Jamal Khashoggi, An Arab Martyr

A powerful movie about freedom of speech and tyranny over thought.
Arabic poetry is not only found in the Quran (most honored Arabic poetry).
Poetry is a historic pastime for ethnic Arabs, expressing joys and sorrows.
But some sorrows are not to be vented, since they reveal the sorrows of others.

I don't use the term 'martyr' loosely.

That word, and its meaning, has been hijacked as have many other terms and concepts.

A martyr is someone who is killed for their beliefs.

The manner a supposed martyr lived their lives, or their level of honor, is debatable.

Read how various minds define martyr, and ponder for yourself what it really means.

There once lived a man named Jamal Khashoggi.

He was not a perfect man.

But like many others, he desired to pursue what is right, good, better, and perhaps perfect.

His search for truth overcame his obedience to state manners.

Obedience as in silence and refusal to lie.

Where he was compelled to censor himself, he considered it better to highlight the shameful.

Mr. Khashoggi expressed his beliefs, thoughts, opinions, research, and was eventually murdered for such expressions.

In the circles he was born into, a martyr is defined as someone who puts themselves in harm's way for their beliefs.

This concept is a bit different than being killed for one's beliefs.

What's the difference?

If you are willing to hurt or kill others for your beliefs, or act in such a way that is hostile or violent... and are killed, you are not a martyr.

Such activity can be labeled in the vein of a rebel, or political dissident, or protestor, or something else.

A martyr, according to my understanding of that word's original meaning and understand, is one who acts peacefully.

Although a martyr's words are weighty and powerful, their words never advocate nor justify violence.

For some people, a martyr can be a violent persona, or murderer, or an instigating protestor, or a continuous plague fighting against what they view as oppression .

Oppression it very well may be, but this brand of 'martyr' add fuel to an already burning fire... instead of bringing waters of peace to put out the flames.

These faux martyrs are honored when they are killed for being violent.

Hypocrisy.

Such hypocrisy is a typical product of religious zealotry misplaced and misconstrued.

This is how religion is hijacked to serve nefarious purposes argued as politically expedient.

If you have yet to hear about Mr. Khashoggi, he was an Arab-born journalist who fled his country due to his journalism.

He was tortured in what was supposed to be a place (an embassy) where law and order reign in deference to the host nation and / or international expectations.

The expectation in this case - basic human rights.

The right to speak one's peace, the right to a considerate due process of law, and other basics that men have explained in law and treaty, hoping to separate findable facts from fabricated fictions.

Unfortunately for Mr. Khashoggi, his fellow countrymen agreed to simply dispose of him.

As is seen in every corner of the planet, men decide on their own to act as judge and executioner.

Men take the place of God according to whatever they have decided amongst themselves.

Regarding whomever murdered Mr. Khashoggi, they simply followed their religious playbook.

When you read what happened to Mr. Khashoggi, you can literally connect the dots to the following:

And recall what time thy Lord inspired the angels: verily I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed; I will cast horror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so smite them above the neck and smite of them every fingertip. 

- al-Anfal (8) 12

Beheadings and cutting off fingertips.

Purpose: severe corporeal punishment, instigating fear in others, a remedy avoiding truth argued as 'God's justice'.

This article is not to single out an individual ideology, a certain brand of religion, or a false monarchy who, like many other human efforts, came to power through bloodshed and intrigue and closed-door agreements.

This is an article speaking to the mankind's constant, and typical, pattern.

Mankind's dark and violent manner ever since he deviated from what is right and good.

As for the particular brand of religion and its attributed ideologies in question, from its inception it has shown itself for what it really is and from whence it came. (all of which is according to its own sources, not only critics).

Every ideology of man has proven itself to be dark and violent, regardless of a religion used or a philosophy hijacked to justify nefarious means.

Anything could be argued through the unclear lens of politics.

Yet behind it all is always a spiritual issue... and this brings clarity.

It is the spirit in a man that compels him to hurt and or strive against his fellow man.

It is the kind of spirit in a man which justifies bloodshed.

Behind the notion of human rights is the concept that all men have been created in God's likeness and image.

But such a fact is not conducive to men who desire to kill another man for whatever reason.

It is much easier to call men dogs or animals, and thus justify treating them as such.

At least the notion of responding to a violent man with violence carries some arguable logic.

I mention that not meaning that I accept such logic as convincing, but I to illustrate a point.

But what of a man whose only 'violence' perceived is the weight of his words?

What is violent is the way one must measure themselves the mirror according to what that man said or wrote.

When men desire not to see themselves in a mirror that questions their conscience, they react to that discomfort in extreme ways.

How light disperses (and discomforts) darkness.

A man's words may not call for, nor support, violence, but simply pointing out falsehoods proclaimed as true is cause for concern in those who believe falsehoods as true.

What if a man desires to point out what is wrong in order to point out the right?

If what is dark isn't shown in the light of day, how then can men identity day from night?

Such men, and their efforts, are very dangerous to those who harbor darkness in their hearts... this worshiping at altars of lower spirits proclaimed as the highest.

Thus why the spiritual issue goes well beyond the diminutive issues and pettiness of politics.

The spiritual issue goes beyond religion as well, since religion is a tool used to further man's endeavors (instead of his good works).

Is beheading and finger cutting good works?

Only for those believing in a 'god' that demands they carry out violence while also speaking of peace.

Blind hypocrisy.

Incoherent duality.

Deceptive pragmatics.

Such are the arts of religious zealots and political pundits... but you already knew that.

It is a condition of the heart... and the wicked do not know, nor will ever understand that.

When a heart is taught, since childhood, things twisted... instead of love and light, it is no wonder a culture reflects such loveless actions from the very top of any group, state, empire.

This is an indictment on all systems of men.

History shows all men having blood on their hands in one way or another.

This blood is revealed through all states, all religions, all institutions that men have built for themselves.

Let's learn why it is important to look past labels and ourselves when considering life and death.

Continue to Part Two.