What happened to the "Religion of Peace"?

Vanity | River Rat

[river rat]

Has President Bush finally gotten the message?

In his recent speech at Fort Bragg -- he didn't once attempt to sell the notion that Islam is a "Religion of Peace"...

He described whom we KNOW to be Fundamental Islamics as ---- "Many terrorists who kill innocent men, women, and children on the streets of Baghdad are followers of the same murderous ideology that took the lives of our citizens in New York, in Washington, and Pennsylvania. There is only one course of action against them: to defeat them abroad before they attack us at home."

Am I the only one who noticed that President Bush FINALLY referred to Islam as a "murderous ideology"!!!

OH THE HORROR..... Where is the outrage from the screaming "Arab Street" and their fellow travellers on the Left?

Originally --- our Islamic Lunatic enemy had NO National/Government address we could simply destroy. Now -- it appear our President is refusing to give them a "religion" to hide behind...

[river rat]

Sorry for the vanity --- I just couldn't resist...

Semper Fi

[Tijeras_Slim]

What happened to the "Religion of Peace"?

They forgot to copyright it, and the Quakers bought the rights to the name. :)

[68skylark]

I think your question is out of place. The president used that "religion of peace" phrase within a few weeks of 9/11. But it was so badly received he hasn't used it since, to my knowledge. It's been 3-4 years since that phrase has been used. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Coop]

I imagine President Bush "got the message" long before you or I did. He just can't vent on the Internet like we can.

[tiamat]

Not sure, but I DO know that a couple of months ago, some advisors told President Bush to NEVER apologise to Islamists.

Sound advice, that. If you do, they will only feel justified and make more demands)

So it Is possible that new policy is being adopted.

[softwarecreator]

You are probably right, but more important is the use of this phrase: followers of the same murderous ideology

He's pretty much calling it a religion of hate.

[river rat]

For the President to make this change, and come out this strongly --- means "something"....

Words mean things, and these Presidential speech writers are very careful with language....

This speech crossed a divide - that needed to be crossed..

Semper Fi

[softwarecreator]

Presidential speech writers are very careful

Exactly.  They fret over every word and it's ramifications ... this was NOT a mistake or something he threw off quickly.  It said exactly what he wanted it so say and mean.

[river rat]

I haven't keep track of how often the President used the "Religion of Peace" gambit - but feel certain it was more than once.....
In my mind -- once was too often.

My main point was -- this is the FIRST occasion I've heard the President use the phrase "Murderous IDEOLOGY" with a direct reference to the Islamic Militants....

THAT is pretty heavy duty language....with a direct tie to Islam.

Semper Fi

[68skylark]

I don't think the president meant to condemn all of Islam with the phrase "murderous ideology." (I think he was referring to the more radical fringes of Islam.) But you're welcome to make any interpretation you like.

[Tijeras_Slim]

All kidding aside, I agree.

I think the "Religion of Peace" line was said in a belief that there are indeed a majority of "moderate Muslims" that could be rallied against the extremists.

As we all know, their silence has been deafening.

[river rat]

My last comment included the term "Islamic Militants"... NONE of whom I would consider "Peace loving Muslims">

I never inferred he attacked all Muslims....many of whom are our allies and are dieing in larger numbers that we are..


Semper Fi

[expatpat]

You are putting your words into his mouth. He didn't refer to Islam in general as a "murderous ideology", but was clearly referring to alQ-type jihadism.

[petercooper]

[BayouCoyote]

Great catch, and I would've missed it had it not been for you, thanks.

Now I don't think that this will morph into what really needs to be discussed, but it has to start somewhere, and what better place than in front of the troops that are going to be confronting those animals? It's a start.

[river rat]

"Moderate Muslims"

Now THAT is a term I'm still looking to have defined!
Is that the Muslim that hasn't yet pulled the pin on his grenade?
Is that the Muslim looking forward to world domination?

Or is that the Muslim that can live with and in a society of MANY religions and not feel compelled to kill the others?

Semper Fi

[river rat]

Read the words.....

He called the terrorists, followers of a MURDEROUS IDEOLOGY...

We all KNOW the terrorists to be militant fundamental Islamic Jihadists...

Where is the confusion?

Semper Fi

[expatpat]

You said: Am I the only one who noticed that President Bush FINALLY referred to Islam as a "murderous ideology"

He didn't. He probably did refer to "militant fundamental Islamic Jihadists" that way, but that's nowhere the same thing. Confusion banished?

[expatpat]

I should add that I do consider Islam to be The Religion of Murder, but that's just my opinion. ;>)

[highball]

He probably did refer to "militant fundamental Islamic Jihadists" that way, but that's nowhere the same thing. Confusion banished?

Bingo. Nail on the Head Award for you.