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Healing? It's more urgent to understand the problem
After 9/11 President Bush reminded Americans that the attack was the work of a few terrorists and not the Muslim people. "The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam," Bush said a few days after 9/11. President Obama reached out to Muslims worldwide in his 2009 Cairo speech, where he insisted that "America is not -- and never will be -- at war with Islam." Yet partly because of the furor over the "mosque" near Ground Zero, a new wave of anti-Muslim feeling has arisen. Gen. Petraeus recently spoke out against a planned burning of the Qur'an by a church in Florida, an act which Petraeus says threatens American operations in Afghanistan and harms America's image in Muslim countries.
Did we (Muslim and non-Muslims) do enough after 9/11 to heal the nation? If not, what should we have done? What more can we do now?
It is probably premature, maybe even fatuous, to speculate about "healing the nation" after 9/11. Far too many Americans have failed to grasp the plain meaning of the attacks. Some of them did so willfully; a larger number were led astray by the incoherent pronouncements of political leaders past and present. Until the American people form a sounder understanding of 9/11, neither healing nor a truly prudent response to the continuing threat would seem to be in the cards. Is America at war with Islam? No. But it needs to be understood that the fastest-growing, most assertive "denomination" within world Islam sees itself as at war with us.
Blanket declarations that "Islam is a religion of peace" are largely meaningless because Islam is not a monolith. At one extreme, Sufi Islam is a religion (more properly, a "denomination") of peace. At the other extreme, Wahhabbi Islam is surely a denomination of war. Sayyad Qutb (intellectual father of the sect) and his interpreters take the Quran's most explicit statements of hatred and warfare toward the infidel as, well, holy writ in a way that other sects within Islam no longer do. For its part, Al Qaeda can be profitably understood as the military action wing of Wahhabism.
As I've written before, 9/11 was a faith-based initiative. Well-meaning bromides that try to separate this attack from Islam as the terrorists understood it make the events of that terrible September day incomprehensible.
We must also understand that those 19 terrorists were far from alone in understanding Islam as they did. Wahhabbism is generally considered the fastest-growing, most dynamic branch of Islam. It is politically and religiously dominant in the country that houses Medina and Mecca, Islam's holiest sites. There are many, many more where Muhammad Atta came from.
That said, of course all Muslims are not terrorists. But the 9/11 terrorists were Muslims, and on 9/11 they were acting as Muslims in accord with the Wahhabi worldview and teachings. Please, please, can we stop sugar-coating that terribly important fact?
Then maybe next year, when the tenth anniversary of 9/11 is observed, we can speak more reasonably of understanding -- maybe even healing.
By
Tom Flynn
|
September 7, 2010; 5:04 PM ET
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Posted by: woodstock-41 | September 8, 2010 11:16 PM
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"WE, The People" on 9.11 Should Put All the 6 Major Religion Founders (Moses, Jesus, MuHAM-MAD, Smith, Vyasa & Gatama on Crosses (just for the heck of it) And then Burn Them All At Once.
Now that will be Coooollll! (not Cruel). WHY?
Because the Chumash is a SATANIC VersUS, the Bible is a Satanic VersUS, the Mormons is a SATANIC VersUS, the Quram/Koran is a SATANIC VersUS, the Geeta/Gita is a SATANIC VersUS, the Kangyur/Tangyurs is a SATANIC VersUS et al;
Not to mention that They ALL Are "Anti-Family, Anti-Humanity and ALL are based "WAR BLESSINGS" etc..!!!!! Zero "PEACE-BLESSING"S!!!!!
Note: Burning the AMERIKa/o Flag is More "Insulting To OUR Prophet(s).." a/k/a Uncle-SAM & Aunt-LIBERTY, than Any Quran/Korans!
OR, or
Better Yet, Lets BURN ALL the "OIC" Flags All at Once, for all the world to see, aka "Organisation of Ishlami Conference" [54 Ishlami Nations Flags, aseperate United Nations based on Allah? not our G_D] on 9.11, every Year Forever, if "WE[i] must.
PS: General? BETRAY-i-US" ooopps Petraeus should be Thrown in the "Stockade" for the rest of his Natural Life! Better than Burning His Effigy on a Cross next to those 6+ "G-D Player"s mentioned above, aye? O' Brethren [a Real General] McChrystal!
PS: i[WE] went to "General Douglas" Military Academy in Jersey, under Col "HOAR" et al. So as a "Scout" WE[i] Salute Sweet Sweet U.S.A. 1st; NOt the President!
So Go Ride a DONKEY boys n Gals! Forget Elephants! O' "Eucharist" Drunkards/Addicts!
Posted by: woodstock-41 | September 8, 2010 11:15 PM
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It's more urgent to understand the problem - 100% correct. Ask an educated Hindu who knows the history of Jihadis raping and pillaging Hindu/Buddhist/Sikh/Jain India for 1000+ years. Worse it continues even today, even TONIGHT! Please read below.
Just check out what is happening in this border district in India facing Islamic Bangladesh, classic demographic warfare by Muslims once they reach the "threshold" of Intolerance! Lesson for America!
NO RESPITE DESPITE ARMY PRESENCE
http://hindusamhati.org/
NO RESPITE DESPITE ARMY PRESENCE. TODAY MORNING AGAIN MUSLIMS ARE ATTACKING DIFFERENT HINDU VILLAGES AROUND KARTICKPUR AWAY FROM THE MAIN ROAD.
HINDU WOMEN ARE FLEEING FROM BISWANATHPUR TOWARDS KARTICKPUR AS A LARGE MUSLIM MOB IS PROCEEDING FROM DOGACHHIA SIDE. POLICE IS TOTALLY HELPLESS. SEVERAL RAF PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN SEVERELY BEATEN UP BY THE MUSLIMS. EVEN ARMY IS UNABLE TO STOP THE MUSLIM MOB.
"KHEJURDANGA KARMAKAR PARA" VILLAGE JUST NOW BURNT. IT IS 2 KM. INSIDE FROM THE MAIN ROAD. ARMY IS NOT GOING THERE.
WOMEN ARE SCARED. ARMY IS NOT GOING INSIDE AS THEIR NUMBER IS TOO SMALL, ONLY ABOUT 200
SITUATION EXTREMELY WORSE. HINDUS ARE WAITING FOR MASSACRE. ALL SIDES ARE BLOCKED BY THE MUSLIMS. NO ROUTE TO ESCAPE.
Posted by: futuralogic | September 8, 2010 7:45 PM
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Religious criticism vs. racism
The controversy over the “Ground Zero Mosque” has not gone away and now some crazy fundamentalist Christians are planning on burning the Qur’an. It seems that people are attacking Islam for the wrong reasons.
Because religions tend to indoctrinate people at near birth some people are under the mistaken opinion that religions are natural characteristics which cannot change. The fact is that religions are beliefs and a belief is just a deeply held idea. Ideas can be criticized. When people base actions on ideas, those actions can be criticized.
You can read the rest of my response to this topic:
http://exm.nr/a5TMr9
I will be responding to every issue posted in the 'On Faith' section. If you would like to be notified when my new response is up, please subscribe.
Posted by: dangeroustalk | September 8, 2010 3:18 PM
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Oppps, That Last Post was meant For "GUS NIEBUHR" and his Jealous Jesus Lover, Ms. Elizabeth Tenety" (who Block Certain Bloggers on Certain Moderators Posts).
O' Satanic VersUs Lovin Christians?
PS: Vatican Pedophile Defender, GUS NIEBUHR" et al now sing/says, on 1st Amendment "... permits US(???) appalling, Anti "Social" (???) Acts.."
Wow; He uses Anti-Social, instead of ANTI- [pre-Apocalyptic-OFF's] Religion (Social has nothing to Do with 1st [Secular] Amendment Protections"
The Cart before the Donkey? Pleazza Christian, go eat some Hay, aye!?
PS: Rabbi Jesus should've been burned on the Cross. He would've of tasted better to Mr. Niebuhr, Ms. Tenety et al instead of Symbolic Cannibal and Vampirism [via EUCHARIST] opps Puke-at-risk, aye!?. Soo
old time [Imported Christianity] in Amerika must Die. Includes All those [Not Made in U.S.A.] man-made competing for a name for god(s) Systems mentioned above!
So "Lets Burn Jesus & CO. on a Cross" Day on 9.11. O' Jealousy!