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Messages - Michael6343

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Politics & Religion / Invitation to dialog to Muslims
« on: August 01, 2006, 05:17:58 PM »
Howdy from Tejas

I watched this documentary very closely, it is so odd that these radicals who spout contempt for western ways, ideologies etc. borrow a page from just that, NAZI Germany. The old saying still applies "if you forget your history you are doomed to repeat it" this is oh so true and is very visible in this documentary. Okay on with my rant:

 These idiots who buy into this ideology and brainwashing are so lost it is truly sad, but with that being said a lost soul is one of complete denial and willing to do great harm to see that his masters bidding is done (a dangerous path indeed), personally speaking I am 100% against these bafoons and what they stand for, if they choose to do me or mine harm or my nation then I will fight them every inch of the way, I have no qualms with unleashing the dogs if that is what it takes to insure the sanctity of my beliefs, my way of life, my constitution and the safety of my nation and it's citizens no matter the race, color, religion or creed. I believe all Americans and westerners in general need to speak up more and come to each others aid in these times no matter the religion. The saddest part of this documentary is the children and the hate filled words that spewed from their mouths, that to me is the biggest crime in existance, we will deal with these youth as they grow into young adults with hate manifested times infinity and our only solution will be one of violence unless of course these ways change and true education and teachings of love and tolerance take root in these societies, which is hard for me to see...sad but oh so true. I really have no answers to any of this, I know that this is a world wide crisis and for some reason people still do not wish to open their eyes to it, why I do not know and for someone like Michael Moorer to open his pie hole and spew his rhetoric that we do not have to be worried is so typical of the left that it truly is freightening. Now I am not saying that we as Americans have to walk around with code red stamped on our foreheads but we better wake up to some degree and understand that this problem can touch us, and we need to prepare ourselves to some degree to be able to deal with the onslaught, godforbid that it finds us as an individual. We are at a very difficult time in our lives, a time of great violence throughout the globe a time of extreme changes which do not always reflect the goodness that exists in this world, we must be prepared to do what is necessary to keep our families, selves and way of life safe not to mention the greatest country on this rock the U.S.A.....so in closing keep the faith and do whats right,  be a good person, learn to tolerate all of mankind who are deserving (not these dip shits in the vid..LOL) and drive on and no matter your religion, color, creed I will be there to back your play because my friends this is America and those who come to destroy it will have a rude awakening....Take care!

Hillbilly Sufi
Michael B.

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Politics & Religion / Invitation to dialog to Muslims
« on: July 20, 2006, 10:24:11 AM »
Hello all, Crafty thanks for the kind words and breaking bread is a favorite past time of mine...LOL. I will answer the following questions to the best of my ability.

why do you think of yourself as a Sufi Muslim?

As I said in my opening post I see myself as a human being before all else and I believe that being so transcends religion in all it's forms. I study Sufism for one simple reason, it makes sense to me, it deals with the simplicity of oneness and it being a solitary path makes it a personal journey of truth.

What is it about its beliefs that appeal to you?

The appeal is very simple, it is based on what I see as truth as it relates to that question of G_d. Now I understand that most hard line fundamental Muslims will say that Sufism or Tasawwuf if you will is a lie a false science etc. etc. but one must understand that Sufism was here way before the organized religion of Islam as a matter of fact Christianity and Judaism have their own mystical ways such as Gnosticism and Kabbalah. I also understand that some Sufi's will say that you cannot have Sufism without Sharia and or Sunnah etc. this is where I totally disagree, if Sufism transcends religion then these fundamental thoughts will never apply it is in fact the exact opposite of what Sufism is and to assume that an individual does not have the mental or spiritual capacity to embrace Sufism because he or she doesn't choose to call himself Muslim is an absolute falsehood.

Which of these beliefs do you see as universal, and which do you see as distinctive to Islam/Sufi Islam?

Personally I do not see Sufism (as I know it) distinctive to Islam or any other religion, I understand that Sufism is a part of Islam and that it has many faces. I am a student of Sufism as a western man, I see it from a western perspective that alone changes my view of what it is supposed to be according to fundamental thinking and in the long run it is a very personal journey.

The beliefs that I find are universal are very simple common sense:
1. freedom to believe how you want
2. love over hate
3. giving of yourself freely
4. to keep your beliefs in your heart
5. the oneness with your beliefs
And as Shaykh always says "smile it warms your soul as well as someone else's" so you see I just look at it in very simple terms, no need to delve into areas that I myself are unclear about or to be honest hold no relevance in 2006 America.

Crafty says: It sounds like you feel free to interpret the Koran according to your inner voice.  Of course for the fundamentalist, this raises concerns of a "slippery slope" nature-- once one gets started interpreting and picking and choosing, how does one decide?  Who knows where it will lead? etc.

I do interpret Koran & the Bible and all scripture I read with an open mind and an open heart (I would hope all people do) and yes it is a slippery slope and looked down upon among the box dwellers of Islam and fundamental mindsets in general. It is an easy decision I make to do so, I choose to see good not bad, I choose to use my mind in conjunction with my heart to decipher what I find to be truth..if this is wrong then so be it I am wrong but my heart and conscience are clear..I wonder if the fundamental mind and heart truly is?
The decision to read and interpret with my own heart is obvious, it is my right as a human being to do so and if more people would choose to see the good over the bad we may have less of a shit storm in the world. Hopefully it will lead to more tolerance for all and for everyone to soften their hearts just a bit...but personally I think that is a long, long way away.

Crafty asks: How do you feel about all this?

Well at first I thought it was a bit of a set up but I admit that I was 100% wrong, perhaps I judged before understanding...(I am human and fallible)but I do see now that it is a very important discussion and I hope my words may make sense to people if not that's understandable as well and a bit sad to. You asked why I consider myself Sufi/Muslim? I have been contemplating that greatly....I am a student of Sufism (my personal path) as far as being Muslim hm mm I guess to some I am to others I am not but to me I am a human being before all else. I believe Christianity and Judaism and Islam all have portions in their scripture that I agree with and there are portions in each that doesn't ring true in my heart but one thing for sure is if one chooses to look deep enough you will find they have more in common than one wishes to see.

I am unsure about Sufism in other parts of the world..I do know that in southeast Asia Sufism is a very big part of their ways.. and in many of the Silat systems Sufism plays an integral role....The Wali Songo etc. as for the middle east hmm to be honest with you I do not know...I tend to have a very skewed view of the middle east and it's ways, very skewed as in WHAT the F**** are they thinking over there? I think many people have that same view...LOL...Until next time..I hope these answers suffice...take care.

Michael

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Politics & Religion / Invitation to dialog to Muslims
« on: July 09, 2006, 03:09:20 PM »
Greetings once again Tom...

Tom asks:

What is it that makes yourself different from any other person that walks the earth?

@  My right to be so. I feel that every person is different, unique in their own way. I also feel that it is a good thing, can you imagine if we were all the same, damn what a boring existence that would be...gotta have a bit of oddity to keep the pot stirred, makes for a better life in my opinion.

I understand this question is extremely easy to misconstrue etc. and I know that a pat answer would be something like...BECAUSE G_D MADE ME SO but I find it is much deeper than that on an individual basis.

Tom asks:
 
What is it that will get you into heaven?

@ I do not know..to be straight up I don't know if I will make it that far, I do have a very turbulent past that I am not particularly proud of and if I am judged accordingly on some of those deeds then perhaps somewhere farther south may be better suited. I definitely hope that my atonement and good deeds that I have done hence forth will aid me when that day comes. I know my intention is now on the right track. In the end all I can do is my best!

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Politics & Religion / Invitation to dialog to Muslims
« on: July 09, 2006, 10:32:13 AM »
Hello Tom, I'll start by answering your last question first.

1. Are you a devout reader of the Koran?

@ No I am not, like I said I have the Bible, Koran, Torah etc. on my book shelf, I don't read them on a daily basis but I do from time to time read them.

You also stated this and I quote" Your post appears to suggest to me that your faith is based on convenience more than anything and you only choose to believe what it is that tickles your fancy"
...My faith is my faith and how I choose to believe is my business as yours is to you. What may suit my fancy may indeed be looked down upon by many people but in the long run does it truly matter? Is anyone going to be with me on judgement day? NOPE, so rest assured I'm definitely cool with my ways.

2. Would most Muslims agree with you?

@ Nope....but like I said it is none of their business. I am not here on this rock to please all of humanity, if they don't like my ways so be it, to be honest with you I do not like theirs either but they are entitled too believe how they want.

 3. The Bible is relevant for today's times, is not the Koran?

@ In my opinion both are relevant depending on the way the individual sees it. When I read scripture from any book I deliberately look for the good, the positive. If one were to totally abide by your belief that every ounce of the Koran or Bible should be revered as truth and acted as such then I would shutter to think of the BS that would be going on. Obviously these Wahhabi minded terror mongers who see nothing but evil and violence take that fact to heart.

4. Do you believe what the Koran says or not?

@ I read the Koran with an open heart and an open mind if something doesn't sit well with me I reread it and try too find the good in it. G_d gave us a mind, to analyze to internalize and to seek truth in everything we do. If I cannot make heads or tales of it I ask my Shaykh who is much more knowledgeable then I and he definitely steers me on the right path and breaks it down in very deep, meaningful, positive ways.

Tom says:
You state that one doesn't believe EVERYTHING that's written in the Bible. Sorry to inform you that is incorrect. I for one do and so do also most all of the members of the church that I attend.

That's fine Tom, that is you and the folks that congregate at your house of worship I have nothing to say about that, to each their own as G_d intended. Have a great day...

PS Although these conversations are at times interesting I can't help but too recall my granddads words " To debate religion is as useful as a fart in a whirl wind because at the end of the day everybody is gonna believe how they want, and all your gonna get is a headache"

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Politics & Religion / Invitation to dialog to Muslims
« on: July 08, 2006, 10:45:40 PM »
Greetings to all here, My name is Michael Blackgrave of San Antonio Texas, I am a long time student & teacher of the martial ways with an emphasis on South East Asian methodologies (Pekititersia Kali, Malay silat, Silat Mubai) I also study Wing Chun at the present time and teach my blend of what works known as Silat Askari. I am also a veteran of the U.S. Army having served proudly and discharged honorably. I am also a tactical weapons advocate.

I know of Mr. Denny through reputation only and  from acquaintances we both share, Pekitiville is a very small berg! I am also the so called lurker..LOL..Mr. Denny made reference to in his aforementioned post, me thinks Mr. Denny lurks a bit to...LOL...but its' all good.

Now before I go any further I will answer the questions that Mr. Denny asked of another brother here:

1. what is your reaction to our killing of Zarqawi?
  @ I was elated, he is a piece of shit who deserved worse than what he got...PERIOD!

2. Are you sad/angry that we have killed a "fellow Muslim" or are you glad that we have killed a fascist who targeted innocents?
  @ SEE ABOVE

3. If you had known where he was, would you have told us?
  @ Hell yes....in a SKINNY MINUTE...not only to rid the world but that cash would definitely come in handy...ahh the American Way! Gotta love it

4. Were you a Muslim circa 1986?
  @ hmmm , NOPE I was a hard partying, no good S.O.B. I reverted to Islam and more into Sufism in the early spring of 05 ( as my Shaykh tells me, you are not Sunni or Shia they are political factions we are SUFI so shut up and just be as good as you can be...LOL or as I tell people I am a better Sufi than I am a Muslim..LOL...Now watch the Salafi minded jump on that band wagon..yeehaw come on!

Now I know my answers may be taken with a huge guffaw by our more traditional Muslims who view this thread and I may be deemed a heretic but to be honest who gives a dang? Certainly not me! I am a member of the Qadiri Rifai Sufi order headed by Shaykh Taner Ansari. Shaykh Taner is a very wise man who understands that we live in 2006 America as opposed to 568 a.d. Mecca and he teaches accordingly. Shaykh Taner himself is a former Turkish infantry soldier and a very good martial artist in his own right, he guides his people with common sense and stresses practicality and moderation over all else, his pet peeve is Muslims who try to act like they still live in the archaic times of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) this is something he does not advocate. He once told me to learn about Islam as an American middle aged man not an Arab, not  a Filipino etc. his words were profound "If you cannot understand your religion or any religion as who you are, then how can you ever expect to grasp the goodness it contains", this to me seems to be the crux of so many problems that not only plague Islam but also religion as a whole.

OK onto the oh so controversial photos of the Prophet (pbuh). The sad thing about this is the mere idea that these photos would get under peoples skin (soft skinned for sure). I do not find them amusing nor would I find a painting of the POPE doing something nasty or a pic of Jesus doing the electric boogaloo funny, in all senses I take those pics for what they were intended, a premeditated act to gain a response from an over the top fundamental crowd and guess what? IT WORKED, these dip shit fundamentals did exactly what they were supposed to and proved this cartoonist and the subsequent writer of what ever rag RIGHT!, SHAME SHAME, it is my humble opinion that the worst part about Islam is the Muslims...LOL, they, the fundamental ding dongs have as much MANA (spirit) as Dick Cheney has hair on that oh so pointed dome.....LOL

As for Mr. Denny and Mr. Suarez wearing the infidel shirt....once again, WHO GIVES A DANG? Certainly not me, I could care less if they sport pink loafers and a tutu, it isn't any of my business, if one were to see my daily wear you would think I am straight out of Woodstock, sporting my CHE T-shirt and my oh so combat ready flip flops and a baseball hat saying Indianapolis Colts ( I assure you here in Texas the hat alone can cost you an ass whooping seeing that this is COWBOYS country..LOL) you see folks it is all small shit...why worry about it? In the grand spectrum of ones life does it truly matter what Mr. Denny or Mr. Suarez wear? Does it have an impact on your life? Do you stay up late at night plotting the demise of people who wear goofy clothes? (If so I'd have been whacked years ago) DO NOT SWEAT THE SMALL SHIT!

As for the target...hmmm I can see where a thin skinned bloke may find that offensive but personally speaking, it does not bother me in the least...the target isn't a person it is what it is, a target, if one wants to make them look like a terrorist, black panther (yes you can still get those bad boys down south) or Larry Flynt for that matter it doesn't matter it isn't going to  make you any better with the weapon LOL. So get over this woe is me, that is my brother depicted there crapola...unless your brother is a 3 x 5 target made out of paper you don't have a gripe!

Now I saw on here that a few folks were talking about all this history of Islam etc. etc. etc. personally it reads to me like any other history...I wasn't there so I do not know and to be honest nor do I care it holds no bearing on my day to day life so I choose not to debate it. I find it funny that people always bring up the old BACK IN THIS TIME HE SAID THIS AND THEN HE SAID THAT crapola....how do you know? How does anyone know? Surely one doesn't believe every word that was written in a history text or a Hadith or a Bible or a Koran etc. etc.? Surely an intelligent human being understands the methods of selective history? Our books are built on it!...LOL

Now onto the Israeli vs. Palestine issue. This my friends is a quagmire of shite plain and simple and you and I are not going to make much of a difference. These two entities have been battling ever since the country of Israel was formed and guess what? Nothing is gonna change, no matter how much protesting, no matter how many petitions are signed, no matter what...It is what it is..a quagmire of shite, just be damn glad you do not have to live in it! As for HAMAS and all these other pseudo wanna be Governments over there all I have to say is one thing...YEAH RIGHT...you can bullshit the blind but those who truly see know you don't have to get close to shit to know it stinks!

I saw where some folks on here were asking "where is the outcry from the Imams on all of this , where is the fatwas condemning this? etc." honestly the good pious Muslims have spoken up at times and others haven't but guess what it isn't a big deal if a few speak up ..the world as a whole better start understanding one simple thing...WE ARE AL LHUMAN BEINGS BEFORE WE ARE ANYTHING ELSE...and until we as HUMAN BEINGS stand up and say a loud hardy F**** YOU to this type of BS it wont change and in BS I mean all this crapola that is shit kicked in to this world and excepted as the norm..everything from terrorism to famine, to gun running, to drug pushers, etc. ...DO YA FEEL ME?

Oh yeah here is my personal condemnation on all of this...Any and all of these SOB's who back terrorism and who act out terrorism on innocent people of all races, colors, creeds , and religions should be taken out PERIOD! A short rope and a long fall is what they deserve.

Now don't get me wrong here folks I am no fond admirer of the going's on in Bushville a.k.a. the Presidential administration, my personal feelings are simple on that matter and I will suppress them for the sake of arguing a moot point where nothing more than rhetoric will be used to fuel fires.

On to Iraq....yeah that's right I-freaking RACK...I support the U.S. troops 100%.. do I agree with all that rocks over there? Hell  NO, do I agree we should have gone in? Nope...should have concentrated on Afghanistan and if I would have had my druthers Saudi Arabia would have been on the hit parade....NOW there is a hypocritical nation if ever one existed! Here again this is my opinion and most Salafi minded folks will once again roll their eyes and scream kill him , kill the Sufi heretic...LOL..and that is the truth...I am not popular at masjids...something about having sleeved arms of tattoos that throw the hard liners off..LOL..but oh well..they should perhaps check their selective history and they will find out that many people in Islam have tattoo's especially when your dealing with the indigenous folks who have mixed in their old tribal customs into Islam ( and I am .25% Shawnee on my Pops side & those ways he taught me will never die or be taken from me)..but SHHHH those people aren't real Muslims..LOL..! So  as far as Iraq is concerned do your business the best you can, watch your six and lets get this over with so everybody on both sides can get on to something better in their life.

Somewhere in this thread I also saw something about the Koran being filled with violence as is the Bible and any scripture for that matter, one should understand something about this. These books were written by men in archaic times where violence was a part of the every day plan, one can choose to see violence or he can choose to see good things it is up to the individual, if one choose to always see violence I would be suffice to say he will see it in everything  not just scripture (perhaps a compassion check would be in order). In my opinion life is way to short and way to precious to subjugate yourself to constantly seeing ugly and violence.

One last thing here, I saw mentioned about my good friend Ustaz Hussein of Silat Mubai...if I may I would like to tell you guys about this man. He is always chastised and lied about by so many people who judge him on his site. Yes he has pictures that may to some seem fundamental but no more than what this discussion is about i.e. Mr. Denny and Suarez with the INFIDEL T shirts and the target etc. It is sad that many folks do not get to know him better. He is a very intelligent man a man who dearly loves his wife and child, a man who works his ass off to support them, a man who loves his martial craft and gives freely of his knowledge to all folks of all religions, walks of life etc. He is a man of faith who happens to believe in his religion ISLAM, he understands that there are entities that seek to destroy it and I know he would give his life to save a fellow warrior no matter the faith if he were fighting for a just cause. He is a very honorable fella and funny as a freaking crutch once you get to know him. OKAY enough of that...Gees if he reads that he will think I've gone loco...LOL  But anyhow folks that is all I got to say on the matter of the infamous T-shirt and Target issue....so in closing thanks for the vine and the time..I hope you can make sense of these words...I am definitely not a writer!...and have a great evening, weekend and life..because in the end folks it's all good!...Yeehaw, Out from Tejas

P.S. Crafty obviously knows how to bait a hook..LOL..got my lazy ass in here after all. :D

Oh yeah I forgot this, on my bookshelf sits the Bible, Koran & Torah as well as the Adi Granth ("First Book", also known as the Guru Granth Sahib) of the Sikh scriptures also books on Hindu scripture, books on Taoism, Buddhism, Shamanism etc. I enjoy reading all of these and find things in all of them that ring true and bring comfort...I guess I just believe and with that being said if one were to ask me my religion I would have to say I am human being my personal choice is non consequential it matters only to me and mine. Have a nice night folks

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