Who is the enemy? Is there a such thing?

[Sumguy Profile]

Just out of curiousity..... who do you see as the enemy?

why are they our enemy?

what is the concept driving this enemy to do what they do?

where is this enemy?

when did our enemy become our enemy?

how did they become our enemy?

are they a they, or are they an it?

Just curious about everyones perspective on the world.....

Oh yeah and one last question, what way do you think we can stop "it" or "them" from being our enemy anymore?

[Alexrubic Profile]

Like beauty, an enemy is in the eye of the beholder!

By definition, an enemy is anyone (or group) whose philosophy or actions appear to directly oppose our own and prevent us from pursuing our own interests. That is a two way definition: so 'they' may see us in the same light.

So, just as we have been conditioned to view extremist Muslims as terrorists and our enemy, so they see us as their enemy. But who is right and who is wrong? Who is the enemy and who are our allies? There is no simple black and white - the question remains open!

[Sumguy Profile]

You know its funny, I watch people in here point fingers all the time..... but only one person can answer me on this....... interesting.

I guess my theory really is close to the truth. We are our own enemy, we don't really want to catch the "bad guy" cause it's a whole lot easier pointing fingers then it is actually doing something about it.......interesting.

and by the way, to the person reading this right now......yes you. I'm aware of how arrogant I sound right now, are you?

P.S Rubic you know you aren't the person I was refering to, thank you for your insight.

[Alexrubic Profile]

Hi sumguy...

Glad my reply made some sense!

I think there is truth in the saying that there is 'nothing to fear save fear itself' and fear is often generated by ignorance. We need to understand, first, ourselves and then our fellow humans - what are our goals, what brings us joy, what makes us sad? We also need to be wary of an all-consuming self-interest that blinds us to the needs of others and how our actions in pursuing our self-interest can negatively impact on them. This often generates hatred, which we then find unfathomable because we don't always realise we are being destructively selfish.

I think we have to strive hard to achieve a 'live and let live' policy in our daily lives and recognise that on the surface we may have very different cultures and viewpoints and methods but deep down we all need the same things: love, freedom, happiness and security.

[Sumguy Profile]

Just throwing out a concept

But maybe the symboligy behind aliens is simply stop looking to an outside source to bring us all together.

Just a thought

[Snake Plissken Profile]

Nice post Sumguy , im happy to say i dont need anything to hate or fear.

Like Alex rubic said, things are never that black and white are they?

I feel like the goverment is always trying to us who our enemy is, polarising our views about the world. Russia, Iraq, Iran, China its like the government need to give the public a threat to worry about.

I think the media often strives to paint the world in black and white terms, its always extreme, this country is good, this one is bad. I used to think religion was to blame for almost every problem we have in this world, but at some point people need to take some responsibility for themselves.

I think some people do need something to chase and in the absence of this they create something from nothing.

Right now the only enemy i have have is some of the people running my country, every year the noose gets just a bit tighter and it gets a little harder to breathe, other than that im just peachy!

[Sumguy Profile]

I have been trying to look at the grey. I find a lot of answers there.

Thanks brother.

[Snake Plissken Profile]

Couldnt have said it better myself, its the shades of grey that are that echoes of reality.

[Sumguy Profile]

Call yourself a Snake, yet you're a wolf..... interesting.

Keep seeing brother

[Hesop Profile]

We all have our own personal demons, right? Occasionally, one might even slip up on you, to single you out, without personal provocation. Totally unexpected. You might even be enjoying a day at an amusement park with your family, when someone picks you out of the crowd. I don't ask for enemies. Nor do I look for one. Unprovoked acts/signs of aggression may put you on my list. Sometimes, then, it may be somewhat beyond our own control. For it is these aggressors that we will never forget, or turn our backs to. Live and let live, but if my family's well being is put at risk, that may be subject to change.
If you look for enemies, you can always find them. I am always very annoyed to discover a person dis-likes me for no particulary good logical reason. But sometimes people do, and there is little one can do about it. It usually turns out to be simple prejudice, or jealousy. Ignorance.
We can be our own enemy then, by being THAT person. Prejudiced, arrogant, prima-donna type that always has a knack for putting others on the defensive. We can become the enemy of others if we foolishly believe that our own personal beliefs and values are more correct than others, that we must then must then force them to change, or perish. The enemy then, is the aggressor, the one that takes, but does not give.