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Tom Curtis

Tom Curtis


Dernière mise à jour : 31/12/2009

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Sexe : Male
Statut : Marié(e)
Zodiaque: Bélier

Ville : Oakland / Honolulu
Région : California
Pays: US
Date d’inscription :: 3/07/2006

Compliments de :


mercredi, octobre 04, 2006 

 

We as artists have tried to maintain politically neutral during difficult times. There are times however when it becomes difficult for even the most objective individual to remain silent. Inaction can indeed become a weapon of mass destruction. For peace to come to the earth, the people of the earth must CHOOSE peace.

I know that in many ways this is just simple minded sloganeering, but let me try to explain.
"Choose Life" has been used in Scotland inspired by the film Trainspotting and Just Say No (to drugs was started and promoted by Nancy Reagan during the 1980's).
So these slogans have a track record.

 

Jihad, while promoted by many to be an inner struggle has been known to be the catalyst for many violent acts. Maybe if this slogan was popularized in much the same way that Rock against Drugs or Mothers against Drunk Drivers has been but on an international level it could make a difference.

 

My Space has many international connections and could be a good place to start.

I believe that young people (who are too often victims) especially need to be able to see a positive alternative to suicide and acting out violently and to believe that it is not only a socially acceptable alternative but a desirable one as well. Whether the action is a school shooting or a major attack of some kind I believe that putting out the message that there is a better choice is a good thing. I would like to see this message proliferated everywhere, on bumper stickers, in graffiti, in electronic media and especially in all languages. What do we have to lose? If one suicidal person is encouraged to make a choice for life it could be worth a try.

If you think this could be a good idea feel free to grab the image and use it as your profile image for whatever time you wish. (Right click and save) I will use it until I feel that it has been sufficiently disseminated.

 

Thank you in advance for your support!

 

 

Tom Curtis
Tom Curtis

 
You are right! Many people have not studied history enough or the meaning of Jihad. I just posted some links at my profile with some larger perspectives on the issue. Take a look if you get a chance.
 
Publié par Tom Curtis le mercredi, octobre 04, 2006 - 7:03
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Derek Turns Wood
Derek Andrews

 
Why Jihad? It seems to me that it will immediately upset religious and ethnic groups. Why not 'say no to Violence', something that could be applied first at home and then spread further afield.
 
Publié par Derek Turns Wood le mercredi, octobre 04, 2006 - 1:06
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Tom Curtis
Tom Curtis

 
Why Jihad indeed? In case you have not noticed, religious and ethnic groups are already upset. My native American relatives were upset when they were driven West by American Army soldiers during the winter and thousands died. The lesson there is that if we don't stick together against violence we will all become victims at some point. Since my studio is in Oakland California I can tell you first hand that "saying" No to violence does not work. Whether we like it or not we live in a WORLD Culture. We do not have the luxury of time to wait around and see what happens.
 
Publié par Tom Curtis le mercredi, octobre 04, 2006 - 7:09
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Tom Curtis
Tom Curtis

 

That is a beautiful poster!  That approach is good, but I am trying to approach the issue in a more Universal way. My approach is usually from a Humanist perspective than from any particular tribe. If we can find a way to do that with imagery of course that is the way to go. Right now, since Jihad is still a little understood concept by many I believe that is the place to start.


 
Publié par Tom Curtis le mercredi, octobre 04, 2006 - 7:14
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Tom Curtis
Tom Curtis

 
Wonderful Poetry Elaine! Thank you for sharing it with us. Yes, why can't we all just get along? I will love you if you will love me.
 
Publié par Tom Curtis le mercredi, octobre 04, 2006 - 7:16
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Wendy The 'My Space Mommy'~

 
I live in a "hate free community" north of you..in the redwoods..I agree that something genereal will not work as a message for jihadists...I have muslim friends who are the most peaceful people one could know...and I think defining it like you have is a really good thought...It is difficult for some to speak of the violence brought on by terrorists because they mention the wrong people...but "say no to jihad" leaves no question as to the meaning of your point...Good for you!! I will try to get the icon on to my page...My space is pretty quirky right now..but it is on my list of Important things to do. Thanks for the read.... 
 
Publié par Wendy The 'My Space Mommy'~ le mercredi, octobre 04, 2006 - 10:15
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Tom Curtis
Tom Curtis

 
Thank you for your thoughts Wendy and please give my best to your wonderful friends! The sooner I get this message out the better. You have gotten it right. The term "Islamic Fascists" is much too broad. Jihadists includes all people who do violence to innocent people. While the term "innocent" may be disputed, there is no doubt an injustice done when others attack people who in reality did them no wrong.
 
Publié par Tom Curtis le jeudi, octobre 05, 2006 - 12:09
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semigod
semigod .com

 

why just "jihad" though? you are singling out muslims..i agree with the other comment about saying no to violence...period.whether it be perpetrated by insane muslim extremists or insane right wing christian extremists...violence is violence.

 

peace 


 
Publié par semigod le jeudi, octobre 05, 2006 - 6:21
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Tom Curtis
Tom Curtis

 

At this time Jihad is a "BUY" on the violence stock market. When right wing Christians start flying planes into buildings, putting bombs on trains and buses, and encouraging their children to walk into discos with ordnance wear their profile will rise. In the meantime Jihad is the unifying force for most insane violence on this planet no matter who is doing it and it needs to stop now. I wish that saying "Peace Brother" would do the job but it has not worked yet so I just thought it was time to try something else.


 
Publié par Tom Curtis le jeudi, octobre 05, 2006 - 6:59
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semigod
semigod .com

 
who flew the planes into the towers is a topic for a much larger discussion,who put bombs on trains?same thing.....  you watch the movie "Jesus Camp" yet?,were not too far from having christian children walking into discos,dont forget the christian abortion clinic bombers...i still say lets call it what it is, "stop all violence". calling it jihad makes one feel as if jihadists own violence..its deeper than that brother. 
 
Publié par semigod le samedi, octobre 07, 2006 - 1:21
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Tom Curtis
Tom Curtis

 

Thank you for taking time to share your perspectives. Don't take my mission wrong. I love all people and yes all Muslim people who choose to live and let live in peace.

I took a short look at Loose Change and I will watch the entire piece as soon as I get a chance. I have a very open mind except when it comes to undeserved violence no matter who is doing it.

The first casualty in war is usually  truth.  From what I have seen relatively few (non Muslim) people on this planet even know the meaning of the word Jihad. I hope that we can shed some understanding about the true meaning. If could use a better word I would and I am very open to suggestions.

The word Nazi seems to have lost some of its sting and I cannot find another word that means the same. Did you mean that Christianity is a politically abused religion or that Christianity is a religion that has abused politically? The reason that Christians do not advocate violence is because of something called The Reformation.  The rise of humanism and the beginnings of the idea of separation of church and state reduced the ability of the church to have so much control over the individual. What I am talking about is individual choice. I want individuals to be free from any form of government influence, religious or media influences to choose to live and act in peace. I understand that this takes a certain amount of individual responsibility.

Am I asking too much? When people kidnap other people and shoot them or cut off their heads it's a bad influence on my art. I would rather concentrate on mystery, beauty, harmony, gradation, variation etc. But at this point in my life I cannot stick my head in the sand and just pretend that injustice and  horror are not being perpetrated on innocent people especially children. If that is lopsided I am sorry.


 
Publié par Tom Curtis le jeudi, octobre 05, 2006 - 10:43
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Wendy The 'My Space Mommy'~

 
Not lopsided my friend...sheesh...I am not being killed..I don't know anyone being killed...and I don't know the people doing the killing...but I still hate it...so stopping it would make me happy. It is because you care....you are making an effort to open eyes and being very careful about blame..I commend you!
 
Publié par Wendy The 'My Space Mommy'~ le jeudi, octobre 05, 2006 - 11:38
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SQUIRREL WITH AN ATTITUDE

 

I am a very political person...but contrary to most people, I only read the economy section of the paper...everyone should try this...and then all the conflicts will start to make perfect sense. Religion is used by powers to create division: remember Machiavel? Divide and conquer. Still works centuries later...it's all about money...oil...protecting the seaways for transportation of oil...think about Africa and what is happening in Somalia (protecting territory) and Irak (protecting oil), Afghanistan (protecting the route of oil from Russia etc)...and what about South America and Colombia? And the list goes on and on and on and on...

Look at the economy section...it will all start to make sense...

And why all this?????? SO THAT NORTH AMERICA CAN MAINTAIN ITS STANDARD OF LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 


 
Publié par SQUIRREL WITH AN ATTITUDE le vendredi, octobre 06, 2006 - 1:20
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Tom Curtis
Tom Curtis

 
That is all perfectly true. The older you get the more clear it becomes as you see the cycles go round and round. I hear a lot of moaning and groaning from so called "greenies" but I have noticed that they are usually the last ones to give up their extremely energy dependent lifestyles. I have tried looking at only the economic situation etc. but it all seems to come back to individual human level choices. Modern culture depends on massive quantities of petroleum products which have become the source of life warmth and nourishment preparation for a planet populated by increasingly needy folks. Pandora's box has been opened and there is no putting that genie back into the bottle. So the question is "where do we go from here?" I suppose we should just make art and read the business pages but somehow I am looking for more...
 
Publié par Tom Curtis le vendredi, octobre 06, 2006 - 5:29
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Amanda

 
Well I'm sure the ex-suicide bombers just hate it when they see the Devil in that T-shirt. But I can't see it doing much good this side of the grave unfortunately.



 
Publié par Amanda le samedi, octobre 07, 2006 - 2:04
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