A very short reflection on September 11

AfricanChristian

[AfricanChristian]

The root cause of September 11 was fundamentalist Islam.

The West responded to that provocation with overwhelming Military force, but Military force (as we learned the hard way) is not enough, we need to fight an idea with another set of ideas.

Cast your minds back to the Cold War. The Soviets offered a perverted vision of the future of mankind, it was elegantly written and beautifully argued - and it was seductive. The Free World countered by emphasising the timeless message of the Gospel and the Judeo-Christian foundations of Free Societies. An alternative vision was presented.

This planet has 1.2 billion Muslims and unless we wish to end civilization in a Nuclear winter, Islamic fundamentalism cannot be eradicated solely by military force.

I have spent time with Muslims and many of them desire something more than the material rewards of Capitalism and "Globalization". Many young terrorists are actually young men who are genuinely disgusted by the oppression and corruption of autocrats. However, their minds are perverted by wicked and manipulative mullahs presenting a warped set of beliefs.

And very few are presenting a competing set of ideas.

As a Christian, I sometimes wonder whether we have failed to fully grasp the weight of Christ's commandment "to love our enemies". Has this been lost in our heated rhetoric? I once read a story of a young American woman who made it a point of duty to be kind and helpful to Japanese POWs. They asked her why, and she said it was because her two parents (missionaries) had been brutally murdered by the Japanese.

I strongly believe that justice must be delivered to those that seek to hurt us. But I also believe that there is a wider battle in which having all the aircraft carriers, M1A1 Abrams tanks and jet fighters in the World will not help us to prevail against enemies.

This is the greatest battle of this age and I feel that God is teaching us (by the experience in Iraq), that the "arm of flesh may fail us".

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;Matt 5:44

[de.rm]

"Ok, good idea, but how do you make money w/o war? (hot or cold)

[the invisib1e hand]

we need to fight an idea with another set of ideas.

Google Pope Benedict's speech on Islam.

[HiTech RedNeck]

a fair amount of gospel actually is preached to muslims on american shores, on the q.t.

[TASMANIANRED]

It’s Powers and principalities.

Islam is illuminated from below.

They are death worshipers by their own admission..

[supremedoctrine]

Uh,huh.
OH yeah.
The last italicized Biblical exhortation is
exactly what Radical Islam counts on, and has always
counted on to enable itself to find spaces from which to invade our
political and cultural structures and bid to be
co-equal players.
The process has been underway for some time, and the Ground
Zero Mosque is but one example of the way they intend to do it: provoke, provoke, provoke, while disingenuously claiming that to challenge or resist their nothing-but-pure
intentions is nothing but Islamophobia, the same disease
that prompted our wars “against Islamic peoples”

No more attacks like the one that happened ten years ago
are even necessary.
To understand this “new” development is just the beginning
of knowing how and where and when to fight them.
African Christian does not know this. YET.

[Siena Dreaming]

An alternative vision was presented.

In what form do you propose it was presented to the Soviets that it's not being presented to Islam?

I think the US is doing much humanitarianism in Islamic countries as we speak. And many missionaries give their lives in Islamic lands as well. The Islamic groups will have to decide to change just as the Soviets did. (Both entities being encouraged to move along toward progress by our strong defense as well).

[Sherman Logan]

Islamic fundamentalism cannot be eradicated solely by military force.

Sure it can.

The USA, if it chose to do so, has the potential to develop a military force that could kill every single Muslim using purely conventional means. Our nukes could be reserved as a deterrent for any more advanced nation that might want to interfere with our doing so.

We will not do it, of course, and we could not do it without becoming a very different and much worse people.

But you really shouldn't say something can't be done when what you really mean is that it won't be done because we choose not to.

[AfricanChristian]

You can only substitute one political system for another. Similarly, you can only substitute one religious belief system for another.

It is relatively easier for a Government to promote a political system than to promote a religious belief system and that is the essential difference between engagement with the Soviets and engagement with Islam.

The battle against fundamentalist Islam cannot be won without the active participation of the Church.

(Sadly, the number of missionaries in key battlegrounds like Iraq and Afghanistan are very small and the security situation severely hampers US humanitarian efforts).

[conservativeimage]

So rewrite Islamic scripture so that it no longer inspires terror and destroy all of the original copies.

[Siena Dreaming]

It is relatively easier for a Government to promote a political system than to promote a religious belief system

Our political system is based on a religious belief system.

The American notion of freedom is in place because Christianity made it so.

As we promote freedom (with the carrot of humanitarianism, missionary work, and business investment and the stick of military force...BOTH carrot and stick are representative of christian values BTW) the message is getting through.

We've made progress...and that will slowly continue. And that's because the Church IS doing it's job through politics and through other avenues.

[federal__reserve]

Learn from actual history instead of theology. How do you think the 150 million Muslims are kept under check in India?
Every time they cause a riot or problem, there is 10 times damage done to them by non-Muslims. The Muslims in India are afraid to cause trouble.

[de.rm]

That is the beginning, middle and end of all history, the good keep the bad afraid to cause trouble, good afternoon class, yes, there are no more homework assignments.

[patriot08]

The Obama White House is behind a cynical, coldly calculated political effort to erase the meaning of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks from the American psyche and convert Sept. 11 into a day of leftist celebration and statist idolatry.

Our voices need to be heard not only at Town Hall sessions or Tea Party demonstrations but in the very halls of Congress. We have to speak out to stop the desecration of September 11th..

NEVER FORGET

"Every 'moderate' Muslim is a potential terrorist. The belief in Islam is like a tank of gasoline. It looks innocuous, until it meets the fire. For a 'moderate' Muslim to become a murderous jihadist, all it takes is a spark of faith.

It is time to put an end to the charade of “moderate Islam.” There is no such thing as moderate Muslim. Muslims are either jihadists or dormant jihadists – moderate, they are not."

Ali Sini

Ali Sini is head of Faith Freedom International. FFI is a grassroots worldwide movement of ex-Muslims and all those who are concerned about the rise of the Islamic threat.

Faith Freedom International Forums ______________________________________________

NEVER FORGET

<"Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance."
Barack Hussein Obama

"It is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit"
Barack Hussein Obama

"We will convey our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over so many centuries to shape the world for the better, including my own country."
Barack Hussein Obama

"The contribution of Muslims to the United States are too long to catalog because Muslims are so interwoven into the fabric of our communities and our country"
Barack Hussein Obama

"I have lived in a Muslim-majority country... I know, because I am one of them."
Barack Hussein Obama

"As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam."
Barack Hussein Obama

"Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality."
Barack Hussein Obama

"And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States."
Barack Hussein Obama

"And I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear."
Barack Hussein Obama

"Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state of our union, and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That is why the U.S. government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who would deny it."
Barack Hussein Obama.

America under Obama

Obama has toured the world, apologizing for America and bowing down to Muslim kings and dictators.

Obama has put out an order to stop using the “War On Terror” Label and to use “Overseas Contingency Operation” instead.

Christianity has been banned in our public schools while special allowances have been made for Islamic students.

A Victory Mosque is to be built at Ground Zero with the mayor and the President’s blessing and those that oppose it are called un-American.

Leftists continually fight for terrorist’s rights while trampling all over the rights of Americans

Obama is at the forefront of UN efforts to create Islamic blasphemy laws in the West disregarding free speech.

The U.S. government refuses to call the radical Islamic enemy by name but Democrat party leaders smear average America citizens in the peaceful TEA Party by calling them terrorists simply because they want our leaders to respect the Consitution.

Obama stated in 'Dreams From My Father' long ago: "I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."

______________

_______________

Watch this moving video. It is the most viewed of any of the 9/11 videos and is now in the Smithsonian.

Be sure to read (at the site) Anatomy Of The Attack and the moving essay,’That Day’ by Steve Golding, a New Yorker who lived through it.

[stonehouse01]

Have you read Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s book? Her experience as a mutilated Muslim woman?

Love your enemies sounds good in theory - however - the reality is that when things get very bad somone must stand up with force.

[Old Badger]

Everyone should step back and think about what you presented in your post and its implications.

This whole post smacks of an attempt at putting a guilt trip on Christians and Americans! Your statement "As a Christian, I sometimes wonder whether we have failed to fully grasp the weight of Christ's commandment "to love our enemies"." is something right out of the liberal's pap playbook and shows either your glaring misapplication or misunderstanding of Scripture, maybe both.

I've given a lot of thought to what you wrote and as an American, a former active duty and reserve Marine, a Christian, your post is insulting! We should have nuked those Islamist ba$tards right from the get go instead of fighting a politically correct war that cost us, Americans, thousands of lives. Islam is NOT a religion of peace and DOES teach its children hate Americans and Jews.

I have serious doubts to whether you are a Christian but you may be an Islamic African trying to foist a subtle guilt trip on us. Which ever the case, you and your post has raised the red flag of caution for me when it comes to any of your posts. Words have meaning and eventually they reveal a persons character ............... everyone should think about this post.

[gettinolder]

Well said. Thanks.

[carmody]

Great post.