We just can't have nice thangs!

Something tells me this isn't going to be a short lived phenomenon.  It started in Iraq, then Syria, and now it's spread from North Africa to Afghanistan.  And of course volunteers are now pouring in, an estimated 17,000+ so far, including more than a few from Europe and America, too. 

Considering the historic attraction of such behavior to copycat actors, does anyone really believe this can be confined to a few malcontents the other side of the world?  I've read that their (ISIS) goal is to pit the "Infidel" world against Islam.  Us vs them.  They would love that. 

So what to do?  How do you tell the good guys from the bad guys?  Do we relinquish some of our freedom, especially our right to privacy, for security?  Is even that enough?  Do we take a stand?  Where?  Here?  How?

I would hate to be a quiet little Muslim shopkeeper in the West today.  Like it or not, they're involved.

Wasn't life simple when all we had to do was crawl under our school desks when we saw the big, bright flash?  Oh, and worry about that polio thing.

Ahh....the days.  ;)

S

What's wrong with those crazy people?

What is it about Islam that makes their believer's minds short circuit?  Whether North African, Somali, Arab, Persian, Pakistani or even a Muslim American military doctor at Ft. Hood, TX, their minds often just seem to reject logical thought processes.  I've looked at it from every angle I can think of and the only common denominator seems to be their Islamic faith.

They just don't seem happy unless they're fighting each other or their neighbor.  "You covet my camel, you see my wife's big toe....I KILL YOU!"  A daughter somehow learns to read and write....heads roll, literally.  Want a job?  "I have a job.  I make bombs."

Now I'm wondering if being around them for all these years during this Age of Oil hasn't infected / affected our Western thought processes, too?  We somehow think they want American-style freedom and democracy.  We've set them up time and again, and they've squandered it every time.  Why can't we take a hint?

It seems to me our "problem" is we're a compassionate people.  We see pain and suffering and we want to help.  That's a good thing and I'm glad we're that way.  But to help someone they have to WANT to be helped.  I'm sure many Muslims do, but far too many others, perhaps even a majority, seem to want nothing more than to return to the 16th Century.  

Now the civil war in Syria has turned even nastier and we want to go and kick some bad-guy ass.  Look around, Washington....we're up to our eyeballs in Muslim dung now!  Lobbing a few cruise missiles into Syria might make us feel better, make us feel like we're doing something to help, but that's delusional.  

Why don't we just build a bonfire on the Washington Mall and shovel in a few billion dollars worth of greenbacks?  We could close the ceremony with a rousing chorus of Kum Ba Yah, too.  Yeah, that'll show 'em!

We need to face facts:  Nothing we can do is going to civilize them.  We need to treat them like our old, weird uncle we see at the family reunion once a year....say "hi", send them a Christmas card (they'll love that!), and then stay as far from them as possible.  We want to buy their oil, they need the money; that's business.  Otherwise, leave them alone to re-arrange their own rocks.

S

"Trust" is our mantra

First things first:  Let me thank all those who have served in our country's military over the years, allowing us to enjoy freedom like few in the world can even fathom.  And may we always remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defending us against all who wish us harm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My lovely and talented (and US Navy veteran) wife K is currently a week into her semi-annual health kick. It all started when she did some fairly simple physical task last week and decided she wasn't in shape.  This always gets her fired up to become some sort of physically fit poster child for 40+ aged women.

Because this isn't her first rodeo, she already has on hand a fairly complete video library of workout programs.  She decided this time to go with The Big Gun, PX90.  This is the one where you go 100 mph until you puke or die, whichever comes first.  So far she hasn't puked, but I think I did see a guy in a black cloak standing back in the corner watching her intently.

She gets up at 4 am five days a week in order to get her hour-long workout in.  My only request of her is to keep her panting and groaning to a minimum as I still have two more hours to sleep.  Today I walked into the den as she was putting away her paraphernalia and fixing her after-workout protein drink.  This is supposed to help her muscles recover from the torture she just inflicted on them.

She popped the top on one of these little cans of dynamite and slugged it down, then announced, "YUCK!!  This tastes like crap.  You wanna try one?"

Hellooooooo!  I didn't make it this long in life by doing stupid things.  (Well, maybe a few, but that was back in my young/stupid life-phase.)  You've already told me it tasted like crap.  I'm not into re-inventing the wheel.  I trust you, dear.  And our relationship is all about trust, right?  Isn't that what we always say?

Now, if you still have the strength, come pull my finger.  ;)

S