God I hate religion (watch you do not trip on the pun)

You can say you believe in freedom of religion, and I suppose in my case, if someone *has* to believe in a supreme being, then yes, I believe in the freedom that person has of choosing a religion, but really its the whole concept of the need for a religion that is the issue. I don't believe in religion full stop-which completely throws the matter of freedom of religion out the window.

I can understand the freedom of opinion stuff but realistically, I believe that I am right. I suppose you can call it human nature.

I always try and put myself in other people's position when confronted with a conflicting opinion, and always adjust my views when confronted with something far more sensible, wise, knowledgeable and rational, but I still can't understand, (and that is the key issue) why a person needs to believe in a supreme being to justify their existence. It's possibly an easy option to the question of life. Or is it that the millions of people for countless years have all been right in their belief of "God"?

My theory goes something along the lines of this: there is no proof of "God" or any of "his" pseudonyms, so one cannot possibly live under the illusion that there is a supreme being. One has to face the cards that reality deals, and not doing so results in one living under a false sense of security, false sense of purpose and false sense of existence. Now, if indeed I am wrong, and the masses have all been right in their varied beliefs, I have a back-up plan up my sleeve. It goes something like this: If "God" sends all those who don't believe in "him" to "hell", then I would really prefer being there than in "heaven".
You can see I have extreme troubles coming to the terms of there being other lands after death and you go to one depending on how "good" you have been. I mean how can one justify the existence of such imaginary places? Seems almost humorous, let alone being a bit too close to the story books I read as a child.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the person who invented the various religions had good intentions and probably didn't realise how damaging all the things that have been extrapolated from the fundamental concepts of all religions would be. But people we have a global disaster on our hands. Who would have thought that the underlying message of religion of "spreading the love" could go so terribly wrong.

So many tears, so much bloodshed, so many arguments, so much time, so much hate.

And all about a being that "could" exist outside the realms of knowledge.

We have people going to war on either side "in the name of God/variations", "on behalf of God/variations" or "with God/variations on their side".
Now, I beg to be corrected, but doesn't "God" supposedly say "Thou shall not kill"? And really, if the Almighty himself is so almighty, he really would have no need for his loyal followers to go to war in defense of him.

It's like there is a big hole in the story of life that, in order to live, humans are forced to fill. And I mean God really is the perfect answer, the justification for every unknown. Maybe that is the big fear of the human race- fear of the unknown.

I call for a solution to this mess. Something needs to happen, and soon. Have we reached near breaking point for this massive rift between religions?

I can think of one solution. Giving NASA the entire military budget of the US for space research and development, then flipping a coin to see what religion gets what planet.

Now one aspect I must clear up. Atheism doesn't mean not believing in anything. That sector can move to Mars as well. I think it is fundamental to humanity to believe in something. Love, peace, kindness, freedom, whatever, but believe in something you know exists. Keep it real.

Heck, believe in humanity!!!

New Bin Laden Tape

The following is the text of the tape as broadcast by al-Arabiya:

Praise be to Almighty God; Peace and prayers be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and companions.

This is a message to our neighbours north of the Mediterranean, containing a reconciliation initiative as a response to their positive reactions.

Praise be to God; praise be to God; praise be to God who created heaven and earth with justice and who allowed the oppressed to punish the oppressor in the same way.

Peace upon those who followed the right path:

In my hands there is a message to remind you that justice is a duty towards those whom you love and those whom you do not. And people's rights will not be harmed if the opponent speaks out about them.

The greatest rule of safety is justice, and stopping injustice and aggression. It was said: Oppression kills the oppressors and the hotbed of injustice is evil. The situation in occupied Palestine is an example. What happened on 11 September [2001] and 11 March [the Madrid train bombings] is your commodity that was returned to you.

It is known that security is a pressing necessity for all mankind. We do not agree that you should monopolise it only for yourselves. Also, vigilant people do not allow their politicians to tamper with their security.

Having said this, we would like to inform you that labelling us and our acts as terrorism is also a description of you and of your acts. Reaction comes at the same level as the original action. Our acts are reaction to your own acts, which are represented by the destruction and killing of our kinfolk in Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine.

The act that horrified the world; that is, the killing of the old, handicapped [Hamas spiritual leader] Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, may God have mercy on him, is sufficient evidence.

We pledge to God that we will punish America for him, God willing.

Which religion considers your killed ones innocent and our killed ones worthless? And which principle considers your blood real blood and our blood water? Reciprocal treatment is fair and the one who starts injustice bears greater blame.

As for your politicians and those who have followed their path, who insist on ignoring the real problem of occupying the entirety of Palestine and exaggerate lies and falsification regarding our right in defence and resistance, they do not respect themselves.

They also disdain the blood and minds of peoples. This is because their falsification increases the shedding of your blood instead of sparing it.

Moreover, the examining of the developments that have been taking place, in terms of killings in our countries and your countries, will make clear an important fact; namely, that injustice is inflicted on us and on you by your politicians, who send your sons - although you are opposed to this - to our countries to kill and be killed.

Therefore, it is in both sides' interest to curb the plans of those who shed the blood of peoples for their narrow personal interest and subservience to the White House gang.

We must take into consideration that this war brings billions of dollars in profit to the major companies, whether it be those that produce weapons or those that contribute to reconstruction, such as the Halliburton Company, its sisters and daughters.

Based on this, it is very clear who is the one benefiting from igniting this war and from the shedding of blood. It is the warlords, the bloodsuckers, who are steering the world policy from behind a curtain.

As for President Bush, the leaders who are revolving in his orbit, the leading media companies and the United Nations, which makes laws for relations between the masters of veto and the slaves of the General Assembly, these are only some of the tools used to deceive and exploit peoples.

All these pose a fatal threat to the whole world.

The Zionist lobby is one of the most dangerous and most difficult figures of this group. God willing, we are determined to fight them.

Based on the above, and in order to deny war merchants a chance and in response to the positive interaction shown by recent events and opinion polls, which indicate that most European peoples want peace, I ask honest people, especially ulema, preachers and merchants, to form a permanent committee to enlighten European peoples of the justice of our causes, above all Palestine. They can make use of the huge potential of the media.

I also offer a reconciliation initiative to them, whose essence is our commitment to stopping operations against every country that commits itself to not attacking Muslims or interfering in their affairs - including the US conspiracy on the greater Muslim world.

This reconciliation can be renewed once the period signed by the first government expires and a second government is formed with the consent of both parties.

The reconciliation will start with the departure of its last soldier from our country.

The door of peace is open for three months of the date of announcing this statement.

For those who reject reconciliation and want war, we are ready.

As for those who want reconciliation, we have given them a chance. Stop shedding our blood so as to preserve your blood. It is in your hands to apply this easy, yet difficult, formula. You know that the situation will expand and increase if you delay things.

If this happens, do not blame us - blame yourselves.

A rational person does not relinquish his security, money and children to please the liar of the White House.

Had he been truthful about his claim for peace, he would not describe the person who ripped open pregnant women in Sabra and Shatila [reference to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon] and the destroyer of the capitulation process [reference to the Palestinian-Israeli peace process] as a man of peace.

He also would not have lied to people and said that we hate freedom and kill for the sake of killing. Reality proves our truthfulness and his lie.

The killing of the Russians was after their invasion of Afghanistan and Chechnya; the killing of Europeans was after their invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan; and the killing of Americans on the day of New York [reference to 11 September] was after their support of the Jews in Palestine and their invasion of the Arabian Peninsula.

Also, killing them in Somalia was after their invasion of it in Operation Restore Hope. We made them leave without hope, praise be to God.

It is said that prevention is better than cure. A happy person is he who learns a lesson from the experience of others.

Heeding right is better than persisting in falsehood.

Peace be upon those who follow guidance.

Not another Vietnam?

Faiza:

Yesterday a young American from the south told me that they are using the same tactics they used back in Vietnam: evacuating villages from women and children and then burning them down with all the men inside.

Benita just "pulled out (her) st george card to get numebr off it 4 internet banking and went to like insert it into the supposed non existant slot of (her) computer (mac paperweight) ...... (she) got a bit baffled".

It's strange how people get so used to technology that it takes over their lives subconsciously.

One year on.

About a year ago el presidentè, "ruler of the free world", Mr. George 'dubbya' Bush, announced that hostilities in occupied Iraq had ceased. Another case of misleading the public?, or ignorance clouding the eyes of another stupid white man.
Today a ceasefire is on the verge of collapse in Falluja, and coalition forces are preparing for an attack on Najaf.

Blues'in and Roots'in in Byron

Okay I think I have time to post.
My what a happy little blogger you've been, I see you've adjusted to holiday sleeping patterns exceptionally well ;)
I think anyone who would feel the urge to tap your phone would really be getting more than their 2 bob's worth when they realise they actually have to listen to your conversations........then again they would uncover your satanistic "evil" pacifist schemes..... oh whoops........ that's what *cough* echelon *cough cough* is for.

This is sooooo the best festival artist wise.
I'm seriously having like the best time ever!!
Last night at Spearhead's 2nd gig Michael Franti told everyone that Spearhead was going to Iraq on the 31st of May, to make a movie about the war from regular Iraqi's point of view, then they were going to Palestine after. Should be a really good trip.

Reminds me of that part in one song where they go "If i was in Baghdad I would Rock Iraq" looks like that is going to happen ;)

Better get ready for this arvo/tonight's gigs!!
ciao

It's 2am again

- you home from the (byron bay) blues festival yet Benita? -

I've been reading Brooklyn to Baghdad, I want to go to Iraq

but first .... I'm off to bed.
Good night.