood remained in a state of uneasy tranquility, blissfully unaware of the darkness that simmered just beneath the surface.

Maria Flores (Muse):

As Maria continued her exploration of the picturesque sunflower field, she couldn’t help but be captivated by the sight of some delicate, vibrant flowers that had caught her eye. Their petals glistened like drops of morning dew in the fading sunlight, casting a mesmerizing spell over her. These were no ordinary flowers; they were a variety she had never encountered before, their colors a stunning blend of deep purples and soft pinks, reminiscent of an artist’s palette.

Maria’s heart swelled with a deep appreciation for the natural beauty that surrounded her. These flowers, in particular, seemed like a rare gem tucked away in the sunflower sea. She knew, in that moment, that she had stumbled upon something truly special. Her fingers tingled with anticipation as she carefully retrieved her camera, feeling the familiar weight of it in her hands.

She adjusted the lens, ensuring every detail of the blossoms was captured flawlessly. With a soft click, she immortalized the flowers in a single frame, preserving their ethereal beauty for eternity. In her mind, she already imagined how these images would fit seamlessly into her scrapbook, each photograph telling a story of discovery and awe. Maria understood that some moments in life were too beautiful not to be captured, and these flowers were the embodiment of that belief.

With the freshly taken photo of the exquisite flowers in her hand, Maria couldn’t help but admire the intricate details that her camera had beautifully captured. She marveled at the interplay of colors and the delicate veins that adorned each petal. The soft, golden sunlight that bathed the blossoms in a warm glow seemed to dance within the frame. As her eyes lingered on the image, a smile spread across her face, reflecting the joy she felt in this moment of artistic appreciation.

Cheerfully, Maria whispered to herself, “These will fit perfectly in my scrapbook.” She could already envision them nestled among her other cherished memories, a testament to the beauty she encountered on her adventures. Her heart swelled with excitement at the thought of sharing this discovery with her sister Ana. “Ana would love to see this,” she mused, making a mental note to send her sister a photo of the enchanting flowers as a delightful surprise from her journey through the sunflower field.

[magpie-69]

So I wrote this about a week and a half ago after I woke at 3am in a cold sweat with the memories swirling around in my head and I couldn't sleep. It's been in my drafts ever since and I've hesitated to post it, but here it is....

It invades the day but mostly sleep,

A cold fog creeping through the mind.

Contorted creature claws, stabs and reeks,

Memories of a nightmare time.

Sweating, screaming, struggling awake,

Eyes wide, gasping, location unknown.

A long dread filled minute it can take,

To know one is safe home and alone.

Conscious upon hours and hours,

A dark bygone tour shames and devours.

13, or 16?

Trauma creates a memory rift,

Twists the truth.

A becoming of age macabre gift?

Or child abuse?

No consent given no gift received,

Innocence lost is always grieved.

Silly thoughts of it will desist,

If only the door was locked.

But too terrified to resist,

When it did knock, knock, knock!

Evil once again let in,

To carry on what it did begin.

It lays down by my side,

Strokes my skin and fingers within.

Asks if I enjoy though I can't abide,

I say yes, fear and sin.

Move your mouth down it does say,

Put me in and suck away.

Night after night the terror repeated,

All sense of self worth utterly depleted.

Then it was gone,

In it's wake a girl shattered in strife.

It had moved on,

No thought to a ruined life.

Memories subdued and locked away,

Intermittently flood back.

Long are they here to stay,

Nightmares so deeply black.

Year after year,

Pray who can tell?

I long to hear,

Is escape possible from hell?

For nearly 30 years after this time I couldn't put my mouth anywhere near to a man's cock. It made me feel physically sick. 30 years! That's a long fucking time. It affected all my relationships, all my life, because I've never found one single man, who'd be into a long-term relationship, and who had the patience to deal with my awkwardness. It's a shame but I post this now to try help all victims of sexual abuse. You are not alone! 💜

Magpie'69 ⚔️💜⚔️

7th September 2020

[lawhat22]

Uvalde, Texas.

I wanted to post something sooner but my mind and thoughts were too scattered. I was literally speechless and couldn’t think to what to say or how to say what I felt. Kinda still don’t but here I go. As fellow American and Texan myself, I’m so angry and hurt by the actions that happened yesterday at Robb Elementary. I’m not father yet but just the thought of those parents and what they’re going through is unbearable to me. Also as a worker in the school system, I’m a bit shaken to go back to work with this incident in the back of my head. I can only imagine the fear of the attack as it was happening for the children, facility and staff in that building. We’re trained for situations like that but it actually happens is different story. You just don’t know. But I know my role at my campus and I gotta continue doing my work and make sure it’s safe zone for me, my coworkers, the staff and kids. And make sure this doesn’t happen to us here! As far as gun control I don’t care you’re pro gun, a republican, democratic, liberal, voted for Biden or a Trump supporter, throw all of your political views out the window. This is a humane issue that needs to be addressed and resolved immediately. Enough is enough man. We can’t keep putting this aside. Actions are required now. Innocent lives were lost that shouldn’t be lost! I know there’ll some asshole to hop on and attack this topic. Just stfu for once and just put yourself in those parents shoes. They thought yesterday was a normal day for them, until get a call of see news about the shooting. Some punk ass evil 18 year old with AR-15’s is attacking the same school you dropped off your kid that morning. Imagine the panic and terror going through their heads. And then founding out your kid was one of the victims. Think about that for a sec before you wanna argue. That punk shouldn’t have those guns. It could’ve been prevented. But here we are again. It’s sickening. I will conclude by saying our time is limited here. Take a breath, appreciate what you have. Call your loved ones. Send out that positive energy. Enjoy every minute you have. Because you never know. To the lost ones you may rest peacefully forever and the families of those, I pray for healing in your times of grieving.



[armeniaitn]

Armenia condemns all expressions of terrorism: President Sarkissian addresses message to Biden

New Post has been published on https://armenia.in-the.news/politics/armenia-condemns-all-expressions-of-terrorism-president-sarkissian-addresses-message-to-biden-78572-13-09-2021/

Armenia condemns all expressions of terrorism: President Sarkissian addresses message to Biden

President Armen Sarkissian addressed a message to US President Joseph Biden on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attack in the United States.

The message reads:

“Twenty years have passed since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States. More than 3,000 innocent people were killed, including American-Armenians, and more than 10,000 were injured. Our hearts still grieve for the innocent victims, and our prayers are with the survivors and their families.

Armenia strongly condemns all acts of terrorism and violation of human values. We stand with the American people in defense of the ideas of freedom and peace.

Throughout history, suffering and tragedy have been the fate of our country, we know how unbearable that pain can be. We are convinced that together with all civilized nations we can fight against the evil of terrorism. Terrorism and other harmful acts should not exist in our world. Armenia has already shown its commitment to support that international struggle.

The common history, values ​​and views are a solid basis for strengthening relations and deepening cooperation between the two countries. Armenian-American relations have always been based on mutual respect, common ideas, and a strong belief in a more prosperous future.”

Read original article here.

[lewepstein]

36 Hours in El Paso

The Sunday New York Times travel section has a regular column that highlights brief getaways - what to see, where to eat and the best places to stay if you had 36 hours to spend at their featured destination.  When my wife, Michelle and I arrived in El Paso last weekend, it wasn’t to explore a New York Times recommendation.  Our roughly 36 hours was centered around a rally and concert planned for Saturday, September 7th titled, “El Paso Firme, Action Against White Supremacy.”

What we wanted to do was simply show up as an expression of solidarity with the people of El Paso, and particularly its Mexican American community which only four weeks earlier had endured a horrifying white supremacist, terrorist attack at a local Walmart in which 22 El Pasoans were killed and 24 others wounded.  We didn’t know what to expect when we arrived.  Would we encounter a city in mourning?  Would we even be welcomed, as outsiders, considering what had recently transpired?

Those who travel know that every place has its vibe.  It comes from an intangible essence that we experience which may include a city’s architecture, its cuisine and its pace of life.  But It is primarily felt through the personality and character of its people.  That is probably why some cities feel cold and aloof while others transmit intensity and are brimming with life.  I have found that If I take the time to engage with locals, I get a better understanding of a place and come away with more than just the sights and tastes that conventional tour books recommend we take in.                                  

El Paso was hot and slow paced, exuding emotional warmth and a feeling of welcome.  There was kindness and graciousness communicated in the interactions we had at restaurants, at hotels, in shuttles and particularly during the Uber rides that became our primary mode of transportation during our short visit.  We were picked up by one Uber driver, a twenty one year old college student who was majoring in anthropology and Chicano Studies.  He was proud of what he was doing but also interested in our opinions and observations.  A female driver in her early forties, who spoke little English took us to the concert.  She was curious about our coming from California to attend this event but also open about her own life.  She told us that her husband was living and working in Juarez, a city just across the Mexican border from El Paso and that they had two sons attending college, one about to graduate with a degree in engineering.  

Another thing that I noticed while in El Paso was an entrepreneurial spirit embodied in two young men who we spoke to briefly.  One had created an ice cream business with his own unique flavors.  Another had opened a retail store in the refurbished downtown area and was supplementing his income by Ubering in his spare time.  What I was drawn to in these brief conversations and in all of my encounters was a sense of humility.  I realized that what was most attractive about the people I was meeting was the absence of arrogance that I sometimes pick up on when speaking with people who are poised to move ahead in life with a business or  personal venture.

On the morning of August 3rd, just four weeks before the concert we were  to attend, a 21 year old man named Patrick Crucius also arrived in  El Paso.  He had driven 10 hours through the night from Allen, Texas, a city about six hundred miles to the east.  We don’t know exactly what he was doing for all of his 36 hours prior to arriving, but he had taken the time to post a screed on line citing a “Hispanic invasion of Texas” that needed to be stopped.  He warned that Americans were being replaced by foreigners and stated, “If we can get rid of enough people, then our way of life can be more sustainable.”   At 10:40 AM he walked into a Walmart on the east side of El Paso with an AK 47 and opened fire on all those who appeared to be Mexican.

The rally and concert that honored the victims of this massacre was low key and yet spirited.  There were no politicians invited - no high- powered speeches by Beto ORourke, or Congresswoman Escobar.  There were statements by immigrants who spoke about the hardships they have endured at the border and when we asked those sitting next to us whether they could translate and explain some of what was being said in Spanish, they were not only helpful, but also expressed gratitude that we had traveled all the way from California to attend this event.  

The music included traditional mariachi earlier in the afternoon and a bold and passionate performance by the group La Santa Cecilia from Los Angeles as the hot summer sun was replaced by cooler evening breezes.   It was clear to me that this rally had achieved its purpose - as an expression of “collective compassion and solidarity, to comfort, to expose, to reject the white supremacy that has infected our country and for Mexican-Americans to celebrate where they came from.”

But as I sat in this park in El Paso struggling to understand the Spanish being spoken on stage while feeling connected to those around me, I couldn't help but feel how vulnerable we all are to the fears and hatred of others.  Everyone in El Paso knows the Walmart at Cielo Vista Mall where the attack occurred.  Many shop there regularly.  Any of the hotel clerks or Uber drivers that we met or their family members could have been at that store on the morning of the massacre.

What I also realized in that moment was that I hated the haters -  the young white nationalists who terrorize and murder the innocent, but even more than them the white nationalist policy makers like Stephen Miller, the senior policy advisor to Donald Trump, and his media mouthpieces.  Donald Trump has brought troops to the southern border and ranted about the “invasion” taking place there, referring to Mexican Americans and other Latinx as “rapists, murderers and vermin.”   Then, his echo chamber, The Rush Limbaughs, Laura Ingrams and Tucker Carlsons of the world take his message of degradation of immigrants and people of color and use it to incite, embolden and activate all of those who are willing to listen.  

If we simply connect the dots of what went on in El Paso we can see everything that is wrong and right in our society and our world.  The Charlotteville car rampage, Dylan Roof and the Charleston Church shootings, an attack on a synagogue in San Diego, a supermarket in Kentucky and a yoga studio in Florida.  All  acts of carnage inspired by those evil enough to use hate to divide us for their own political purposes.  And these nightmares followed by acts of solidarity and compassion in which grieving people remain strong and try to piece together their lives and communities. The stark contrast between the fear and hatered of the white supremacist  gunman and those willing to incite him and the kindness and generosity of spirit of the people of El Paso.  Thirty six hours is not a lot of time to spend in a place.  But it can be just the right amount of time to examine our human potential for both love and hate, good and evil.  And to remind ourselves what is truly worth fighting for and what we are called upon to fight against.

[diarrheaworldstarhiphop]

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have blamed Saudi Arabia for the first terrorist attack claimed by Islamic State in their country, setting the stage for spiralling tensions between the two rivals at a critical moment in the region. At least 12 people were killed and dozens more injured in Tehran on Wednesday when gunmen and suicide bombers attacked the Iranian parliament and the mausoleum of the revolutionary founder of the Islamic Republic. Isis claimed responsibility for the attacks, publishing a brief video that purported to show the assailants inside the parliament. Reza Seifollhai, the deputy head of Iran’s National Security Council, said on state television that the assailants were Iranian Isis recruits. “About the identity of the attackers I should say they were from parts of Iran, and had joined Daesh,” Seifollhai said, using the Arabic name for Isis. But the hardline Revolutionary Guards blamed Riyadh for the attack, in a move that could further raise the stakes in a regional tussle that has already led to major diplomatic upheaval among the Gulf monarchies in recent days and the isolation of Qatar over, in part, its perceived closeness to Iran. “This terrorist action, coming one week after the meeting of the president of the United States with the leader of the one of the region’s reactionary governments [Saudi Arabia] … shows they are involved in this savage action,” the IRGC said in a statement. The Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, said the attacks would make the country more united. “Today’s terrorist attacks in Tehran will make the Islamic Republic of Iran more determined in the fight against regional terrorism, extremism and violence,” he said in a statement published on the ISNA news agency. “We will prove once again that we will crush the enemies’ plots with more unity and more strength.” The assault on the parliament began when four men armed with rifles burst into the building complex. One of the attackers reportedly blew himself up inside as police surrounded the building. Gunfire could be heard from outside as police helicopters circled overhead, entrance and exit gates were closed, and contact with mobile phones inside was lost. “I was inside the parliament when shooting happened. Everyone was shocked and scared. I saw two men shooting randomly,” one journalist at the scene, who asked not to be named, told Reuters. Members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard secure the area outside the parliament building. Members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards secure the area outside the parliament building. MPs continued scheduled sessions in another part of the complex. The deputy interior minister, Mohammad Hossein Zolfaghari, told Iran’s state TV that the attackers were dressed as women in order to gain entry. About five hours after the first reports, Iranian news agencies said all four assailants were dead and the incident was over. Ali Larijani, the Iranian parliamentary speaker, called the attack a cowardly act. “Iran is an active and effective pillar in the fight against terrorists and they want to damage it,” he said. Soon after the assault on the parliament began, reports emerged of another incident about 12 miles (19km) south at the mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who established the Islamic Republic after deposing the shah in 1979. Two assailants entered the grounds of the shrine, killing a gardener and wounding several other people. One detonated a suicide vest, and the other was shot dead. It was not clear whether the shrine attackers were women, as had been reported earlier, or were just dressed like women. “The terrorists had explosives strapped to them and suddenly entered the shrine and started to shoot around,” the shrine’s overseer, Mohammadali Ansari, told Reuters. A Jamaran News image said to be of the moment the attacker detonated a suicide belt at the Khomeini shrine. Iran’s emergency services said a total of 12 people were killed in the two attacks and 43 wounded. It was not clear whether that toll included the attackers. The Iranian intelligence ministry said a third team had been arrested before carrying out a planned attack. Isis released a statement late on Wednesday, threatening Iran’s majority Shia population with more attacks: “The caliphate will not miss a chance to spill their blood”. Attacks are extremely rare in the capital and other major Iranian cities, although a Sunni militant group named Jundallah and its splinter group, Ansar al-Furqan, have been waging a deadly insurgency, mostly in more remote areas, for almost a decade. Isis, which adheres to a puritanical strain of Sunni Islam, considers Shias heretics and has carried out numerous attacks against Shia civilians, in Iraq in particular. But this assault, which appeared to have a higher degree of coordination and planning than recent Isis-claimed attacks in Europe, would be a significant escalation. It took place against a backdrop of great regional tension, with Arab Gulf countries pushing for a more forceful isolation of Iran, their regional arch-enemy. The Gulf states earlier this week severed diplomatic relations with their neighbour Qatar over its close relationship with Tehran. Donald Trump, who took sides with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states against Qatar, issued a statement offering prayers for Wednesday’s victims. But he also repeated his accusations that Iran supports terror and implied that it bore some blame for the attack. The US president said: “We grieve and pray for the innocent victims of the terrorist attacks in Iran, and for the Iranian people, who are going through such challenging times. We underscore that states that sponsor terrorism risk falling victim to the evil they promote.” Last month, Iranian voters re-elected Rouhani, a relatively moderate figure, by a landslide in presidential elections. The high-profile attack on one of the most well-guarded buildings in the capital will come as a blow to the reformist president, who will have to address demands for greater security in the face of the Isis threat. Isis put out a rare video in Persian in March, warning that it would “conquer Iran and restore it to the Sunni Muslim nation as it was before”, while accusing Iranians of persecuting Sunnis over the centuries. Charlie Winter, from the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King’s College London, said: “Islamic State has been agitating in Iran for years now but its supporters there haven’t received much attention in the past. In 2016, Isis eulogised seven Iranian suicide attackers that had died in operations in Iraq and Syria.” Compared with many of its neighbours, he said, Iran was a stable state with “notoriously effective” security services. “That’s why we’ve not seen an attack there until now. I don’t doubt that the Islamic State has planned operations in Iran in the past – this is just the first one to be a success.”

[newstfionline]

Terror in Iran and Trump

By Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, June 8, 2017

Gunmen linked to the Islamic State launched a brazen assault in Tehran on Wednesday, attacking the country’s parliament building and the shrine dedicated to revolutionary Iran’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. At least 12 people were killed and dozens more wounded.

It was the first time in more than a decade that Tehran was struck by militants. Thomas Erdbrink, the New York Times’s correspondent in Tehran, reported the details: “The attacks started around 10:30 a.m., when men armed with assault rifles and suicide vests--some of them dressed as women--descended on the Parliament building, killing at least one guard and wounding and kidnapping other people. That standoff lasted until midafternoon.”

Six assailants were killed. The Islamic State claimed responsibility through its online channels and released a graphic 24-minute video showing a bloody scene from Iran’s parliament.

The implications of the attack “are huge,” said Charlie Winter, a senior research fellow at the International Center for the Study of Radicalization at King’s College in London, to my colleagues. For Sunni extremists, “attacking Iran is kind of like attacking the U.S. or Israel.”

Iran sits at the vanguard of Shiite Islam. It is an ideological nemesis of jihadist groups like the Islamic State and features prominently as a target in the propaganda of some Sunni fundamentalists. Iranian proxy militias in Iraq and Syria, to varying extents, have been locked in battles with the Islamic State and other extremist outfits.

In the wake of the assault on Tehran, condemnations and condolences rained in from around the world. The European Union’s top foreign envoy, Federica Mogherini, expressed her sympathies for the victims and said it is “obviously a very sad day again for us anytime there is a terror attack anywhere in the world.” French President Emmanuel Macron called his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, and apparently discussed expanding “cooperation in the fight against terrorism,” according to an Iranian official. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned “these crimes” and pledged Russia’s “readiness for further joint actions” with Iran.

And then there was President Trump.

The White House has made a particular habit of commenting swiftly on Islamic State-related attacks elsewhere, be they in Paris, London, Manchester or even a phantom episode in the Philippines. But for many hours Wednesday, Trump was conspicuously quiet. The State Department’s spokeswoman issued a pro forma condemnation, asserting that “the depravity of terrorism has no place in a peaceful, civilized world.”

When Trump ultimately broke his silence, though, his message snuffed out whatever goodwill American diplomats may have wanted to convey.

“We grieve and pray for the innocent victims of the terrorist attacks in Iran, and for the Iranian people, who are going through such challenging times,” began the statement, before concluding with a startling swipe at Tehran. “We underscore that states that sponsor terrorism risk falling victim to the evil they promote.”

It’s tacky and heartless in any context to try to score political points when lamenting the loss of innocent lives. But even given the pronounced tensions between Tehran and Washington--made all the more acute by the Trump administration putting Iran “on notice”--Trump’s statement seemed to cross an unspoken line in world affairs. Iranian officials, after all, issue their own routine condemnations of terror attacks in the United States, such as last year’s massacre at a nightclub in Orlando, without suggesting that the Great Satan was getting its comeuppance. After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Iranians held candlelight vigils.

As we’ve written in this space before, the Trump administration’s hostility to Iran is part of its wholesale embrace of the agenda and rhetoric of Iran’s major rivals in the region--Saudi Arabia and Israel. The leaders of both those countries see Iran as an existential threat, a destabilizing actor that backs dangerous groups across the region. There is plenty of truth in this view, given the extent to which Iran’s powerful and hard-line Revolutionary Guard Corps dominates the country’s foreign policy and supports militancy elsewhere.

But Iran was hit by a terrorist group whose ideology is far closer to the creed preached by Saudi clerics than the theologians of Qom, a phenomenon conveniently ignored by the White House and its partners. To be sure, previous administrations have for decades acquiesced or turned a blind eye to the destabilizing effect that Saudi-backed fundamentalism has had on the Muslim world. Yet a Trump administration that is overtly opposed to “radical Islam” has chosen to embolden the Saudis like never before.

Just hours after the attack, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to push forward a bill that would impose new sanctions on Iran. A few Democratic senators urged a postponement of the proceedings, given the timing. But they were overruled.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards pointed the finger at Washington and Riyadh, the usual suspects in its eyes. “The public opinion of the world, especially Iran, recognizes this terrorist attack--which took place a week after a joint meeting of the U.S. president and the head of one of the region’s backward governments, which constantly supports fundamentalist terrorists--as very significant,” it said in a statement, referring to Saudi Arabia.

Given the already-intensifying standoff between feuding Arab monarchies in the Persian Gulf, it seems the region’s many fault lines are only deepening in the early months of the Trump presidency.

The National Iranian American Council, a Washington-based organization that seeks rapprochement between Iran and the United States, issued an angry response to the White House statement.

“We underscore that administrations that cannot empathize with human suffering risk losing their humanity,” it read, “and presidents who cannot genuinely recognize victims of terrorism are incapable of leading the fight against terror.”

[brennandavidmerrill]

The Struggle - Misconceptions of Islam

The very sound of the word jihad to the western ear connotes an idea of fervent, sadistic hatred towards the non-Muslim world by the Muslim world. An idea that evokes images of violent, suicidal terrorists perpetrating some of the most heinous acts against humanity. Acts whose devastating repercussions have been perennially imprinted onto our memories. We recall the feelings of utter disbelief when we turned on the news or opened the paper that morning of September 11, 2001. The fear, the sadness, the emptiness, and the vengefulness that we felt while watching such an overwhelmingly disconcerting, unfamiliar act of terror being committed against a monumental symbol of our nation and so many innocent lives. The effects of which reached countless numbers of people; those who made it out alive, those who witnessed from afar, residents of Manhattan, family and friends of the victims, citizens of America, and the world at large. The residual anger still imminent after all these years, and only perpetuated by the more recent actions of extremist groups like ISIS, is entirely justifiable but unfortunately, much of the time, largely misdirected. I have witnessed, on numerous occasions, Americans making disparaging and bigoted remarks against Muslims under the common misconception that terrorism, jihad and Islam are causally related. This is just not the case. People who believe that Islam has an intrinsically violent nature, that jihad cultivates terrorism, and that Muslims are inherently evil are formulating these grandiose beliefs from plain ignorance and misdirection. Islam is not a hateful religion, it is peaceful. Jihad is not a call to violence, but a sanction to defend the good. Muslims are not murderous savages; they are very much like us. People generally have a sufficient understanding of their own culture and religion but often have misguided or false preconceptions about other cultures and religions. It does not help the case when prejudice is involved, as this exacerbates the misapprehension and compounds the problem. It is imperative that people seek to conscientiously acquire truth. The sources responsible for informing and educating the public on all things novel, foreign or unfamiliar must do so meticulously. As important a job as news outlets and journalists have, some exhibit a proclivity to want to be the first to break the story instead of having the most accurate story. Others may be politically motivated and inclined to present the story in a certain light that aligns with their agenda. In addition, the general public has the tendency to unquestioningly believe what our news publications tell us. The point here is that things do not always turn out to be how we presume them to be, and despite ostensible good intentions, we are not always given the full picture by the people we entrust with informing us. Therefore, we should not be reluctant to revise our understanding of things when better knowledge presents itself to us. It seems that after 9/11 happened, many of us prematurely painted a picture of what words like Islam, Muslim and jihad mean to us while having unsubstantial information to accurately do so. In an effort to elucidate the truth and gain a better understanding of the notion of jihad, let us take a closer look at its origins.

The term jihad is literally defined as “a struggle”. This struggle sometimes refers to the external struggles faced by Muslims, such as tyranny or unjust warfare, but more often it refers to the internal struggle faced by the individual Muslim, such as conflicting beliefs and temptations. “While Muslims use the term lesser jihad to refer to what Christians call a ‘just war,’ the term greater jihad refers to the psychological war we wage within ourselves to establish the kingdom of God in our behavior and to build a lifestyle that reflects God’s commandments, both in our individual life and in our collective communal lives. Jihad is about building what Western philosophers would call the good society.” (Rauf 135). Outsiders often misunderstand the notion of lesser jihad to be an exhortation by God for Muslims to wage war against non-Muslims, but this is not the case. Take the following Quranic verse as an example of the type of defensive retaliation permitted by God to Muslims. “Permission is given to those against whom war is wrongfully waged, and have been oppressed—and God is indeed able to aid them—those who have been unjustly expelled from their homes for no other cause than they say “our Lord is God.” And had God not repelled some people by others, it is certain that cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques, in which God’s name is much extolled, would have been destroyed.” (Quran 22:39-40). Clearly there is no authorization in this passage for unprovoked violence or antagonistic action. It simply sanctions defensive and protective measures to those being treated unfairly. Does that sound evil? Furthermore, this passage alludes to Islam’s acceptance of the other contemporaneous religions of its time, Judaism and Christianity, wherein their synagogues and churches were saved from destruction thanks to God’s intervention. In fact, Jews and Christians were able to peacefully coexist with Muslims in the early days after Muhammad. Despite conflicts arising intermittently in the early times of Islam, Jews and Christians were considered dhimmi, or “People of the Book”, and were protected under Islamic law. The truth is that Judaism, Christianity and Islam all share the same God, albeit with a varying degree of distinctions. Here is another verse from the Quran confirming the non-offensive nature condoned by God: “Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you. But do not transgress limits: For, verily, Allah loves not aggressors.” (Quran 2:190). While history has been riddled with ages of war and territorial expansion wherein the expression of lesser jihad had more context, more universally sacred to the individual Muslim is the expression of greater jihad. “There is no church organization in Sunni Islam, no priests controlling the sacerdotal meditation by which salvation may be attained. Rather, Islam is achieved by attempting to live the pure Muslim life in the exterior material world. This requires a constant ‘struggle in the way of Allah’, involving all the believer’s assets. His body is to be well maintained, his physical energies are to be directed toward the external obligations of the faith, from daily prayers to the jah, to the support of his family and the poor. His goods are to be used for the same purposes, while his spirit is to fight against temptation and strive for the ideals of Islam that have already been enumerated, from compassion to moderation. This incessant personal struggle for goodness is the true meaning of the word jihad.” (Grieve 265). Unlike the conventional religions that Americans are more familiar with, there are no archetypal spiritual teachers or weekly mosque services within Islam. Instead, the onus is on the individual Muslim to maintain devotional practices, interpret the Quran, and apply it to their life. For the Muslim, Islam is a perpetual internal struggle, a jihad, to singlehandedly overcome the temptations and difficulties of daily life without the luxury of a spiritual guide or congregation of cohorts to aid them along, while simultaneously pursuing a peaceful and just life, glorifying God.

Historical context is often ignorantly or intentionally omitted from arguments against jihad. It is important when dealing with the hostile claims brought against Islam by flagrantly misinformed western criticism, that we compare some of the examples of warfare and violence found in the Quran, often cited by critics, against the counterexamples found in the Bible, to gain a better frame of reference. “Judeo-Christian mythology is rooted in the rewards promised by God to the Hebrews for their entirely unprovoked attacks against the Canaanites and the Philistines. Nothing in the Qur’an can match Yahweh’s bloodthirsty authorization to the Jews in the Book of Deuteronomy for the violent occupation of Palestine.” (Grieve 264). To understand the degree of hypocrisy found in much of the Christian criticism of Islam, here are several excerpts from the Old Testament demonstrating the violence permitted and sometimes perpetrated by God. “Unhappy with the wickedness of man, God killed every living thing on the planet except Noah’s family. Men, women, infants and animals drowned in unimaginable terror and agony.” (Genesis 6 & 7). “God killed the first-born in every Egyptian home that wasn’t marked with lamb’s blood.” (Exodus 12:29). “Under God’s leaderships, the Israelites utterly destroyed the men, women and children of Sihon.” (Deuteronomy 2:33-34). “According to God’s law, if an Israelite soldier was at war with an enemy, and he saw a beautiful woman that he found attractive, he could capture her to be his wife. She must then shave her head, trim her nails and discard the clothing she was wearing when captured. She could mourn her father and mother for a month. If the soldier wasn’t pleased with her for any reason, he could let her go wherever she wishes.” (Deuteronomy 28:53). “God sent a plague on Israel to punish David for sin. 70,000 people died.” (2 Samuel 24:15). While these verses conclusively reveal how diabolical and violent the God of the Old Testament can be, their purpose here serves to indicate that adherents of religions in contemporary times do not generally interpret scripture in the context of the age it was written in. All too often throughout history, however, religious and irreligious communities alike have made vast over-generalizations of religions and cultures which seem foreign to them. “The deep-rooted stereotype of Islam as a warrior religion has its origins in the papal propaganda of the Crusades, when Muslims were depicted as the soldiers of the Antichrist in blasphemous occupation of the Holy Lands (and, far more importantly, of the silk route to China).” (Aslan 106). These classical means of rhetoric and propaganda are a testament to the times in which they were promulgated. It is crucial to understand that the holy books of today’s religions were written in times of war and territorial expansion and consequently incorporate a preponderance of language and narrative related to such times.

Since we have established that the normative meaning and expression behind the notion of jihad is not evil or pernicious, but rather just and innocuous, we must now examine the origin of the misconceptions of jihad. Misinterpretation is a fault of those of us who have made assumptions or drawn conclusions, based in ignorance, prematurely. Reinterpretation, however, is an egregious fault of extremism. Extremist groups do not just misapprehend what the Quran says, they knowingly reinterpret the meaning of the Quran to reinforce their agenda and fuel their hatred. Take, for instance, the idea of suicide bombing among terrorism and the notion that it leads to paradise for the perpetrator. Let us see how the Quran and Muslim world view this. “While we have seen that jihad, a just, defensive war, is sanctioned under Islamic law, suicide no matter to what end is expressly forbidden. The strongest prohibitions are in the Hadith, where the Prophet made explicit statements such as ‘Whosoever shall kill himself shall suffer in the fire of hell’ and ‘shall be excluded from heaven forever.’ It is also related that the Prophet refused the funeral rites to a person who committed suicide. A particularly poignant story is given by the Prophet describing an occupant of hell. This was a man who fought on the Prophet’s side, was wounded in battle, and, unable to stand the pain of his injury, fell on his sword. The Prophet remarks in a version of this Hadith that ‘a man may appear to people as performing the acts of an inhabitant of Paradise while he is [in the Hereafter] an occupant of Hell, and a man may appear to people as performing the acts of an inhabitant of Hell while he is an occupant of Paradise.” (Rauf 139). We can see from this that there really is no way to genuinely misinterpret God or the Prophet Muhammad’s stance on suicide. It would take the efforts of a severely psychologically dismantled person or group of people to reinterpret this in a way that reconciles, even promotes, concomitantly killing oneself and others for the reward of an eternity in paradise. To further unravel the logic of extremist groups, the lives being taken in acts of terrorism are innocent lives. They are not warriors waging wrongful war or tyrannical oppressors. The Quran states that, “God desires to be merciful to you, to make light of your burdens, for man is created weak. Do not kill yourselves; certainly God is ever merciful to you. And whoever commits this aggressively and unjustly, We shall cast him into the Fire; and this is easy for God.” (Quran 4:27-30). We can surmise that one of the prominent reasons why Muslim extremists have such a significant control over the global impression of Islam is due to the implementation of violence to promulgate fear. Since the actions of Islamic extremists reach such a wide and otherwise oblivious audience, many people get their first impression of Islam from these extremist groups and therefore formulate misconceptions and over-generalizations.

Over the course of this paper we have taken into consideration the many facets of Islamic life. We have looked at the origins of words like jihad and concluded that our presumptions, in many cases, turned out to be false. Jihad is not a call to violence, murder or war. It is not an authorization from God to attack innocent people. Jihad is a struggle. This struggle, in historical context, often meant an external struggle against violent oppressors or wrongfully waged wars. In this case, it would be a lesser jihad, or a “just war”. In the more common expression of jihad, it is an internal struggle, a psychological struggle with the self, with the ego, and with temptation. This extends to encompass a Muslim’s entire life as he or she presses on to overcome hardships and pursue a life worthy of Allah’s glory. This is the greater jihad. We unearthed many western misconceptions of Islam and took a rational look at how these misconceptions are arrived at and why we must put them to sleep once and for all. We compared scriptural references between the Quran and the Bible to develop a sober understanding of how unfairly we subject the Quran to scrutiny and criticism when ignoring the same brutalities found in the Bible. Lastly, we clarified the difference between Islam and Islamic extremism by bringing to light the reprehensible misinterpretations of the Quran committed by extremist groups in order to propagate fear and further their retrogressive and pernicious views. In order to extinguish extremism and inhibit further misguided and inimical conceptions of Islam, we must aspire to cultivate an atmosphere that is conducive to honest and informative discourse in an effort to properly educate people and spread understanding.

[hufflepuff-dreams-blog1]

Continuing..

@because-poseidon Hrothgar hosts a great banquet in honor of Beowulf. He bestows upon him weapons, armor, treasure, and eight of his finest horses. He then presents Beowulf’s men with rewards and compensates the Geats with gold for the Geatish warrior that Grendel killed. After the gifts have been distributed, the king’s scop comes forward to sing the saga of Finn, which begins with the Danes losing a bloody battle to Finn, the king of the Frisians, a neighbor tribe to the Danes. The Danish leader, Hnaef, is killed in the combat. Recognizing their defeat, the Danes strike a truce with the Frisians and agree to live with them separately but under common rule and equal treatment. Hildeburh, a Danish princess who is married to Finn, is doubly grieved by the outcome of the battle: she orders that the corpses of her brother, the Danish leader Hnaef, and her son, a Frisian warrior, be burned on the same bier. The Danes, homesick and bitter, pass a long winter with the Frisians. When spring comes, they rise against their enemies. Finn is then defeated and slain, and his widow, Hildeburh, is returned to Denmark. When the scop finishes recounting the saga, Wealhtheow enters, wearing a gold crown, and praises her children, Hrethric and Hrothmund. She says that when Hrothgar dies, she is certain that the children will be treated well by their older cousin, Hrothulf, until they come of age. She expresses her hope that Beowulf too will act as a friend to them and offer them protection and guidance. She presents Beowulf with a torque (a collar or necklace) of gold and a suit of mail armor, asking again that he guide her sons and treat them kindly. That night, the warriors sleep in Heorot, unaware that a angry mother is after them. As the warriors sleep in the mead-hall, Grendel’s mother, a horrible monster in her own right, descends on Heorot in a frenzy of grief and rage, seeking vengeance for her son’s death. When she falls upon and seizes a sleeping man, the noise wakes the others. The warriors seize their swords and rush toward her. The monster panics and flees, still carrying her victim, Hrothgar’s trusted adviser, Aeschere, in her grasp. Beowulf, having been given other sleeping quarters, is away from Heorot when Grendel’s mother makes her attack. By the time he arrives at the hall, she is gone. The warriors discover that she has stolen Grendel’s arm as well. Devastated with grief over the loss of his friend and counselor, Hrothgar summons Beowulf and explains what has occurred. He entreats Beowulf to seek out and kill Grendel’s mother, describing the horrible, swampy wood where she keeps her lair. The place has a magical quality. The water burns and the bottom of the mere, or lake, has never been reached. Even the animals seem to be afraid of the water there. Hrothgar tells Beowulf that he must depend on him a second time to rid Heorot of a demon. He says that he will give him chests of gold if he rises to the challenge. Beowulf agrees to the fight, reassuring Hrothgar that Grendel’s mother won’t get away. The warriors mount up and ride into the fens, following the tracks of their enemy. When they reach a cliff’s edge, they discover Aeschere’s head lying on the ground. The scene below is horrifying: in the murky water, serpents and sea-dragons writhe and roil. Beowulf slays one beast with an arrow. Beowulf, “indifferent to death,” prepares himself for combat by donning his armor and girding himself with weapons. Unferth loans him the great and seasoned sword Hrunting, which has never failed in any battle. Beowulf speaks, asking Hrothgar to take care of the Geats and return his property to Hygelac if he, Beowulf, should be killed. He also bequeaths his own sword to Unferth. Beowulf swims downward for the better part of a day before he sees the bottom. As he nears the murky lake floor, Grendel’s mother senses his approach. She lunges at him and clutches him in her grip, but his armor, as predicted, prevents her from crushing him. She drags Beowulf to her court, while a mass of sea-monsters claws and bites at him. Beowulf wields Hrunting, the sword lent to him by Unferth, and lashes at Grendel’s mother’s head, but even the celebrated blade of Hrunting is unable to pierce the monster’s skin. Beowulf tries to fight the sea-witch using only his bare hands, but she matches him blow for blow. At last, he notices a sword hanging on the wall, an enormous weapon forged for giants. Beowulf seizes the huge sword and swings it in a powerful arc. The blade slices cleanly through the Grendel’s mother’s neck, and she falls dead to the floor, gushing blood. The hero is very happy when a light appears, and Beowulf looks around, his sword held high in readiness. He spies Grendel’s corpse lying in a corner. Furious at the sight of the fiend, he decapitates Grendel as a final repayment for all of the lives that Grendel took. On land, the Danes lose hope when they see blood well up from the depths. Sure that their champion is lost, they return to Heorot in sorrow. Only the small band of Geats, Beowulf’s kinsmen, waits on. Back in the monster’s court, the blade of the giant’s sword begins to melt, burned by Grendel’s fiery blood. Beowulf seizes its hilt, which remains solid and, grasping Grendel’s head in his other hand, swims for the surface. He finds that the waters he passes through are no longer infested now that the demon has been destroyed. When he breaks the surface, the Geats are overjoyed as they advance to meet him and unfasten his armor. The group returns to Heorot in triumph. Four men impale the heavy head of Grendel on a spear and lug it between them. When they arrive at the hall, the Danes gawk at the head in horror and amazement. Beowulf presents the head and the sword hilt to Hrothgar, assuring him of his future security. Hrothgar praises Beowulf’s goodness, evenness, and loyalty, contrasts him with the evil King Heremod, and predicts a great future for him. He delivers a long speech about how to be a good and wise ruler by choosing eternal rather than earthly rewards. Hrothgar then promises to shower Beowulf with treasure the following morning. Another banquet ensues, with great feasting and revelry. After, Beowulf retires to get some much-needed rest. In the morning, he has Hrunting returned to Unferth and tells Hrothgar that he and his men long to return home to Geatland. Hrothgar praises Beowulf again, saying that he has united the Geats and the Danes in ties of friendship and loyalty. He presents Beowulf with twelve treasures. Despite his urgings that Beowulf return to Denmark soon, Hrothgar knows that he will never see Beowulf again. The Geats return to the coast, where they grant a reward to the watchman who has guarded their ship. They then sail back to Geatland and return to the hall of Hygelac. Beowulf and his men return to the magnificent hall of King Hygelac and to Queen Hygd, who is beautiful and wise, though very young. The teller of this story tells the story of the legendary Queen Modthryth, who “perpetrated terrible wrongs” against her subjects, torturing and even killing many innocent people who she imagined were offending her. Modthryth’s behavior improved, we are told, once she was married to the great king of the Angles, Offa. Beowulf and his men approach the hall, where the Geats, who have heard that their hero has returned, are preparing for his arrival. Hygelac extends a formal greeting while Hygd pours mead for the warriors. Hygelac asks Beowulf how he fared in the land of Hrothgar, recalling that he had known that Beowulf’s task would be a fearsome one and that he had advised Beowulf not to face such a dangerous foe. Beowulf begins his tale by describing the courteous treatment that he received from Hrothgar and Wealhtheow. He then prophesies an unhappy outcome to the peace-weaving engagement of Freawaru, Hrothgar’s daughter, to Ingeld the Heathobard. He predicts that the sight of the ancestral possessions of each worn by the kin of the other (the result of many years of warring and plundering) will cause memories of the deep and super long feud between the Danes and the Heathobards to surface, so that they will not be able to keep themselves from continuing to fight. Beowulf then tells the story of his encounter with Grendel. He particularly emphasizes the monster’s ferocity and the rewards that he received from Hrothgar. He relates the battle with Grendel’s mother as well. He then presents his king with a large part of the treasure given to him by Hrothgar, including suits of armor and four of the great horses. He gives Hygd a priceless necklace– the torque given him by Wealhtheow – and three horses. Beowulf is praised throughout Geatland for his valorous deeds and courteousness. Hygelac gives him a great deal of treasure and land of his own to rule. In time, Hygelac is killed in battle with the Shylfings, and the kingdom falls to Beowulf. For fifty years he rules the Geats, becoming a great and wise king. Soon it is Geatland’s turn to face terror. A great dragon lurks beneath the earth, jealously guarding its treasure, until one day a thief manages to infiltrate the barrow, or mound, where the treasure lies. The thief steals a gem-covered goblet, arousing the wrath of the dragon. The intruder, a slave on the run from a hard-handed master, intends no harm by his theft and flees in a panic with the goblet. The poet relates that many centuries earlier, the last survivor of an ancient race buried the treasure in the barrow when he realized that the treasure would be of no use to him because he, like his ancestors, was destined to die. He carefully buried the precious objects, lamenting all the while his lonely state. The defeat of his people had left the treasures to deteriorate. The dragon chanced upon the hoard and has been guarding it for the past three hundred years. Waking up to find the goblet stolen, the dragon bursts forth from the barrow to hunt the thief, scorching the earth as it travels. Not finding the offender, the dragon goes on a rampage, breathing fire and incinerating homes and villages. It begins to emerge nightly from its barrow to torment the countryside, still seething with rage at the theft. Soon, Beowulf’s own throne-hall becomes the target of the dragon’s fiery breath, and it is burned to the ground. Now an old king, Beowulf grieves and wonders what he might have done to deserve such punishment from God. He begins to plot his revenge. He commissions a mighty shield from the iron-smith, one that he hopes will stand up against the breath of flame. He is too proud to assemble a huge army for the fight, and, remembering how he defeated Grendel single-handedly in his youth, feels no fear of the dragon. The poet recounts the death of King Hygelac in combat in Friesland. Hygelac fell while Beowulf survived thanks to his great strength and swimming ability. Upon returning home, Beowulf was offered the throne by the widowed Hygd, who knew that her own son was too young and inexperienced to be an effective ruler. Beowulf declined, however, not wanting to disturb the order of succession. Instead, he acted as protector and guardian to the prince and supported his rule. Only when Hygelac’s son met his end in a skirmish against the Swedes did Beowulf ascend the throne. Under Beowulf’s reign, the feuding with Sweden eventually ceased when Beowulf avenged Hygelac’s death. Now, ready to face one last adversary, Beowulf gathers eleven men to investigate the area. They discover the thief who stole the dragon’s goblet and press him to take them to the barrow. They wish each other luck in the fight that will follow, and Beowulf has a premonition of his own death. On the cliff outside the barrow, Beowulf speaks to his men, recounting his youth as a ward in King Hrethel’s court. He tells of the accidental killing of one of Hrethel’s sons by another and attempts to characterize the king’s great grief. He describes the wars between the Geats and the Swedes after Hrethel’s death, recalling his proud days as a warrior in the service of Hygelac. He then makes his final boast: he vows to fight the dragon, if only it will abandon its barrow and face him on open ground. Beowulf bids farewell to his men and sets off wearing a mail-shirt and a helmet to fight the dragon. He shouts a challenge to his opponent, who emerges from the earth. Man and dragon grapple and wrestle amid sheets of fire. Beowulf hacks with his sword against the dragon’s thick scales, but his strength is clearly not what it once was. As the flames billow, Beowulf’s companions run in terror. Only one, Wiglaf, feels enough loyalty to come to the aid of his king. Wiglaf chides the other warriors, reminding them of their oaths of loyal service to Beowulf. Now the time has come when their loyalty will be tested, Wiglaf declares, and he goes by himself to assist his lord. Beowulf strikes the dragon in the head with his great sword Naegling, but the sword snaps and breaks. The dragon lands a bite on Beowulf’s neck, and blood begins to flow. Wiglaf rushes to Beowulf’s aid, stabbing the dragon in the belly, and the dragon scorches Wiglaf’s hand. In desperation Beowulf pulls a knife from his belt and stabs it deep into the dragon’s flank. The blow is fatal, and the writhing serpent withers. But no sooner has Beowulf triumphed than the wound on his neck begins to burn and swell. He realizes that the dragon bite is venomous and that he is dying. He sends Wiglaf to inspect the dragon’s treasure and bring him a portion of it, saying that death will be easier if he sees the hoard that he has liberated. Wiglaf descends into the barrow and quickly returns to Beowulf with an armload of treasure. The old king, dying, thanks God for the treasure that he has won for his people. He tells Wiglaf that he must now look after the Geats and order his troop to build him a barrow that people will call “Beowulf’s Barrow.” After giving Wiglaf the collar from his own neck, Beowulf dies. Beowulf lies dead, and Wiglaf is bowed down with grief at the loss of his lord. The dragon, too, lies slain on the ground. The poet briefly commemorates the beast’s end. Slowly, the Geatish warriors who had fled from the battle straggle back to the barrow to find Wiglaf still vainly trying to revive their fallen leader. The men are ashamed, and Wiglaf rebukes them bitterly, declaring that all of Beowulf’s generosity has been wasted on them. The cost of their cowardice, he predicts, will be greater than just the life of a great ruler. He suggests that foreign warlords will be sure to attack the Geats now that Beowulf can no longer protect them. Wiglaf sends a messenger with tidings to the Geats, who wait nervously for news of the outcome of the battle. The messenger tells them of Beowulf’s death and warns them that the hostile Franks and the Frisians will most certainly attack them. He expresses concern about the Swedes as well, who have a long-held grudge against the Geats; he relates the history of their feud and tells how the Geats secured the last victory. Without Beowulf to protect them, the messenger predicts, the Geats risk invasion by Swedes. The poet confirms that many of the messenger’s predictions will prove true. The Geats then rise and go to Beowulf’s body. They discover also the fearsome, fifty-foot-long corpse of the dragon. It is revealed that the hoard had been under a spell, so that no person could open it except by the will of God. Wiglaf recounts Beowulf’s last requests and readies the people to build his funeral pyre. With seven of the greatest Geatish thanes, Wiglaf returns to the dragon’s bier to collect the treasure that Beowulf bought with his life. They hurl the dragon’s body into the water. The pyre is built high and decked with armor, according to Beowulf’s wishes. The body is laid in and the fire is lit,the roar fights with the sound of weeping and crying. A Geatish woman laments Beowulf’s death and grieves about the war-torn future that she foresees for her people. The Geats place Beowulf’s remains on a cliff high above the sea in a barrow that will be visible to all passing ships. Sorrowfully, they recount that their king was kind and generous to his people, fair-minded, and eager to earn praise.

[pinksweatergettingbetter]

// y’know since I finished DD I've been trying to puzzle out why the ending was so unsatisfying, and I think I’ve figured it out 

First off, I felt really uncomfortable finishing off the phantom; I actually ended up feeling bad for him during his breakdown. But why, though? His breakdown is actually pretty similar to Matt Engarde’s (cowering behind the bench in fright, tearing up his face). In fact they’re both quite similar villains: They’re both responsible for kidnappings in some way, both could be considered sociopaths  and both pretending to be innocent.

However, where I hate Matt Engarde and take great pleasure in making him cry as I threaten to put him in jail or leave him at the mercy of an assassin... I don’t really feel anything towards The Phantom. I acknowledge his crimes were bad, but they don’t make me feel the same hatred, so I don’t really feel especially good taking him down.

In fact, the person I felt the most hatred towards in DD was Aura Blackquill, and her take-down wasn’t satisfying at all. 

So I think the main problem with this ending is similar to the reason why everyone mistakes Dahlia as the arch-villain of T&T

Lets think about her for a second; Dahlia isn’t the true villain of Bridge; its Godot (as the murderer) and Morgan (As the person who put the evil plan in motion in the first place)

But we hate Dahlia with a fiery passion. Why? 

Because she's A) Really Unpleasant, and B) She visibly hurt someone we care about as an audience. 

Godot doesn’t register as the main villain because his actions (though stupid, selfish and fucking awful) were based from a good intention (not really though) and his victim was someone so peripheral that it hardly matters. Hell, we don’t even know who she is and how she affects someone we relate to (Maya) until quite late in the case. (tbh I actually don’t know why people don’t hate Godot more; he put every one of the Feys in danger for his own shitty revenge and he sucks. But I’m getting off track...) 

Morgan doesn’t register as the main villain because she only appears in flashback and doesn’t do anything material. She’s still disgusting for treating her daughters that way and attempting to have Maya killed, but she doesn’t appear for us to hate.

So our hatred is laser-beamed at Dahlia, who is nasty, smug, and most importantly: She hurt someone we care about. We can see how much her actions destroyed Phoenix over the course of the entire game; his misfortune is the catalyst for us to hate her, along with what she had in mind for Maya. Same for Matt Engarde and Manfred von Karma; both of them visibly hurt and endanger Maya and Edgeworth respectively, who are characters we’ve come to sympathize with and love.

Nobody cares about Juan Corrida, Robert Hammond or Valerie Hawthorne/Terry Fawles’ deaths all that much because we don’t know them. If they had been the villains’ only targets, we wouldn’t have hated them as much. What makes them an Arch-villain is how they affect a main character.  Redd White and Morgan Fey (in her first appearance) become closest to arch-villains in their one-off villain roles because of their involvement with main characters.

But, returning to DD, the Phantom doesn’t actually... do that. Sure, he killed Clay, who was Apollo’s best friend, and Metis, Athena’s mother... But they’re such non-entities that it doesn’t trigger my sense of sympathy. Now I’m not saying non-appearing characters can’t have weight; but the way to do this is to have their presence made known through the actions or words of more important characters.

We can feel Magnifi Grammarye even if we’ve never met him because of the effect he had on Zak, Valant an even Trucy. We can feel Misty Fey because of DL-6 lore and Maya’s own grief. We can feel Celeste Impax because of how broken Adrian is over her death. Or at least we can at least feel bad for Adrian and hate Matt because of it.

But they don’t do that in DD; they set up their expendable characters very poorly. Clay obviously means a lot to Apollo, and we’d probably feel his presence through Apollo’s grief....... if we were allowed to actually see Apollo’s grief. He’s basically shoved out of the story after Clay’s death to ‘investigate it on his own terms’, so apart from a couple of lines, we don’t really see how much it hurts him in depth. Meanwhile, (and this frustrated me to no end) NOBODY else seems to give two shits about Clay. Even Solomon Starbuck, his mentor, is more worried about Athena during the case. He basically has a line or two of how much it sucks to lose Clay, then he totally forgets about him. 

I love Clay as a concept, but he’s drowned out by all the other grandiose plot elements and never given a proper funeral. So I find it hard to care about his death.

Metis gets things slightly better as Athena doesn’t go missing halfway through the game... but her death also only comes up pretty late in the game and, well... Her memories aren’t altogether great. As much as Athena says she loves her, she also explains her belief that her mother had been experimenting on her, and didn’t care much for her. And it’s fairly obvious that Metis Cykes wasn’t the most attentive of mothers, no matter what Simon Blackquill says to the contrary. Anyone who lets their naive 11 year old daughter play with heavy machinery is not a good mother in my books.  So I loose sympathy for her.

Oh! And the person who grieves for her most? It’s Aura Blackquill, who is so bitter, cruel and selfish that I like Metis even less just by association. 

So our main reasons to hate the Phantom don’t really stack up. Besides that, his previous bombings don’t actually have any casualties, unless you count what happened to the HAT-1 and Starbuck. At the same time, if I remember correctly, that’s actually the fault of Yuri Cosmos and the Government who allowed the launch even when there were threats from a spy. Good going, you guys. (that might’ve been the HAT-2 actually but tbh my point still stands.)

There’s no story-weight behind his villainous deeds. Also, there’s no malice; the Phantom doesn’t kill for the horrible reasons the other villains do. von Karma killed out of twisted and petty revenge, Matt Engarde was a vain and utterly self-absorbed monster, and Dahlia (and Morgan) were both selfish and hateful.

But the Phantom kills for two reasons; orders from a higher-up, and to protect his own identity. Sounds a lot like our Other Assassin, Shelly de-Killer, who I’m not sure anyone hates, really. (I dunno. I never hated him all that much) That obviously doesn’t make his murders permissible or forgivable in any way, but it lacks the spiteful motivation that makes us hate a villain. Phantom was just ‘doing his job’. Perhaps we’d hate him a little more if we knew the origins of his mysterious contractors.... but we don’t. We don’t even know if they’re evil. They could be the country’s own government for gods sake. Hell, even knowing that would add some intrigue. But we know diddly squat. He’s a nowhere man, living in a nowhere land, making all his nowhere plans for nobody. 

In any case. The Phantom doesn’t provide us with evil personality traits or close-to-home crimes. Who does?

Aura Blackquill, of course! She’s highly unpleasant, her motivation is selfish hatred for a child, her actions are ridiculously overblown and ill-timed (could’ve done something a little earlier than the day before the execution, eh, Aura?) and the person she kidnaps?

Trucy. Our precious darling Trucy who we’ve had an entire game to get to know, love and sympathize with. 

Of course I love (read: hate) how the game tries to play this off like it’s no big deal; Phoenix barely worries about her (in comparison to his constant stress/anxiety/near panic attacks over Maya in Farewell) and when she comes back there’s like 2 lines of her being all “Nah it was cool i just did magic tricks lol” Along with Aura asserting that “none of this could have been accomplished without me”. Yes, thanks Aura; none of this could have been accomplished without terrorism and kidnapping. You sure are a grade-A hero. 

So we finally come to the final point of the Phantom; his lack of emotions. Or his semi-lack of emotions, or... Well. DD doesn’t explain it very well. Does he have emotions? Does he not? Are they very minor, or does he control them very well (...somehow? You can’t suppress an emotion so much that it disappears; by the Mood Matrix logic, they’d still be able to hear it easily underneath.) 

Phantom gives the cliché spiel of “emotions make you weak”, until the heroes insist that they don’t. And then... He doesn’t go down with defiance? He doesn’t go down cursing emotion to his grave. In his last moments, something in our heroes’ words touches him and in a moment of self-reflection he tries to ultimately remember who he is. Most villains show no remorse, but the Phantom seems very close to perhaps taking a step in the right direction. He renounces his lack of emotions and gives in to fear, and his end is really honestly terrifying to watch (at least it was to me)

This might partially be that I still associate him with Bobby, who’s been pretty much my favourite character in and motivation for finishing the game. Whatever the case, the Phantom doesn’t really make me feel smug for defeating him. Just kind of... uncomfortable.

 Then he gets shot by the most amateur sniper in the universe (unless this is just another plan) and carted off to the Police. And so, with that ONE SINGLE TRIAL, the Dark Age of the Law is vanquished. Because that’s how Trust works. 

TL-DR; the DD team did a poor job of setting up concrete reasons for us to hate the phantom, making his defeat not particularly satisfying. Also the whole plot is garbage and i hate it but meh 

[hail-to-the-republic]

The White House • August 5, 2019

President Trump: ‘Hate has no place in America’

On Saturday morning, a wicked person opened fire on innocent families shopping at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas. Precious children were among the victims. The following day, another act of evil took place on a crowded street in Dayton, Ohio. These two horrible incidents left more than 80 people killed or wounded. 

Earlier today, President Donald J. Trump addressed the nation from the White House:

  The First Lady and I join all Americans in praying and grieving for the victims, their families, and the survivors. We will stand by their side forever. We will never forget. These barbaric slaughters are an assault upon our communities, an attack upon our nation, and a crime against all of humanity. We are outraged and sickened by this monstrous evil, the cruelty, the hatred, the malice, the bloodshed, and the terror. Our hearts are shattered for every family whose parents, children, husbands, and wives were ripped from their arms and their lives. America weeps for the fallen. We are a loving nation, and our children are entitled to grow up in a just, peaceful and loving society. Together, we lock arms to shoulder the grief. We ask God in Heaven to ease the anguish of those who suffer. And we vow to act with urgent resolve. 

Hate, in any of its forms, has no place in the United States of America. In the two decades since Columbine, our nation has witnessed one mass shooting after another. It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of such violence. America can and will rise to the challenge.

By taking action, “we will ensure that those who were attacked will not have died in vain,” President Trump said. He laid out those steps today:

First, Americans must come together in condemning racism, bigotry, and white supremacy. “These sinister ideologies must be defeated,” the President said.

Second, law enforcement must have all the tools it needs to investigate and disrupt any hate crimes or acts of domestic terrorism. President Trump has asked the FBI to identify any additional resources needed to confront these threats. Part of that effort includes fighting radicalization online.

Third, America must do a better job of identifying—and acting upon—early warning signs of violence. Today, President Trump directed the Department of Justice to partner with government agencies and the private sector, including social media companies, to develop tools to detect mass shooters before they act.

Fourth, we must stop the glorification of violence across society. It’s far too easy for troubled individuals to surround themselves with gruesome, grisly images on a daily basis. “Cultural change is hard, but each of us can choose to build a culture that celebrates the inherent worth and dignity of every human life,” the President said.

Fifth, our country must reform its mental health laws to better identify, treat, and—if necessary—confine individuals who may commit acts of violence.

Last but not least, we must ensure that those posing a great risk to public safety do not have access to firearms—and that, if they do, those firearms can be taken away through rapid due process. The President has called for “red flag laws,” also known as extreme risk protection orders, to keep weapons away from dangerous people.

These steps build upon important work that President Trump has already done to address the scourge of mass violence in America. Last year, Republicans and Democrats joined together to pass the STOP School Violence and Fix NICS Acts, providing grants to improve school safety and strengthening critical background checks for firearms. On the President’s orders, the Department of Justice also banned the sale of bump stocks.

Today, President Trump also called upon DOJ to propose legislation that ensures anyone who commits hate crimes and mass murder will face the death penalty.

“Now is the time to set destructive partisanship aside . . . and find the courage to answer hatred with unity, devotion, and love,” the President said. “Our future is in our control.”

President Trump’s Proclamation honoring the victims in El Paso and Dayton. 

  Watch: “In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry, and white supremacy.”

Photo of the Day

Official White House Photo by Tia DufourThe United States flag flies at half-staff atop the White House in solemn respect for the victims of the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio | August 4, 2019

Privacy Policy | Contact the White House | UnsubscribeThe White House · 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW · Washington, DC 20500 · USA · 202-456-1111

[gyrlversion]

The Jewish boy assassin who humiliated Hitler

Herschel Grynszpan, 17, murdered German diplomat Ernst vom Rath, 29, at the German embassy in Paris in 1938

Trembling uncontrollably with the shock of what he had just done, Herschel Grynszpan, a Jewish teenager, dropped the smoking revolver he’d bought a little over an hour earlier on that morning in November 1938.

It now lay on the floor of the German embassy in Paris, the price tag of 210 francs still tied on with red string.

‘I don’t intend to escape,’ he told those who grabbed him. As he was led away, he shouted out again and again his defiance: ‘Sales boches!’ (Filthy krauts!).

A few yards away, the victim of the shooting, a young diplomat of the Third Reich by the name of Ernst vom Rath, clutched at his stomach as blood poured from a shattered spleen and a pierced pancreas. 

He was alive but mortally wounded. Two days later, after an emergency operation failed to save him, he died.

His assassination was the pivotal point in a remarkable and little known story of one individual with the temerity to pit himself against the full might of the Nazi regime.

A new book tells how, against the odds and in the face of humiliating defeat, he won a sort of victory for which he’s rarely been recognised.

Brave, self-sacrificing Herschel Grynszpan was the pawn who was exploited by Hitler and his propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels as a tool in their persecution of the Jews. 

But then, in his own small way, he turned the tables and check-mated them.

His was a one-man crusade — though, in truth, he could barely be called a man. The self-confessed killer was no more than a kid, really; just 17 and baby-faced, as a photo taken at the scene of the crime shows, hunched in an over-sized trench coat and with the surly stare of an adolescent lost in his own thoughts.

Grynszpan told police that he murdered vom Rath because he had picked him up at the Place de la Republique and paid him for sex in a hotel room

A thin and frail youngster, he had come to France on his own two years earlier, in 1936, sent away from Germany by his parents who could see all too clearly the foul, anti-Semitic way the wind was blowing under the Nazis.

Discriminated against and abused, adult Jews could only leave if they surrendered all their possessions, but children were allowed to go without penalty, so the boy was shipped off to his Uncle Abraham in Paris.

But France was not the haven he wished for. He could not get a visa to enter and had to slip across the border as an illegal immigrant.

His application for a residence permit was turned down as the French government — unwilling to annoy its powerful neighbour and itself riddled with anti-Semitism — cracked down on Jewish refugees like him. He couldn’t get a job and had to live on a meagre allowance from his uncle.

A brooding type, with a hair-trigger temper and a tendency to depression, his mind focused, not unreasonably, on the increasing persecution of what, with tears welling from his eyes, he called ‘my people’.

Grynszpan’s murder therefore became a crime of passion rather than one with political motivations and he avoided a show trial 

‘We have a right to exist on this Earth,’ he insisted, yet ‘if you are a Jew, you . . . are hunted like an animal.’

With the French police on his tail in order to deport him, he went into hiding, locking himself into a small room in his uncle’s flat and always on alert for a knock on the door and a demand to see his papers.

News came from Germany that his family — who originated from Poland — had been stripped of all possessions and brutally expelled. 

With 18,000 others, the Gestapo had rounded them up, transported them by train to the Polish border and dumped them in no-man’s-land without money or food.

Grynszpan went mad when he heard.

‘The constantly gnawing idea of the suffering of my race obsessed me,’ he said later. He was determined to hit back in a very public way that would wake up the world to what was being done to Jews.

‘Germany’s conduct provoked me beyond measure. I wanted to create a stir.’

He’d never fired a gun before and the man behind the counter in the shop had to show him how to load and fire it. From there, he made his way on the metro to the German embassy down by the River Seine. 

He told the receptionist he had important documents to deliver to one of the senior diplomats and was shown into an office where vom Rath was sitting in a leather chair.

‘You’re a filthy kraut!’ he shouted at the top of his voice as he pulled out the pistol from and fired five shots. Then he waited, unresisting, for his chance to tell the world why he had done it and thereby expose the evils of the Nazis.

Brave, foolhardy, naive, self-sacrificial, suicidal: his action was all those things. But Grynszpan had made his point.

Except that it instantly backfired. He got publicity all right — but not the sort he wanted.

In Germany, Hitler was planning a nationwide terror attack on Jewish properties, to be disguised as a spontaneous outpouring of disgust at ‘World Jewry’ by the people. The assassination in Paris was just the pretext that he and Goebbels were looking for.

A trial date was set in May 1942, but as the time approached, the Nazi hierarchy grew increasingly uneasy. Goebbels conveyed his ‘grave doubts’ to a rattled Hitler, who had his closest henchman, Martin Bormann, announce that the trial was postponed to an indefinite date and Grynszpan had his victory

Herschel Grynszpan would be their unwitting scapegoat

The expert Nazi propaganda machine went into top gear, hailing vom Rath as a hero and a martyr for the cause (which was a lie, as privately he likened Hitler to the Antichrist). His assassination by a Jew had to be avenged.

‘The shots in Paris will not go unpunished,’ screamed Nazi party newspapers.

News of vom Rath’s death on November 9 unleashed what became known as Kristallnacht — the night of broken glass. Hitler’s brown-shirted thugs went on the rampage, ransacking and burning down thousands of Jewish-owned businesses and synagogues and randomly beating Jews. 

As the state-sponsored terror spread around the country, hundreds of Jews were killed and injured; 30,000 were rounded up and sent to concentration camps.

When, in his prison cell in Paris, he heard what had been done in retaliation for his crime, a grieving Grynszpan was devastated.

‘The thought that I caused this catastrophe brings me closer to madness,’ he wrote in despair to a friend.

Vom Rath’s state funeral — attended by the Fuhrer and broadcast live on the radio — wound up German indignation to breaking point, as Hitler and Goebbels had intended.

And perhaps, they plotted, there was an even greater propaganda victory to be won.

Nazi investigators set about trying to assemble evidence that he had not acted alone as he claimed, but was part of a Jewish-led world conspiracy.

Once proven, this, they reasoned, could be presented as the Jews declaring war on Germany and justification for the ultimate sanction being planned for them all: extermination in the death camps.

Meanwhile, Grynszpan faced a murder trial and the possibility of the guillotine. Frightened as any 17-year-old would be, he was still defiant and welcomed his day in court to have his say and damn the Nazis to the world.

That day never came.

Grynszpan languished in prison for 20 months, during which time the outbreak of war in 1939 pitched France against Germany.

In Berlin, he had not been forgotten. He still topped the wanted list, and a special Gestapo unit eventually tracked him down to a prison in Toulouse, where he’d been evacuated by the French.

He expected instant execution — a bullet or a noose. Instead, he was flown to Berlin and a basement cell in the Gestapo’s headquarters, where he was surprisingly well-treated. Not a hair on his head was to be harmed, for now.

He was to be the star of a show trial which would demonstrate that the Jews were the aggressors, not the Nazis, who had acted simply to protect themselves. This, Hitler was assured, would ‘strangle’ any foreign compassion for the Jews and justify his policy of exterminating them.

The intention, says author Stephen Koch, was that the Final Solution — the Holocaust, as it came to be known — would be legitimised.

When he realised he was being kept alive solely with some major propaganda purpose in mind, at the end of which he would likely be publicly hanged or beheaded, Grynszpan dedicated himself to preventing that show trial from happening.

At 17, he had wanted to make the whole world aware of his plight: now, he sought invisibility.

The tactic he adopted was one that had been suggested to him during his incarceration in Paris.

To get off the murder charge, his clever French lawyer told him, he should claim that his victim, the handsome but unmarried vom Rath, was a cruising homosexual who had picked him up on the streets and corrupted him. That’s why he had shot him — a crime passionel not a political one.

The very idea apparently baffled Grynszpan, an innocent in sexual matters. It had to be explained to him what a homosexual was (and did), and when he was told he laughed at what he saw as the absurdity of it.

He rejected the idea at the time, but now, two years down the line and in German custody, it seemed to him to be an excellent story to tell in court and cause maximum embarrassment to the Nazis.

The martyr and hero vom Rath exposed as a pervert? That would undermine any show trial and might even prevent a trial taking place at all.

So this was the new and tacky story he spun to his interrogators; that the 29-year-old diplomat had picked him up in the Place de la Republique and taken him to a seedy hotel for sex. Money had changed hands.

Afterwards, Grynszpan was ashamed and disgusted and wanted to end the liaison but he was constantly stalked until, out of exasperation, he went to the embassy to confront vom Rath.

There, tempers flared, insults were exchanged and he took out his revolver and shot him. In a further elaboration later, he said vom Rath had promised that, in return for sex, he would protect Grynszpan’s family in Germany, but then they were deported. That was another reason he killed him.

It was all a lie — and the young man’s Nazi interrogators knew it.

When told what his defence would be in open court, Goebbels railed at the story as absurd and insolent and, in his twisted logic, typical of squalid Jewish duplicity.

But dare he risk letting the story be aired in public and leaving a doubt in people’s minds? Allegations of vom Rath’s homosexuality would doubtless hog international headlines and, worse, muddy the waters of a Jewish plot.

One solution was for the court to go into secret session, thereby excluding the Press, to hear Grynszpan’s testimony. But then the whole idea of convincing foreign observers that his actions were part of a Jewish world conspiracy would be compromised.

A trial date was set in May 1942, but as the time approached, the Nazi hierarchy grew increasingly uneasy. Goebbels conveyed his ‘grave doubts’ to a rattled Hitler, who had his closest henchman, Martin Bormann, announce that the trial was postponed to an indefinite date.

Herschel Grynszpan had his victory. ‘The manoeuvres of one insignificant but clever Jewish boy’, as Koch puts it, had stymied the Third Reich.

He’d been used as an excuse for Kristallnacht but managed to avoid being presented to the world as a justification for an even bigger crime: the wholesale slaughter of millions of his people.

The callow youth — now a man in his 20s — probably never realised he’d won the duel of wits with his Nazi captors. All he was told was that the trial had been postponed but he had every reason to think it would eventually happen.

His precise fate is unknown. The best guess is that he was put to death in the autumn of 1942, probably in Sachsenhausen concentration camp. His Gestapo minders came there to get him, ostensibly to shift him to another camp.

But there was speculation among the other inmates that this was a fake transport and he was instead driven to Sachsenhausen’s execution block and disposed of.

His name had made headlines for the slaying at the German embassy, his face staring out from front pages around the world. He died in obscurity — but the fact remains that he outsmarted them all.

Hitler’s Scapegoat by Stephen Koch is published by Amberley, £20. © Stephen Koch 2019. 

To order a copy for £16 (offer valid to 23/3/19; p&p free), visit www.mailshop.co.uk/books or call 0844 571 0640. 

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[iluvtv]

Political Power Outage

We all know there is plenty to be outraged about these days. But I think it’s high time to make a vote for joy!

Maybe it’s feeling decidedly grown up while possessing very, very little responsibility. Maybe its the shit-storm that is the world and my very tiny confidence that there is much hope to cling to (I’ll try for a moment to muffle my cynicism here and at least make a rah of enthusiasm for the assumed effectiveness of Ms. Pelosi paired with the newly vacated Sessions). Maybe it’s just my nature. No matter what induces it I increasingly seem to give about zero fucks beyond my commitment to having and spreading this emotion.

JOY.

And when my own humor fails there’s more good TV than I know what to do with. If the apocalypse is near I hope the last thing that crashes at my house is the cable line and streaming services. This way I can at least sneak some uninterrupted guilt-free time to beat my way through at least like 20% of what’s  left on “the list.”

It’s not all jaw droopingly perfect (admittedly some of my most frequent followings are viewed through a somewhat evil eye whilst reading the news) but there’s just enough bullshit on all of our periphery to make even the most basic satire hard to truly fuck up.

Case in point: Modern Family (am I seriously not only still watching but still publicly talking about this show?! — If you don’t watch don’t start and I’ll be brief here, but….). This sitcom which was cutting edge when it premiered is now mainly sleepy and rather cliche. There’s a moment early in this season where Hailey actually says to a large black woman “thanks girl, your hair’s on point!” to which I was so baffled by I took to #blacktwitter in hopes of some dialogue on this exchange  only to realize black people don’t seem to bother with Modern Family #smarterthantheJews? (like how I managed to marginalize and generalize two “kinky-haired” minorities right there? Clearly I’m learning from the fine folks running our country these days...)

But my vote’s for joy so let’s address more positive matters; despite all odds Modern Family has still managed to take on White Boy Privilege with a delightful bit of charm (and underlying vitriol)…

The week of October 5th (noteworthy in as much as it aired during the Kavenaugh hearings) Modern Family ran it’s second episode of its 10 year  (and I assume finale) run with a certain je ne sais quois… not entirely shocking but certainly on par with my zero fucks ‘tude . When Jay wonders why Phil is being so rude to him Luke looks at his grandfather and earnestly retorts “I dunno, but its not easy being a white man these days. You feel me?” And yes, I do believe this line was written in at the very last minute as the Trump Boys raged against the machine (aka crazy women making it “so dangerous to be men these days”).

Similarly, when Alex wonders if she should continue her lifetime pursuit of a science fellowship or change career paths and become a singer she considers the money she’d be giving up.

Alex: “I could make half a million my first year out of school.”

To which her Grandfather wisely replies: “Wow, what are they paying male scientists these days?!”

In other “sitcoms that once broke the mold and now barely blip the controversy radar” news, Will and Grace took on the once taboo topic of sexual harassment with an avant garde “grace” I had yet to witness from network comedy. Last week Grace confronted her father for not knowing just how skeezy his bestfriend had been to her when she was in High School and even more to the point assuming that she had been the one at fault when the summer job she’d had for this man had gone sour. Unfortunately, the “inappropriate old man” experience is all too universally relatable and the layered approach to Grace’s trauma some 30 years later combined with her father’s eventual apology was a fabulously welcome and important commentary. But if all that’s too heavy for your bliss Karen’s lip synching to the Wicked Witch of the West Monologue will 100% make this episode worth it. 

Moving past the predictable sitcoms that are either ready to be retired or are newly resurrected is TV making me far happier. Since we can’t all get work visas and escape to Canada I guess you’ll have to settle on your couch for a few Canadian exports. First and foremost, Letterkenny, a special little satire I’d been planning on getting to for months. This show along with the Netflix debut of season 4 of Schitt’s Creek are so special they deserve a HAIL CANADA blog all their own so we’ll save them for a rainy day. Suffice to say they make me very, very happy. And if you too need joy run to them with open arms.

Speaking of shows worthy of quoting literally every line their genius writing staff composes (and fabulous actors deliver) while also being completely unafraid to address pretty much every single ‘Merica terror -- I finally got around to the first half of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s season 3. As per usual Tina Fey produces popular culture and political commentary entirely on the nose while still being rib achingly funny. I mostly appreciate that this show is entirely willing to offend everyone. As a human largely offended by politics as a whole I find this a hugely relatable and fantastic tactic.

Like in the season premier when sweet little innocent Kimmy, victim of years of captivity gets a sexual harassment suit filed on her (been there girl!)

Titus explains to Kimmy there is a reckoning going on even though she’s not “a Weinstein or the president” she still needs to watch her step.

“It’s not about you it’s about your coworkers.”

Advice we all need.

Or, when lily white, baby boomer, radical Lilian sits on her Brooklyn stoop  drinking malt liquor, holding her late husband’s ashes and lamenting to a young ethnic kid about gentrification her brown neighbor pushes back. The shift is lucrative for him: “I’ve gone from selling rock to powder.”

This is humor offensive on a bipartisan level, right?

The cleverness hardly stops at episode one though so don’t wait until the world is ending and all the power goes out (no please no!!!) sit down and get compfy, this may be the best season yet!

Just a quick PSA, do be wary of getting sucked into Netflix’s next recommendation. Algorithms aren’t nearly as wonderful as my suggestions. Just take Titus’ word for it...

“You know how Al Gore invented internet? He also invented a rhythm for it. It’s named for him and it learns about you and picks things you like.”

I die.

And to go completely off brand here I’d be especially remiss if I failed to mention one of my greatest TV joys these days: Meghan McCain’s return to The View! As a rather unlikely fan I suppose I’m just compassionate enough to appreciate the lengthy time the network allotted McCain to take to grieve “The Maverick” but good golly am I overjoyed to have the betch back at the table. Truthfully, I’m pretty enamored with the whole cast and their lively dynamic (how refreshing to listen to smart women respectfully discussing real issues — the empathy they bring to the current rhetoric is sorely hard to come by)! All cast considered, there is something marvelous about this girl who was raised so differently than me, with such different political ideals and yet I still just feel so connected to. She is an incredibly intelligent, well read, self-actualized bad girl. She speaks her opinions with conviction and poise and even though I mostly disagree with the sentiment I so aspire to argue with that kind of eloquence and confidence. I look forward to sipping a thimble of gin with her as I cook  dinner each night. Here’s to you (and your Pops) Ms.McCain! God knows the more divisive the country gets the more I rely on these women!

And if all that wasn’t enough my new satire god R. Eric Thomas (if you aren’t subscribing to his weekly email you fail at life) actually tweeted that my new Schitt’s Creek election t-shirt was “perfect”.

I guess we all can see satire was the real winner this (and every) week!