Comments on: Open thread 12/28/23

By: Someone Else

Someone Else — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 12:49:47 +0000

R2L – There may be more than we know.

I read somewhere else (on the internet, so it MUST be true!) that there are a lot of Iranians in Iran also embracing Zoroastrianism. Secretly. (Apostasy is a criminal offense in Iran.) It is made more attractive to them as the Shanameh, which recounts history of Persian kings, remains very popular among Iranians. It is still readable and understandable to most Persians. There really isn’t anything similar in a lot of other Moslem-subjugated cultures.

I think in a lot of Moslem countries, the plight of non-Moslems is so unattractive that it keeps disaffected Moslems in line. The Coptic Christians may have more of a tie to their Egyptian ancestors, but they are treated like dirt.

By: Jordan Rivers

Jordan Rivers — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 04:35:55 +0000

Snow on Pine wrote at 10:28 AM:

This analysis says that Xi’s endorsement of the “Fengqiao style working method” at this meeting is really a call for such a campaign–one of mass mobilization, total government surveillance and control, with individuals paying close attention to what others around them are doing and saying, and denunciations of those “deviating” from the Party line.

I hope “Biden” doesn’t hear about this.

By: R2L

R2L — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 03:45:42 +0000

Someone else:
I am sometimes surprised that the conquered Berbers (Moors?), Vandals?, Egyptians, Persians, Baloch’s, Pashtun, Punjabi, Indian, and other S Asian and African Muslims don’t drop their adherence to a tribalistic Arabian ideology.
I guess they must think somehow they are the (eventual global) oppressors rather than the (previously) oppressed. But if the promulgation (in 750 to 950CE?) of the actual or official version of Islam and the Quran followed the conquering, then it just becomes an “official governmental pronouncement” and not strictly speaking an Arabian ideology? Even if the Earliest Quranic manuscripts were initially written in old (and evolving) Arabic, and intended to justify the prior raiding, conquest, and subsequent oppression of dhimmis.

By: desertowl

desertowl — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 02:15:26 +0000

In 1860, Lexington, Kentucky had slave-owning Unionists. So did Virginia, IIRC.

By: Miguel cervantes

Miguel cervantes — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 01:33:55 +0000

The 1920 san remo accords as i understand it

By: Richard Cook

Richard Cook — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 01:13:37 +0000

Steve57:

Regarding your comment on Israeli’s: Never underestimate a humans ability to create their own reality.

By: T J

T J — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 00:59:16 +0000

Thursday, Maine Secretary of State, Democrat Sheena Bellows, struck Trump off the state’s primary ballot for violating the insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4206448/posts

By: FOAF

FOAF — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 00:08:26 +0000

I imagine the same is true of the other border states, ie slave states that did not join the Confederacy – Missouri, Kentucky and Maryland. Maybe West Virginia that seceded from Virginia back to the Union during the war.

By: Abraxas

Abraxas — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 21:58:01 +0000

That there’s so much more talk today about 1860 than about 2024 is one of the things that’s wrong with the country.

By: Someone Else

Someone Else — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 21:54:21 +0000

Steve57: A lot of Kurds have been realizing it, from what I understand. After ISIS, many began converting to Zoroastrianism. One issue is that adds another mark on their collective backs since, according to Islam, apostates should be executed. Also, in the countries in which they are trapped in the Middle East, they cannot change their identity cards — one, because it is not legal to change it from Islam; and two, see my previous comment. I hope they all convert to Zoroastrianism. If the Yazidis accepted converts, that would be another great choice. (Some people refer to the change in religion to what one’s ancestors were as “reverting” as opposed to “converting.” I hope they all “revert.”)