After an attack like the one at Fort Hood or an honor killing or the British subway bombings, many in the media and government try as hard as possible to avoid mentioning Islam. When Islam does come up in the conversation we are told that it is not the cause of the murders, that the murders do not represent true Islam, that Islam has been hijacked. Regardless if this is true, the attackers certainly think they fight for Islam, if not a truer Islam. Bin Laden, Zawahiri, and the lot do not kill Americans in the name of an Allah they don’t believe in.
If it is a hijacked Islam that causes planes to be flown into office buildings, where is the line between Islam and hijacked Islam? How does one distinguish between peaceful and violent Islam? When does a peaceful Muslim become a murderous Muslim? Is it when you riot in response to cartoons? Is it when you push for the prohibition of criticism of Islam in human rights documents? Is it when you celebrate the deaths of 2,973 civilians? Did Mohammed Atta show violent actions before he flew Flight 11 into the North Tower? Did Major Hassan ever perform an act of violence before he killed fourteen people? No, but he did attend the Dar al-Hijrah mosque while Anwar al-Awlaki was the imam. Anwar al-Awlaki spiritually counseled three 9/11 hijackers and continues the role for many more Islamo-fascists worldwide. Hassan also repeatedly stressed the need for Muslims to rise up against the American aggressors.
However, our President did warn the country not to jump to conclusions (i.e. acting the opposite of his response to Henry Louis Gates’ arrest). In this case, very little jumping is required. The conclusions pretty much whack you over the head. A Muslim killed fourteen people while shouting “Allahu Akhbar.”
In the worst Islamic attack inside of the United States since 9/11, how did those responsible for protecting the country respond? Did they reiterate the need for better surveillance or infiltration of cells? Did they show the utmost respect for the victims? No, they worried about a possible backlash against Muslims. The Director of Homeland Security said, in the UAE no less, her department was working to head off any possible anti-Muslim backlash. Well done, Janet Napolitano. In the wake of a homeland terrorist attack, exactly the sort of thing the Department of Homeland Security is supposed to be thwarting, the Director’s greatest concern is preventing a response, which never seems to materialize.
Even worse than Napolitano was the Army Chief of Staff General George Casey. “It would be a shame - as great a tragedy as this was - it would be a shame if our diversity became a casualty as well.” Why yes General Casey. I am sure when the families of the 14 killed bury their loved ones, they will also grieve for diversity. When husbands and wives or mothers and fathers are handed the folded flag and hear Amazing Grace, diversity will be the last thing on their minds. While General Casey’s comments might endear him to certain crowds, they do little for the fallen and their families. Soldiers do not have a duty to diversity, but to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Lest, General Casey forgets it was the Army’s commitment to diversity that blinded it to Hasan. It was the Army that kept promoting Hasan despite poor performance reviews and a taste for jihad. They repeatedly ignored business cards inscribed with SOA (Soldiers of Allah) and the times he declared infidels should have boiling oil poured down their throats. Apparently, General Casey and his Army have concluded that while having the enemy bunking with the good guys is dangerous, it is worth the resulting diversity. While I doubt the General’s claim that “a diverse Army gives us strength,” I do know that in this case a diverse Army witnessed fourteen deaths.
Bobby DesPain ’11 is a biology major from St. Louis, MO. Contact him at bodespain@davidson.edu.
14 comments
--“ the (only) religion (acceptable) before God is Islam." (3:19)
-- " If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted of him." (3: 85)
-- “You are the noblest community ever raised up for mankind.” (3:110)
-- The unbelievers among the people of the book and the pagans shall burn forever in the fire of Hell. They are the vilest of all creatures. (98.6).
-- Surely the vilest of animals in Allah’s sight are those who disbelieve. (8.55)
--The unbelievers are your inveterate enemy. (4:101)
-- Mohammed is God's apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another. (48:29).
-- It is unlawful for a believer to kill another believer, accidents excepted. (4:92)
-- Believers, take neither the Jews nor the Christians for your friends. (5:51)
-- Make war on them until idolatry shall cease and God's religion shall reign supreme. (8:40)
-- Fight against them until idolatry is no more and God's religion reigns supreme. (2:193)
-- The true believers fight for the cause of God, but the infidels fight for the devil. (4:76)
-- We will put terror into the hearts of the unbelievers. (3:151)
-- I shall cast terror into the hearts of the infidels. Strike off their heads, strike off the very tips of their fingers. (8:12)
FROM THE SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD:
-- Muhammad said to the Jews: "If you embrace Islam, you will be safe. You should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle, and I want to expel you from this land. “
-- Allah's Apostle said, "You (i.e. Muslims) will fight with the Jews till some of them will hide behind stones. The stones will (betray them) saying, 'O 'Abdullah (i.e. slave of Allah)! There is a Jew hiding behind me; so kill him.' "
-- Mohammed said, "I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and whoever says, " None has the right to be worshipped but Allah , his life and property will be saved by me." (otherwise it will not). Vol. 4:196
-- Mohammed said, "Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him." Vol. 9:57
-- Mohammed said, " No Muslim should be killed for killing a Kafir" (infidel). Vol. 9:50
-- Muhammad said: "Fight in the name of Allah and in the way of Allah. Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war, …"
"good muslims" to speak out... and you know frankly this article is so poorly written it is hard to figure out what the main point is. The title says "A Message to the Obama Administration" but what exactly is the message? Republicans have nothing better to do than sit around and fear monger the public with anti-muslim sentiment and wish things would go back to the "good ol' days" why are the still talking about the
"war on TAR -OR" as Bush described it, as they continue to ignore real issues facing our country. They are so scared of education, diversity, progress ect. that they find themselves perpetually stuck in the past. These were the actions of one military man--- how many WHITE military men have gone home and killed their wives. We don't accredit their race or religion to this but "post dramatic stress syndrome."