One Night in Paris... And the Mourning After.

I looked upon last nights scenes from the multiple terror attacks in Paris with unadulterated horror, as I'm sure countless others did. As many as 140 people are dead, possibly more, making it the worst European terrorist attack in decades. It also caused France's borders to be closed for the first time since 1944. 

However, what we need to watch for now is the reaction.

As it stands (at time of writing), no group has yet claimed responsibility, and 8 perpetrators have been killed, or committed suicide by explosive. It is strongly speculated that it is Daesh (the group claiming to be "Islamic State" operating out of Iraq and Syria), or another group acting in their support.

The bloodiest act of the night was a hostage situation at the Bataclan Theatre in which over 100 people were held hostage. Shortly after armed forces stormed the building, the terrorists inside returned gunfire before detonating  suicide vests. The result was that up to 120 people may have died in the theatre alone. (Figure is as yet unconfirmed.) 

French prime minister François Hollande said at the scene "we will lead a war that is pitiless" which frankly scared the wits out of me for several reasons. 

Wikileaks reports that it is an avowed strategy of Daesh to use the crackdown (since the Charlie Hebdo attacks in January) to radicalise the Muslims of France. If they manage to harness even 1%, that's in the region of 50,000 people. 

So let's, for talkings sake, imagine that France declares open war on Daesh, and supporting extremist organisations. That will of course, lead to Britain participating in some way- with either bombs or boots. This is all the more likely, given that  it was recently reported in mainstream media, that Britain is no longer considered a major player in Europe. In addition to this, with the looming referendum on European Union membership, Britain will want to show it is a big player, one that will continue to be an asset to Europe whatever way our vote goes.

And if France, the U.K. and other countries go to war, you can bet your boots that similar, regular attacks on civilians will happen in these countries as a result, from terrorist cells who have discreetly travelled to our soil, or that have been established here in sympathy. We will be fighting enemies within and without, as what we would really be fighting is not an army or an country, but an ideology- and how do you fight an idea?

I wish I had an alternative, but I honestly don't. All that looks set to happen here is more violence. Open conflict on the ground at some point seems inevitable.

There are however, things that you and I can do. We don't need to lose our humanity and tolerance. We cannot allow ourselves to blame or point the finger at refugees fleeing Iraq and Syria- after all- this is exactly the kind of activity they are fleeing from. Over there it happens nearly every single day. It is important to remember that in the 1940's, millions of European people were fleeing persecution from another oppressive regime- many of them to

Northern Africa- so the shoe was firmly on the other foot! Neither can we allow the demonisation of liberal and moderate Muslims- to do so is no different to comparing every Christian to Anders Breivik or the Phelps family. Challenge it wherever you hear it. Too much life has been lost without further loss of human decency in those still living.

All these actions foster is more hatred and ignorance; a cycle of violence and hatred. We cannot allow this to happen, because this is exactly what Daesh want. They want recognition as a state, and their endgame is for that state to span the very breadth of the globe. It is important to remember that they are just as much of an enemy to peaceful religious peoples as they are to atheists like me. Just as much of a threat to the western world as the Middle East where their cause currently spreads like a disease. Do not give them credence and legitimacy by calling them IS, ISIL or ISIS. Call them Daesh. From Arabic it roughly translates to "one who tramples underfoot".

After all, that's what Daesh is doing. It is trampling societies, cultures, history and humanity itself. 

Being Frank With His Holiness

I like Pope Frank.

Even for a heathen like me (especially for a heathen like me), he is an absolute joy. He is peaceful, champions equality, has spoken out about gay rights, and overall is so liberal that Catholics themselves are questioning  him; which can only be a good thing. 

Having said that, I must disagree with some of what the man in the pointy hat said recently in the wake of the attacks in Paris on Charlie Hebdo. 

The pontiff has stated, that while he does not condone killing other human beings, people who insult the beliefs and religions of others should "expect a punch", in the same way they would if they had insulted his own mother.

So in a nutshell, he has said that belief should never be mocked. If we do mock it, we should expect physical violence. He is trying to put it on a pedestal. 

First of all- and I feel like I trot out this phrase all the time but- ideas do not have rights. Much as they would have you believe, there is not a belief system on earth that is above and beyond scrutiny and criticism. Everything can, and should, be examined for both morality and validity- and more often than not, religions fail in both these categories. When our ideas are scrutinised or challenged- that is when their worth is proven. A sound idea will stand up to attack because of the evidence backing it up. 

Comedy is part of our culture as much- if not more so- than religions are. I've stated before my feeling on this and will not repeat myself at length- suffice to say nothing should be immune from a joke. Comedy serves only to entertain and make people laugh. The moment you start saying what people can and can't make a joke of, is when serious problems start, and escalate. 

Above and beyond anything else, ideas and beliefs proven to be true do not need defending. They are true whether you believe it or not, and whether you like it or not. Indeed, we don't call them ideas or beliefs anymore at that point; they are known as facts. 

However, ideas proven to be ridiculous; which are still clung to regardless of evidence to the contrary; are laughable. Such things hardly need mocking? And are definitely not deserving of any respect. For instance, organisations such as The Flat Earth Society, claim exactly that; the earth is a flat plane, with an edge. We know this to be false. We also know that the previously held belief that the earth is the centre of the universe has also been proven false. Did you know however, that the Catholic Church only acknowledged this fact at the eve of the 21st century? It wasn't until 1999 that they actually conceded that Gallileo was correct; despite their persecution of him at the time he made his theories.

If we are to take the myths of Christianity at face value; the bible states that the earth (and by extension, the universe and existence itself) is between 6000 and 10,000 years old. This is nonsense- and not even close. The earth is around 4.6 Billion years old (4,600,000,000). Human beings as we know them haven't been around that long, comparatively- but we still beat Christianity's best guess by a long shot, at around 200,000 years. Indeed, by the time the bible-thumpers reckon the universe began, we had already managed to invent glue and domesticate dogs. If we are not to take it at face value, then how are we to understand the Old Testament? As metaphor? Allegory? Figuratively? Do we disregard the entire Old Testament or only certain parts? By what criteria do we decide? I think there would have to be a companion handbook. If someone has one- please lend it to me.

Beliefs such as this deserve to be placed on the same level as Scientology and The Flat Earth Society. If you believe something you cannot prove, because you haven't bothered to investigate the facts, then you are simply ignorant. Remember, "I can't think of anything to explain it, God must have done it" is not a superior answer to "I don't know". It's okay to admit you don't know; but go and find out. It's all out there- this is the Internet age after all. If you believe something you cannot prove in any way, despite there being evidence to the contrary, then quite frankly you are an idiot. If you are wilfully ignorant- then you are beyond help. 

Unless you have genuine mental issues in regard to this- you deserve to be mocked. I can mock you, and I will. I will mock you in the same way I would mock a member of The Flat Earth Society, someone who believes in the supernatural powers of astrology, or someone who believes the moon is made of Camembert and inhabited by Clangers.