Convert to Islam - It's the Only Way (to Live)

Al-Qaida's al-Zawahiri and an American issue a video...

Today's (9/3/06) AP article reports on the latest Al-Qa'ida video sponsored by Ayman al-Zawahiri and featuring the American Adam Yahiya Ghadan. Now, I am certainly not against anyone's right to his/her opinion, beliefs, religion, or affiliation. I am, however, against anyone who exercises those rights to the detriment or harm of others. If you want to espouse certain ideals and do no more harm than draw attention to your own ignorance, more power to you. But, when you make ridiculous claims that cause injury or harm to other humans, you're accountable for those actions (for example, when a certain news outlet prints claims that U.S. servicemen defiled a Qur'an, a story that directly resulted in the death of dozens in protests, accountability is due).

But now the claim rises from the leftist ashes that Adam is simply proffering an invitation to Westerners (read: Americans) to convert to Islam. It is, after all, the only truth. Furthermore, Adam's message directed to U.S. Soldiers (all services inferred) is one inviting mutiny and desertion since they're fighting an unjust war at the urging of a warmonger who has sent them into the breach on a crusade.

The fanatical American liberal undoubtedly welcomes this latest "revelation" and fully understands the depth of compassion and logic of Adam's statements. Of course, any attack on the current administration stokes the fires and passions of the ignorant far left. Never mind that Adam makes comments like, "no Muslim should shed tears for Westerners killed by al-Qaida attacks." What's more, why is it acceptable that Muslims kill to spread their beliefs but Americans are labeled as killers on a crusade?

Adam, aka Azzam the American among Islamic circles (as it is clearly a victory for Al-Qa'ida to sport an American fanatic - like they're difficult to find?), condemns all Christians and Jews (among others) to Hell for their crime of not being Muslim. He states, "It is time for the unbelievers to discard these incoherent and illogical beliefs. Isn’t it the time for the Christians, Jews, Buddhists and atheists to cast off the cloak of the spiritual darkness which enshrouds them and emerge into the light of Islam?" Now, on the surface this is just another zealot, or perhaps a true believer, championing his cause. Captain McLefty would label this just another American freedom. However, once Lefty engages his/her G0d given ability to think and reason (Did he just say God granted us something? Get your God off my politics! But I digress, sorry Lefty.) he/she would make the connection between "conversion" to Islam and Adam's previous statement about no Muslim shedding a tear for Westerners killed by Al-Qa'ida. Granted, I don't sport the intellect of the Left (or the far Right for that matter) so I'll have to wait for someone smarter than I to educate me (or to feed me my opinion). Someone needs to help me form my opinion about the true religion being the one that champions the murder of the others. Good call, Adam.

Now, on to the Right. Adam provided further fodder for the grist mill of the hackneyed rationalization for warfare, homeland security, invasions of privacy, watch lists, and generalizations. There is a very real threat from extremists worldwide, and this is a conflict from which we can not hide, but one must admit that we're not doing a bang-up job of it at the moment. Waging a war in Iraq is certainly keeping Islamic terrorists busy and unable to plan and execute actions in the United States, however, it's tough to see an eventual "end" to the conflict on Iraqi soil. It's time for a change of mission and some sort of plan for the future (not tomorrow).

And here is where I cast off the stench of the Far Left - after finding fault I would offer a solution or a course of action. Furthermore, I would attempt to see the issue from both perspectives and, without being pigeon-holed into the middle of the road, here's the way I see it:

This problem is not going to go away. Iran is rising in Middle Eastern prominence and it certainly instigated, armed, and supported Hizballah in their battle with Israel. Syria sits quietly behind the scenes and supports anything that may lead to harm against or the destruction of Israel. But is this terrorism? It's probably better to give terrorism a broader definition than a limited one. Is it a far leap of logic to assume a governmental objective of "the destruction of Israel" as a terrorist perspective? If not, we're mired in semantics and losing our ability to reason.

Terrorism is very real, alive and kicking (shooting, blowing themselves up to kill others, trying to crash airplanes, setting young men and women off on missions of murder and suicide - pick your poison), and here for the long haul. Turning away from it and closing our eyes is not going to make it go away. It must be faced, dealt with, and defeated. However, we are not going to win this peace through superior firepower. Terrorist acts are the symptoms of an underlying malady. Dialogue, diplomacy, and understanding may help to define that disease; however, I am not optimistic that identifying the illness affecting the roots is going to cure the tree. It is going to take a protracted search to identify the harmful roots, destroy them, and nurture the remainder back to health. That said, it is not for us to simply hack away at roots and hope we get the bad ones without regard for the cost to us all.

All of us must adopt an attitude of compromise, tolerance, and moderation if we're going to coexist on this ever-shrinking planet. The information age has drawn us all closer together and put us in more immediate and more in-depth contact with one another, wanted or not. The world has to come together (America included), not drift apart into little fragments like spoiled brats fighting over the schoolyard. We must coexist, or die trying. There is no simple solution, of course, since some of these nations/groups/sects do not work and play well with others. However, the greater world community needs stand as one and adopt an attitude of cooperation and moderation, despite disparate beliefs at the personal level.



If I Only Had A Brain

If I Only Had A Brain