Posted on 02/18/2009 1:15:57 PM PST by stan_sipple
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum visited the auditorium of the Nebraska Union on Tuesday to present his idea that Americans do not truly understand why the United States is at war.
Santorum is passing through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a part of his college campus tour on which he describes to students what he believes are the dangers in not knowing what is going on in the Middle East.
“I talk to college students because I can have an intellectual conversation, and they usually don’t agree with me,” Santorum said. “I like to state my case (to students) and let them decide who to believe.”
Santorum was a member of the United States Senate from 1994-2007. He believes that the Bush administration made a huge mistake in not informing Americans exactly what’s happening with the wars and who America is fighting. He said the Obama administration is making the same mistake.
“America has little information and Bush went out of his way to mystify who the enemy really is,” Santorum said. “Is that true, are we really fighting ‘terrorists?’”
Santorum also gave the audience a lecture on Islam. When he asked the audience who knew the difference between the Sunnis and the Shi’ites, three audience members raised their hands. Santorum said this proved his point – America has been at war with Islam for seven years and doesn’t know the two branches.
Santorum said he supported the war when it was unpopular because he thinks not fighting could destroy western civilization. He said he believes that Muslims are America’s enemy because they read their religion literally and apply it to real life, instead of in historical context.
The lecture continued when Santorum pointed out what he thought were the main differences between Christians and Muslims. Santorum said Christians, who believe in Jesus Christ, never governed or conquered anyone, but Mohammed was a warrior and killed people.
Santorum said he believes Muslims’ religious views cannot be changed or altered, so Middle Easterners reject American, democratic ideals.
“A democracy could not exist because Mohammed already made the perfect law,” Santorum said. “The Quran is perfect just the way it is, that’s why it is only written in Islamic.”
So the big question, Santorum said, is what are Americans afraid of? Being politically incorrect or offending someone?
Santorum blames Republicans and Democrats for not giving Americans the whole story.
Santorum received two standing ovations from the crowd.
“I agree that it is a major concern that we don’t know the whole truth, I certainly did not until today,” said Andrew McClure, a sophomore political science major.
“I have a lot of sympathy and fear because the United States could face dangerous predicaments,” said Mark Harrington, pastor at Horizons International Church in Lincoln. “I think that generations of failed leadership has caused much fear in Americans.”
Santorum said he wants people to learn to be more inquisitive of the government.
“I think that if every citizen was fully informed about the war, it would create a commonality between faiths,” Santorum said. “We can’t fear the truth, so why hide from it?”
Santorum: The man who got Arlen Specter reelected, so Specter could work against Santorum’s reelection.
Sad. Santorum a great conservative but couldn’t get elected anywhere in the Northeast.
None of this was a mistake, Mr. Santorum.
The U.S. is at war because it's building an empire . . . and any nonsense about a so-called "war on terror" is exactly that.
Uh Rick, dumb statements like that, don't help your cause.
You misunderstand. He’s stating the Muslim logic, not his own feelings.
This may seem dumb to you, but if you catch what he is getting at, there is a great deal of information here. He is noting that the Bible is translated into virtually every language in the world (okay, not every language), because the message of man’s brokenness and the forgiveness/rescue from God is not fearful, but good news. Conversion is offered to those who may have ears to hear.
On the other hand, the Koran speak of every one being converted at the point of a sword. Then, the converts may serve those who are the true Muslims, or they may die quickly thereafter, the choice being their conquerors (true Muslims). The dying being an act of mercy to us.
These are the men that call Israel “Pigs” and Americans “Monkeys”. He is noting that there is no truce available.
Two explanations come to mind:
1- He said it as written and it was his screw up.
2 - The reporter from the college paper goofed.
Well said!
WTF?
The Native Americans, Zulus and Aborigines from Australia would violently disagree.
I had high hopes for him way back when....not so much now.
FMCDH(BITS)
“Santorum said Christians, who believe in Jesus Christ, never governed or conquered anyone”
Yes, my former Senator is a little factually challenged, here and elsewhere
Santorum: The man who got Arlen Specter reelected, so Specter could work against Santorum’s reelection.
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True as that may be, I’m not sure you’re being fair. There are so many liberals in PA and the media bias is tipping all these elections in their favor. If the media was doing their job of reporting facts and not getting the Democrats elected, I’m sure we would see a lot more of these elections swinging our way.
The good news is that with the Obama administration in the White House, they’ve exposed themselves. We see their “plan” for America is to turn us into the Russia. We see what will happen to our Constitution, our rights and freedoms that ARE God-given. We see what will happen to a government that has run amok taxing the rich, the middle class and everything else in sight but will not even pay their own!! We see what happens when lawmakers ignore the law, the Constitution and God’s law.
My hope is that people are now beginning to understand what’s best for America after looking into the face of evil, immoral men. My prayer is that more young Americans are beginning to understand the God’s plan for living, and for government is not about inclusion, exclusion or political correctness, but about truth. Living the truth is freedom. That is what our forefathers envisioned for all of us.
“The U.S. is at war because it’s building an empire . . . and any nonsense about a so-called “war on terror” is exactly that”
Interesting comment when juxtaposed against Biden’s statements during his debate with Palin about his desire to to have American soldiers who would respond to every “Somalia” type situation to stop killings and ethnic cleansings. I know I’m not exactly quoting his words but I believe I’ve got the context correct. I remember the wistful glow about his face as he spoke it and suddenly the horrifying vision of a Pax Americana being inforced upon the world with American soldiers garrisoned everywhere filled my mind.
Mexico is unstable and more and more stories are starting to appear in the news media, attitude shaping stories. We might have to send our military to “stabilize” the situation (though the Chinese may get the same notion and attempt to establish beach heads there supposedly at the behest of the beleaguered Mexican government).
Biden may be a nut job but I don’t think he is the only one in DC who may have imperialist ambitions beyond our nation!
Ping
“Santorum said Christians, who believe in Jesus Christ, never governed or conquered anyone, but Mohammed was a warrior and killed people.”
I think the reporter goofed. That statement doesn’t make sense at all, especially when contrasted with the second half of the sentence.
What I think was probably said was that Jesus Christ never governed or killed anyone, but Mohammed was a warrior who killed people.
I wish he hadn’t supported Specter and am pissed with Pennsylvania. This is the man I wanted to be president.
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