The Pyromaniacs

Guest Houstonmod said:

But the very nature of those posts, (John) portrays himself as a bigot. I do not throw that word around very often but maybe it's time to step up and call him out for starting "this fire".

Don't look at me, Houston.

I didn't start it.

Jihadist Family Values

The Jihadist And His Number One Source For Jihad

Guest Douglass asked:

"But I have a question:

John, What is the #1 source of international Islamic terrorism?"

It seems to be a combination of factors, but let's try to get to the root of it:

Imposed dictatorships like Saddam Hussein's and theocracies like the Taliban have been targeted by the war strategists as the main causes of culture-wide Jihadism, the former creating oppressive environments that create frustration, festering hostility, and violent eruptions, while the latter an enabling, hospitable environment for Jihadists--rich and poor alike--to be readily indoctrinated, flourish, and plot mischief.

It is hoped that representative, constitutional--and indigenous-- government will allay the former and marginalize the latter, and that ensuing modernization and cooperation with--and exposure to--the West will, gradually, perhaps in a generation or two, lead to the same type of liberalizing effect that, say, the translation and dissemination of Greek philosophy had on the "progressive" Mediaeval caliphate.

We're not looking for Jeffersonian, New England type republics to spring up. Forget about that. They're Middle Eastern Muslims.

Functional, constitutional, and anti-terrorist capitalist democracies like India or Turkey will suffice.

The dearth of all the other material factors which contribute to the frustration, rage, religious frenzy, and both suicidal despair and eagerness-- like poor schooling, the stress of poverty, the oppression of women and disenfranchized minorities, the lack of liberal institutions, and the suppression of individual creativity-- would be addressed and remedied by competing, representative political parties vying for votes by at least promising to deliver the most opportunities for goods and services in a free market system with a heretofore unseen economic vibrancy and standard of living.

That should--to one extent or another-- take care of the problem of Jihadist popularity among Muslim commoners who had hithero been--under the squalidness of Third World conditions-- dictatorially oppressed or hospitably encouraged towards terrorism, or at least the support and cheering of them.

The wealthy, Jihadist sophisticate will be marginalized as an anarchist (as they already are in the stable monarchies, which themselves are already feeling pressure for reform as the Western wind blows across the land).

These new, politically-enlightened republics--for theirs, ours, and indeed the world's good-- will, indeed must, learn to co-exist peacefully and cooperate beneficially with the united nations of the civilized world.

And that, of course, includes Israel.

I will not delve into the history of all that now, but suffice it to say that Israel is Israel and Muslims should learn to accept it, deal with it, and let millennia-old bygones be bygones and embrace their fellow Semites, who have proven more than willing to try for that effect on their end.

The Jihadist would say--and have said--that the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is "The #1 Source of International Islamic Terrorism," but it can't be.

The mania of "Wiping Israel off the map" by Jihadists does not begin in 1947, else why would we hear this emanating out of the 8th Century, as harped upon by a Sheik preaching on Palestinian Authority Television, last year, in May of 2005:

Allah has tormented us with 'the people most hostile to the believers' – the Jews. 'Thou shalt find that the people most hostile to the believers to be the Jews and the polytheists.' Allah warned His beloved Prophet Muhammad about the Jews, who had killed their prophets, forged their Torah, and sowed corruption throughout their history...Listen to the Prophet Muhammad, who tells you about the evil end that awaits Jews. The stones and trees will want the Muslims to finish off every Jew.

Indeed, The #1 Source For Terrorism, is, as I've been saying, and as Douglass realized in the commentary of the "Christian Vs. Muslim Part III" post:

...The particular effect that strict interpretations of Islamic scriptures has on Muslim society at large, like the production of fanatics at an exponentially increasing rate.

Yes. Whether it's Commands to "fight-fight-fight" and "crucify" infidels like Christians, or "finish off the evil Jews," that attitude is programmed by a sacred tome they consider to be eternally and omnipresently urging them towards the pursuit of Jihad, against all unbelievers: The hated Jews, the infidel Christians, the polytheist Hindi, Buddhists, and even fellow Muslims if they vary about a piddling point against that kind of Muslim who holds the sword.

That is the root, the #1 source, Douglass.

Christian Vs. Muslim Part IV

There's the Saudi Arabian flag.

Saudi Arabia's constitution is the Quran.

Its body of law is sharia (i.e. Quranic), and based on "legal traditions" held since the inception of Islam 1,400 years ago.

The flag of Saudi Arabia has writing on the field which translates to:

There is no god but Allah and Mohammad is His Prophet.

And a scimitar.

There is but one physical description of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, as beheld in the vision of the Apocalypse by St. John.

It, too, has a sword.

It is a configuration of metaphors and not to be taken literally:

Out of his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword.

Revelations 1:16

What does that mean?

He's not brandishing it in his hand, nor is it disembodied to represent a singular symbol of war and bloodshed.

It is coming out of his mouth.

Why?

Because the "sword" of Jesus Christ is not the sword that pierces the flesh, but the Word that enters the heart:

In the beginning was the Word.

The Gospel of John 1:1

It is the Sword versus the Word.

It is physical violence versus Reason.

It is indeed the pen being mightier than the sword.

It is civilization versus barbarity.

Christian Vs. Muslim Part III

I. "Christo-Fascism"

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are those who Mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the Meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who Hunger and Thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the Merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the Pure in Heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called Sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Matthew 5:3-11 (The Sermon on the Mount)

For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
I was a Stranger and you welcomed me,
I was naked and you clothed me,
I was sick and you visited me,
I was in prison and you came to me.'

Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these, my brethren, you did it to me.

Matthew 25:35-40

Love one another.

John 15:12

Put away your sword.

All who live by the sword, die by the sword.

Matthew 26:52

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: `Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Mark 12:28-31

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Matthew 5:43

II. The Religion of Peace

The punishment of those who pit themselves against Allah and His Messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement, except those who repent before you have them in your power.

(Quran, 5:33-34)

Announce painful punishment to those who disbelieve.

(Quran 9:3)

Surely the vilest of animals in Allah's sight are those who disbelieve.

(8:55)

And if they intend to act unfaithfully towards you, so indeed they acted unfaithfully towards Allah before, but he gave you mastery over them.

(8:71)

When the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and beseige them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer [become believers] and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them.

(9:5)

Fight them: Allah will punish them by your hands and bring them to disgrace, and assist you against them.

(9:14)

Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the book (Christians and Jews), until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.

(9:29)

Right. Any questions?

Christian Vs. Muslim Part II

In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence.

Christian Reverend Martin Luther King

Our objective is complete freedom, justice and equality by any means necessary.

Nation of Islam Leader Malcolm X

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.

Christian Reverend Martin Luther King

The common enemy is the white man.

Nation of Islam Leader Malcolm X

Christian Vs. Muslim Part I

From top: Former Boxing Heavyweight Champion and Christian Evander Holyfield; former Boxing Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson (defeated twice by Holyfield); Tyson viciously bites off part of Holyfield's ear (that which heard and received the Word of Christ).

Happy Mother's Day

(above: The International Mother's Day Shrine in Grafton, West Virginia)

Okay, Mother's Day is the last day one should be cynical about the celebration of motherhood, because there is no question that American Moms deserve their very own special, salutory day when the grand republic that is the United States of America stands up en masse and reminds our most heroic of all citizens: "WE LOVE YA, MOMMA!" (and your apple pie, too--or the World's Greatest Apple Crisp, as made by the mother of Republicus!), but Mother's Day suspiciously looks like just another government gimmick to jolt the economy with a stiff cup of coffee and keep the ball rolling.

First off, as the mother of Republicus has herself smiled, "Just one day? Everyday should be Mother's Day" (hint-hint), and every day is: We love and honor mother's no less on the other 364 days of the year...

...we just don't feel obliged to make the long-distance phone call, and/or drop a couple of bucks for a Hallmark, and/or $60.00 for flower deliveries each and every day of the year.

But on that one day of the year, multiple industries in the United States--and in now most of the rest of the world that followed suit from the American role-model-- are very busy at that time of the year, particularly the telephone companies and postal services.

In 1973, the U.S. Postal Service was inundated by so much mommy mail, it was held up for eight days.

Telephone networks are at their busiest on Mother's Day.

Mother's Day is the Number One holiday for flower purchases.

Nine years after the first official Mother's Day holiday in 1914--as declared by President Woodrow Wilson-- the woman who was it's greatest champion for national recognition-- Anna Jarvis-- bacame a major opponent of it because it went the way of all sacred American holidays, into the domain of crass commercialism.

To this day, Mother's Day is one of the most commercially successful U.S. holidays.

Well, good! says Republicus.

Nothing wrong with that.

To all you moms out there, thank you.

And Happy Mother's Day. :)