Is your religion better?

People often quote the phrase convert or die from the Quran. Many books, texts, religions, and philosophies include interpretations that people interpret or take literally to point out those ideas or beliefs are bad, strange, wrong, or just a cult. Others use these concepts to belittle those who are different, justify behavior, take away rights of others and give privileges to themselves, treat them as property, or even kill.

There are many references in the New Testament where it is said that you must repent and believe or die. Text like that can just as easily be taken out of context. There are many parts of the New Testament that are glossed over because people choose to not take them literally. Then of course there is the Old Testament. Many people argue that the New Testament does not totally replace the Old.

The point here is that religion can be used to make us better people, or used to motivate people to do horrible things in the name of God. Do you think God orders people to kill sinners? Do you think people who kill prostitutes, blow up abortion clinics, or beat up homosexuals are doing so in God's name or out of hate and fear. It is that hate and fear that we need to avoid, not each other and those who are different.

What is justice when the police break the law?

I respect law enforcement officers, but I have no respect for those in the system who work the system. Whose job is it to make sure that the law is enforced and that rules are applied within a police system ran by a political appointee?

When an accident occurs with a police officer driving a government vehicle, how long does it take to process blood alcohol levels and to enforce the existing rules? Are we playing politics or applying a different set of rules to law enforcement officers?

The answers to these questions are important to society. When events like these occur on top of recent racially fired events with a history of racial accusations of the past, who has responded? When laws are passed to inhibit pan-handling, a law rarely enforced outside areas of affluence and in the views of tourists, while homeless people, many who are vets, are quietly barred from camping under a bridge within eyesight of our downtown, who is to stand up for the downtrodden. Any answers?

 
 
 

Justice is not only blind, it's silent. When laws are not applied equally to all people, we have no laws, no justice, no freedom.

Indianapolis Star article referenced under fair use exception of copyright laws.