I have a theory about the soldiers

[elfs]

So, there have been a spate of theories about what happened in Iraq, about how the soldiers were influenced by America's obsession with movies about bad taste, or pornography, or feminism, or lesbians, or football hooliganism, or whatever.

I have my own theory. They were the victims of abstinence education.

I mean, the evidence is pretty strong. These were people who had no understanding of sexuality, not their own, certainly not of other people. Their only attachments were to their own tribes and ideologies. And it's clear that their activities were the result of the kind of pent-up rage that can only happen when one's natural inclinations are denied their expression.

It's no loonier than any other.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/dominic-m-/]

Not while religion run our government. Religion is what causes all the laws about sexual abstinance and repression, yet in the long run this churns out more weirdos in the long run. Our government needs to stand firm in the "seperation of church and state" and then things will finally START getting better. ::sigh:: I wish we had more clear headed people making our laws rather than all those zealots making laws up because a book said its that way. We need laws that are made BY the PEOPLE, FOR the PEOPLE. Till our government seperates itself from any and all religions our children will pretty much be at the mercy of any law made by zealot out there. Yes this rant goes out on a limb, but its the best way I could respond properly.

[samvimes.livejournal.com]

Our government needs to stand firm in the "seperation of church and state"

I agree. But it never will... unless we can first get rid of these guys (http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5646.htm).

[http://users.livejournal.com/dominic-m-/]

I couldn't agree more. I am not actually suggesting getting rid of religion( I will get tons of hate mail from every corner of the world if I do), but the fact that alot of religious people look down upon us less religious(assuming your probably in the same non-religious boat as me, If I am incorrect forgive me) people trying to better our government/world with ideas that don't follow their strict standards. Most of it is unintentional but there are quite a bunch of those that want to force the laws of their gods down our throats and that just tweaks a nerve or two(thousand) of mine. I cannot say with accuracy that george bush is the worst of these people (He is actually nice compared to others) but he is a prime example of one (the whole constitutional ban on gay marriage is the perfect example of him forcing his godly views on us,but sadly enough it is not the worst.). I am trying to be careful what I say here and if I am upsetting anybody with my anti-religion/government musings please forgive/vent by calling me names, I don't mean to anger(too much :p).

[samvimes.livejournal.com]

It's not all religions we need to worry about. It's not even Christianity per se that troubles me. If Bush were a Christian as I understand the term, he would be in favor of love and forgiveness and peace. He would follow the example of Jesus. He wouldn't be trying to force his beliefs on everyone else. The behavior I see is very different. I have friends who are deeply Christian, and abhor what Bush has been doing.

The real problem is that peculiar subset of religions that have replaced the message of love with one of hate and fear. See, for example, Christian Reconstructionism (http://www.apologeticsindex.org/r10.html) and Kingdom Theology (http://www.apologeticsindex.org/l04.html). I imagine other religions are similar: most Muslims go through life just trying to get along, and maybe make the world a little better, but there's that twisted hard core whose members issue fatwas and fly planes into buildings. Why? Because religions are power centers, and power corrupts its wielders; and because even religious leaders are people, who sometimes get seriously screwed up in the head.

Religion, like a weapon, can be used for good or for evil. So I'm wary of painting all religion with the same brush.

That said, I do think separation of Church and State is a fine idea. Religions do indeed proscribe certain behaviors for their followers, and these sorts of moral judgements have no place in law. People should be free to decide what religion (if any) and moral code they will adopt. Laws exist to ensure that nobody tramples on anyone else's freedoms. If your religion says you should smoke marijuana every morning, and never eat squash, why should I care? It doesn't affect me either way. But if you drive to work while high and smash into me, you should go to jail; your actions have now affected my life. And if you try to pass a law saying I should never eat squash, I'm going to get upset, even if I think squash tastes nasty.

[http://users.livejournal.com/dominic-m-/]

I tried posting a response earlier but something went awry and my internet crashed and yadda yadda yadda. But to mimic my previous try I truly enjoy the way you think. I see things (as above) pretty much in the same way you do. I just wish more people thought like this (dont hate me for saying that peoples its just an opinion). This post is much worse phrased than the last attempt and I am too sick right now to make it look uber pretty.