Reply
scooper
Show profile
Link to this post
Subject: The Jihad Next Door
Yesterday, I went to a lecture on Islamic Fundamentalism and Terrorism by Rabbi Arthur Zuckerman. He talked about what the US could learn from Israel in regard to living with repeated attacks using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Some are vehicle-borne (VBIEDs) like that used by Tim McVeigh to bomb the Murrah building. Some are deposited where they can do the most cruel damage, like the bomb hidden in the bottom tray of a birdcage so that it can blow shrapnel through the child that picks it up, as well as everyone nearby. Or like the bomb hidden in a hollowed out melon to kill her mother and her fellow shoppers getting groceries for the evening meal. And then there is the human-guided IED, popularly mis-named the suicide bomber.
These folks are not merely mis-guided. These folks are evil.
In particular, they pervert the Word of God to make it justify their actions. Why? Because they are from an honor/shame culture in which the lowest thing a man can be is powerless, and the only way for a man to redeem himself is through acts of power. Since the ultimate power is that of life-and-death, killing is what they do. They believe this brings honor to God, and honor to Islam. And that bringing this honor guarantees them a place in heaven.
So, despite the list of grievances that Michael Scheuer claims the Islamofacists (or Jihaddicts) use to recruit new members, their goal is not the redress of these grievances. All honor is due to Allah, and they will not stop until everyone worships Him in the proper manner, or acknowledges the dominion of those who do. They are not trying to get the West to leave them alone. They are not trying to stop Globalization. They are trying to dictate its terms.
And they are bringing their war here. As if 9/11, the Madrid bombings, and the London Underground bombings were not enough. Rabbi Zuckerman showed videos of no less than six Imams preaching violent jihad against all non-Muslims. One of them even reminded his male listeners to attend firearms shooting practice after the prayer-service. And they were all preaching in mosques in American cities.
It seems that not all American Muslims are looking out for America.
These folks are not merely mis-guided. These folks are evil.
In particular, they pervert the Word of God to make it justify their actions. Why? Because they are from an honor/shame culture in which the lowest thing a man can be is powerless, and the only way for a man to redeem himself is through acts of power. Since the ultimate power is that of life-and-death, killing is what they do. They believe this brings honor to God, and honor to Islam. And that bringing this honor guarantees them a place in heaven.
So, despite the list of grievances that Michael Scheuer claims the Islamofacists (or Jihaddicts) use to recruit new members, their goal is not the redress of these grievances. All honor is due to Allah, and they will not stop until everyone worships Him in the proper manner, or acknowledges the dominion of those who do. They are not trying to get the West to leave them alone. They are not trying to stop Globalization. They are trying to dictate its terms.
And they are bringing their war here. As if 9/11, the Madrid bombings, and the London Underground bombings were not enough. Rabbi Zuckerman showed videos of no less than six Imams preaching violent jihad against all non-Muslims. One of them even reminded his male listeners to attend firearms shooting practice after the prayer-service. And they were all preaching in mosques in American cities.
It seems that not all American Muslims are looking out for America.
Because there is more to Religion than pleasing your Imaginary Friend.