"What does it really mean to be an American?" asked seventh-grader Miriam. "Being American is just being born in this country."
"If I had to choose sides, I'd stay with being Muslim," said eighth-grader Ibrahim. "Being an American means nothing to me. I'm not even proud of telling my cousins in Pakistan that I'm American."
Yes, there is a problem here, with being an Islamic and being an American.
I also think that for Christians, there is a higher authority, too (over and above being an American). So -- THEORETICALLY -- Christians would believe the same thing. BUT, [and this is the big point of understanding], if someone doesn't go any further than that (in understanding this point) -- then they'll end up with the wrong conclusions and the wrong position.
The problem here -- in this understanding -- is knowing the significance of the Christian faith to being American. This Christian faith, which comes from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (which is also the reason why Christians support Israel) is the foundation stone (i.e., Jesus Christ) upon which the Republic is founded. There were allowances for religious freedom -- but this was within the boundaries of Christianity and those variations -- and not every last single cult in the world, along with all the false religions, too.
So, once we understand that the Islamics have a false religion, a false god (of Allah, aka Satan [and this is no hyperbole]), then we understand why being faithful to Islam means being against America. The two cannot exist together.
On the other hand, being faithful to Christianity, forms the underpinnings of being faithful to America and supporting America -- in righteousness and good deeds and actions (as a country, that is, not individually, because we are individually saved by Grace, through the blood of Jesus Christ).
So, an American who is a Christian wouldn't have any problem with "America" per se, but rather with some of the "deeds and actions" of America which have come from the sin of some of the residents of America. In that regard, as a country, we all share the blame (although, individually speaking, those of the "faith" are saved by the blood of Christ). There is still a corporate responsibility.
Therefore, a Christian, who is an American, has no problem with America, but only with certain deeds and actions which have crept into America. Those Christians would support America as always, in returning to its true foundations -- in the will of God -- in doing what God founded the country to do in the first place.
Islamics want America destroyed (and more so, the more Islamic they are), whereas, a Christian supports America (and "naturally so") and wants it to return to its true foundations (or else they know that America risks the punishment and chastisement of God in the meantime). However, God will preserve America (not without necessary correction, though) for the sake of those who follow and trust in God. It arguably has (percentage-wise) one of the largest groups of faithful Christians in the world. And many good things have come out of America in the meantime.
It's like a saying (which someone else can provide the attribution) which goes sort of like this. "America is great because it is good. When it ceases to be good, then it will cease to be great." [a big "paraphrase" of what I vaguely remember... :-) ]
Your analogy was excellent. Islam = "submit, surrender, become Muslim" or die! The cultural divide is here on our soil and growing! Based on the education the Muslims are getting (most go to Islamic schools like the one profiled), their reproduction rate (which is really high), and their continued immigration (under current INS standards) -- in a decade America will cease to be!
Bump