April 6, 2011

I woke up at 9, had tea and granola for breakfast. Then I rested until lunch, I had a bowl of left over pasta. After lunch I continued to rest, I’m absolutely exhausted today for some reason. I did manage to work up enough energy to continue my exercise regiment. After that I had dinner, chicken Parmesan with Italian rice. It was quite good.

I also had a brief exchange with a Syrian friend of mine who asked me why I always qualified critiques of Islam with similar critiques of Christianity… The implication being that I was going too easy on Islamic fundamentalism. Well It wasn’t the first time I was accused of that, but it is the first time I was accused of it by a Muslim. I responded by clarifying that I’m very much against all forms of fundamentalism especially Sunni  wahbist and the Shiite Iranian regime schools of Islamic fundamentalism. I also pointed out that my habit of pointing out the similarities between Muslims now, and Christians in the past is based on recognition that it was secular society that reformed Christianity and Judaism, not moderate Christians and Jews, who were usually executed by their own congregations before states existed that could enforce laws prohibiting religious persecution. The Middle East simply lacks secular authority, and is awash in well funded and entrenched theocratic barbarism. Ultimately, religion is the problem, and it must be tamed.

I often find myself in the course of several exchanges at once defending Islam from fundamentalist Christians and conservatives, (by pointing out they agree more with so called terrorists than they do with me and most of the Muslims I know) and in another forum attacking Islamic apologists when they try to deny the incitements to murder, war, genocide, and persecution in the Koran, or when they spew mindless anti-Semitism, homophobia, or anti Americanism.  I’m continuously amused at how I can be referred to as both a terrorist sympathizer and a crusading neocon at the same time by two separate quarters. To make it clear, I am an enemy of religious faith, I will attack it whenever it seeks to exert control over the lives of people who do not wish to believe in it, however I’m not an enemy to people who have religious faith, only those that wish to impose it on me or others, and also those that lie about their religion. I view that as the only sound position to hold on the subject. If that offends some people, well in the words of John Adams, "We're in a war, dam it! We're going to have to offend somebody!” 

I’m going to have a hell of a time studying tomorrow… I think its best that I go to bed now, its 10pm.