*WARNING : THIS IS A SENSITIVE TOPIC*
Today's rant comes from a culimation of recent personality and reader fans giving a few political and iedological statements, as well as some recent things that have come to light these days as part of my Army Officer's Cultural Studies.
Recently, and unfortunately, I've had to discuss with a few people on one particular topic, which the youtube on the sidebar will touch on heavily.
One of these issues is about the islamic faith and muslims.
The simple, and upsetting fact, that right now, the mission in Iraq and Afghanistan, people believe that the terrorists we are fighting, are muslims, and therefore, all muslims have rallied around.
They have effectively "pigeonholed" and categorized muslims as people with terrorist tendencies.
This is DISGUSTING. This is an outrageous notion.
As an American soldier, I find this to be ignorant, and tasteless, and a shame if this is how people would categorize our mission.
I have great, unbelieveable people of the islamic faith. And in my opinion, it is extremely humlbing to know how devout they are in their faith. Their commitment to the fasting, as dictated by tradition. Their commitment to their prayer hours, and the rituals associated with it.
Above all, their memorization, and intimate relationship with the Quran, how many of them memorize paragraphs, even pages, and can recite scriptures.
It's a testament to their belief, and for me, it's extraordinary and admired for those that hold onto their faith.
It is ABSOLUTELY WRONG to claim all of these dedicated, good people should be categorized in the same as terrorists. Yes, the current situation, terrorists are from the middle east, and follow an interpretation of Islam.
I repeat, AN INTERPRETATION OF ISLAM.
But not just an interpretation, it is a gross, distorted interpretation. But enough so, in a country with their customs, to influence young males to take up arms in a fanatic belief that they are fighting a war, on the correct side of a Godly power.
The terrorists are radicals, they are people of faith, but they are people who have been grossly decieved and pushed into a belief of the endless war to "liberate people".
The youtube video summarizes it fully. I will fight, and die, for the right of people to worship freely, and I will not tolerate anyone who will criticize or attack those of a certain belief system just because some radical has twisted a strong religion for their own political agendas, and manipulate people to their will, and deceive them, and interpret a book to trick them into eternal reward.
In fact, even the populace in the middle East condemn them, because of how grossly skewed they have changed the interpretation to bend for personal gain! Villages are not converted by idealism in Iraq and Afghanistan! They are good people, converted and oppressed by the barrel of a gun, held by a fanatic!
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Now, since that part was slightly worldly,let's get it a little more grounded, eh?
I hate sterotypes.
Sterotypes drive me nuts, because not only does it cateogrize people, it makes unnecessary pressure, and unnecessary, and uncalled for hate, and bias against people.
For example, here I am, a chinese kid taking upper level classes. Just because I take upper level classes, doesn't mean school is easy. Just because I take upper level doesn't mean I'm good at math, and suck at english.
Just because I don't party, doesn't mean I'm a sheltered little boy from a "Tiger mom". Sure, my mom was a "Tiger mom", but I didn't party because for me, I had more fun backpacking and going on trips on the weekends.
Just because I was hitting good grades didn't mean school came easy, or I was smart.
I worked hard, stayed up late, pounded more pots of coffee down my throat than I ever wished I did, but I worked hard, and it's insulting that people would just pigeon hole me that it comes easy.
And of course, they love to say I'll be the next "Doctor, lawyer, banker". Sure, I want to be a doctor.
But here's the sucker punch.
I'm joining the Army.
Which is almost unheard of. The army is for, the sterotypical , high school grad. with no college plans, the country boy, the poor kid, or other.
Just because I don't fall into that, doesn't mean I can't do it.
Just because he's from the country, doesn't mean the country boy is a hick, a redneck who loves a good beer and shoots guns, and all the sterotype. Sure, a bunch of people do it, but it's how the media acts, and it's a load of trash being fed.
Stop the pigeonholing.
Stop the Sterotype.
Everyone's different, and realize, that we got our set plans. Next time you look at someone, realize, we all got our story, so don't put a poster or photo on our faces, and leave it be.
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Rant Book
No FicciónA pen is mightier than a sword. Perhaps you prefer to let out your frustrations by reading about them. You’ll find them in this collection of rants created by yours truly, Teen Avenue.
