Fear and hate. You'd think that war vets would have an understanding of the world's people getting along together. Much hate and harm has been done in the name of religion. It perpetuates itself in an agenda that mystifies me.

I was shocked when I read yet another piece of hate mail from this group: Posting based on 'a friend who worked in Saudi Arabia for 20 years.' I cannot base my beliefs in such. It is deep thinkers, and theologians who need reflect on such questions.

THE AUSSIE DIGGER
Information for Australian ex service members and disabled veterans. ('Digger')
This group continually sends misinformation to its members. I have a penpal, WW II vet, who forwards this type of thing continually. I became curious about their origins.

Originally sent from Australia:

-- Can Muslims be good Australians, Americans, New Zealanders, or any other Western Country resident?

Although I know some exceptional Muslim people.
This is very interesting and we all need to read it from start to finish. And send it on to everyone.
Can a good Muslim be a good Australian? or other western country resident?
<...SNIP...>
Therefore, after much study and deliberation.... Perhaps we should be very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country. - - - They obviously cannot be both 'good' Muslims and good Australians. Call it what you wish it's still the truth. You had better believe it. The more who understand this, the better it will be for our country and our future.
The religious war is bigger than we know or understand. ....

Footnote: The Muslims have said they will destroy us from within. SO FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.
THE AUSSIE DIGGERS WANT THIS TO ROLL OUT ALL OVER AUSTRALIA.

This is certainly serious food-for-thought. I have written previously about this kind of false information. I will not post the entire message as it is terribly hateful. Their videos send messages about hate for the men whose women who choose to wear a hijab or niqab.

TheCanvasPrison.pps

All based on ignorance and fear that these groups will force all women to wear them in, for example, Australia and North America. How bizarre. It is a cultural practice, based in ancient times, by ancient civilizations. Modern Muslim women wear variations of the Niqab. Those living in Taliban-controlled regions must. Those living in, for example, downtown Saudi Arabia, women with money. Others suffer beatings, as do women in abusive relationships in North America. This is racial stereotyping. This is vastly different than predicting that Western civilizations will force it on us.

It is crazy and full of false information. Many of the images are obviously photoshopped, too.

Another video Diggers are forwarding:

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy: Inside a school for suicide bomber

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy: Inside a school for ...
9 min
ted.com

Click the link below to see and listen to how suicide bombers are trained. Frightening but it's true.

"Eddie" such a young man

R.I.P. 1944

As if this is the mainstream Muslim, who are Children of the Taliban. This is the whole point.

The aforementioned TED video is presented by a Pakistan woman, filmmaker and advocate for women. Not all Muslims are Taliban, and not all believe in this premise. Many rebels in many countries have

Child Soldiers.

We must be smart about this. It is the young men whom the allies sent off to WW II. We have their photos.

Having worked with many people of all faiths, I have not seen any differences between any of them. Many organized religious fanatic groups have wreaked havoc in one form or another, from the Crusaders to the Taliban. But this is not the norm. I would hope that in this day and age we would learn to respect differences. Especially around Remembrance Day.

Let us learn to love one another. Respect differences. Have tolerance and understand that extreme fundamentalists, from Christians to Muslims, are not the norm.