Dave's Blog

I’ve come to exploit people’s ignorance or just downright dumbness everyday but one time, I was bored in class. I started thinking about states no one cares about. Wyoming, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana came to mind immediately. Idaho and Minnesota sort of came to mind too, but they got a little something that makes you care about them, just a little. Potatoes and Moose, respectively.

I kept thinking about states that don’t matter, though. My mind kept on coming back to the Dakotas though, I just sat there in my first period thinking about them more and more. I honestly thought about those two states more than I typically think about boobs in class and that’s saying a lot. I tried recalling facts that I knew about the Dakotas, two states that take up a good deal of land in my native Fatherland motherland, but nothing came to mind. Not a single-fucking-thing. Where did the name Dakota come from? I don’t know. Why are there two Dakotas and not one big “Dakota”? I don’t know that either. How many people live there? I don’t know. What’s their importance to the overall economy? Shit, no idea on that one too. It was really starting to irk me. I could name at least one fact about every other state almost immediately if anyone asked me. After quizzing myself about the Dakotas over and over, I came to the most important question of them all. “Why are we here?” I thought about it for a bit and decided it was best left to a comedian to figure out at some point in the future so I thought of the Dakotas again, “Why don’t I know anything about the Dakotas?”. The answer came as soon as the question ended in my mind. No one cares about the two states, no one talks about them, but this isn’t a bad thing about them for me. No, in fact, this leads to the best thing about the Dakotas… No one knows a damn thing about them, including myself. Instantly I thought, “If I don’t have a clue, most won’t either.” That’s when the idea of messing with people’s knowledge of the states came to mind, taking advantage of people’s (and mine) ignorance is always fun. So I started asking people stuff to saying facts about the Dakotas. Some were very believable, some not so much. Still, most bought them, hook, line & sinker.

Q: Did you know the Dakotas used to be one big state?
- “No, really?”
A: Yea, you’re stupid. You need to learn your American history, idiot.

Q: You know why there are two Dakotas?
- “No, why?”
A: A civil war over the issue of beaver pelts.

Q: What is the main component of North Dakota’s economy?
- “Farming?”
A: Hot air-balloon manufacturing.

Q: What is the main component of South Dakota’s economy?
- “More hot air-balloons?”
A: Cold air-balloon manufacturing, stupid.

Q: You know what’s the most interesting thing to do while you’re there?
- “What is it?”
A: Leave.

Q: Do you know the minority demographic is there?
- “What is it?”
A: Residents who are happy to live in either of the Dakotas.

So I don’t make blog posts often. I guess I should make one every week or so, maybe try and make them simple and funny. I guess the title explains it. While working with my dad today, he went to Horton’s Building Supplies to get some concrete. He had a Horton’s cap in his truck for a while, so I decided to take a look at it. The tag read this,

Ironic, isn’t it?

I noticed I haven’t made a new blog post in over a year almost so I felt something insignifant like this justified a post (who honestly keeps up with my blog anyways? No one probably). Honestly, the only reason I made a blog in the first place was for somewhere to publish my analysis of Fitna. I felt I put enough research and time into it that I didn’t want to just post it on some public forums, I wanted it tied to my name, my site, my domain name. I thought I might do other things like it and post it on my blog, but I never really did. I never planned to try and ‘market’ my blog to get readers, just post maybe some relevant stuff at a point in time and help some people or put my perspective on a subject.

A big reason why I didn’t post on my blog at all after the Fitna analysis was also my host. The host provided great bandwidth, but their MySQL databases had horrible response times. The site would become unresponsive when working in the administration area and the user interface (or… control panel would be an easier way to put it). Today, I became not lazy for a moment (this is a rare occurrence, it took me a year to get to this point, mind you) and moved my blog settings over to a new host and new MySQL database. I regret not doing this much sooner now. The control panel of Wordpress is so much more responsive now, it’s like I was working with turtle and now I have Speedy Gonzales working with me.

So there’s an update, I might make an odd monthly blog post now.

A good friend of mine that goes by the handle “recover” has compiled all of the FMVs from all the Command and Conquer games to date. From the Red Alert series to the Tiberian series. His plans are to do Red Alert 3 at some point as well after its release.

You can download the FMVs from his website, here. If you wish to discuss the FMVs or if you run into any problems, you can post in this thread.

Fitna is a movie done by Dutch politician Geert Wilders. While he might have not portrayed the verses the right way, he does bring the attention of the threat of Radical Islam up, especially for Europeans. For far too long people have buried their heads in the sand, trying to ignore the threat. They thought it’s only happening in the Middle East and not their home, but sadly, it is happening at home and hopefully the movie is snap them out of their dream world.

Now, here is my analysis of the verses in Fitna by my Koran and my opinion of them in comparison to the movie. The verses I’ve wrote come from my Koran that I received from a Muslim friend (I am agnostic, not Muslim, Christian, etc.) and I feel that they should be addressed to get a better understanding of Islam. While the movie Fitna might take somethings out of context, radical Islam needs to be stopped and the West needs to realize and assert that it will not conform to Islamic laws. I could have made some typos in the verses as I copied them, so post if you feel something is not correct, reply with a comment!

Click Fitna the Movie (English) to see it in English and Fitna the Movie (Dutch) to see in Dutch.

The Surahs with the “Comparison:” in front of them signifies that the verse is one that I am comparing from film with my Koran. Any verses that don’t have “Comparison:” are there to offer more context or to clarify a point, they are not verses from Fitna. I will also include a video link to when the verse appears in Fitna video.

Comparison: Surah 8 – Verse 60 – “The Spoils of War” [EN Video Link] [NL Video Link] The summary before the Surah states that this was written shortly after The Battle of Badr so keep that in mind when it’s dealing with war.

Against them make ready
Your strength to the utmost
Of your power, including
Seeds of war, to strike terror
Into (the hearts of) the enemies,
Of Allah and your enemies,
And others besides, whom
Ye may not know, but whom
Allah doth know. Whatever
Ye shall spend in the Cause
Of Allah, shall be repaid
Unto you, and ye shall not
Be treated unjustly

My comment: At first sight, this verse does seem to match the context Fitna uses to appear violent. But remember, the Bible and other religious text have violent verses in them aswell. Also, this particular verse is in regards to warfare… And the next verse after the above states:

Surah 8 – Verse 61

But if the enemy
Incline towards peace,
Do thou (also) incline
Towards peace, and trust
In Allah: for He is the One
The heareth and knoweth
(All things).

My comment: Pretty obvious meaning. If your enemy wants peace, you should give them peace. Not so violent, really…

Comparison: Surah 4 – Verse 56 – “The Women” [EN Video Link] [NL Video Link]

Those who reject
Our Signs, We shall soon
Cast into the Fire;
As often as their skins
Are roasted through,
We shall change them
For fresh skins,
That they may taste
The Penalty: for Allah
Is Exalted in Power, Wise

My comment: This verse does seem bad, and it is in my opinion. But here’s what it is in regards to: The Muslim community and how to deal with unbelievers. It is talking how to deal with them within the Muslim community. Still violent, yes, but just means if you are a non-believer, don’t go to live in Muslim states. But it is a bad verse and there is no redeeming one after it.

Comparison: Surah 47 – Verse 4 – “Muhammad” [EN Video Link] [NL Video Link]

Therefore, when ye meet
The Unbelievers (in fight),
Smite at their necks;
At length, when ye have
Thoroughly subdued them,
Bind a bond
Firmly (on them): thereafter
(Is the time for) either
Generosity or ransom:
Until the war lays down
Its burdens. Thus (are ye
Commanded): but if it
Had been Allah’s Will
He could certainly have exacted
Retribution from them (Himself);
But (He lets you fight)
In order to test you,
Some with others.
But those who are slain
In the way of Allah–
He will never let
Their deeds be lost.

My comment: Again, there is no redeeming verse. But if you want to look at it… lightly… this is in regards to warfare. When he is talking about the fight being entered, I don’t know if they mean if the enemy fights you or you declared on them… So I cannot say if it’s talking about in defense, but from the context, no it is not it looks like. “Thoroughly subdued them,” means kill a lot of them, then the “Bind a bond” means you can now take prisoners because their numbers are dwindled. The generosity or ransom part is context of charging money/land/etc for prisoners or generously just letting them go. Still, not a very heart warming verse.

Comparison: Surah 4 – Verse 89 – “The Women” [EN Video Link] [NL Video Link]

They but wish that ye
Should reject Faith,
As they do, and thus be
On the same footing (as they):
So take not allies
From their ranks
Until they flee
In the way of Allah
(From what is forbidden).
But if they turn renegades,
Seize them and slay them
Wherever ye find them;
And (in any case) take
No allies or supporters
From their ranks —

My comment: This verse is in context of people from the enemy army and deserters of the army of Islam. Really, slaying deserters was not uncommon. Not that bad and it is not talking about unbelievers in general. And there is a better verse afterwards…

Surah 4 -Verse 90

Except those who join
A group between whom
And you there is a treaty
(Of peace), or those who approach
You wish hearts restraining
Them from fighting you
As well as fighting their own
People. If Allah had pleased,
He could have given them
Power over you, and they
Would have fought you:
Therefore if they withdraw
From you but fight you not,
And (instead) send you
(Guarantees of) peace, then Allah
Hath opened no way
For you (to war against them)

My comment: It is saying if they give up, agree, for Allah does not approve if you keep warring.

Comparison: Surah 8 – Verse 39 – “The Spoils of War” [EN Video Link] [NL Video Link]

And fight them on
Until there is no more
Tumult or oppression,
And there prevails
Justice and faith in Allah
Altogether and everywhere;
But if they cease, verily Allah
Doth see all that they do.

My comment: Again, remember Surah 8 refers to the The Battle of Badr a lot. I think it is talking about the battle and how to continue fighting. If you’re already at war, why wouldn’t you fight until there is no more opposition? It says in the last two lines as well, if they give up, respect that. The verse after that talk about if they don’t what to do, which isn’t that interesting.

Overall, the movie brings up the problem of radical Islam and how the West is caving into it. At least we have a film to campaign against it, but maybe we will have a more scholarly film out later now that we have people waking up to the threat of radical Islam.