Posted on 08/05/2005 8:39:17 PM PDT by TheBergenTimes
It's been a while since the London transit bombings. Not long enough to forget the terror; it's never long enough to forget. But maybe long enough to forget the cause. When the bombs first went off in London, there was a brief period of outrage against Islam, but now that the smoke has cleared, the thing most often heard about Islam now is that it's a religion of peace, that these people are extremists, that they don't represent an otherwise peaceful faith, etc.
It's been a while since the London transit bombings. Not long enough to forget the terror; it's never long enough to forget. But maybe long enough to forget the cause. When the bombs first went off in London, there was a brief period of outrage against Islam, but now that the smoke has cleared, the thing most often heard about Islam now is that it's a religion of peace, that these people are extremists, that they don't represent an otherwise peaceful faith, etc.
The same sort of rhetoric was tossed around constantly after September 11. Back then, though, I was part of it. I stood between two Muslims on our football team's offensive line, and they were some of the wisest and most peaceful people I knew. The whole Western world apparently followed the same train of thought, and soon everybody was lauding the praises of Islam while opening their radiation-treated and hopefully anthrax-free mail. President Bush himself repeated the claims that Islam is peaceful, saying it had been 'hijacked' (an ironic choice of words) by political extremists.
My opinion about Islam has changed since 2001, mostly due a personal crisis in my life that made me consider becoming a Muslim. I read the Quran cover to cover in 2002, and as I did, it became clear to me that my assessment of Islam as a peaceful religion was somewhat inaccurate. I can hesitantly say that I believe there are plenty of modern Muslims that are peaceful people. I can't say, though, that Muhammad's version of Islam as described in the Quran is peaceful, though, because it isn't.
When Muhammad first began preaching in Mecca, he was a fine moral example. He was kind, peaceful, generous, and humble. He endured the persecution of his neighbors while preaching a religion of peace and goodwill. After a while, he left Mecca and went to Medina, where he began winning converts and overwhelming political power. As soon as he had the power, he spread Islam with force, slaughtering all who dared to speak against him and returning to Mecca the head of a mighty army of holy warriors.
The tactic is being used by Muslims around the world to this day. In places where they are in the minority, like the West, they preach peace and understanding, saying that Islam is a religion of submission to God, saying that the jihad prescribed by Muhammad is a spiritual one, and that the Quranic verses that speak of slaying the unbeliever are speaking only about self-defense.
Then, when Muslims are in the majority, like in the middle east, the message of Islam becomes the exact opposite: "slay the unbeliever, take the jihad to the West, and anyone who dares to speak out against the prophet is worthy of death!"
Surprisingly, the two factions of this insidious religion have worked well together. While one group flies a series of planes into American landmarks, another proclaims the evils of terrorism and works towards a more peaceful society. While one group bombs trains and buses, another proclaims the peaceful nature of Islam. Well meaning westerners who don't want to see peaceful Muslims attacked for the crimes of a few begin to defend the religion. Lawmakers have traditionally been the most active in this regard, protecting Islam against free speech, forbidding racial profiling by the authorities, and generally making Islam untouchable in the West.
All these events prove that Osama isn't as crazy as everybody thinks. Think about it: with every attack, the two equally deplorable sides of Islam grow stronger. One group gains new recruits and a wider influence, while at the same time having carried out their mission to attack the infidels. The other group is publicly defended by the top leaders of the West; granted freedoms and protections that would never be afforded to members of other religions, and fraudulently proclaimed as the bringers of peace and goodwill. That, in essence, is the genius of Islam.
I still hang out with the Muslim offensive lineman from high school. I still honestly believe that he's a great human being and a fine moral example. I'm entirely certain that there are millions of Muslims in the United States, Canada, and other parts of the Western world who fit the same description. Yet, I have to be honest. Those kind, honest, peaceful Muslims aren't peaceful because of Muhammad, they're peaceful in spite of him. They choose peace because they know what's right, not because of what their religion tells them. As soon as they, and we as unbelieving Westerners, acknowledge this to be true, we can deal with the real problem facing us: a double dealing religion built on bloodshed and violence that comes to us proclaiming peace.
Absolute power corrupts....absolutely.
Excellent article!
Interesting. Islam as a means of making any and all Muslims into a Trojan Horse... where ever they are.
I think I'll agree with you on some point. There are peaceful Muslims out there. But they are that way either as a means to gather support... or they are that way in ernest and in SPITE of the Quran.
Welcome to FreeRepublic.
BTW, I see you joined Free Republic today ... Welcome!!!
Gee, I seem to have heard world leaders proclaim the same attitude as expressed in the article, for quite a while now. So, this is your valiant expression of just what- exactly? Genius? Treachery? Everyone just calm down- the majority of Muslims are really nice folks, who don't really follow the pig of the Koran? Please enlighten me...
By the by, you know much about bergens?
How about the NYT? Know much about that?
I'm glad your fishin' here, boyo...
"Think about it: with every attack, the two equally deplorable sides of Islam grow stronger."
Left side or right side it don't matter, as it is the side of islam.
A religion that requires persecution of its members to maintain itself is of the devil's propagation.
Exactly.
Celebrsting conquest is the true measure of totalitarianism.
I'm glad you're fishin' here, boyo...ever caught sumpin' you can't turn loose of? Whoooeeee-eee! Now, I heard that sorta thing can make a man out of a lefty little girly sissy boy- well, for a couple short NYT op/eds anyhow. Good luck, on catchin' sumpin'...
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