Muslim Militants

Sept 29, 2002

Muslim leaders criticized a speech recently given by Pope Benedict XVI, for apparently using “improper” language about Islam and violence. It seems he quoted 14th-century Byzantine emperor, Manuel II Palaeologus, as saying; "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." The pope then used the word “jihad” in saying that violence was contrary to God's nature and to reason.

From my understanding of the pope’s speech, he really didn’t say anything that hasn’t been said before, only that it’s wrong to spread one’s religion with a sword. I rather agree with his comment and I certainly don’t see anything alarming about it. Well, I didn’t see anything wrong with the famed Danish cartoons either… Moslems on the other hand apparently see everything in the west (except our money) as an affront to Islam, and to Muhammad.

As to advancing the faith with the sword, well… the prophet was a warrior-merchant after all, long before he founded a new religion. He personally led the Islamic armies during the first few years of their conquest of Arabia, and he did order the killing or enslavement of prisoners who wouldn’t convert to his brand of religion. He also started the Arabic armies marching, as “missionaries” I presume, westward across Africa, north into Europe, and east into Asia. From the Islamic viewpoint that’s apparently well and proper. If however, any of the recipients of those “missions” happened to object, that’s considered an affront to Islam, which allows the missionaries to kill the complainers, enslave their families, seize their lands, and promptly build another “Holy Place” that must be defended against the infidels. Pardon me if I raise an eyebrow over that one.

The commotion caused by Pope Benedict’s comments is nothing less than astounding, with the criticism and threats from Muslims still continuing. A recent CNN news report says in part, “…an al Qaeda group in Egypt called for the German-born pope, who is 79, to be punished by strict Islamic Shariah law for insulting their religion.” “An al Qaeda umbrella group in Iraq has also vowed war on "worshippers of the cross." Workers at Turkey's Directorate General for Religious Affairs, or Diyanet, petitioned for the arrest of the pontiff when he makes a scheduled visit to Turkey in November.

Since when is the Roman Catholic Pontiff subject to Islamic religious law? Since when is any non-Muslim subject to Islamic religious law?

Some Muslim clerics have claimed that these alleged “insults” are but the latest skirmish in a Western "crusade" against Islam. I for one can’t really imagine a modern Pope calling for a Crusade, but I can readily believe that al-Qaeda and other radical Muslims are certainly trying their best to get one started (although I rather doubt they’ll care much for the final outcome).

I’m not really qualified to argue the teachings of Islam, so instead, let’s look at a few of the practices of these “peaceful” fundamentalist Muslims today. We know that it’s acceptable to commit suicide with a bomb, if you can take a few infidels to paradise with you (so that those infidels can be your slaves once everybody’s arrived). Anyone who speaks against Islam is to be killed, as is anyone who leaves the faith.

Apparently, if anyone in the west executes a Muslim terrorist they’re breaking Islamic religious laws and are bound for a very warm clime when they die. But a minor criminal in the Islamic countries can loose his head, quite literally, with the prophets blessing. The logic of this escapes me.

If you’re a Moslem, and you think a woman has slighted you, all you have to do is claim she is an adulteress, and you can kill her without fear of retribution. Heck, all she has to do is walk down the street without a family member as an escort to be declared an adulteress! I guess the Muslims don’t trust their womenfolk very much.

If we travel to an Islamic nation, and accidentally break a minor law, it’s grounds for an international crisis. And never mention Christianity to them if you want to stay out of the local jail. But they can send their “missionaries” to blow-up an Israeli school bus, or come over here spreading death and destruction, and it’s “an affront to Islam” if anybody gets upset about it!?

The different sects of Islam like to wage particularly vicious little wars among themselves, with torture and murder being two of the milder tactics used, and quite counter to what I understand is one of the prophets primary teachings.

I understand that there are Muslims who demand apologies if anyone says anything about their religion. Despite my status as a not so politically correct redneck, and as it’s currently fashionable to apologize for stating the facts as we see them, in the interest of fairness to all I’ll tender my apology here.

I am indeed sorry that the last few times we Americans took up arms and sacrificed the blood of our youth, it was in the defense of Muslims (Bosnia, Kosovo, Gulf War 1, Kuwait, etc.).

I am sorry that some of our soldiers are dying in order to free more Arabs. I’m very sorry for the restraint they show when their comrades are killed by snipers and roadside bombs. I’m also sorry that those Muslim extremists have managed to kill even more Arabs than any anyone else.

I am sorry that all of the murderers on 9/11 were Muslims. I’m extremely sorry that those same radical Muslim homicide bombers think women and children are a legitimate target. I’m sorry to see that those murderers have actually found a religion to hide behind, and that the leaders of that religion haven’t called them to task for their criminal activities.

I am sorry that foreign trained Islamic terrorists are trying to seize control of Iraq and return it to being a terrorist state. I’m also sorry that every time those terrorists run and hide they find a convenient "Holy Site" to shield them. I am sorry they didn't apologize for driving a jet airliner into the World Trade Center, that severely damaged Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church - one of our Holy Sites – when it collapsed.

I am sorry that Arabs have to live in squalor under savage dictatorships. I am sorry that their leaders squander their national wealth, and deliberately breed hatred for the US in their Islamic schools. I am sorry that some Arab governments pay the families of homicide bombers upon their death. I’m also sorry that those same bombers are dying to find 72 virgins. After all, they do seem rather scarce here on Earth.

I’m sorry that the United States has to step in and be the worlds biggest financial supporter of poverty stricken Arabs, while the insanely wealthy Arabs of the mid-east blame the USA for all the ills of their own countries.

I am indeed sorry that our own left wing elite, and our media, can't seem to understand any of this.

So, suffice it to say that if you want an apology from this American, you're going to have a damn long wait. You’ll have a much better chance of finding those 72 virgins.

I for one am getting quite tired of all the rhetoric about Islam being such a peaceable religion. Islam is a militant religion that was created by the sword, spread by the sword, and gives every indication of believing in the power of the sword, bomb, or machine-gun yet today.

There’s a biblical verse well understood in the west, that the current crop of militant Muslims might do well to remember…

“He who lives by the sword, shall die by the sword”.