The Icon, Doug Casey, discusses the Middle East and possible effects on precious metals.
It is a real pleasure to welcome back Doug Casey. I have learned more from him than anyone else in our business.
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Yup Tex,
You bring up a very interesting point.
I question whether those folks really want to die themselves. Easy to tell kids to go out and blow themselves up, but not the same to do it to yourself!
Big Al
Thanks for having Doug Casey …..always glad to hear him
WARNING BIG AL…..BEFORE YOU READ ANY FURTHER….GO HAVE A GLASS OF WINE….
MAYBE A BOTTLE….”THE INDIANS ARE RESTLESS…”
(disclaimor..any aformentioned nationality is made for entertainment purposes only,
and not ment to disparage any person, place or thing , concerning this warning label)
Its a sorry sorry – interview, when it comes to light that Iran is equated w/Iraq and afganistan. Totally agree w/your take on the former, but Mr. Casey and unfortunately are blind w.regard to Iran. As is Ron Paul for that matter. So Iran is too “rational’ to attack Israel???ey? One only has to look at what they Have done, w/o speculating. I love you Al, but I really wish you’d stick to precious metals with this sight
I am sorry to disagree with you Big Al and Ron Paul and Doug Casey, but frankly your collective view on foreign policy is about as scary as our government’s view on fixing the economy.
The U.S. is far from perfect, but the idea that Iran wants nuclear weapons to protect the status quo and not become an aggressor with that capability is naive at best. It is a theocracy who has repeatedly stated that it wants to eradicate the people of Israel. A big part of their belief is that martyrdom (or MAD) will be a glorious end for their believers.
We need to rebuild our economy and maintain our military strength. A change in the White House would be an incremental step towards those goals. As a country we have lost our way and we need to reclaim our values.
For many years, I’ve worried about the Iran regime’s tendency to ignore rational policy. Although those in power today might not use a nuke, I worry about those tomorrow. I’ve known a few “Persians” over the years, and one thing I’ve learned is the government there regularly tells whopping lies. They make the former Politburo look like soothsayers, and are so accustomed to releasing absurd yet unquestioned dogma, that I’m never quite sure what to think about the rationality of those who lead. There’s no way to know what they’re really thinking. Arresting of US hikers and British yachters, chasing naval convoys, regular executions by stoning, or executing victims of rape, government abductions, are all examples of why it’s hard to know what Iran’s government thinks or might do next. Say what you want about our governments and moral relatively, but I’m still pretty glad I grew-up on the chuck of rock known as North America.
MAD, worry of drifting fall-out, collateral destruction of co-located friendly settlements, etc. might not be enough with Iran. Or, they may use tactical nukes (surgically small blasts). Regardless, it’s pretty easy to armchair this stuff on a blog, but if you live in Israel, it’s not so theoretical.
I’ve always liked the missile defense programs. Hitting a bullet with a bullet was a tough challenge that is regularly derided, but there’s a reason it became a barnacle on Putin’s butt. It’s effective enough already to stop most mid and long range nukes. Selling MD to the right allies is a great contribution that makes money, not cost it, while addressing the problem of a nuclear strike in a manner more perfect than negotiating with a government that serves tripe.
I don’t usually disagree with Doug, but the Iranian angle is interesting. I certainly think there are too many unaffordable foreign interventions going on now and in the past, with blowback the supersedes any perceived benefits. It may have worked for a decade or two last century, until the banana republics caught on. Now, it’s destabilizing and costing huge sums, and not least, many lives. Defend with shields, imperfect they may be, because they will keep out 90%+ of the nuclear riff-raff, while always reserving the right to retaliate. The 90% is high enough that while it won’t stop all strikes , it’s high enough to prevent military objectives from being completed by the aggressor nation, yet ensures the defensive nation can retaliate at whatever level is needed. Call it force-MAD. There’s certainly little question that gold has found a new set of friends, in that of nations disenfranchised with the de facto US dollar standard for commodities.
I first started travelling the world in 1969 when the US was at war with Vietnam, and discovered even then that US imperialism was not appreciated in Europe. American travellers sought to get pins or flags from Canadians so as to be treated better. On a 9 month tour of Europe, I spent 7 weeks in Israel, including 3 weeks working on a kibbutz right next to the Gaza strip. As a history teacher and truth seeker, I spent time both with Palestinians and Israelis, and found the Palestinians more friendly and gentle than their “conquerers”.I have been to over 40 countries on six continents, have friends in Australia and NZ who tell me Americans are not liked but have to be tolerated because of economic and military clout. When an empire has military personnel stationed in 150 counties around the world, fomenting trouble everywhere, I find it hard to believe they’re doing that for altruistic purposes. America will get its comeuppance at some point and the cheers around the world will be deafening. Not that anybody else is any better. Power corrupts. The framers of the American constitution were astute and brilliant men, but hubris and lust for power have gotten the better of them, as Eisenhower warned. We live in very worrisome times.
Arnie D,
Those comments are brutally honest – it seems -…as a son of a WWII vet and 3 uncles who served in the Euro and Pac theatres, war for war sake is VERY tiresome and disconcerting to me. There is no clear and present danger? Not yet? People are betting that Iran will or will not use nukes. Who REALLY knows?! I am sorry, BUT let Israel make that call. It is not OUR call. Sorry, but we got TONS of “nuclear bombs” going off in our own backyard. Now on the flip side, Iran has been very clear about their intentions toward Israel and the rhetoric has been frightening. Israel is very jumpy right now – and they have every right to be! Now where do go from here? I really don’t know and quite frankly neither does any sane, rational person. Geopolitics, like technology is moving VERY rapidly. GOD help us, because it seems that this in, all probability, will not turn out well for mankind. The “SON of MAN” warned us that there will be ‘wars and rumors of wars” until the end of time – dont weep for ME (the LORD), “weep for poor Jerulsalem and Palestine, etc., etc and all others that use and live by the “sword’ – because if we continue down this road we will ALL be slayed by it. Not to be a smart a____, but I am glad the Central Bankers don’t have control of the nuclear bomb “button”. They have done enough damage already!
All the best???
Marc
Appreciate your comments, Arnie D.
Very well put.
Excellent interview, Israel and the US are in the process of being exposed for their true motives!
JUSTOIN – perhaps you think this is a Rothschild Zionist website. Go to silverdoctors.com or silvergoldsilver. com. You will love them.
Re:Arnie D – kibbutz people are not a good sampling of Israelis. They only represent 2% of Israelis. They are a tough, hardy bunch.
Are New Yorkers a good example of Americans? I think not.
But you are right. The Israelis are conquerors and the palestinians are the conquered. And so it was and so it shall be.
When it comes to imperialism re: invading countries, displacing people, imposing a language, the Europeans are masters at that.
I assume you live in North America. Therefore, your ancestors conquered the natives of this land or those that came after benefited from it. They do not feel ashamed. But those ” conquerors” should be. Why?
Australia – another land where the natives were ” conquered” or at least were round up, raped and displaced.
Just helping you improve your knowledge of history.
We are in Kondratieff winter. Do you really expect anything other than war?
Why?
You are right to expect war, but that doesn’t make it right or necessary. Governments use war to consolidate power over their subjects. Between wars they go about creating boogeymen in order to exploit the fears of the people. The last thing any government wants is to be seen as unnecessary.
It’s all about increasing power and making money. always has been; always will be.
we should bomb Israel and Larijani has clfairied that it is not our policy and certainly not militarily. What he meant was that the good will prevail on evil in the end. This is a Shiite Islam worldview and is not literal nor is it immediate. The shiite Imams were killed centuries ago and the Shiite Islam is still in hope of eventual victory over those who have usurped their rule. However, the nuclear technology is of far more strategic importance without even being used for weapon development. Iran has no nuclear weapons and it is agreed among experts that they are not yet building weapons. The point is that I feel that the question of weapon development will never become crucial as we are going to be bombed far before the capabality is matured.So the whole point is? Well, everyone can form his or her opinion on why a counry chooses to go down the road to destruction. It is not easy to figure this out and it needs considerable knowledge about the world and most importantly about the people who live in this world. I have formed my own ideas.In my current old age there are very few things that can impress me, but still it is pleasantly interesting to be treated to kind words, good cop,,, you know what, it is the right thing to do, just like the war itself.
Al, you and Doug are exactly right. It’s funny and irrational that so many accept the opposing view fed to them by organizations which have proven untrustworthy. The gullible masses are played like a fiddle every single day.
The warmongers who think that they are “real” Americans would have a dilemma if they understood that such perpetually expanding militarism would be impossible without the foundation of all socialism — fiat money.
“One can say without exaggeration that inflation is an indispensable intellectual means of militarism. Without it, the repercussions of war on welfare would become obvious much more quickly and penetratingly; war-weariness would set in much earlier.” – Mises
“Collectivism is a doctrine of war, intolerance, and persecution. If any of the collectivist creeds should succeed in its endeavors, all people but the great dictator would be deprived of their essential human quality. They would become mere soulless pawns in the hands of a monster.” – Ludwig von Mises
Today, even most republicans are collectivists. For those who don’t know, socialism, communism, and fascism are all forms of collectivism.
ONLY Ron Paul can beat Obama. ONLY Ron Paul can put the U.S. on the right track. The media and the GOP machine are doing their best to hide this fact.
Mathew, in all due respect, Ron Paul is not the man the USA needs at this moment in history to be President..
I believe that Ron Paul deserves the highest or most important financial position in the American govt. The govt needs him to audit the fed and tell the people where the &^%$ is the gold and your money.
The muslims want a war. Their Coran obliges them, in all due respect to Mr Casey. The Coran is anything but logical.
Americans and Europeans never deserved to be kidnapped by muslims.
For hundreds of years Europeans were kidnapped and taken to muslim lands.
Please look up Barbary Coast.
Due to high seas UNPROVOKED muslim terror, The Americans created the marines and the navy as a result.
A President should be a special person.
The only real man I could see being a President, would be Peter King.
A POTUS must be a special leader. Willing to tell the truth, not avoid issues. He must be confrontational at times and say and do what must be done.
Clip: Israel gave birth to Hamas??? Ron Paul said it.
Maybe Israel gave birth to Sammy Davis Jr. or Moses, but not Hamas.
http://thecanadiansentinel.blogspot.com/2011/12/bizarre-ron-paul-claim-israel-created.html
I told you he’s cracked.
I know that Americans are sick of hearing about Israel and Jews. But Americans hate muslims more, thank God.
In this clip, he reminds me of Joseph P Kennedy, blaming the Jews for the rise of Nazism..
KEEP STACKING FOLKS. UGLY TIMES AHEAD NO MATTER WHOM YOU WISH TO FOLLOW.
Of course I will receive a lot of mean comments.
Mr King has recved a lot of hate mail and has been called an anti muslim fanatic ad infinitum..
Jim Sinclair just did that recently. But brave Jim is tucked away in Connecticut
(taken from the Indian tribes that were there before being displaced). I doubt a muslim lives in his neighbourhood.
But it must be said that the US media is very anti Ron Paul. They do their best to ignore him.
USA must cut back on foreign aid. Where is the logic in borrowing from China, Brazil, Russia, etc.. and forwarding the funds to Arab Movements?
Let us all pray for the USA. Man’s last hope for humanity.
Arnie D – What has Australia ever given the world? George Lazenby? I already know how to snort coke.
JB- You said: “I believe that Ron Paul deserves the highest or most important financial position in the American govt.” You can’t have it both ways. RP can’t do anything to help the financial condition of the U.S. without addressing military spending. A currency crisis is infinitely scarier than Iran. Again, how can so many people believe all the nonsense coming from the very people who gave you the NDAA and the patriot act? These people refuse to tell the truth about anything. Everyone criticizes them on some issues, then swallow everything they say on other issues. I guess this lack of critical thinking is to be expected after a generation of government control over education.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUrX9t9v3rY
Matthew,
You know I appreciate your views and opinions on finances, currencies, gold/silver, investing, etc. You are way ahead of me. Just have to make a point, however, with your comment above re. Ron Paul. “RP can’t do anything to help the financial condition of the U.S. without addressing military spending”. While those two things are related, they are not inseparable. Even in our gov’t, these tasks are handled by different people and committees, so the same person would not necessarily have to be responsible for both. RP could be very useful in helping bring about a sound money policy, currency, etc. But, dealing with military spending, is another matter entirely. That has to do with where and how to appropriate our nation’s budget. In my house, i handle where and how to invest/grow our money, but my wife handles the finances, paying the bills, appropriating monies, etc.. both related, but not necessarily having to be done by the same person. So, I think you could have it both ways. Just a difference of opinion, that’s all. BTW, I agree wholeheartedly that a currency crisis is scarier than Iran, or any other country, and I think getting that dept in order is a priori, numero uno! Best.
castanheiro,
My wording should have been clearer. What I meant, and still maintain, is that military spending must be addressed by someone. The military budget is huge and unsustainable. Sound monetary policy would be impossible without massive cuts in many places. The government spends far more than it collects in taxes. The longer this goes on, the weaker the dollar will get. I’m talking about lost purchasing power, not its strength relative to some other mismanaged currency like the euro. The current path would be impossible without the current (socialist) monetary system to facilitate wealth transfers – by inflation and debt – from productive sectors to destructive ones.
We are in the middle of the biggest (global!) wealth transfer in history, and so far, the military industrial complex has been one of the biggest beneficiaries. Nothing destroys a currency as quickly as deficit spending, and there’s been a lot of it in the last decade. It amounts to money out of thin air, and those who get the new money first reap the biggest benefit. Debt and deficit spending will continue to explode under Obama, Romney, Newt, or Santorum. I guarantee it. So the U.S. cannot have it both ways. Freedom, or military dictatorship? I think we already know the answer, and the people are endorsing it by not endorsing RP.
Best to you.
Remember too that presidents don’t invoke national policy by themselves (perhaps not at all…it’s those men behind the curtain, and to a lesser extent, the 534 lunatics running about in DC, Paul excepted). If one presidential candidate doesn’t have a strong enough stance on military spending, or too much on financial responsibility, I’m still not sure how much it really matters as they will be obfuscated by the rest of government. Given that, I’d rather have someone in office who at least understands Austrian economics, personal responsibility, and does not hold the constitution as ‘obsolete’, as mentioned by a guest in one of Al’s pieces two weeks ago. They may be able to hit the brake peddle a little, rather than the accelerator as we approach the cliff.
Mathew – you are a Paulestinain. You are a robot with limited brain capacity. You area Ron Paul koolaid drinker.
Ron Paul is not Presidential for this age.
After the muslims have been vanquished then Ron Paul could be the President and audit the fed and bring the troops home.
We all know that the West is broke and our leaders are corrupt.
JB-
You are an ignorant brainwashed peasant. When you see guys like Jim Rogers, Lew Rockwell, Jim Grant and countless, brilliant others who are at the top of their game, throw their support to Ron Paul, does it ever occur to you that perhaps it is YOU who might be missing something? I think not, as you are dominated by your ego and fear.
To illustrate the fact that only fools assume anything, it might interest you to know that I don’t care who wins, and have never voted in my life. I speak of RP the way I do only because he recognizes what those with a brain already know – the truth. It is obvious that he is the only candidate who isn’t a sociopath and/or an idiot – which is why you don’t like him. Based on your insane rants that began here about a year ago, I would be shocked if you ever came to your senses. Ron Paul is WAY out of your league, both intellectually and morally. But that’s not saying much.
reading the prior post..you would think…..THIS SEGMENT TURNED OUT TO BE THE “DOOM , GOOM, NO BOOM” report…
Al, you better get a new topic to cover for tomarrow, the Indians are restless….
How about covering the SWIM SUIT ISSUE….(,no, that may take some extra covering).
you better forget that thought….how, about greek real estate….
…
Jerry
You crack me up! Where is the hell is Mr. Irish……damn!
Marc
Marc…..how are you doing….thanks for comment….
I sure hope Irish is ok, maybe, we worked him to hard
with all the BBC reporting, maybe the queen called into active
duty.
Doin good and it seems you are too.
Marc
Hi Matthew,
I agree with you 100%. We are indeed in deep doodoo, and appreciate the clarification. Excellently put.
The only nuclear capable entity that have ever used it for warfare -US of A.
Iraq-one million dead,four million displaced.
Israel has hundreds of nukes and the Yanks have thousands.
Israel and America have the most advanced weapons systems in the world.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/spending.htm
The Americans and Israelis have more than enough capabilities to keep Iran-and everybody else on the planet save China and Russia-in permanent check.
looks like the West has shot itself in their own knee once again – trade boycotts usually have this outcome – as the Iranians retaliated and are cutting off their oil flow to the EU right away; They have a scarce resource and everyone wants to buy it anyway – and probably not even in US $ anymore.
Doug Casey has said before the US Military, by far best in high tech is like a hammer and all else starts looking like a nail – of course only as long the nuke option is not activated by some real terrorists.
And now the US is looking for terrorists inside their own population, is fighting undeclared wars around the globe and is going broke at parabolic pace; And so does the rest of the former “WEST”, while being indoctrinated and swamped by Wall Street’s 100dred’s of trillions of derivatives and in particular CDO’s, which can never stand the light of the day, though this toxic tsunami remains hidden in off balance sheet structures for now?!
If, and it will surface by bad luck or worse black swan events most of major US major banks will totally go down the train and will take the rest with them, including the international monetary system.
When Saddam Hussein mentioned trading Oil outside the US$/Saudi Agreement he’ s
sealed his fate; With the islamic state of Iran (BTW – have had great ties to some great ole people their under the Shah times and lived there for a while in 1960’s), as much as I hate and what has become of it – like slums and dumps all over the old beautiful country and towns, including the shores of the Caspian Sea – a paradise lost – it seems the islamic retro- revolution back in 1978 is still strong enough to even subdue by force their own green revolutionairies. Eventually, Iran will also fall as Syria will and as we’ve been talking about an arabic spring, we should have been talking about an arabic winter (Kontratieff?), taking the West to task. Europe hosts about 10 – 20% of islamic immigrants; France is leading here, UK, Germany runner ups.
What is happening in Islam today is probably the repercussion to the medieval crusades, before the (arch-catholic) Spanish Inquisition, burnt, beheaded and quartered their best people! Though we didn’t stone them, ha, what a relief.
Well, it seems we don’t have to as WSt. is doing the nasty job to reap havoc and destruction among its clients, big or small, Corporations or sovereign nations; They can’t care less and as someone said the bought and paid for governments will go to any length to keep the status quo in place.
Are you prepared for this kind of future? No one can be, though at least doing everything possible to survive, financially, physically and psychologically and then hope for the best, as times will get ugly and we’ll cope with rest.
Hey Big Al,
You woke me up with this Casey interview. Boy, I guess Israel and the US deserve whatever happens to them, because it sounds like most people feel we have been the provacateers, and these Arab nations wouldn’t hate us if we hadn’t gone over there and messed with them. Wow! what rubish!! This is one area in which Ron Paul is completely mistaken and doesn’t understand the nature of the threat from Islam.
So, Ok then. If Doug Casey is right, then Iran loves Israel, doesn’t want to do them any harm and just wants to get along,,,But those nasty Israelis just won’t leave them alone,, hummmmm? Yeh, the Israelis are always talking about driving the Iranians into the sea and wanting total anihilation of the Arabs, bombing them on a continual basis, no regard for human life. Yep, those bad, bad, bad Israelis. Oh,,, wait a minute,,, I’m confused. Right, it’s the other way around… It came right out of his own mouth, that Achmedinajab wants to “push Israel into the sea and totally wipe the Jews off the face of the map”…..but, Casey says Iran would never use a nuclear bomb on Israel, although Israel might use one on them?,,,, huh??? Well, Mr. genius Casey, if Israel has 200 nuclear missiles, why haven’t they done it already?? They have the capability, the opportunity, and a cause. It should be easy to take Iran out, especially if they don’t have nuclear capability. Israel does and has always shown tremendous restraint. But do they get any credit? No way! Some how, it’s always Israel’s fault. Horsecrap!!! Casey makes no rational sense at all. But he claims to know more about the Iranians than they know about themselves I guess, and he knows what their real intentions are, even if they have said they want Israel’s total destruction, he knows they don’t really mean it! Hah!! What a joke he is!! Casey reveals his unadulterated hatred of the Jews. No credibility at all! I for one, will stand with Israel!!
OY VEY!
Well it seems like everybody has said just about everything there is to say about whatever the questions where. I like this site. Most of the people here agree on nearly everything that I hold to. But when all agree, then no one is really thinking. Sure Iran has super crazy religious fanatics, but the term religious: is a careful follower of one`s belief. And being religious could be applied to just about anyone. And being a fanatic is being a fan, so we here are kind of `super bugs` on gold, silver &/or religious fanatics too, but for making money and the like. But here we have restraint, we have reason, Iran and to more extent Obama wants total control at all cost it seems. Now we can`t control Iran as to what they want, let Israel and the Arabs do what they need do there, they are the ones living there. Here we have Obama he`s a person we can deal with just perhaps that can be voted out of office. And here is Ron Paul the only clear choice we have to rid ourselves of an odious unreasonable nearly insane man–Obama. Lets have some John Adams type reasoning here at home. Besides we are so broke and destroyed in this country.
I thought it was a good interview.
I have read that Iran did not say anything about wiping isreal out. What they said is they wanted a change of government. How do I know?
The koran crazy, from what I read it was fairy tales, didnt read it all.
But I dont think much of religions, the christians for example have deuteronamy which sayd to kill people that dont think the way they do.
I also never understood how they can hold a person that was a mass murderer at the least in such high regard. I just dont like religions, any of them.
As for believing what is said by governments, no weapons of mass destruction in iraq,
among many others, means I dont believe a word of what our governments say so how can I trust what they say about Iran? All I know is when governments are believed alot of people die, happens alot with religions too.
Always enjoy Mr. casey, thanks Al.
Hi Benb,
The Bible doesn’t read like a novel. You can’t read it carelessly or casually and expect it to make much sense. It describes the very nature and character of the Creator and how mankind screwed everything up, and how God planned for a Redeemer, His Son, Jesus Christ, to provide a way for man have his/her sins forgiven, and to be restored relationally to his/her Creator. It is not an open book as a whole. Much of it is closed to the natural man. It is Spiritually discerned or understood, so that’s why it doesn’t make sense to you. God cannot be fully comprehended by puny, little you and me. However, if you are serious about knowing Him, and you embark on an honest and humble quest to find Him, He will reveal Himself to you in the pages of the Bible. Most of life doesn’t make sense until you come into a right relationship with your Creator. Best to you.
Just start reading John`s gospel its the best place to find Jesus, and when you believe in your heart and confess him with your mouth you will be saved. Whosoever shall call upon his(Jesus) name, shall be saved.(Romans10:9-10,13).I did it when I was just 12 years of age, but I also asked to speak better and the Lord filled me with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave me utterance.(Acts 2:4). I pray in tongues to this day. Having Jesus has helped me with everything in Life, even to pray for deliverance for others in all kinds of conditions of life, seeing gays set free in his name, binding and loosing in prayer to change the visible world. So my God is alive and well, the gods of others are bringing them closer to deaths door, with no visible changes in their lives, except misery and sorrow.
I am all for you moving to Israel,Castenheiro.
Three years mandatory military service and yearly military service for the rest of your life with 24 hour call up each and every day of the year.
You will do well there,standing with them.
Good luck.
Like Arnie D,I have spent time living in Israel and I have travelled the world,having been to sixty odd countries multiple times.
Castenheiro,read Arnie’s post again and maybe start by asking some questions.
A few decades abroad might help you form some new opinions,as well.
Hey Guys,
This is the type of intelligent bantering that you would see by the founding fathers…what the hell has happened in the last 225 years? Who knows , but it ain’t good – it ain’t good at all!
Marc
Ooppps – 236 years, who’s counting.
According to Shirin Shafaie, writing for CASMII Media Watch On Forbes dot com, rereotpr Claudia Rosett wrote that she and President Abdullah Gul of Turkey sipped tea and had a disturbing talk that it resided next to one of the world’s roughest neighbors, Iran.For his part, President Gul published a press release stating: Following today’s reports by some press organizations that Mr President gave an interview to the Forbes Magazine, the announcement below was deemed necessary: Neither today nor in the past has Mr President ever given any interview to the Forbes Magazine. We respectfully inform the public.’ Moral of the story: don’t believe everything you read in the MSM, on line, in blogs, anywhere. Check the sources, cross-check information, evaluate the prior acts and credibility of parties presenting the information.Rosett is presently Journalist-in-Residence for Foundation for Defense of Democracies, the current project of ideologues formerly associated with neoconservative think tanks and publications, such as Michael Ledeen, Marc Gerecht, James Woolsey ,,, the usual suspects.
Hi MattB,
You don’t have to agree with me. That’s fine. BTW, spent sixteen years growing up in Brazil. Have spent time in Colombia, Venezuela and speak 4 languages. I’m quite diversified cultuarally and linguistically. I guess if you were a small country, surrounded by hostile nations much larger than you, you would have to conscript all able bodied men and women into service, and be able to call them up at a moment’s notice. For having lived in Israel, you are woefully ignorant of their precarious survival. They are under constant threat and assault, but then again, you know that. After all, you lived there. You’re on the wrong side of this ‘trade’ MattB!
For the record,I support the Jewish people’s right to exist anywhere they so choose.
It is a matter of small importance to some that Rothschild chose somebody else’s land and had the support to implement the plan.
Of course,a zionist created state is what Israel is today and many are confused with ancient Israel,Zionism and the modern state of Israel.
castanheiro/dennis
I respect that people choose their gods goddesses etc. I understand a little bit of it, I have 2 nefews that are pastors.
Jesus is mentioned many times and held in utmost respect in the koran and elsewhere too.
I personally like his teachings, I dont feel they are followed.
Too much pediphilia in churches for my taste and too much division beginning with the constantine debate about whether jesus taught reencarnation or not. The first division, with those saying he did going east and the no side west. If they couldnt understand the teachings then how on earth can the leaders now? But the thing I dislike most is that the “followers” sit around and talk about jeses all day instead of doing his teachings. They dont see whats goinin on. The 1 teaching I wish they would follow is “moneychangers” Its been 2 thousand years think there is a chance they will start soon? I dont think so. But mostly what doesnt make sense to me is “do what I say or I burn you forever” and I love you. Imagine if we took a torch to our own children, just abusive and I dont like hurt or pediphilia, too much of it with religion for me. But I do respect a persons right to choose their gods. I believe if the religions of the world looked at their basic teachings from their prophits and gods they would find they are very similar and no need to fear the others. The wacko stories in some books are just that. wacko. maybe their stories are ment to teach somthing. dont understand why figureing out not to hurt people needs so much writing and discussion tho. Anyway I am happy you guys found somthing that comforts you but its just not my thing, guess I agree with John Lennon.
Hi Benb,
Since you went to great lengths to posit your hesitations as to why you don’t like religions, I feel compelled to offer some observations. First let me explain something about myself. I am 51 years old. I have been a Christian, a Christ-follower, since the age of 6. I am not anywhere close to perfect, full or warts, flaws, and imperfections. What I am going to say to you may seem harsh, but it is just that I am fairly straight-forward, and my hope is that you will appreciate that. I will try to be clear and not mince words. I have argued, debated, discussed, and talked with skeptics, agnostics, atheists, Satanists, Wiccans, and just about every kind of follower of any belief system out there, and yes Muslims too. I have often been discouraged and disappointed following long and exhausting exchanges, in which I have, as clearly as I was able, laid out the plan of God for redeeming mankind to Himself, through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. I have found, over the years, that in most instances, no amount of evidence or proof for the existence of God and the meritorious work of Christ on the cross was sufficient to effect a transformational change in the other person. And what I have discovered is this, and it’s really so basic that it is often rejected as too simplistic. People who reject Christ, do so, NOT because of insufficient proof or lack of evidence, NOT because of an inability on their part to comprehend the love of Christ shown to them, NOT because Christians are hypocrits, or a lack of perfection on the part of its adherents, BUT, very simply, it is because they are NOT willing to bow the knee to Christ in submission. It is pure and simple rebellion against their Creator, and NOT a lack of evidence. You see, rebellious man wants to retain some degree of respectability, so he masks his rebel nature behind descriptive terms like agnostic or skeptic. A skeptic is someone who is so full of his own pride, that while shaking his fist toward heaven, he tries to get everyone to acknowledge his honorable status as a seeker, while he trampels the evidence underfoot and pretends its not there. Skeptics, agnostics, and atheists are disengenuous. Again, it is nothing more than one refusing to submit their will or life to Christ. In reference to your last comment, “Anyway I am happy you guys found somthing that comforts you but its just not my thing”. I didn’t find HIM. Christ found me. He does the seeking and pursuing, and He is pursuing you too, Benb. He does the searching for us. It’s up to us to respond in faith and believe in HIM. And by the way, being a Christian is probably the most difficult thing to try to live out. It is not the easy road. If I wanted easy, I would have rejected Christ and lived my life according to my own desires and ideas. Best to you.
I have read all comments above and it is evident that a significant number of people, not necessarily the majority, have thinking that is still influenced by the main stream whether this be media, schools, books or other people. Emotions run high when people think or talk religion, but this is a very dangerous position to take.
I have visited and stayed in many nations around the world, five continents with Antarctica and Australia excluded. There is one fact I know, the great majority of people living in these nations are good, it is often their leaders, rulers and elite that are bad. This issue with Iran is not between the people of Iran and the US, it is between the rulers of Iran and US. Very bad to perhaps evil people are in control of the US and Iran, these are the people who are the true enemies of the people in both Iran and US. Anyone who supports government actions or plans by either Iran or US governments in agitating for war, are just as bad as those who start it.
Clay very good comment.
You are absolutely right, Clay.
Clay,
You are so right. Thank you for clear thinking.
Well said Clay.
DITTO, I completely agree 1000%.
Marc
MAD works when both sides wish to survive. Religion was not a factor in MAD between the USSR vs USA, whether would be the case in of Iran is unclear given the concept of the Occultation is uncertain. I suspect the “best” outcome is to allow all the Middle East to get nuclear weapons in one great MAD standoff……time go to watch Dr Strangelove.