Posted on 01/26/2007 9:16:25 AM PST by AdamSmithWasRight
As I read the news day in and day out from my perspective of being on the inside looking out, I look at my own home and couldn't be any more embarrassed than I currently am. It has been compounded from 9/11 by constant images and stories in the media about the actions of the Muslim community.
I must admit to myself if I was on the outside looking in I would probably look at myself in the same way so many others do. If all I saw were nihilistic thugs raping, robbing, murdering, and littering the streets of the world with the bodies of innocent people I wouldn't know what else to think of this group of people for religion.
As I now sit inside of the United States I find myself looking at this house in two perspectives. At times from the inside looking out and wanting to escape for this image that has haunts me day in and day out but also at times from the outside looking in. It is these proud patriotic times when religion takes the passenger seat or well I should say, isn't even in the car, that I look at that house and think, "Don't you people get it???"
At moments like this I realize and force myself to accept the reality that the real problem here is the Muslim community itself. It is no longer the fundamentalsits or Al-Qaeda alone, rather the very community itself that has failed to deliver or even show an attempt to remedy this nihilistic ideology within their ranks. As an American but also as a Muslim I would like to convey my most sincere apologies although I know to most this are just empty words in light of the death and injury of so many. For most we have reached a point where apologies and words will do nothing but further agitate the situation. Rather what is needed is action.
It is this which I do recognize and wish deliver, but I realize that I can only do this with help from others. I would hope that the American people, my brothers and sisters, would not so easily give up on the Bush doctrine of changing the face of the middle east where this dangerous threat to world civility and humanity is found. If we hope to find change I believe we can only find it in the overthrowing and or absolute destruction of the very regimes and elements that support this authoritarinism from within their midst. As long as we hold on to the Bush doctrine I honestly believe that we can one day watch the purple fingers of freedom wave from Morocco to Indonesia.
Until that day, if it comes, I apologize my friends and ask you to stick with the President and his vision for a new middle east.
You are a wise individual.
You are correct.
ROTFLMAO...I think you're WHOLE post is and more specifically ....you... are lacking intelligence!
I've never said that Islam and Christianity have a similar worldview. In fact, if you look, I pointed out that for Muslims, all of reality is dependent upon the continual will of Allah, whereas for Christians, God created a rational, self-functioning Universe.
Now, socially, we are in total agreement, I think: this is a "Christian nation" for all intents and purposes. SOCIALLY. But LEGALLY, it is a country that protects the freedom of ALL religions, and all non-religions. Period. Christianity was not codified in the Constitution. Period.
Theology is not the issue here--citizenship is. You CAN be American and whatever religion you choose or don't choose. Maybe AdamSmithWasRight is not a "good" Muslim because he keeps his loyalty to his country, but that doesn't make him any less a citizen.
Ok, your point is...? My point is that neither Christianity nor Islam are ETHNIC RELIGIONS. If I were a Jew, that would describe my race as well as my religion. If I am a Christian, I might be British, I might be Mexican, I might be African, whatever. If I am a Muslim I might be American, I might be Mexican, I might be British, I might be Egyptian.
I am quite aware of "Mahometans" in the Revolutionary period. Not sure what that has to do with the Framers.
"Democracy" is right next to "God" in the Constitution.
We aren't a democracy. We are a democratic republic. Citizens vote (the "democratic" part) for representatives (the "republic" part).
I never said we are a democracy. Athens was a democracy. Rome was a republic. We are more Roman than Greek.
That is a point that seems to be unapparent to many of the people on this board.
You're [sic] post made me laugh, as you obviously haven't the capacity for critical thinking. Using the word "blessings" no more denotes a religious meaning (when not used in a religious context) any more than produce is implied when talking about the "fruits of your labor."
Hey thanks - and I have read the Old Testament. No offense taken. However, as I used to be an OT follower - fire and brimstone kind of guy - I now like the NT. I am an imperfect Christian and thank God every day he gives me another chance to do right.
I'm with you - let's win this thing.
Good answer. I have no reply.
Were you wearing your white sheet when you typed that?
You're ridiculous.
No...I haven't the capacity for doublethink.
Have you the capacity for singlethink? You keep dodging the points. Address it point by point, THEN tell me I'm not intelligent.
Believe what you want...it's a free country! ROTFLMAO!
Well, that much is true. I see a lot of hate directed towards Mormons from Christians, much as you described.
The point that Brigitte Gabriel makes, and I agree, is that while people in other countries (particularly Arab countries) cannot speak out for fear of their lives, there is no reason why they cannot do so in this country.
Is there risk? Yes. But if the vast majority of Muslims are intimidated into silence, shouldn't they do something? As she said, if HER faith was being hijacked, you must either risk speaking out or leave the religion.
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