Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Sunni or Shiite?

I was reading this mornings newspaper and came across a story about the booming business of fake ID's in Iraq. In the US my idea of fake ID's is about underage kids wanting to drink before their time.
Not in Iraq. Apparently, as most of us have been told, the Sunni's and Shiite's don't care for one another one bit. They have an unsettling problem however. They can't tell one another apart by sight.
That fact alone is surrounded by a pasture full of thinking room isn't it?

Apparently they can distinguish one another by name structure.

So....there are now fake ID manufacturers to give the customer a Sunni ID and a Shiite ID with exactly the same picture, but different name. That way if they are questioned by the opposite group they can pose as one of them.

Now if I made this up....you wouldn't believe me would you?

I could write page after page on this one, but you will be spared because I have to earn a living.
Nevertheless I would like to hear your thoughts. The closest analogy I can find in the US is if we had Methodists murdering Presbyterians. Or Catholics trying to 'off' all the Baptists. But first of course you have to determine who and what they are so you don't kill your own.

Wait a minute though, didn't Hitler try this type strategy? Seems he didn't like Jews, but had some trouble distinguishing exactly who they were? Then he used their names?

19 comments:

Reach said...

Seven,
Wild, I was thinking "Wild" as I read this! Your conclusion paralleled my thoughts exactly. Yes, Hitler did do this, and this is the typical "Historical Repetition". What will be next “Arm Bands”, or “Head Dress” to identify the different Sects?
Having traveled in that region, speaking of head dress, I was completely amazed on its effectiveness. I mean, I was actually cool- temperature wise.

Reach

Seven said...

Reach,
You are cool always my friend....I remain amazed at the tribe of US citizens that do not understand the threat. At least George and Condi 'get it'.

Monogram Queen said...

I think that is just crazy BUT I guess a fake ID is worth it to save your life.
Seems to make those ol' fake ID's in college-just-so-we-could-get-in-clubs kinda frivolous eh?

Seven said...

Cakes,
Good point and that is exactly what they are used for! To save their own lives!

Grant said...

It reminds me of when I visited white people in Chicago and Vermont and discovered they had prejudices against Canadians. I asked how they could tell them apart, but they had no answers. They should be branded with the scarlet letter C (the Cannucks).

Seven said...

Ummmm.....yeah maybe white Vermontians are completely different form white Canadians....except in mating season.

Steve said...

Grim. The idea of picking someone for their religion, race, beliefs and then killing? Maybe we don't understand our selves. If we did, I think how could we be so intolerant to others because they are different? We are all different, and these bodies and locations we live and religions are just surfaces. Just descriptions, just ID's. Who are we behind those descriptions?

Reach said...

Seven,
OMG, the play on words with the term "Vermontians".
Reach

Seven said...

Steve,
I think those are meaningful and important questions worthy of the search. I have written about my belief that racism is a man-made and therefore artificial construct; and I believe in my preaching.
This one is a little twisted from racism in that it celebrates an exclusionary hatred based on belief systems. I will argue all day that personal belief systems are a man made construct.
I'm forever stuck in the principal thought that it is only when we are insecure in our beleifs that we fear and hate those of a different belief.
Once again, fear presents itself as our evil to defeat. You have written about this often at your site so I know you understand about defeating fear; or it it will manifest in evil.
You have a gentle soul. But wait a minute, Baptist or Catholic; we must know!

Reach said...

Here is a thought, not previously occured, "What will be next, micro chips under the skin?"

LOL, now this will create a debate!

Reach

Lynilu said...

I can't help but wonder . . . if they carry both cards, I would think they risk pulling out the wrong one, or on being searched, having it found.

I agree with you about discrimination. We create it. All of us have prejudices. How we handle it in our lives tell about who we are deep inside. What is hard to face is the fact that what we hate (or discriminate against, especially against a whole group) is usually a reflection of (1) something inside ourselves that we hate and try to hide and forget or deny; or (2) something about which we are ignorant (the unknown scares most of us). This applies to ethnic or racial discrimination, religious groups, homophobic behaviors, on and on. So the best thing we can do is learn more about what is feared, and find out what is inside ourselves causing us to react. Hmmm. Have I just recommended group therapy for the population of the world? Interesting. That's my field, but I don't think I care to try a group that big, thank you anyway!

Seven said...

Lynilu,
Just the logistics of that many chairs in a circle...??
As always, your life wisdom reflects in your comments. Thanks.

Lynilu said...

darlin', you may retract that last sentence if you go read my current post!!

Stacy The Peanut Queen said...

Now that you bring it up, you DO carry your Peanuttian card around with you at all times, right? Just in case someone were to try and mess wuth you...better safe than sorry! ;)

xwy said...

Can I get a fake ID that says I'm Laura Bush?

Seven said...

PQ,
A peanuttian card? What a terrific idea! You must have mis-mailed mine; but I sure do want one!

Storms,
Hummm....well if successful that would mean you would have to plan the menu for State Dinners, decorate the White House for Christmas, speak in front of local school boards every month, go home to Midland, Texas for holidays. Spend time with God knows who foreign representative's wife that barely speaks english, and I am certain I have left out a lot of other non-fun stuff..... Better re-think that one!

Enemy of the Republic said...

I'm a dummy. What could be the motive? I just don't get it unless it is another terrorist porthole.

Seven said...

EOTR,
Motive? Irrational hate and power seeking or something for which I don't have the tools to describe....but mostly fear of others that are different in opinion....I think. Maybe easier to kill them than convert them? I guess we would have to think like irrational terrorists to understand motive.

xwy said...

No, no, no....I just want to get out of traffic tickets and get discounts at stores. What you're describing means I would have to sleep with W which well.... eeeeewwwww.