Tankian has stated that he has " the same religion as that tree over there . It 's a mix of Native American , Buddhist and transcendental ideas . I like to think of earth as mother . I like to think of sky as grandfather . God has been used for ulterior motives . " In another interview , he has said : " I believe very firmly that indigenous populations had a really good , intuitive understanding of why we 're here . And we 're trying to gain that same understanding through psychology and intellect in modern civilization . " Following the September 11 attacks he wrote an essay in which he stated : " If we carry out bombings on Afghanistan or elsewhere to appease public demand , and very likely kill innocent civilians along the way , we 'd be creating many more martyrs going to their deaths in retaliation against the retaliation . As shown from yesterday 's events , you can not stop a person who 's ready to die . " In the 2008 Democratic Party primaries Tankian originally supported Rep. Dennis Kucinich from Ohio , and subsequently stated that Barack Obama " presents the best possible scenario for a hopeful future , but I do n't personally put my trust in any political office . " In the 2016 Democratic Party primaries Tankian endorsed Bernie Sanders in August 2015 . He wrote on Facebook : " When it comes to standing up to the oligarchs , leading the fight for civil rights , income equality , and so much more , no other politician has been so consistent and incorruptible as Bernie Sanders . " He praised Sanders in May 2016 , stating : " He 's said what he 's done and he 'd done what he says in the Senate . All his contributions are from private individuals ; everyone else 's are from major donors and corporations . It does not take a genius to see who 's working for whom here . " Concerning the Syrian Civil War , Tankian called for negotiating with Bashar al-Assad and letting Iran deal with Islamic State of Iraq and Syria ( ISIS ) and accused Saudi Arabia , Qatar , and Turkey of supporting ISIS
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Serj Tankian