Jeremy-
First of all, isnt it a bit odd to be defending a country that, by your own admission, has a list of what fucked up regimes it likes the most? Wouldnt a country that, say, DOESNT have a list of what fucked up regimes it likes most be somewhat morally superior?
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I think that if the US had not invaded iraq, Iran would have the bomb by now. And this would NOT be in the interest of any peaceloving american. That is DANGEROUS!
Wow. Wild speculation on utterly unrelated occurences is great in any debate. Thats why I look forward to you and Snakes reply to the following:
If the terrorists hadnt rammed the Pentagon the Nazis would have won the war. That is DANGEROUS!
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Who said she had to be an Islamic Fascist? Her calling for blood could have nothing to do with her religion.
I believe I quote Keith Olbermann when I say ``What in gods name are you talking about, sir?``
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Well there were plenty of witch burnings but that phased out. The society reflects what most individuals of that society respect and cherish.
Thats a lovely non sequiter. The question however was whether you consider people that routinely attend public beheadings to be Westernized.
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Chances are that England, France, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Germany and Belgium used Christianity for the same reasons.
Alright so youve acknowledged that religion had something to do with it. Thanks. And please dont just say that they were used. If I happened to get nailed to a fucking cross Id kind of expect my friends to say something when George Bush went and made war in my name. Failure to speak up against something when youve been named as a party to it is collusion, and the Christian church has gone a lot further than simple failure to speak up.
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Communist Muslim is any oxymoron. You cannot worship an organized religion and be a communist.
No I guess you cant surely it must be
any oxymoron.
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I think this and this sums up what Lenin, Marx and dedicated communists thought/think of religion.
Thats because the church was the second biggest land owner in France and Russia after the monarchy. You have to consider the historical conditions under which they worked. Modern communism however can interact well with the church with Vietnam being a good example. Cuba allows worship despite officially being an athiest state, and the restrictions on the catholic church that do exist come from the churchs collusion in the bay of pigs invasion, not from acute anti religionism.
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However, you could also argue that the rewards of the religion in question (Islam) are for the afterlife, but Communism is for the current life on Earth, so they could be perfectly compatible as long as they remain separated like that.
If one followed communism on earth with its emphasis on sharing, equality, lack of competition (coveting, anyone?) etc, that sounds like it would be a step towards following the major western religious tenets.
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that is why Lenin/Stalin/Mao
Mao had to put down farmers? I was under the impression that the Cuban and Chinese revolutions were agrarian in nature. Silly me.
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My point is still very valid.
Ah but my point is very,
very valid. ZIIING!
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The basic principles of communist is against organized religion.
I`m going to assume that you mean ``The basic principals of communism are against organized religion`` In which case, having read the communist manifesto I can tell you that the basic principals of communism have nothing to do with religion. Its basically a foot note where Marx complains about how religions tell people that they should be good automatons and put up with whatever the oppressing class does to them because if they try to fight back god will be mad. You have to follow the basic principals of something, but foot notes are easier to ignore. Just ask George Bush when it comes to the constitution.
And US backed regimes, for instance Batista in Cuba and Diem in Vietnam have also had a history of crushing religion. Therefor the basic principles of the US are anti religious. But seriously. The established church will almost always get into trouble when theres a revolution whether communist or otherwise. For example the French revolution, the fascist takeovers in Italy and Germany, etc. Its not just communism.
As for Cambodia, I recall them getting their butts kicked by the NVA, AKA communist Vietnam.