It struck me, at the good news, how we, as a basically Christian society, value life. It is obvious that, for the Iranians, a single captured airman would be an enormous bargaining chip. Hestages in American movies are often used in this regard. By contrast a captured Iranian soldier has no value. Indeed, they shoot their own. An Iranian killed for their 'cause ' is a martyr rewarded by heaven. They kill women thought to be decadent by showing a shoulder, while, though only nominally Christian, we generally value kindness, even extol the person who forgives the killer of their child. Western media always report numbers killed including numbers of children. The 2023 kibutz massacre showed the total disregard for children, even babies! I believe America attacks with pinpoint accuracy, avoiding civilian deaths. To blatanly lie to a non-muslim is perfectly acceptable - so how can one negotiate? If only our respect for the unborn became mor acceptable!
With respect, dear Tibbi, It seems to me that perhaps we all have been subjected to much Western propaganda. The Iranians do not kill women showing a shoulder, neither did the people of Iraq kill babies (that was the propaganda under President Bush). I had a flatmate from Iran completing PhD studies. Iran is a highly civilised country, with well educated, intelligent, and very decent people. The same cannot be said about the Western culture anymore nowadays. It is our culture that kills unborn children and has high murder rates. In Iran, this is unheard of. It can hardly be said that the American forces attack with pinpoint accuracy, avoiding civilian death. One has to only consider the schoolgirls killed early on in the Iranian war, for example. By the way, below is a link to a book about the atrocities committed in Nagasaki. It was written by an Australian Catholic priest, Fr. Paul Glynn. I had the honour of meeting him in Auckland over ten years ago. He passed away earlier this year. God bless his soul! https://www.catholicgifts.co.nz/product/a-song-for-nagazaki/ In charity, God bless!
Thank you. Your reflection is noteworthy. In no way did I mean to suggest individual Iranians were responsible. Surely most are good people and God meant them for heaven. It is the ideology, muslim versus 'Christian' that is to be considered.
Yes, thank you so much. I think it is important to understand that Shia Muslims (prevalent in Iran) are much more civilised, educated and decent than the Sunni Muslims that tend to overrun Europe. As I understand it, the average IQ of Iranians is significantly higher than the average IQ of Americans. I recall having seen a statistic to that effect. This is not meant to be disrespectful to Americans, which I respect and cherish - it is just a statement of fact. All across the Western world the culture has been in decay for many decades now. This includes, Germany, one of the saddest examples, and also New Zealand. The Middle East, in contrast, is the cradle of civilisation, with a rich history that goes back thousands of years. Iranian culture is very decent, comparable to that of Japan, for example. I have edited my post above a bit. I respect you very much and I like your input here. By the way, here is a map of Shia Islam versus Sunni Islam. Shia is purple, Sunni is green: God bless!!
Between you and me (and all readers!?), I think many muslims are far more saintly than Sunday Catholics. On that vein, God is in control. The school students who die (inadvertently, accidentally?) were likely nto be far more pure and God- respecting than those in our local schools! God must often choose who dies - one in a car accident dies, another is uninjured...... [by His design?] I believe God works with absolute love tr ying to maximise those joining Him in Eternity. As His children, it's not "Why did God allow Fred to die?" but thank you for choosing Fred, not his wife [who can live to repair her life] Praise be to God, praise to Allah-God The turmoil may be the birth of a New Era Pray for peace, pray for unity.
