Occupation




Politicians, and each and one of us, are a bunch of hypocrites. When we hear the word “occupation” which nation comes to mind? Yeah...like I said, we are hypocrites.

Every single nation in this world has occupied territory (and in most cases those nations imposed their religion, customs, culture and governing decisions upon people who already had their own belief system, customs, culture and governance system) so they should think about their double standards when they start smearing others in the UN.

There are still hypocritical countries, and a non-country (to whom ignoring History suits well), occupying territories:

  • Turkey occupies Kurdistan and Cyprus (and by the way, they should admit to the Armenian Genocide and perhaps one day they might be invited to join the EU).
  • Russia occupies Chechnya.
  • Spain occupies the Basque country and Olivença (Portuguese territory).
  • France occupies Corsica.
  • United Kingdom occupies the Northern Island, the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar (Spanish territory).
  • China occupies Tibet.
  • Iran occupies Kurdistan.
  • Iraq occupies Kurdistan.
  • Palestine occupies Jerusalem...

So let’s think again (and to think that thinking is becoming an utopia)...when we hear the word “occupation” which nations come to mind? Yeah...we are beginning to be less hypocritical.


Image: UN Members Map taken from Wikipedia

Comments

  1. For some reason this post actually reminds me about life in general - that we should point the finger to ourselves first before pointing any finger towards other people.

    As usual, a VERY informative and eye-opening post, Max! Bravo!!!

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  2. Hi Amel :D!

    "For some reason this post actually reminds me about life in general - that we should point the finger to ourselves first before pointing any finger towards other people."

    Very well! This post can very well serve as a metaphor for life, true :D! It is a lesson that we are taught as children but somehow we tend to forget it as we become adults...

    "As usual, a VERY informative and eye-opening post, Max! Bravo!!!"

    Thank you so much, gorgeous *bowing*!

    Amel, fantastic comment (I am delighted by your wit): thank you :D!

    Cheers

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  3. Hi Max…

    Very interesting…

    I looked up the meaning of the word “occupation”:

    1.
    a person's usual or principal work or business, esp. as a means of earning a living; vocation: Her occupation was dentistry.
    2.
    any activity in which a person is engaged.
    3.
    possession, settlement, or use of land or property.
    4.
    the act of occupying.
    5.
    the state of being occupied.
    6.
    the seizure and control of an area by military forces, esp. foreign territory.
    7.
    the term of control of a territory by foreign military forces:Danish resistance during the German occupation.
    8.
    tenure or the holding of an office or official function: during his occupation of the vice presidency.

    When I first saw the title of this article I thought of meaning #1. Then it became clear that you were speaking of political and/or military occupation…

    However I am still rather bumfuzzled by the use of “hypocrite” which I also looked up:

    Hypocrite:
    1.
    a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, esp. a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.
    2.
    a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, esp. one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements.

    I suggest that not everybody is truly a hypocrite…upon the emphasis of “pretends” and/or “feigns”…for example I claim to be a deprave human being saved from my sins by Gods grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus alone…I do not claim to be good, moral or virtuous…

    A hypocrite applies one rule to others and not to themselves. They say “do as I say not as I do.” I would say that we are all screwed up sinners including myself…Thus if you admit to being a depraved sinner you are not pretending or feigning being good…therefore hypocrisy is not evident.

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  4. Hi LSus,

    "Very interesting…"

    Thank you...

    "When I first saw the title of this article I thought of meaning #1. Then it became clear that you were speaking of political and/or military occupation…"

    Thank you for sharing the several meanings of the word "occupation".
    LOL...ah, titles can be so deceiving and yet present such a long arm's length...

    "I suggest that not everybody is truly a hypocrite…upon the emphasis of “pretends” and/or “feigns”…for example I claim to be a deprave human being saved from my sins by Gods grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus alone…I do not claim to be good, moral or virtuous…"

    Political hypocrites...we all are.

    "A hypocrite applies one rule to others and not to themselves. They say “do as I say not as I do.” I would say that we are all screwed up sinners including myself…Thus if you admit to being a depraved sinner you are not pretending or feigning being good…therefore hypocrisy is not evident."

    Then you got the article just fine, mate. Just because hypocrisy is not evident, it doesn't mean it isn't there. It is like those who say that God doesn't exist; and we know that simply because they do not believe in Him or cannot see Him doesn't mean that He ISn't there, does it?

    LS, thank you ever so much for this comment :D.

    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Max…

    “LOL...ah, titles can be so deceiving and yet present such a long arm's length...”

    - You may get a bunch of Google visits from people searching for hypocrite jobs…President of the US?

    “Political hypocrites...we all are.”

    - Let me examine this closer…England came to Canada and signed deals with the natives (who are ancient immigrants from Asia) promising to make a deal with them for allowing peaceful coexistence…We have over the years singed deals with the vast majority of those groups…however there are still some outstanding but everybody is at the table…(we did not go to war with them the way the US did)…

    I admit that the nation of Canada has been very tardy in some ways in this regard…I could even blame Canada for the situation…but this does not make me personally a political hypocrite…I am admitting that my government (before I was even born) is in error…

    If I were a hypocrite I would be saying its ok for Canada to rip off our natives (or even deny it) but its not ok for Portugal to do the same thing…I am not pretending that Canada is perfect in this regard thus I am not a hypocrite…I would also be a hypocrite if I said this for mere appearances not because I really believe it…

    Would you like to pull the curtain aside to show what exactly you are getting at?

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  6. Some good information about hypocrisy….

    1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
    - - Matthew 23:1-4
    MORE: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+23&version=TNIV

    ReplyDelete
  7. Western imperialism has a long history, and a few European countries occupied a large part of the world no so long ago. They tend to forget it... It makes me mad for instance that a lot of people support Tibet blindly, without even understanding the issue, when Hong Kong was only given back to China in 97. That doesn't excuse the behavior of China towards Tibet, but it is certainly not something China invented.

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  8. Hi Max,

    When I first saw the title, I thought it was about working at an occupation, then I read further. You are right. Most places have changed so many hands and "ownership." The history of the world changes daily. As a person who knows some Cypriots (people from Cyprus) who have been affected by the Turkish invasion of 1974, I thank you for mentioning it on their behalf.

    I guess in a way, we are occupiers too, occupying the space that is set before us trying to hang onto the freedom we have left, but never forgetting that whatever happens, our souls are free.

    Another thought-provoking post my friend.

    Freedom Cheers!

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  9. Max:

    You are so right, we all occupy something, or someplace. I think of an occupier in the negative. Like a renter who doesn't pay rent but occupies the premises anyway. Like a person who crosses the border illegally, and never returns their own country. Like a person who marries for money, not love. Like a person who lives under the gifts of God but lacks grace in their personal life. And the list goes on and on. Occupiers know who they are. The hypocrisy is that they blame others for their sins.

    Happy trails, and that ain't no lie.

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  10. Well, it's like saying: "Those who are clean, throw the first stone"

    But then I was thinking: You can't count Norway in this? ..... until I was thinking of the Vikings :-)

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  11. Max, great article; I simply loved it!
    Now, can you imagine the amount of empty words that can be uttered by so many at the same time? Yes, "occupation" is one of those meaningless words.
    I suggest that those who are crying "wolf..!" they really should give the world a break: "ça colle pas!"

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  12. The countries that enjoy sending confusing messages to terrorist groups should look closely at their own nations.
    Occupation became a myth for whomever owns a piece of somebody's land will call it a conquest!!
    Coming to think again, Israel just repossessed its former territory.

    Good job, Max!! :)

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  13. Hi LSus,

    "- You may get a bunch of Google visits from people searching for hypocrite jobs…President of the US?"

    LOL LOL...provocation, provocation...

    "I admit that the nation of Canada has been very tardy in some ways in this regard…I could even blame Canada for the situation…but this does not make me personally a political hypocrite…I am admitting that my government (before I was even born) is in error…"

    Admitting it is not enough to exclude you as a political hypocrite. If you have elected governments that have not done what they were supposed to do (regarding the natives) then you are as much liable [and hence, hypocrite] as those governments (as Canada).

    "Would you like to pull the curtain aside to show what exactly you are getting at?"

    LOL and end the mystery? Naw...that would be too easy...

    ReplyDelete
  14. LSus,

    "1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
    - - Matthew 23:1-4"

    They do not practice what they preach...indeed...this is one valuable lesson to us all: thank you *bowing*.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Zhu :D!

    "Western imperialism has a long history, and a few European countries occupied a large part of the world no so long ago. They tend to forget it... It makes me mad for instance that a lot of people support Tibet blindly, without even understanding the issue, when Hong Kong was only given back to China in 97. That doesn't excuse the behavior of China towards Tibet, but it is certainly not something China invented."

    I know what you mean. And unfortunately that is exactly what people do. The problem with China invading Tibete is the violence with which that invasion was done (and when I say violence I speak not within a context of War - for the Tibetan state didn't even have a proper army, so to speak): peaceful Monks were murdered with no reason (just to make a point); China sought to kill the Dalai Lama (and several other Lamas) forcing him, and others, to flee that state; the religion was forbidden for a while; the Leader of Tibet was disrespected by the Chinese government (which refused to negotiate with him) etc.
    You are right when you say that Hong Kong was occupied...but were the Chinese there forbidden from professing their spiritual beliefs? No...au contraire. Yet, it doesn't alter the fact that Hong Kong was occupied before indeed...but now it went back to its owner (as it should).
    Let's hope that other countries succeed in getting their land back as well...

    Zhu, thank you ever so much for your comment :D!

    Cheers

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  16. Hi Lady A :D!

    "When I first saw the title, I thought it was about working at an occupation, then I read further."

    LOL...I know...

    "You are right. Most places have changed so many hands and "ownership." The history of the world changes daily. As a person who knows some Cypriots (people from Cyprus) who have been affected by the Turkish invasion of 1974, I thank you for mentioning it on their behalf."

    No need to thank me, girl. You know I have my eyes upon the world ;)...
    Cypriots have suffered a lot, and it would do the world some good to take heed of their cause (but instead it is too busy listening to its occupier and helping it helping terrorist groups).

    "I guess in a way, we are occupiers too, occupying the space that is set before us trying to hang onto the freedom we have left, but never forgetting that whatever happens, our souls are free."

    We should remember this always...

    "Another thought-provoking post my friend."

    Thank you, darling *bowing*!

    Lady A, I thank you a million times for your input :D!

    Freedom Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Swu :D!

    "You are so right, we all occupy something, or someplace. I think of an occupier in the negative. Like a renter who doesn't pay rent but occupies the premises anyway."

    A good example...

    "Like a person who crosses the border illegally, and never returns their own country."

    Yes...

    "Like a person who marries for money, not love. Like a person who lives under the gifts of God but lacks grace in their personal life. And the list goes on and on."

    Indeed, we could offer and endless list of examples. However I loved the "who lives under the gifts of God but lacks grace in their personal life" this is gorgeous and so true!

    "Occupiers know who they are. The hypocrisy is that they blame others for their sins."

    You know it!

    Swu, amazing comment: thank you so much :D!

    Cheers, my friend

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  18. Hi Renny :D!

    "Well, it's like saying: "Those who are clean, throw the first stone""

    You know?

    "But then I was thinking: You can't count Norway in this? ..... until I was thinking of the Vikings :-)"

    LOL...we have all been there (in the "occupier" position), eh?

    Renny, thanks for your contribution to this post :D!

    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Dux :D!

    "Max, great article; I simply loved it!"

    Why, thank you *bowing*!

    "Now, can you imagine the amount of empty words that can be uttered by so many at the same time? Yes, "occupation" is one of those meaningless words."

    You know it, man...

    "I suggest that those who are crying "wolf..!" they really should give the world a break: "ça colle pas!""

    C'est vrai: ça colle pas de tout!

    Dux, thank you so much for your input (brilliant) :D!

    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi C.C :D!

    "The countries that enjoy sending confusing messages to terrorist groups should look closely at their own nations."

    Shouldn't they? The past couple of weeks have been shameful for some countries *nodding*...

    "Occupation became a myth for whomever owns a piece of somebody's land will call it a conquest!!"

    That is what I implied in the comment section of a famous newspaper...

    "Coming to think again, Israel just repossessed its former territory."

    Of course it did.
    Philistians, after Israelis were thrown into exile, were convinced that the land was theirs (fooled by their Mufties and other groups that were interested in keeping them calm in that region) and then when the Jews returned to repossess their nation...all hell broke loose.

    "Good job, Max!! :)"

    Thank you *bowing*!

    C.C, thank you so much for your input :D!

    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  21. Well it all started with the British occupation of Australia in 1770. Shipping convicts over here seemed a good idea but not so good for the traditonal land owners. The Australian Aborigines were hunted down and killed, with the last Tasmanian male aboringinal dying in 1869.

    Take Care,
    Peter

    ReplyDelete
  22. Max:

    There is a theory that faith, or the belief in God, is actually hardwired into our genes. Outlandish? Maybe. It’s called the God Gene. And some theorists contend that this is actually a natural selective mechanism embedded in our genetic code as a way of giving us faith even when all else around us seems to be coming apart. It 's like a defense mechanism against anxiety. Obviously hope is the ultimate anxiety response. Of course, some would be outraged at this contention. They prefer the pie in the sky scenario, pearly gates and all that, and would contend that God is definitely not the product of something so mundane as natural selection. It’s the old evolution versus religion thing all over again, an argument akin to the proverbial cat chasing its own tale. As to your provocative question, however: Which came first faith or hope? From the God Gene perspective, I think hope logically came before faith, faith being the natural selective mechanism that satisfies our need for hope.

    Max, my old friend, I’m not trying to cause trouble in Eden. It’s just my two cents worth.

    Happy trails.

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  23. Max:

    Sorry about this comment. It was supposed to be for your next post. It was a slip of the brain.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hey Swu,

    It's ok...would you like me to delete it for you?

    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hey Peter :D!

    Very well reminded indeed...not many remember the tragic history of the aborigines, so thank you for that *bowing*.

    Excellent comment: thanks, mate :D.

    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  26. Max oh wow, some people like to barge in and do not bother leaving. I didn't know some of them thanks for the reminder. Hope you are doing well. Soon as I process some pics of Matthew, I will email you. Again, thanks for the reminder again, Anna :)

    ReplyDelete

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