-
Restrain the Abusive Administative State
May 22, 2013 | 24 comments
-
Delivering Serbs to the Wolves
May 21, 2013 | 29 comments
-
The Perils of Intervention in Syria
May 7, 2013 | 37 comments
-
America on Welfare
April 25, 2013 | 46 comments
-
Thursday Is Tax Freedom Day
April 17, 2013 | 5 comments
At Large
Religious Persecution by Muslims? Perish the Thought!
Relgious dialogue has to be based on truth. Otherwise, it’s a sham.
(Page 2 of 2)
The government also routinely interferes with Copts simply seeking to live out their faith. The state often refuses to allow construction or repair of churches or other buildings, even those for social functions. Christians have been ordered to take down crosses outside of churches and even charged for private worship without a permit. Moreover, the government has discriminated against Copts when fulfilling its civil role, such as issuing identification cards.
Egypt’s wretched record is well established. In its report last year on international religious freedom, the State Department observed: “Christians and members of the Baha’i faith, which the government does not recognize, face personal and collective discrimination, especially in government employment and their ability to build, renovate, and repair places of worship. The government also sometimes arrested, detained, and harassed Muslims such as Shi’a. Ahmadiyas, Quaranists, converts from Islam to Christianity, and members of other religious groups whose beliefs and/or practices it deemed to deviate from mainstream Islamic beliefs and whose activities it alleged to jeopardize communal harmony.”
For the same reasons the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom placed Egypt on its “watch list.” The Commission pointed to widespread “discrimination, intolerance, and other human rights violations against members of religious minorities, as well as disfavored Muslims.” Last year’s Commission report cited “a significant upsurge in violence” against Copts as well as “a growing climate of impunity” for those who commit such crimes.
The group International Christian Concern placed Egypt in this year’s annual “Hall of Shame.” Explained ICC: “While Egypt escaped being included in the Hall of Shame in 2010, escalating atrocities committed against the Arab world’s largest Christian minority forced us to include Egypt in this year’s report.” Indeed, last year, reported ICC, was “one of Egypt’s worse years of persecution in recent memory.”
One can’t help but wonder where Pope Benedict came up with the silly idea that Christians face discrimination and persecution in the Middle East. No wonder the al-Azhar Islamic Research Council was upset. Tsk, tsk.
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi responded to the Council decision: “The pontifical council for inter-religious dialogue’s line of openness and desire to dialogue is unchanged.” That’s a truly “Christian” response, but the Vatican obviously should not expect the same in return, at least not from its Islamic counterparts.
There is much to criticize in the policies of Western governments, including of the U.S. But that has nothing to do with an inter-faith dialogue. It certainly has nothing to do with how Christians, Jews, Baha’is, and other religious minorities are, or at least should be, treated in majority Muslim nations.
Moreover, until Muslim governments treat all of their people, irrespective of faith, with respect and dignity, they have no credibility to complain about the treatment of Muslims elsewhere. As Jesus explained, we should take the plank out of our own eye before seeking to pull a speck out of someone else’s eye (Matthew 7:3-5). His advice should be widely shared and, more importantly, heeded in Cairo and throughout the Muslim world.
Mr. Bandow is a Senior Fellow in International Religious Persecution at the Institute on Religion and Public Policy.
About the Author
Doug Bandow is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. A former Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan, he is the author and editor of several books, including The Politics of Plunder: Misgovernment in Washington (Transaction).
Letter to the Editor View all comments (66) | Leave a comment
More Articles by Doug Bandow
More Articles From At Large
http://spectator.org/archives/2011/01/25/religious-persecution-by-musli
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
Current Issue
- We Have Her Example
- Ailes: A Voice for the Silent Majority
- The End of the Castros?
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
H/T to National Review Online
ADVERTISEMENT
LMajito| 1.25.11 @ 6:31AM
I believe Mr. Bandow misspelled the adjective used for islam...it is not a religion of 'peace' but rather a religion of 'piece' for the results of their ongoing bombing, beheadings, and dismemberings that one often sees their adherents routinely engaged in with all the approval (and at times directed) by the local mullahs (btw mula in spanish mean jackass).
Of course we're constantly told that these are merely about 10% of their ranks...but somebody may take pause in this but in my book, 10% out of 1.5 billion is about 150 million...that's half the population of the US...so we have an army of about 1 million fighting against an army of crazed out nutjobs of 150 millions...
somebody better wake up before we're force to kneel 5 times a day facing the east...
Dan Hirsch| 1.25.11 @ 9:13AM
LMajito;
I know it's confusing, but it truly is the "religion of peace." What you have missed is that it's their peace, not yours presuming you are not a follower of Allah. Their faith allows for two choices for those not following Allah via the Islamic faith: convert or die. If you convert, you will stop being a bother to them, thus there's peace. Or you are dead, thus there'll be peace for them, and I guess pieces of you for you.
It's in their holy Koran.
Now, no doubt, Jesus Christ did say that 'you are either with Me or against Me' and 'those who are not with Me are against Me.' However, He did not enjoin his faithful to insure the peace by ordering the transmittal of the non-faithful directly to His care. Therefore Christianity is NOT the religion of peace. Thank God!
PS My theory is that Christ entrusted us to continue to work on the non-faithful until we converted them. Killing them kind of eliminates the slow-to-understand types, who often end up having a deeply-held faith based on extended prayer and thought, the type that won't be displaced by every little fad or heresy...
Alan Brooks| 1.25.11 @ 10:09PM
Aren't madrassas better than our schools, and less expensive?
John II| 1.26.11 @ 10:33AM
No.
Ken (Old Texican)| 1.25.11 @ 7:17AM
Doug,
I hope you will e-mail me at sales@texassaidno.com I have written a novel, (published October 1, 2010).
I would like to send you a review copy.
PS: the website with foreword and chapter one can be found at www.texassaidno.com
The book is grounded in my having lived and worked in the middle east and seeing Sharia law first hand.
Intelligent Design| 1.25.11 @ 8:26AM
Journalists do not report the facts about Islam in general. If they did, the public might learn that mainstream Muslims oppose religious freedom and secular law, such as the Constitution. The public might learn that Islam is about the merger of "church" and state to form a dictatorship under which Infidels, Jews, Buddhists, apostates, and all non-Muslims are at best second-class citizens. Saudi Arabia is an excellent example: in that country the constitution is the Koran, the law is sharia, and the practice of all other religions is forbidden. The Saudis and other Islamic states fund mosques in the United States as well as terrorism, and we pay for it by buying their oil.
Islam should be identified by Congress as a subversive organization, not a religion. As the Ayatollah Khomeini said, "Islam is nothing if it is not politics". It belongs in the 7th century.
We should be building nuclear power plants and expanding the use of domestic natural gas with the same sense of urgency we had when building tanks and ships during WW II.
Harry the Horrible| 1.25.11 @ 9:16AM
One of things that journalists seem to miss, either through ignorance or conspiracy, is that some words don't mean the same thing in English that they do in the speaker's native tongue.
For example, during the Cold War, the Soviet term "peace" meant an "absence of resistance to socialism." Likewise, to a Moslem, "peace" means "submission to Islam."
Another interesting worlds is taquiya which, to a Moslem, means a truce with infidels for up to 10 years to build up forces to overwhelm them; to a journalist, it usually means truce or ceasefire, with out the connotation of renewed warfare.
irish19| 1.25.11 @ 10:13AM
Actually, as I understand it, the word for the truce you describe is hudna. Taquiya is the practice of lying to the unbelievers that is sanctioned by their death cult.
Richard Baker| 1.25.11 @ 8:26AM
I've always wondered what Moslems are afraid of when they persecute members of other religions. Seems as if they've got a giant inferiority complex regarding their "faith." Not much of a "faith" when it has to be enforced at the point of a gun.
MikeBee| 1.25.11 @ 9:03AM
Richard,
You are on to the truth here. Actually, in Egypt, Iraq, and Iran, Christianity is spreading rapidly right now. Muslims in these countries are very afraid that they will lose control of their countries, and are actively engaged in persecution of Christians, including the above examples of persecution from Mr. Bandow's excellent article, but also including rape, imprisonment, and death.
Right now, we are witnessing a massive historical change in the Middle East, with Christianity advancing so rapidly. Some groups estimate as many as 10,000 converts per year. In the future, the Middle East and Africa may be bastions of Christianity, while Europe and the U.S. will rot in their embraced atheistic ideologies.
Stormzeye| 1.25.11 @ 9:27AM
Hey Mike, are you nuts? Cite the source your "statistics" when posting on the AS. We are not likely to be influenced by such an unsupported generality as your comment would indicate. There is no mass conversion to Christianity going on in the Moslem world. Further, your hope that the US will rot in its atheism is a scurrilous attack on the most charitable and Christian country in the world. I find your post to be misleading and as such worthless.
MikeBee| 1.25.11 @ 12:50PM
Stormzeye,
Sorry for withholding sources. Try visiting Voice of the Martyrs (www.vom.com), or check out Sat-7 (don't know the website), a Christian broadcasting station in the Middle East. Both claim rapid progress in conversions from the Muslim religion to Christianity. Voice of the Martyrs talks mainly about the abuse going on toward Christians in other nations, but hints at the conversions, while Sat-7 is much more positive about conversion progress, citing statistics.
As far as my comments on Europe and the U.S., Europe has been leaving Christianity and Christian churches behind for many years. The Catholic Church has long recognized this trend. We in the U.S., while historically a Christian nation, are also heading in Europe's direction, unfortunately. It is my sincere hope that this trend in both Europe and the U.S. can be turned around. However, historically speaking, the Christian churches have typically spread rapidly where Christians are suffering, while tending to suffer in numbers in more "content" nations.
MikeBee| 1.25.11 @ 1:15PM
Voice of the Martyrs changed their website: it's www.persecution.com.
Stormzeye| 1.25.11 @ 8:28PM
Nice try MikeBee. It's a dead link, just like your unfounded suppositions. Islam will never tolerate conversions to any other religion on the part of its adherents. Just as 2 million of my martyr ancestors died in the Ottoman Empire and Turkey rather than convert at the point of a sword to Islam, thousands of others are dying in Islamic communities all over the world. The only "peace" that's offered by the so-called Religion of Peace is the peace of the grave.
MikeBee| 1.25.11 @ 9:27PM
Stormzeye,
I, too, have ancestors who battled Muslims centuries ago to drive them back to the Middle East. What I'm saying, and these organizations are saying (by the way, the website is active; I visited it today; Sat-7's website is www.sat7.com. I didn't insert a link. Use google), is good news for both of us. Muslims are converting to the message of Christianity, as their Muslim faith does not give them any reason to hope. You're right: once converted, if they are discovered, they are often tortured or jailed, or their women raped, or they are killed. They are taking the risk, anyway, because they would rather have hope and God's love. Voice of the Martyrs attempts to help Christians in the Middle East who are being discriminated against. Conversions are occurring in larger numbers than any of us would imagine.
Smile :). This is good news!
Ole_Sarge| 1.25.11 @ 11:34AM
No "mass" conversions, but one person here, another there, a third is still in hiding... very slowly it is happening because while many will kill in the name of Islam, many more are dying as witnesses to Christ, and Christianity.
Like their ancestors, "why would you prefer to die, than to submit?"
Problem with modern Western and Secular society, "what is worth living and dying for?"
It there is NOTHING worth dying for, there is also nothing worth living for either.
Occam's Tool| 1.25.11 @ 2:02PM
Name one Western European, secular society that has a replacement birthrate. Answer: None.
As the Thought Police said in 1984 (in speaking of Europeans then, too): "You are the Dead." My wife and I are trying to figure out how much longer it will be safe to visit the British Museum. I, myself, think until 2020.
David W| 1.25.11 @ 8:36AM
I was reading the latest Reader's Digest when I turned a page and saw a one-page article about Daisy Khan - one half of the Ground Zero Mosque (though I read they were fired from that). I put the magazine down in disgust. However I will endeavour to read the article to see exactly what they are promoting by having her in there. More than likely I will probably let my subscription expire (unless they provide a counter point, perhaps by Mr. Robert Spencer).
John II| 1.26.11 @ 10:52AM
RD used to be a middlebrow counterweight to the noisier liberal culture, but they've pretty much crumbled within the past half generation or so.
I have some suspicions why, regarding certain chic-enlightened positions they'd always taken on issues like birth control. A certain bourgeois moral squishiness was always there, ready to metastasize. The devolution of RD might be an interesting topic to look into, a case study of a culture in decay.
old white guy| 1.25.11 @ 9:11AM
my goodness. there can be no understanding or discussion with islam. the goal of islam is to dominate and destroy all non believers. read and pay attention. there is more than enough proof .
old white guy| 1.25.11 @ 9:13AM
mike bee. you are wrong.
Eric Dondero | 1.25.11 @ 9:16AM
Wait a second here. This is Doug Bandow writing this? Avid non-interventionist/isolationist who railed against the War on Islamo-Fascism (Iraq and Afghanistan) in the 2000s. Who writes for the radical Leftist AntiAmerican website AntiWar.com.
What gives? Bandow is talking out of both sides of his mouth here, and displaying enormous hypocrisy. At American Spectator he leads readers to believe "he's tough on Islamism," while over at AntiWar.com he expresses support for American traitors like Army Private Manning, and attacks other efforts to stop the Islamists like the Patriot Act.
Sorry Davie, you may be able to fool conservatives who read AS, but I'm a libertarian, and I've got your number.
Ole_Sarge| 1.25.11 @ 11:29AM
It's always possible that a significant emotional event occurred to "open one's eyes" to the truth, even through they were blind to it.
(Think about the Conversion of Saul, which was celebrated yesterday by the Catholic Church)
Tim the Enchanter| 1.25.11 @ 3:04PM
Actually, the Conversion of St. Paul is celebrated TODAY. Tomorrow is St. Polycarp, who died a martyr in the arena.
Ole_Sarge| 1.25.11 @ 6:12PM
Thank-you for the correction!
Occam's Tool| 1.25.11 @ 2:07PM
Here's a quote from the writer of THIS article, in Antiwar.com:
"Former Antiwar.com columnist Doug Bandow writes this week in The National Interest
President Barack Obama has unveiled his new budget, which proposes continued increases in military outlays. What for? The United States is spending far too much on the Pentagon.
There is no more important federal role than providing for the common defense. But what is required for defense depends upon circumstances. Military requirements in 1900 differed dramatically from those in 1940 and in 1980. What are the requirements today?
The latest Pentagon budget suggests that the United States is embattled and isolated, its territory threatened and its future imperiled. The Obama administration has proposed a $40 billion (8 percent) hike in military outlays in 2010 to $527.7 billion. (Counting Iraq and Afghanistan will push annual military spending up to around $700 billion.) President Obama plans to continue increasing the size of the Army and Marine Corps."
I dunno. What gives, Doug?
John| 1.25.11 @ 10:20AM
Islam is a religion of peace. Our beautiful Christian brother and sisters have been living in the islmic world for 1500 years. The prophet said the closest to the believers are Christians . Jesus (pbuh) is one of our greatest prophets. He preached the same message as prophet Mohammed ie ultimate success, peace and tranquiliy lies in the worship of the merciful, the ever merciful creator. Jesus is a light to be followed- for a Muslim the thought of him brings tears and awe. Are do not regard the colonusation of the muslims lands in recent times and during last two centuries as a Christian project but a project of greed. any Muslim who had unjustly carries out attricities are not of us. Alqaeda is a very modern movement ie use force for political aims. This is reject By Islam. The USA should be justly proud of its many achievements- and there is nothing in Islam from being the closest of allies and freinds. The USA coils save a lot of money byremkving it's large military bases that excist in many arab states. this would prevent your army being in harms way, save alot of money that can be spent on peoples needs. Bring down the deficit. And most imortantly reduce tensions so that bridge building can take place. It is interesting to that the closest ally of the USA in Me is Saudi Arabia . Some of It's citizens have been wagi ng an all out terrorist war on the USA. I think the connection here that people in me feel suffocated by your support for dictatorships at any cost.empires will come and go, muslims christens et al will alwAys be around. I personally that diogues between the faiths will proper.
Peace and tranquility to all Americans
John
W| 1.25.11 @ 10:52AM
Nice translation from the original Arabic, or whatever, John.
LMajito| 1.25.11 @ 12:55PM
John, wow how gullible one can be? There are no US bases in Saudi Arabia...check your facts...muslims scream at any westerner that slays a muslim while dance while millions of muslims slain millions of muslims with not complaints (10 year war of Iran and Iraq)....oh i forgot, iranians don't count because they're persians....
who succeeded muhammad? is it as paceful as the popes succession of the local church pastor changes?
hmmm...let's see...Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) was appointed at Ghadeer Qum according both Shia and Sunni sources at the final major sermon of the Holy Prophet Muhammed (pbuh).
However, during the funeral procedures of the Prophet (saaw), whilst Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) was washing the body of the Prophet (saaw) and preparing the funeral, some companions secretly met at the house of Saqeefa. Umar ibn Khattab appointed Abu Bakr and later, as history books tell us, Umar ibn Kattab proclaimed that whoever goes against this appointment, he would 'cut their tongues off'.
the four caliphs that succeeded muhammad position as head of islam were assasinated by the caliph wanting to take over....now that's sweet and peaceful succession, isn't it?
now how can you declare Jesus a prophet of islam while denying His claims? '...no one goes to the Father except through me...' and his admonishment to peter when he saw fit to draw a daggar and begin slicing the ears of Jesus' captors? contrast that with muhammads' vision for the sword of allah (which btw, he had made no headway until folks were confronted with two choices: dead or life under islam)
this forum is not big enough to clearly show your views on Jesus and islam being so naive and ignorant...
as Fletcher told the senator in the movie 'Josey Wales'...'senator don't piss on my back and tell it's raining'...
Occam's Tool| 1.26.11 @ 12:17AM
The closest ally to the US in the Middle east is Israel, idiot.
W| 1.25.11 @ 10:55AM
Islam is a religion of peace. The only problem is that of the one billion muslims in the world, between one hundred million and more do not follow the peace message. Or maybe, the peace message is not clear enough, or....
David T| 1.25.11 @ 10:59AM
In defense of Mike Bee above: The "growth" of Islam is largely because of higher birth rates in Islamic countries. Adult conversion rates are much higher in Christianity. (Who besides misguided white liberals really want to become Muslims?) The demographic center of Christianity is moving toward the "southern cone" of Africa and South America, where Christianity is experiencing tremendous growth. Also, Christianity is rapidly growing in China despite (or maybe because of) persecution by the Communist regime. Whenever I read about the "rapid growth" of Islam, as though people are flocking to the font of all truth and wisdom, I almost invariably find the source to be promoting Islamic/liberal propaganda.
Ole_Sarge| 1.25.11 @ 10:59AM
Centuries ago my ancestors fought against the rising tide of Islamic conquest and won, now all that they have won is being lost. Islamic conquest is now in the form of the number of children, and the percentage of the population.
Islam does not view things in short spans of time, like a presidential administration, they have the LONG VIEW. The 1500s were NOT centuries ago but yesterday. The may lose a battle, but they intend on winning the war.
Christianity is growing in some Islamic areas, and much of Europe is asleep, but not all of it. But Islam is a political system and a method of control under the guise of religion. It does not embrace LIFE, it does not teach compassion, and it prevents education, and academic pursuit. It legalizes slavery, (even among co-religious) and teaches genocide and hate. If anything, virulent antisemitism was legitimatized by Islam, centuries before the NAZI party in Germany existed.
Remember, THEY declared war upon us (the U.S.) and it is the duty of every follower to join in the war, it is their version of "non-practicing" and "non-adherents" that we view as "peaceful" or moderates.
John| 1.25.11 @ 11:28AM
W
Appologies that was not a translation from arabic but typing very badly using my iPhone, while on a train. Anway,Islam not being a religion is a ver very extreme view. dialogue is the only solution, path. After the atrocity in Egypt thousands of Muslim surrounded the christian churches as human shield during the Christmas mass.
American intervention in Me over the last fifty years have caused the death of 10s of millions of Muslims.many Muslims regard these interventions as an attack against the fabric of Islam. I don't accept that . They are misguided policies. I say it with complete conviction that the Islamic & western worlds are destined to be friends . But as a first step the USA should remove it's entire military complex from ME so that healing can begin. We should treat each other with respect. Having your bases in ME does not show respect to those people.
Muslims are a people of fAte & destiny.- this a timeless conviction. We do not always understand god's wisdom but we accept that it is part of his plans. with regards to minorities we Muslims need to more, because protecting, honouring, safeguarding minorities is the very essence of Islam. I accept that Muslims continue to fall short on this-must try harder .
Peace
Your brother in humanity
John
John
W| 1.25.11 @ 12:40PM
Ok, bother John, can you be specific and tell us what were/are the American interventions that caused the death of muslims. Please be specific, such as year,area, country, etc. We can't debate generalities.
Tony in Central PA| 1.25.11 @ 9:39PM
As a religion, Islam would be finished without violence. The whole world is learning this now. The question is, does the world care ?
tatosian| 1.26.11 @ 1:45AM
Hey John...
Saheeh Bukhari
Volume 004, Book 052, Hadith Number 256.
Narated By As-Sab bin Jaththama :
The Prophet passed by me at a place called Al-Abwa or Waddan, and was asked whether it was permissible to attack the pagan warriors at night with the probability of exposing their women and children to danger. The Prophet replied, "They (i.e. women and children) are from them (i.e. pagans)." I also heard the Prophet saying, "The institution of Hima is invalid except for Allah and His Apostle." (Roughly translated, hima is sanctuary)
Between 1915 and 1920 (during the last caliphate) Muslim Turks and Kurds slaughtered 1.5 million Armenian Christians throughout Anatolia.
Bukhari's passage would seem to indicate mohammed's disregard for all things non muslim.
Is it any wonder that that disregard would manifest itself in suicide bombings and the oppression of non muslims?
Of course not.
tatosian| 1.26.11 @ 1:53AM
Hey John...
"Life of the Prophet of Allah". Ibn Ishaq:
Kinana al-Rabi, who had the custody of the treasure of Banu Nadir, was brought to the apostle who asked him about it. He denied that he knew where it was. A Jew came (Tabari says "was brought"), to the apostle and said that he had seen Kinana going round a certain ruin every morning early. When the apostle said to Kinana, "Do you know that if we find you have it I shall kill you?" He said "Yes". The apostle gave orders that the ruin was to be excavated and some of the treasure was found. When he asked him about the rest he refused to produce it, so the apostle gave orders to al-Zubayr Al-Awwam, "Torture him until you extract what he has." So he kindled a fire with flint and steel on his chest until he was nearly dead. Then the apostle delivered him to Muhammad b. Maslama and he struck off his head, in revenge for his brother Mahmud."
Try as I might, I just can't seem to bridge the gap between this Mohammed murderer guy and Jesus Christ.
Can't be done.
tatosian| 1.26.11 @ 2:11AM
Hey John...
Were there American boots on the throats of the poor muslims during any of the above?
And were the muslims "building bridges" when they slaughtered those unarmed men, women and children?
I miss Sobiesky and his Angels. Now there was a bridge builder.
Ken (Old Texican)| 1.25.11 @ 11:48AM
John,
Very nice Taquiah, or how ever the hell you spell lying to infidels this week.
You have just earned another (mutilated, enslaved) virgin in Paradise.
Congratulations!
I for one am at war with evil...till the day I die.
Your god, sir, is evil personified.
John| 1.25.11 @ 12:02PM
Ken
I think dialogue with u would be very challenging. But I believe your views even USA are in a minority. No doubt we beieve in different creeds. But all that will come out of the wash on day of judgment. but on earth we should find every excuse to work together. Not look for reasons to hate each other. Hate is a horrible thing- it eats away at until there is nothing left. did you know that Jesus Arabic ISA is one of the most common names for Muslims after Muhammad.
John
Ken (Old Texican)| 1.25.11 @ 12:16PM
No sale, John.
Our local drug dealer king's name is Jesus.
When a Baptist church steeple rises in Mecca, we can talk further.
Seapuss| 1.25.11 @ 12:19PM
I used to wonder why American liberals reflexively sympathize with Muslim people and Muslim cultures. … Used to.
As a religion, Islam is fundamentalist, unreformed, intolerant, paranoid, violent, theocratic, and patriarchal. Islam initially grew through warfare and genocide (and now grows through high birthrates), and permits no separation of church and state. In short, Islam is everything American liberals hate, except for one thing: Islam is also anti-American.
… And that has made all the difference.
NavyBrat | 1.25.11 @ 12:42PM
What's sad, yet funny in all of this is that the Muzzies are using what can only be called the Jedi Mind Trick on the leftists of the word. Here's how is works:
"You murdered those Christians."
"No we didn't."
"No, you didn't."
This will be the first & last time I ever make a Star Wars reference here, but you remember what Obi Wan says right after that?
"The Force can have a strong influence on the weak minded."
Need anyone say more?
Dave Williams| 1.25.11 @ 12:54PM
All this kerfuffle over whose imaginary friend is better...a plague on both your houses! Humans CAN behave rationally, I suppose, but only when all other alternatives have been exhausted.
NavyBrat | 1.25.11 @ 1:09PM
Funny that someone as high minded as you supposedly are would even lower yourself to comment on an article regarding "imaginary friends."
Occam's Tool| 1.25.11 @ 2:10PM
Mr. Williams:
There is no secular humanist state that is breeding at replacement rates. It is anti-human survival. Sorry.
John| 1.25.11 @ 12:56PM
Ken,
A drug dealer called Jesus- that is very upsetting.
there are churches in most Muslim countries and many of them are supported by Muslim states. Christmas is a national holiday for all Christians in the Muslim world. The issue of Mecca is different. Mecca @ medina are regarded as muslim sanctuaries in totality. Its like asking for a mosque in the Vatican state no really doable. There should ne churchea if there is a demand in the rest if Saudi. SAudi is the closest ME ally of the USA may be your president or the next could have a word.
but one thing is sure the American foot has been on the Arab throughout for over fifty years. Ithink it's time you removed your military personnel, bases, fleets from the ME. Let the Arabs be free. U woudnt like it if the Saudis, yemenis, qataris, Iraqis, egyptions had very large military Bases in ur country. God forbid that they then used thosebased to kill 10s of million of Americans. I know u wouldn't be happy. the arabs will be free very soon. by taking steps now America can shape it's own destiny. Buy you will not stop the Arab/Muslim world becoming free. Let the Arabs breath
John
Ole_Sarge| 1.25.11 @ 6:16PM
More "Taquiah" folks from one named "John"
megh| 2.18.11 @ 1:17PM
Instead of blasting this guy, who is clearly open to dialogue and discussion, why not engage him in meaningful conversation about this issue that is so important to Americans, citizens of Arab states, and citizens of other western nations?
don't feed leftist stereotypes about being closed minded! This is a perfect example of someone willing to discuss and share. engaging and sharing with peaceful moderates is one of the best ways to subvert radicals.
ABNCP| 1.25.11 @ 1:46PM
Fellow Americans. We are at the begining of a long and terrible war with radical Islam. Most of our politicans either refuse to understand that or are hiding their heads in the sand because of the enormity of the challange. Many have been confused because of the religious aspect of this war. Our leaders and many of us tend to transpose our traditional friendly treatment of religions with Islam. It will not work.
It will not work because of the tremendous radical element that now controls Islam. We listen to the planned lies of organizations like CAIR etc. at our peril. These organizations are a 5th column planted in this country with intended malice. We know that many Mosques here are preaching jihad and recruting people to harm our country and we still allow this to go on. This war is going to last at least as long as the COLD WAR with the Soviet Union. As we have seen, this WILL NOT be a cold war. We have to get rid any politican who refuse to understand what we are facing in the election of 2012. This is still American and we can and will overcome this challenge but we have to start to understand what the hell this fight is all about..
Doctor Right| 1.25.11 @ 2:07PM
Islam is a religion of peas...
Who Knows?| 1.25.11 @ 2:36PM
What is a TRUE religion?
I believe Jesus spoke for all of them, with His saying about rendering up to Caesar, etc.
That is, TRUE religion’s real purpose is NOT this world, even though this fact doesn’t preclude actively trying to improve human conditions and fighting “just” wars.
Well, how many TRUE religions do you spy, out there?
Islam, as conventionally practiced and believed in, is Absolutely NOT a TRUE religion, but verily the most pernicious attempt at One-Worldism, as a singular dictatorship.
Also, even as Christianity and Judaism outgrew their conquest periods, since Cortez and Pizarro et al long ago infected South America with Christianity, it sure looks to me like even they aren’t prevalently TRUE religions.
Proselytizing is STILL at the core of them, as well as offshoots like Mormonism, as witness all the clean cut young guys in that religion, who go on required missions.
Each human invariably belongs to many cults. As separate individuals, needing to “belong”, and surrounded by others, of like nature, “sanity” demands this. (I remember this guy, at UCSB in the 70’s, sheepishly confessing that he became a member of some downtown church, exactly because he felt the need to belong---somewhere.)
Of course, all these cults we each belong to can be ranked as to which is most important. So, for some the abortion cult, on both sides of the cut, matters most. For others, the socialism cult dominates, on both sides.
The key aspect of our cultish lives is that, for the most part, they are impenetrable.
Consider Islam---perhaps the definition of it is: CLOSED MINDED!
Who said, “In or out, let’s get cracking!”? Was that from West Side Story?
Basically, then, humanity is destined to continue the wars between the competing cults, and there’s just no two ways about it.
The monstrous split, these days, is between those cults that eschew violence and those who glorify in it, in each of their attempts to gain converts.
It will certainly be interesting to experience the most unavoidable catastrophic event required to wake up those who want actual PEACE, when—not if---Islam manages to expose itself completely by, say, nuking Israel.
We live in awesome times!
Obama AND Islam!
What a dynamic duo!
Ken (Old Texican)| 1.25.11 @ 4:38PM
HEY FOLKS, CHECK THIS OUT
Bravo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A BIG HOOAH…..on Youah!
The system worked!
Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it?
Did you know his trial is over?
Did you know he was sentenced?
Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV or Radio?
Didn't think so.!!!
Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.
Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court.
Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say . His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his 'allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah,' defiantly stating, 'I think I will not apologize for my actions,' and told the court 'I am at war with your country.'
Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below:
Judge Young: 'Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you.
On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutively. (That's 80 years.)
On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years again, to be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 that's an aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines.
The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment. The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further.
This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence.
Now, let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice.
You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether the officers of government do it or your attorney does it, or if you think you are a soldier, you are not----- you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.
So war talk is way out of line in this court . You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've known warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he said: 'You're no big deal. '
You are no big deal.
What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today?
I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing? And, I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.
It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom.. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom, so that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf, have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges.
We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though.. It is yet true that we will bear any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure.
Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America , the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.
See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America . That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom. And it always will.
Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down.
------------ --
So, how much of this Judge's comments did we hear on our TV sets? We need more judges like Judge Young . Pass this around. Everyone should and needs to hear what this fine judge had to say. Powerful words that strike home.
Please SEND this----so that everyone has a chance to read it.
--
Best Regards
Mark
Occam's Tool| 1.26.11 @ 12:15AM
Way Cool! Sharia Delenda Est!
Occam's Tool| 1.26.11 @ 12:15AM
Way Cool! Sharia Delenda Est!
Marc Jeric| 1.25.11 @ 8:16PM
Islam is not a religion - it is a violent political program based on the following:
1) Conquest by force of arms;
2) Conversion - voluntary or by force:
3) If refused to convert - slavery;
4) If slavery resisted - mass murder.
Religion of peace??? That is a deadly joke; all 13 centuries are consistent with this program.
Tony in Central PA| 1.25.11 @ 9:30PM
Kudos to Fox News for reporting about this last week on Brett Bair's show. Even Juan Williams demonstrated some outrage at the American media's general disinterest in the persecution and religious cleansing going on in most Muslim - majority nations.
Occam's Tool| 1.26.11 @ 12:18AM
And this fight, Mr. Bandow, is why we need a honking big military.
Eric Rasmusen| 1.26.11 @ 2:06PM
"Although Cairo routinely discriminates against non-Muslims, it does not directly engage in what we typically think of as persecution."
You say this in the same article as you tell us that it's illegal to try to convert a Moslem to Christianity. I think if the government threatens to jail any Christian who talks about his religion to a Moslem, that counts as persecution. And it's official government policy-- the law of the land.
John II| 1.26.11 @ 2:10PM
"Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi responded to the Council decision: 'The pontifical council for inter-religious dialogue's line of openness and desire to dialogue is unchanged.'"
Can we cut to the chase on this issue? Christian forebearance is required of Christians, and the Vatican response is utterly appropriate on Christian as well as diplomatic grounds.
But in the fevered universe of the Mohammedan renegades--i.e., in the Muslim worldview generally, not just in the so-called extremists--Christian forebearance is a weakness to be exploited.
Read the Qur'an. We are dealing with something foundationally evil, which has a billion souls of the world's population in its clutches, doling out lofty-sounding excuses for roughly a quarter-billion deranged fanatics (the proportion of Muslims who claim agreement with violent jihad) to give vent to their darkest impulses.
And the West, benumbed by a relativist ethos, is clueless about the unique character of the danger.
Adidas | 8.11.11 @ 4:44AM
is good
Adidas | 8.11.11 @ 4:47AM
is good
العاب | 4.11.12 @ 3:42PM
Name one Western European, secular society that has a replacement birthrate