Trees Have Roots

To me, the violence and civil disobedience in Ferguson Missouri is just a microcosm of worldwide terrorism. 


If you look at the rhetoric of the Islamic terrorists, it is identical to the protestors in Ferguson, or in any other civil unrest in America or in any big city in the world.

Terrorists justify their barbarism by saying it is the only way they can be heard. They say they are disrespected and sabotaged by the infidels of the Western mentality. Their 'peaceful' religion is mischaracterized and their 'God' is disrespected so they are forced to explode bombs in synagogues and marketplaces and kill members of their own faith, because it is all in service to a greater good. Those who don't 'Believe' as they do must be eradicated.

In Ferguson, the leaders claim that the denial of civil rights, the outright racism and murder of 'innocent' young black men is indigenous to American society that is run by privileged white men who want to suppress black people and indirectly perpetuate slavery. They say those who haven't 'experienced' slavery cannot understand or 'respect' their condition.

If we substitute the word 'peaceful religion' with 'innocent black males' you can see that the implication is the same. The core values of the 'Islamic Community,' aka, the 'Black Community' are under attack by white (Judeo-Christian) males who have all of the power and weapons at their disposal.


In Afghanistan, the Taliban are fighting against the growing acceptance of Western Values that threaten the order of Islamic Fundamentalism. That is male-centric Sharia Law and the complete subordination of any other religion, education, and the rights of their slaves, women.

Both groups claim all of their grievances are with the white male-controlled and mostly Judeo-Christian governments of the Western World. The terror tactics, decapitation, suicide bombings, and destruction of small businesses and burning the neighborhood are simply political statements. No different than the evil West using television to corrupt the minds of people with pornography and blasphemy, or the spread of drug addiction and disproportionate incarceration in the inner cities.

Therefore, an asymmetric war is justified. Call it terrorism, guerilla warfare, or civil disobedience, the results are pretty much the same: destruction of innocent peoples property and lives. Demanding complete capitulation and return of all power to the oppressed and disrespected.

The tree of life grows above ground. It flourishes in the sun and breathes out oxygen in the air. It can blossom with beauty and bring fruit to our tables. It is the essence of life and promulgation.

The roots, however, grow where it is dark and they can be invasive and destructive. They tend to feed off of others and suck the vitality out of their neighbors. Some roots systems are far greater in size and reach than their above ground brothers. They survive where most other species go to die.

It is the Tree of Mankind.

The World has been this way forever. We must accept there are certain realities about life that we will never change.

Some people will never fit in. Some will thrive only on the misery of others and may get stronger and more extensive in their reach because there is more darkness in their world than there is light in ours.

As trees, it is our job to use the light to make more joy and to recycle the air to make more oxygen. We would be wasting our opportunity if we spend too much of our resources trying to bring the roots to the surface.

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