On Tuesday, August 18, 2015, disciples of the newly declared Isis Caliphate in Syria beheaded 82 year old Khaled Asaad.
Isis is known for executing scholars, teachers and intellectuals when they conquer a region. Knowledgeable people threaten their medieval beliefs. Khaled Asaad represented those kinds of thinkers, which makes the cost of his death all the more Delphic.
Khaled Asaad was the antiquities scholar and curator of the Palmyra Museum. He spent years protecting and studying the ancient artifacts and ruins of the fabled City and called the Palmyra site, "One of the most beautiful in the world."
Mr. Asaad was in conflict with the Isis Caliphate from the moment they took over that area of Syria in May. He refused to reveal the whereabouts of the valuable artifacts of Palmyra.
Mr. Asaad was executed in the public square of the Palmyra Museum and his headless body hung on a traffic light.
This isn't the first time Muslim Extremist have purposefully destroyed antiquities in the name of Islam. In March of 2001 the Taliban dynamited the Buddhas of Bamiyan in central Afghanistan. The two statues of Vairdcana and Sakyamuni called the Soisoi were carved into a Sandstone mountain near Kabul. They stood there for 1700 years, and marked an early trade route on the silk road. The Taliban religious leaders declared them to be "Idols: and They were demolished.
Isis is known for executing scholars, teachers and intellectuals when they conquer a region. Knowledgeable people threaten their medieval beliefs. Khaled Asaad represented those kinds of thinkers, which makes the cost of his death all the more Delphic.
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| Roman Temple at Palmyra - Destroyed August 23, 2015 |
Mr. Asaad was in conflict with the Isis Caliphate from the moment they took over that area of Syria in May. He refused to reveal the whereabouts of the valuable artifacts of Palmyra.
Mr. Asaad was executed in the public square of the Palmyra Museum and his headless body hung on a traffic light.
Yesterday, Isis used bulldozers and dynamite to flatten the ancient Roman Temple in Palmyra. The 2000 year old structure was destroyed because religious leaders declared it was a "symbol of Paganism". The newly formed Isis Caliphate destroyed not only the historic site of Palmyra but by killing Mr. Asaad they eliminated the story of its history as well. An ancient shrine destroyed and de-Storied, all done in the name of organized religion.
But Wait there is more No more History
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| Buddhas of Bamiyan - before and after Demolished in March 2001 |
The deliberate destruction of these amazing antiquities makes me realize something about the teachings of Islam as practiced by these destroyers.
Any religion, philosophy, race, people or creed that confuses Paganism and Idols with Art and Architecture is wrong.
Isis is a fascist regime justifying itself as religion.
This is the very reason the American Government must remain "religion neutral". We have forgotten how important the concept of Separation of Church and State is to our success as a Nation. It is the First Amendment to the Constitution and top of the Bill of Rights. It defines America. It is an inspired concept of government.
Any religion, philosophy, race, people or creed that confuses Paganism and Idols with Art and Architecture is wrong.
Isis is a fascist regime justifying itself as religion.
This is the very reason the American Government must remain "religion neutral". We have forgotten how important the concept of Separation of Church and State is to our success as a Nation. It is the First Amendment to the Constitution and top of the Bill of Rights. It defines America. It is an inspired concept of government.
Religiously the United States is asexual. We are not an atheist Nation nor are we a Theocracy. We were not founded by a Religion nor do we prohibit the free practice of any. Religion is part of our Liberty and Freedom. No person is obligated by a mandatory subscription to a single idea about God. We are an open Nation accepting and protective of all religion.
They say the freedom to swing your fist ends when it contacts my nose. The same with Religion. Freedom of religion ends with the conflict of my own personal beliefs. As an American I have the right not to be preached to, converted, belittled, philosophically saved, protletized nor discriminated against for the way I choose to worship my God.
The current fight for Americans is not the fear that the Washington Monument will be torn down because it is a "pagan symbol of ancient Egypt". It is a fight to keep our basic rights from being torn down by religious belief. The right to chose, the right to marry, the right to be different, the right of free expression, all are being assaulted by home grown Religious zealots. These rights must be protected from all dogmatic religious beliefs be they foreign or domestic.
Our rights, like the Roman Temple at Palmyra and the Buddhas of Bamiyan, can be destroyed very quickly no matter how long they have been in existence. Once they are eliminated, it is impossible to put them back the way they were.
I am sickened by the loss of these historic treasures. Their destruction is a dramatic example of a cautionary tale of our own future.
I am sickened by the loss of these historic treasures. Their destruction is a dramatic example of a cautionary tale of our own future.
As you were,
Jay
1 comment:
Jay this is a welcomed post and your opinions need reinforcing. Too much of what I see and hear south of the Border makes me feel nervous. The reason being: it seems apparent that a large number of Americans would support having a theocracy...if and only if it was of their choosing. Separation of church and state should never be sacrificed.
LZ Florence
Victoria, BC, Canada
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