Category Archives: Perspectives

History, belief systems and more

Reflecting on the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts

Broken in the USA, Finance, Government Issues, International, Perspectives, tax related issues

Reflecting on the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts

The United States lost 2,459 military personnel in Afghanistan between October 2001 and August 2021, with 1,922 of those killed in action. In addition, there were civilian contractor fatalities, with estimates around 1,822, and 18 CIA operatives also killed during the conflict. The total death toll from the conflict, however, is much higher, including significantly more Afghan civilians and other allied troops, as well as those who died indirectly from the war’s effects on infrastructure and public health

In the 20 years since September 11, 2001, the United States has spent more than $2 trillion on the war in Afghanistan. That’s $300 million dollars per day, every day, for two decades. Or $50,000 for each of Afghanistan’s 40 million people.

In March 2003, U.S. forces invaded Iraq vowing to destroy Iraqi weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and end the dictatorial rule of Saddam Hussein. When WMD intelligence proved illusory and a violent insurgency arose, the war lost public support. Saddam was captured, tried, and hanged and democratic elections were held. In the years since, there have been over 4,700 U.S. and allied troop deaths, and more than one hundred thousand Iraqi civilians have been killed. Meanwhile, questions linger over Iraq’s fractious political situation.

The CBO estimated that of the $2.4 trillion long-term price tag for the war, about $1.9 trillion of that would be spent on Iraq, or $6,300 per US citizen in just under 9 years.

Does this make sense to you?

Terraforming Mars

Education, Environment, Perspectives, Science

Terraforming Mars

There has been quite a bit of discussion about terraforming Mars. While I do think it is possible my guess is that the process could take hundreds of years. Assuming that ET has been visiting us thousands of years (Ancient Astronaut Theory) why have they not already done this? They are far advanced technologically and likely have better and faster methods.

It puzzles me that we think we would do a better job maintaining Mars (after terraforming) than we have our planet. We have successfully overpopulated Earth beyond resource sustainability and are enroute to destroying the environment. Mars is not the solution.

The Truth about Christianity

Belief Systems, Education, Perspectives

The Truth about Christianity

Most people think that Jesus or Paul or perhaps Peter founded the religion called Christianity. This is not true. Yeah, but isn’t Christianity a religion? Yes, it is, but the founders of Christianity were not Jesus, Paul, or Peter. Christianity as a religion wasn’t really born until a very gradual process started in the mid-second century CE ending in the mid-third century CE. This is when the following things took place: (1) hierarchy was slowly introduced, e.g. bishops were appointed in some regions and later priests became recognized (2) more and more Gentile influence came into the community and the faith became patterned after Roman social and political structures, and (3) Christian dogma and specific doctrines were created. As historians Vearnecombe, Scott, and Taussig tell us (in their excellent book, After Jesus Before Christianity), “…in the first two centuries after Jesus, what we think of as ‘Christianity’ did not exist.” Christianity was not part of the original Jesus Movement.an

The above is an excerpt from the Internet. See the complete article at: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thespiritualbrewpub/2023/04/5-facts-about-the-original-jesus-movement-that-debunk-the-origins-of-christianity/