Andrew McCarthy makes a great point in his post at NRO a few days ago:
If only the fantasy were true: If only there actually were a dominant, pro-American, echt moderate Islam, an ideology so dedicated to human rights, so sternly set against savagery, that acts of terrorism were, by definition, “un-Islamic activity.” Imagine an Islam that, far from a liability, proved an asset (indeed, an indispensable asset) in combating the threat against us. Imagine that we could accurately call the threat mere “extremism” — no “Islamic” (or even “Islamist”) modifier being necessary because the “extremists” truly were a tiny, aberrant band, fraudulently “hijacking” a great religion.
If only….
If the fantasy were true, who among us would not be proud to mark the annual observance of September 11 by breaking ground on a $100 million Islamic center cum mosque at the site of the most horrific attack in American history? In the nine years since the atrocities that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 Americans at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and a field in Shanksville, Pa., such an Islam — if it really existed — would have spearheaded the defeat of America’s enemies.
Looking for this Islam is akin to looking for the 13th Imam. So many of us revel in our own high-mindedness while ignoring the truth.
Such an Islam, over nine long years, would have risen up and made itself heard. It would have identified by name and condemned with moral outrage the imposters purporting to act in its name.
What excruciating truths have we yet failed to grasp on this ninth anniversary of 9/11? The first is that such an Islam does not exist.
No, it does not exist. It doesn’t exist in part because there is no “Islam.” There are thousands of Islams. One cannot separate the religion from the state.
It gets old being constantly called “close-minded” and “intolerant” because we will not live our lives in fear of causing an uproar in the Muslim world. I grew up being told that if told that you best be able to take it if you’re going to hand it out.
Imam Feisal Rauf let the cat out of the bag once again when he tells us that he’s afraid of moving the proposed site of the Ground Zero mosque for- guess why?
Rauf said that developers were still deciding whether they would relocate the proposed mosque, but that he feared moving it could cause an uproar in the Muslim world.
Think about that for a second. An Imam is afraid of inflaming the Muslim world by being sensitive to America. The Muslim world demonstrates its real estate savvy: when it comes to the Ground Zero mosque, it’s Location, location, location.
It’s not about having a Community Center. It’s ALL about having it next to Ground Zero.
Rep. Peter King (R) of NY agrees:
“To me, it’s almost as if he’s blackmailing and threatening the United States that somehow if the mosque is not approved or people speak out against his mosque, you have to worry about being attacked by Islamic terrorists,” Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) said of Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf on Fox Business Network on Friday.
King said that the Islamic center was being “put their to make a statement, not to build bridges, but to make a statement.”
“Moderate” Muslims in Dearborn Michigan burned both Pastor Terry Jones and Osama Bin Laden in effigy:
Chanting “burn, baby, burn,” a group of Muslims in Dearborn lit ablaze tonight effigies of Pastor Terry Jones of Florida and Osama bin Laden in a protest against religious extremism.
Led by Dearborn attorney Majed Moughni, the group burned a pair of dolls holding hands that were dressed up to represent Jones, the Florida pastor who has plans to burn Qurans, and of Osama bin Laden, the terrorist behind the Sept. 11 attacks.
“They both represent the murder, killing, and war against America,” Moughni said before the blaze was lit with a Bic lighter.
The moral equivalence is lost on me. Jones threatened to do something and now has backed away from it completely. Bin Laden’s plans killed 3000 Americans. I don’t see the comparison. Call me silly.
Meanwhile, Muslims in Indonesia attacked Christians for something that hasn’t happened and Muslims in Britian celebrated 9-11 by burning the flag of the United States of America.
Andy McCarthy is right. The Islam in your mind is the not the Islam of reality.
So please, fellow FA authors: Flame on
DrJohn has been a health care professional for more than 30 years. In addition to clinical practice he has done extensive research and has published widely with over 70 original articles and abstracts in the peer-reviewed literature. DrJohn is well known in his field and has lectured on every continent except for Antarctica. He has been married to the same wonderful lady for over 30 years and has three kids- two sons, both of whom are attorneys and one daughter on her way into the field of education.
DrJohn was brought up with the concept that one can do well if one is prepared to work hard but nothing in life is guaranteed.
Except for liberals being foolish.
There have been 15,000 islamic terrorist attacks since 9/11/2001, I think that we have seen the true face of islam. I used to have a site that documented many of them, but can’t find it now. If I can I will post it later.
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/
I used to hope that the number of Muslims turning in their own violence-incited sons, (like happened recently) brothers, husbands, fathers were many.
But they seem to be few.
Although they need to remain in secret (at risk of a death fatwa by the same imam who charismatically riled their own relative) I salute them.
But if they had been many we would have seen those charismatics turned in, not just their impressionable dupes.
Islam is many things to many different Muslim leaders.
(One mosque in SF, CA wanted to allow mixed sex worship, even a female ”imam” leading a Friday sermon. Of course that mixed sex worship was NOT allowed.. Even the female ”imam”could only speak via video filmed from behind a screen so no one knew who she was… for her own safety.)
Think if the masses of Muslims were so dedicated to peaceableness that they would throw out any imam who dared try to rile his congregants to violence.
That would be wonderful.
Wow…that’s some of the most convoluted thought I’ve ever read. One guy is responsible, directly or indirectly, for deaths of thousands of humans around the world, and one said he was going to burn a book.
This is where you muslims are messed up and will NEVER get along with anyone. You take things to such extremes for NO REASON, its disgusting. There IS NO comparison between that jackass in Florida and Osama bin Laden. NONE WHATSOEVER.
Where is the imam ralph telling his people to STOP getting violent? Why will he not issue the statement condemning the actions of those that riot and kill each other because of a cartoon or a book that was never desecrated by those that said they would?
If you’re going to get along with the west and bring your “religion” to the west, you really need to start understanding US instead of belittling US all the time and telling US to be tolerant toward YOUR feelings.
I could be wrong, but……
And I’m glad there’s an edit section…to correct my incoherent thoughts. Heheh.
Islam is our enemy. To believe otherwise is foolish at best. There are no moderate muslims as they all believe in the same book. Islam is as Islam does.
Copied and pasted from another blog … an interesting observation. One of the things that I don’t see mentioned, but which I believe is true, is the importance placed on symbolism by muslims. Maybe by others too, but not particularly by Americans. We just don’t “do” symbolic stuff especially well. Nevertheless, it would be wise for us to become more aware of it in the “know your enemy” sort of mindset.
“What’s in a name or what’s in a number? GZM, Cordoba House or 51 Park. The property on Park Place is actually two buildings, to be merged into a single address. The purchased property at 45-47 is one half, the other address is 49-51, which is owned by Con Edison and to be leased for 70 years. To help with the passage below, I did a little research. Sa’iqah – thunderbolt Nuh – muslim prophet farish – prayer rug
Sura 51: 41-48 (44. But they insolently defied the command of their Lord, so the Sa`iqah overtook them while they were looking.) (45. Then they were unable to rise up, nor could they help themselves.) (46. (So were) the people of Nuh before them. Verily, they were a people who were rebellious.) (47. With Hands We constructed the heaven. Verily, We are able to expand the vastness of space thereof.) (48. And We have made the earth a Firash; how excellent spreader (thereof) are We) My rhetorical question: What is more objectionable Cordoba House or Park 51 “
3000 were killed on 9/11 by people of another religion. BUT when christians kill other christians in Africa no one says that indicates that it is the fault of that religion. After Christians clean up their own religion they should start telling others how to police their own The greatest mass killings of humans in the last 20 years have all been done by christians, not muslims
John Ryan is living in fantasy land.
I would refer you again to http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/ so you can have an opportunity to educate yourself.
Further, a person may be a christian and commit an atrocity. But they do not necessarily do those things for a heavenly reward or Christian purpose. Christians may be democrats and slice the tires of republicans. But that hardly makes it a ‘christian’ crime.
Let’s see your evidence Ryan.
John, I’m assuming you’re talking about Darfur, since you provide no data with your post.
The Darfur Conflict[10][11] is an ongoing guerrilla conflict or civil war centered on the Darfur region of Sudan. It began in February 2003 when the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) groups in Darfur took up arms, accusing the Sudanese government of oppressing or commiting genocide against black Africans in favor of Arabs.
What are Arabs usually again? I forget…….
I’m glad you said all this.
I think that the problem is that Americans and Europeans can’t get their minds around the fact that there are well over a billion people in the world who subscribe to an ideology that presents a genuine danger to everyone else. It seems easier to stick one’s head back into the sand and deny that it could possibly be this bad. But it is. We dealt with the Third Reich, we dealt with the USSR, and we can deal with this too.
This is a video clip of Dr. Jassar – a Muslim.
Oslo Freedom Forum 2010- “How Islam Works with Democracy” (In this landmark speech laying out AIFD’s mission– Dr. Jasser joins leading freedom activists from across the world).
Is is true that our government will give 70 million dollars to build the Muslim Mosque ?
When Andrew McCarthy writes:
I am reminded of the Muslim ”sect” being slow-motion destroyed by violent Muslims worldwide.
It is called the Ahmadi Muslim sect.
It has been around since 1889.
It is non-violent, even has translated the Koran into Yiddish.
Where ever Ahmadi Muslims live they are persecuted by Muslims who are not Ahmadi’s.
The Pakistani government have gone so far as to declare them not part of Islam!
And therefore they are ”apostates,” worthy of death on sight!
In Gaza they are attacked in their homes and cars..
Hamas’ police do nothing to protect them at all.
Even in non-Islamic lands (like the UK) non-Ahmadi Muslims attack their Ahmadi Muslim brothers violently.
Think there will be another large, peaceful movement of Muslims when they all see this targeting of non-violent peaceful Muslims?
People have a stronger sense of self-preservation than that!
We, the West, ignores islam at our peril. Anyone who has taken, even a token look into islam, sees it, for what it is.
islam is not compatible with western values. It should not be called a religion. It is a death cult, at best. islam still permits “honor killings”, considers women property, and embraces slavery, and encourages terror. There is no “tolerance” in islam, yet, it demands tolerance.
USA has spent wars, and years of legislation, to end slavery here, elevate women and minority rights,
and protect gay rights. islam kills gay people, hates minorities, and practices slavery in every islamic country.
Why we “tolerate” islam, to exist in our country, is the question.