Religious Fanaticism and Problem Solvers!

Much ado about nothing?

Friends, many interesting things have occurred at the U.N. these past days. Two things for me have stood out:

- one is the statement that, according to Obama, the U.S. should not be left to solve the world’s problems alone and,

- the demand by Netanyahu that “…Western states stand up to what he called the Iranian government’s “religious fanaticism.”

Taking Obama’s statement first, I had the funny idea that a nation that has military bases all over the world probably is not so much trying to solve the world’s problems but has other things on its agenda.

Call me silly, but I thought that most people realized that America is heavily into imperialism via invasions and occupations, especially of countries that have oil. I think that Iraq shows that. I think that the invasion of Afghanistan had much to do with gaining access to oil and gas from the Baltic states.

I think that most people realize that America has not been called on to solve problems but, since Vietnam, has unilaterally used its military might to shape the world according to its own self-interest both political and economic.

To portray America as the poor nation that has been solving the world’s problems on its own is a complete fabrication and the reality is that it has caused more problems than it has solved. That said, Obama’s push for involvement with other nations is welcome but the proof of this intention will be found in the pudding.

Now to Netanyahu’s comment: it’s truly breathtaking.

When I read it I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Of all the nations in the world, nuclear-armed Israel leads the world in ‘religious fanaticism!” Its actions over the last sixty years shows clearly what happens when ‘religious fanaticism’ takes hold of a people. They become racist and conscienceless and deluded.

Of course, Iran is also guilty of ‘religious fanaticism’ (as are many deranged folk across the world some of whom want a nuclear war so that Jesus will return and sweep them up to heaven). Most religions have their fanatics.

Religious fanaticism of any  kind is dangerous and the fact that Netanyahu can’t see that he is a religious fanatic too highlights the danger that faces the whole of the Middle East.

Now the show moves to Pittsburgh and more speeches will be made and more hot air will be expelled. I wonder how much global warming has been exacerbated by the week’s activities.

More importantly, I wonder how much the world will change after it’s all over and whether, eventually, it’ll be business as usual with the rich getting richer and controlling the world much as they’ve always done.

Place your bets!