Are you concerned about Radical Islamic Terrorism? I believe that is the correct name for it.
Unless you live under a rock, I don’t need to remind you of what is happening around the world and here at home. I can’t take credit for this line, but I have been saying for many years that we are “between a rock and a hard place” since we got involved in the Middle East, i.e. Iraq. Ya know what I’m sayin’?
Let’s not rehash the military and political debate over our involvement there, but now where do things stand? Iraq is unstable, Syria in civil war, Jordan’s King Abdullah calling it World War III, Christians are being murdered all over the region and in Africa, Iran is mostly behind it and soon to have a nuclear bomb, and ISIS is growing. Damned if we did and damned if we didn’t? And on and on it goes.
The new old kids on the block are acting out like ghetto gangster thugs — beheading and burning, terrorizing and recruiting — mostly young men with guns and swords. Do they have the approval of the clerics, imams, and ayatollahs? Why aren’t more leaders speaking out to oppose them? Then we hear on the news that this is a religious war?
It turns out these barbarian zealots are not poor, but often educated here or in the U.K., very well-funded, again most likely coming from Iran, rich in oil revenue, drugs, forced taxation, and the sale of bodies and body parts.
Wait a minute: How does this come anywhere close to reflecting a godly religion? Sounds more like a political system.
What did we learn from WWII? When we ignore the lessons of history they are most certain to repeat. Nazism, Communism, Fascism — all failed terrorist ideologies, political systems perpetrated by godless dictators. Millions of innocent people slaughtered.
Fast forward. What are we facing today? More of the same, yet this time evil is being sanctioned by a claim to legitimate faith and religion.
Hitler and Stalin never killed in the name of God. This is terrorism, imperialism, totalitarian fascism, in the name of God; ruthless rule by the sword harkening back to the Dark Ages.
They have made it clear their intention to destroy us and establish their bloody Caliphate. No separation of church (mosque) and state. Hate preached from the minaret.
This is about women without rights, and children used as fodder to clear land mines. Suicide bombers are glorified and their dirty deeds misnamed as martyrdom. Dare to disagree and get beheaded.
The definition of martyr does not include harming innocent people. See Scott Peterson’s book (2010) “Let the Swords Encircle me: Iran—A Journey behind the Headlines.” I could offer a lengthy bibliography of excellent titles on this subject, but his book is most enlightening and relevant.
As we seek to understand this global threat we must identify factual data and listen to or read many experts on the issues.
This is a war on our civilization, not of our choosing, crucial to our future as a civilized society of people who respect the rule of law and the God-given equality of all people to live their lives in peace and harmony. Make peace, not hatred?
It is not “work place violence” or young men “in need of jobs.” It will not go away or get better by ignoring it or by continued appeasement.
Sharia Law cannot coexist with our Judeo-Christian way of life. Love your neighbor as yourself, but first know the truth, make sure your neighbor isn’t operating a terrorist cell, then trust, but verify. We can no longer apologize and tolerate and negotiate and excuse and avoid. The only way for evil to thrive is for good men and women to do nothing.
Does it matter what we believe? Are all men created Moslem, which is what the Qur’an teaches, or are all men (and women) created equal? Make your choice. Both cannot be true.
I won’t be cowed into silence and I will go shopping. You bet.
Celia Kiewit is an Encinitas resident.
