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Anti-Empire
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Lockdown Skeptics
Voltaire NetworkVoltaire, international edition
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''THE EVIL ONE IS AMONG US'' national |
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news report
 Wednesday February 12, 2003 08:41 by MICHAEL ORTIZ HILL michaelortizhill at earthlink dot net
 INDEED HE IS, AND HIS NAME IS --- GEORGE BUSH I'd become accustomed to George W. Bush's use of the word evil until he told the nation this last spring, "The evil one is among us." Anyone with a passing understanding of the evangelical world of Bush' faith knows he was referring to the Antichrist. The implications of this are grave beyond telling and yet scarcely ever noted in the public discourse. On the eve of a misguided war the Commander in Chief of the most powerful military force in human history has located American foreign policy within a Biblical narrative that leads inexorably towards the plains of Megiddo, roughly fifty five miles northwest of Jerusalem: the battle of Armageddon. Bush's Armageddon Obsession I'd become accustomed to George W. Bush's use of the word evil until he told the nation this last spring, "The evil one is among us." Anyone with a passing understanding of the evangelical world of Bush' faith knows he was referring to the Antichrist. The implications of this are grave beyond telling and yet scarcely ever noted in the public discourse. On the eve of a misguided war the Commander in Chief of the most powerful military force in human history has located American foreign policy within a Biblical narrative that leads inexorably towards the plains of Megiddo, roughly fifty five miles northwest of Jerusalem: the battle of Armageddon. Two essential questions, as impertinent as they are imperative, need to be asked: Mr. President, as a born-again Christian is it not true that you regard this as the end times prophesied in the Bible? In what way does your religious understanding of apocalypse inform American policy in the Mideast? There are many aspects to the fundamentalist understanding of the end of days not the least being the conversion of the Jews to the true Messiah before the final battle. In Bush' political autobiography (A Charge to Keep) he places himself squarely in the mainstream of evangelical thought. Recounting his pilgrimage to the Holy Land Bush writes of entering into the waters of Galilee in the apparent baptism of "a Jewish friend. " It was then that the hymn came to his mind: Now the time is approaching By prophets long foretold When all shall dwell together One Shepherd and one fold Now Jew and Gentile meeting From many a distant shore Around an altar kneeling One common Lord adore I don't know if the president has read Hal Lindsey, but much of what he says shows a similar perspective. Having sold fifteen million copies Lindseys' book The Late Great Planet Earth remains the most influential text shaping fundamentalist thought on apocalyptic matters. Written within the geopolitical fantasies of the Cold War Lindsey writes, " As Armageddon begins with the invasion of Israel by the Arabs and the Russian confederacy, and their consequent swift destruction, the greatest period of Jewish conversion to their true Messiah will begin. " I'd rather not believe that Bush is moving according to Lindseys' game plan but the simple fact is that we don't know. The administration systematic alienation of our Arab allies (soon leaving Israel as our only viable ally in the Mideast) raises disturbing questions. Lindseys' book influenced not only American fundamentalist culture but had a pervasive effect on fundamentalist Islams' apocalyptic worldview. According to David Cook, the American expert on Islamic apocalyptic literature, until the late eighties this element of Muslim culture had been fairly static for centuries. " The contemporary Muslim," says Cook, " sees the present world turned upside down by Christian millennialism.... In defense, Muslims make heavy use of the Bible, or one might say the Bible as seen through the eyes of Hal Lindsey. There are Muslim readings of the book of Daniel, Ezekial and Revelation. The only difference is the 'good guys' are Muslims, not Christians." This strange cross-fertilization between cultures has placed us in the situation in which the current administration and Radical Islam share a common worldview in which peace descends after Evil is defeated in an apocalyptic battle. Both parties sing the same song: God will lead our warriors to victory against the forces of darkness. We are at an extraordinary and critical historical moment. When Bush was in Germany trying to garner support for invading Iraq the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Pentagon leaked its unanimous objection. More recently Brent Scowcroft, the elder statesman of the Republican foreign policy establishment declared that Bush' plans could unleash "an Armageddon in the Middle East." " The comments of Mr. Scowcroft and others in the Republican foreign policy establishment," writes the New York Times, "appears to be a loosely coordinated effort."On the domestic front it seems that both the Pentagon and significant figures in the Republican party (Scowcroft, Kissinger, House majority leader Dick Armey) are attempting to rein in a rogue president before American men and women begin coming home in body bags. On the foreign front the U.S. is facing near universal opposition by our European allies and complete opposition from the Arab world, including Kuwait and the Iraqi Kurds who have suffered so much under Saddam Hussein. The religious underpinnings of Bush's war against evil are evident as is the absolutist theology he shares with Radical Islam. Both of them see such wars as we may be facing right now as righteous, good and necessary. It is clear, we should be afraid for we are profoundly endangered by the passions of both Christian and Muslim fundamentalisms. This essay and its companion "Overcoming Terrorism: A Twelve Step Approach" can be read at www.gatheringin.com Given the gravity of the world situation the author encourages readers to circulate this freely. Michael Hill Ortiz can be reached at: michaelortizhill@earthlink.net |
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Jump To Comment: 2 1One point that the article did not raise - and definitely needs to be raised - is that the leader of the enemies of the antichrist in both Islam and Christianity is Jesus Christ (A.S.).
The implication of Bush's statement that the antichrist is in the world today is therefore that he, Bush, thinks that he is Jesus Christ.
And that delusional maniac is in control of tens of thousands of atomic weapons.
It appears that there is no one who will act to stop him.
Be afraid. Be VERY afraid.
Two million pilgrims at one of the holy places of Islam took part in the ritual stoning of Satan.
Pilgrims stone a pillar symbolizing the devil on Tuesday. (AN photo by Essam Al-Ghalib)
Satan stoned in symbolic Haj ritual
By Siraj Wahab, Arab News Staff
MINA, 12 February 2003 — More than two million pilgrims stoned the Jamrat Al-Aqaba, the largest of the three pillars representing Satan, yesterday, as an otherwise well-organized Haj was marred by the death of 14 pilgrims in a stampede (See related story on Page 2).
The stoning ritual, however, continued uninterrupted.
Masses of faithful, still clad in ihram, completed the largest human movement on earth and flocked to Mina.
They came from Muzdalifah, on the plains a few kilometers from Mount Arafat, where they spent the night praying and collecting pebbles for the stoning of devil.
The stoning ritual will continue for two more days. Pilgrims hurl seven stones at each of the three 18-meter (58-foot) high pillars, which stand 155 meters apart.
Among the first to stone the devil was Omar Smith, an American pilgrim.
“Two million people walking in one direction... It was incredible,” he told Arab News.
“This is the way to follow. If we can chose one direction here we should chose one direction in worldly affairs as well,” Omar added in a voice choked with emotion.
Ameer Muhammad Hayat of Gujranwala, Pakistan was relieved beyond words.
“I am happy that I could complete this important ritual with ease,” he said.
Asked how he was feeling when he was stoning the devil, he said: “This is what our beloved Prophet, (peace be upon him) has done and this is what he has asked us to do...
“We are bound by his words. And there is no greater pleasure than following into the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad.”
“I was doubtful about accomplishing this particular ritual,” said Amna Binti, an Indonesian woman who stoned the devil along with her husband.
“I had a choice of letting my husband perform this task for me... But then I mustered enough courage at the last minute and am very happy that I did it... I stoned Satan with all my might!”
Another woman, Kubra Riaz, was ecstatic after stoning the devil.
“All this is symbolic... In essence it means that we have finally said goodbye to the world of vices... It is a symbolic victory of an individual over the corrupting influence of Satan,” she added.
Mina remained in a celebratory mood, as not many of the pilgrims were aware of the stampede. They were celebrating the fact that the most important step of Haj is over.
Many pilgrims were seen in new clothes, and happiness was writ large on their faces. They were exchanging pleasantries and wishing each other well.
There were long queues at the makeshift telephone booths, from where pilgrims were calling home to assure their near and dear they were safe and sound.
As night wore on, relatives and acquaintances of the pilgrims staying in and around the nearby cities of Makkah, Jeddah and Taif began to converge on Mina.
They were seen with maps of the city’s various camps in a bid to locate their temporary shelters.
“I have come from Taif to see my brother, who has come for Haj from Khartoum,” said Al-Haj Muhammad.
“After a tiring journey of faith it is essential that we meet them to keep them in good spirits,” he added.
Following the ritual stoning, pilgrims also gathered in the streets or barber shops nearby to have their hair shortened or completely cut, as is customary on completing the rituals.
Pilgrims are expected to pay a farewell visit to the Grand Mosque in Makkah before leaving.
Some also will take time to visit Madinah, where the Prophet is buried.