Inspiration comes from unlikely sources

I have never been one to appreciate blogs, nor have I ever had any desire whatsoever to create my own. All of that changed this afternoon. After receiving a ‘friendly’ chain email blaming generation y for the misadventure in Iraq (forget slight manipulation of evidence by the Bush administration), I simply reached my breaking point. The email suggested that those who were a part of the World War I and II generations made real sacrifices, supported their presidents decisions at all costs and never spoke poorly of them. (But then again, the Bush Administration made 935 false statements about threats to our national security in the 2 years following 9/11) Nor did they complain about torture techniques used abroad (this generation finds the atrocities at Abu Ghraib unacceptable, and rightfully so) or about the awful death toll. It went on to suggest that generations X and Y are too busy smoking crack (In 1979 14.1% of Americans were monthly drug users, today 8.1% are) and shopping at the mall to understand what real sacrifice is. It engaged in typical scare tactics and stated that 1/3 of Muslims are sympathetic to terrorist causes (The % changes drastically from country to country, but overall is on a decline), implying they will soon become, if they are not already, terrorists.

Let me be explicit in my appreciation for the Americans from all segments of society who made sacrifices both big and small, for the world wars that altered the course of history so dramatically. I am also well aware of the terrorist threat to America rooted in extremist variations of Islam.

However, this email and the lies it promoted were some of the most absurd claims I’ve come across.

Though I have been a victim of blast emails purporting illogical and blatantly false arguments before, today I decided to counter such ridiculousness by initiating this blog as an avenue to express intelligent and thoughtful ideas on politics and faith in the 21st century. I make no claims to having the ‘right’ answers, but rather wish for this blog to be a forum for reasonable discussion among those with differing ideas and opinions.