just kidding.
Uh, anyway, i was excited to read about Charlemagne. It was nice to be able to read at least one section that involved a true leader, living long enough to accomplish something. Why did the Saxons keep rebelling?! It seems like the brought ruination upon themselves by continuously denying the orders that they were given. I mean, i don't like to see people defeated, or chieftains murdered, but come on. Also, if Charlemagne was so intensely worried about the Saxons, why did he keep pestering them? It seems that no one was ever really interested in peace, only postponing conflict.
I didn't know before reading this, that Charlemagne was a Christian crusader, and i must express confusion at a religion like Christianity forcing beliefs upon people at sword point.
Again, as history repeats itself, i could not help comparing the people like Roland to the Kamizakes. Why are people so eager to sacrifice themselves for their leaders? Maybe it's because i'm not drawn to religion, it just seems strange the lengths that people will go to in order to preserve their beliefs.
3 comments:
You said Kamizakes, did you mean Kamikazis - I will assume so for sake of my response. A Kamikaze would do whatever necessary for sake of duty and honor, whereas today we have people blowing themselves up due to a religious book called the Quran. It is told in their book that to take nonbelievers of their faith to the grave will give them reward in their heaven. I don't know what book some of the early "Christian Crusaders" were reading but it is not in the Bible I read. Just because a group calls themselves Christian - does not make them so - only God can assure us who really is or is not a Christian. As for sacrificing myself (speaking as a Christian) I would if God asked me too, but the God I pray to would not ask such a thing as a way to hurt others but only in the service to save others.
And for your last statement, "...strange the length people will go in order to preserve their beliefs". For many of us with a strong faith, belief or conviction - that IS who we are. My faith is not a hobbie, it is the very essence of who I am, and without it I would be but a hollow shell. My soul is worth any sacrifice necessary - just as freedom is worthy of death. Without freedom life becomes shallow - faith is even more valuable to those of us with it. My faith will be with me forever - which is beyond this earth.
As for your statements about leaders - it is so sadly true. it is hard to find them because we find it easier to look for the bad ones. Also, we expect so much and rarely do we give the support needed to succeed. Our leaders are only as good as those who follow with true commitment and conviction. Or so I think - I am just pontificating at this point, I could be wrong.
Good post though Emily. I found Charlemagne to be quite interesting myself.
I respect your beliefs, and your response was interesting. Being a non-believer myself, the entire idea of self-sacrifice is insane, thanks for shedding some light.
I guess that one of the main reasons why the Saxons rebelled was because Charlemagne kept trying to impose religion and his own beliefs over them. The Saxons were a culture that didn't want to be submissive and for that reason they kept rebelling. I think that Charlemagne's idea of imposing religion was more a way to keep them under control than actually trying to get them spiritually involved in the religion.
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