America's own Taliban

[Donnachaidh]

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/07/20117259426336524.html




Prior to 9/11, the Taliban government in Afghanistan did not register very much on American radar screens, with one notable exception: when it blew up two colossal images of the Buddha in Bamiyan province in early 2001. But destruction of treasured artifacts isn't just limited to the Taliban.

There's a right-wing politico-religious presence centred in the US, but with a global reach, engaging in similar practises, destroying religious and cultural artifacts as a key aspect of its ideology of "strategic level spiritual warfare" (SLSW).

Until recently a fringe evangelical movement, warned against as deviant, "spiritual warfare" is rapidly positioning itself within America's mainstream political right. It's well past time for political journalists to start covering what this movement is up to.

As an example, leaders have bragged online about the destruction of Native American religious artifacts, which their twisted ideology somehow sees as a liberating act, promoting "reconciliation" between estranged groups of people. Critics, however, see it as reflecting an eliminationist mindset, while traditional conservative evangelicals have denounced the ideology as un-biblical. Some even claim it is actually a form of pagan practice dressed up in Christian clothes, according such artifacts a spiritual power that the Bible itself denies.

More at the link --

[gateley]

1. Der, yuk yuk. These fellas are sure having a grand 'ol time!

Grow up, assholes. Your time is limited.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

2. These ***holes bring to mind the song "One Tin Soldier".

Just do it in the name of heaven, you can justify it in the end.

This still brings chills every time that I hear it.

Billy Jack video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qswm7lHp7oY&feature=related

One Tin Soldier
Listen, children, to a story
That was written long ago
About a kingdom on a mountain
And a valley far below
On the mountain was a treasure
Buried deep beneath a stone
And the valley people swore
They'd have it for their very own

Chorus:
Go ahead and hate your neighbor
Go ahead and cheat your friend
Do it in the name of heaven
You can justify it in the end
There won't be any trumpets blowing
On that judgement day
On the bloody morning after
One tin soldier rides away.

Lyrics www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/joan_baez/
So the people of the valley
Sent a message up the hill
Asking for the buried treasure
Tons of gold for which they'd kill
Came the answer from the kingdom
With our brothers we will share
All the secrets of our mountain
All the riches buried there.

(chorus)

Now the valley cried in anger
'Mount your horses! Draw your swords!'
And they killed the mountain people
Swore they'd won their just reward.
Down they stood beside the treasure
On the mountain dark and red
Turned the stone and looked beneath it
'Peace on earth' was all it said.

[LibertyLover]

3. There is some discussion going on in the pagan community

about spiritual warfare and the fact that it is malevolent magic. If I had suggested doing something similar, my high priestess would have pinned my ears back.

[glinda]

4. I would like a link to "bragging about destroying Nat-Am artifacts" though.

[Chimichurri]

5. I just want to know what's the difference between these idiots holding up their guns

while addressing the 'people' and Sadam Hussein doing the same?