"Them" and "Us": Who's Who?

[linazelle]

The Berg scandal created an uproar worldwide because of the sheer cruelty and inhumanity of his death. But the context in which the incident took place bears closer scrutiny as the right attempts to deflect blame. I keep hearing RW shills saying the beheading was not revenge because "they" have been killing "us" en masse. And yet, Berg was not officially a part of the ground forces deployed for the war (as far as I know). Neither were the mercenaries who were killed over a month ago. So when the RW talks about "them" killing "us" what purpose is served by blurring the lines between those who are actually fighting the war and those who are there for other reasons?

And for that matter, who are "they"? We were supposed to be greeted with flowers for liberating Iraqis. We were saving them from torture chambers and sex slavery . But as "we" die "they" become the enemy.

The RW must grab onto these sensational opportunities to rile up the sheeple in order to support a war whose cause is increasingly vague. Consider the fact that we are fighting a war where we don't know how much it's going to cost, how many troops will be needed, what the definition of winning the war is, who the enemy is, when it the war ends, or even who's fighting--mercenaries or troops. How are our real troops supposed to know the difference? What makes this situation any different from the hunt for "Charlie" in Vietnam?

I never understood the definition of a quagmire until now. Boy are we in trouble.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. If fear "them" vs "us" are code words for

Islam and Christianity. On other boards and even here on DU, I have come across people whose words in posts are, at the very best, negative. Frankly, on other boards, some people have basically told me that all Muslims, including me, should be killed.

It goes beyond message boards, where often people write things they would never dare say to one's face. I have been confronted by rabid right-wingers who would have literally gotten out their guns and shot me if they knew my faith. Let's put it this way-I keep a very very low profile, and use my birth name rather than my Islamic name so that I can keep my job and my life.

[linazelle]

2. I understand the fear...there are too many dangerously confused sheeple

who are more than happy to follow the Reich's orders.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. And, sadly,

there are ministers and mullahs who cater to hatred and prejudice, and like the power raging mobs of followers give them. It is these people, who cater to the will of self instead of the teachings of God, who are the real danger.

[drdigi420]

3. muslims and christians are just 2 sides to the same coin

both are based on myths

both have outrageous fundamentalists

both worship a delusional human that claimed to be a great prophet and mouthpiece of a god

both are a huge con

its extremely silly to try to paint one as different from the other.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Ah, but many see a vast difference

Like you, I see no difference between the two faiths (though I disagree with your other premises ), but the point is that many many many people do see a difference, and base their actions upon it.