"Blasphemy is the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God, to religious or holy persons or things, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable." (Wikepedia)
Blasphemy is a loaded word. The French banished blasphemy as a punishable crime thanks to the French Revolution circa 1789. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are ideas that underly the entire American Constitution and were inspired by the Enlightenment philosophers of France.
The major media groups in the USA have been taken over by 4 conglomerates with a hidden agenda - insuring the bottom line of multinational corporations. Yet, when one looks at North Korea or countries under Shariah law, where freedom of speech delivers a death sentence, we in the West undoubtedly have greater liberties.
The 1,500,000 strong Unity Rally in Paris today underscores such liberty, with world leaders marching arm-in-arm. It affirms respect for life and underscores the ultimate blasphemy of the terrorists who killed in the streets of Paris: their disregard for the sanctity of human life.
Now, will the real God please stand up?
It is me, it is you, it is in every breath that we breathe as we share one planetary atmosphere. It is in the plants, the animals, the insects, the water, the rocks, and every other molecular construction of the universe. It is in every person, tribe, and nation on this planet.
I am both a French and American citizen - a child of the West. But let us not crow over the success of this amazing day of unity, impressive and historic though it may be. Remember! In recent centuries, it was the Western powers who colonized much of the world for its riches, who invited their subjugated peoples into a European homeland as a kind of "perk" for having had their lands raped for profit.
Terrorism, killing, is the ultimate blasphemy. And the law of karma will deliver with unerring precision a reminder of the blasphemy we committed against so many brothers and sisters in foreign lands.
What goes around comes around. Let a higher unity be the future of globalization.
Blasphemy is a loaded word. The French banished blasphemy as a punishable crime thanks to the French Revolution circa 1789. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are ideas that underly the entire American Constitution and were inspired by the Enlightenment philosophers of France.
The major media groups in the USA have been taken over by 4 conglomerates with a hidden agenda - insuring the bottom line of multinational corporations. Yet, when one looks at North Korea or countries under Shariah law, where freedom of speech delivers a death sentence, we in the West undoubtedly have greater liberties.
The 1,500,000 strong Unity Rally in Paris today underscores such liberty, with world leaders marching arm-in-arm. It affirms respect for life and underscores the ultimate blasphemy of the terrorists who killed in the streets of Paris: their disregard for the sanctity of human life.
Now, will the real God please stand up?
It is me, it is you, it is in every breath that we breathe as we share one planetary atmosphere. It is in the plants, the animals, the insects, the water, the rocks, and every other molecular construction of the universe. It is in every person, tribe, and nation on this planet.
I am both a French and American citizen - a child of the West. But let us not crow over the success of this amazing day of unity, impressive and historic though it may be. Remember! In recent centuries, it was the Western powers who colonized much of the world for its riches, who invited their subjugated peoples into a European homeland as a kind of "perk" for having had their lands raped for profit.
Terrorism, killing, is the ultimate blasphemy. And the law of karma will deliver with unerring precision a reminder of the blasphemy we committed against so many brothers and sisters in foreign lands.
What goes around comes around. Let a higher unity be the future of globalization.
No comments:
Post a Comment