Tolerance for Islam?

I received the following email on Wednesday last and thought it timely considering what is going on in Syria and Iraq.  I was struggling for a sermon topic for Sunday, and it always comes to me upon request to the almighty.  I was a desert of thoughts for a new post.  I actually took an afternoon to go antique shopping in Bay St. Louis, hoping it would clear my mind and trigger ideas.  No need.  When I returned, this was waiting, as requested.  As I always strive for tolerance, this fit my bill.  I have highlighted in red those areas I will address:

Thought you might like to read this letter, written by a housewife, to the editor of a British national newspaper:

'Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores in July 2002, and in New York Sept 11, 2001 and have continually threatened to do so since?

Were people from all over the world, not brutally murdered that day in Washington, and in downtown Manhattan, and in a field in Pennsylvania? 

Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

And I'm supposed to care that a few Taliban were claiming to be tortured by a justice system of the nation they come from and are fighting against in a brutal insurgency. 

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere belief of which is a crime punishable by beheading in Afghanistan. 

I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Afghanistan come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques and behind women and children. 

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of Nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

I'll care when the British media stops pretending that their freedom of speech on stories is more important than the lives of the soldiers on the ground or their families waiting at home to hear about them when something happens. 

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a British soldier roughing up an Insurgent terrorist to obtain information, know this:

I don't care. 

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take this to the bank:

I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner - who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and 'fed special food' that is paid for by my taxes - is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts:

I don't care. 

And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled 'Koran' and other times 'Quran..' Well, believe me!! you guessed it ................. 

I don't care!! 

I don't think we can read more into her last declaration than that which slaps us squarely in the face.  "I don't care!"   Really?  But your letter would be evidence to the contrary.  It seems to me you do care.  Unfortunately, like all people of great emotion, you keep missing the target with you seeming "kill them all and let God sort them out" attitude.  Is this really what we want?  Do we really need to kill all of Islam that doesn't follow the radical ideology of a few heretics?  One might argue this is not what she is saying, yet she has no feeling that "his holy book is being 'mishandled," as we can absolutely believe in our heart of hearts when she voices her lack of concern.

"I don't care!"

We felt the same way when the Nazis were killing the Jews.  Do me a favor, if you don't already know, and look up the advancements in science that were given to the world by the Jews.  Now, think about how much farther along we might be if Hitler had been stopped in time to save the millions lost in the Holocaust.  As a side note, if we had brought home Jewish scientists instead of the Nazi scientists at the close of the war, we might have beaten the Soviets into space instead of playing catch-up.  This is what happens when you choose the administrative staff over the professors.

"I don't care!"

Oh, but I think you, as a housewife and I would assume a mother, do care that a "peaceful" Abrahamic religion is being used as an excuse to butcher children.  And, as much as I feel your emotional abhorrence toward the prisoner, I think you would take umbrage at someone that would deface, mishandle, or burn your sacred scripture, yes?  It is all about winning the hearts and minds.  If we ever hope to affect change for peace, we must be better than those we hope to win over to peace.  There is no other way.

I do care.  

If you don't care about joining the ranks of these butchering-heretics and the atrocities they are currently visiting on other Muslims, by assisting them in condemning the true faithful of Islam, then consider this:

Islam gave us the “Father of Chemistry,” Jabir Ibn Haiyan, who introduced experimentation into alchemy and emphasized reproducible results, something all experimental sciences now demand.

Europe discovered trigonometry through Latin translations of the Muslim astronomers al Battani and Nasir al-Din al-Tusi.  Muslim astronomers were the first to challenge Ptolemy and Aristotle on astronomical theories.

Islam gave us al-Idrisi, the greatest geographer of the Middle Ages, and al- Biruni who “is considered to be one of the greatest scientists of all times.”  Ibn Sahl gave us the first accurate theory of light refraction, and Abu Ali Hasa Ibn al-Haitham is the father of modern optics.

And there were other advancements in physiology, medicine, and pharmacology that have made our modern lives much different than what it might have been.  

Some would blame Islam for the torching of the Library at Alexandria, and the loss of much wondrous knowledge at the time.  With the Muslim reverence for knowledge and learning at the time, I find it hard to believe any substance that burned would have remained, much less enough of it to burn for a week.  I would be more apt to believe they looted the library of all knowledge it contained.

I guess my point being, if you wear glasses, grow crops by the seasons, take medications, utilize hospitals, see doctors, or utilize engineering and math, do you care?  And isn't that a selfish reason for simply choosing the right target.

The target here are heretical factions of an otherwise peaceful religion that is being torn apart from the inside by radical Imams that would see the word of their own prophet twisted to meet their own sick and twisted agenda of world domination.  I think Muhammad would have wanted the entire world to enjoy the peace of Islam, of their own volition.

Oh and by the way, Koran or Quran?  Is it KO-ran or Qur'an?  KO-rea or Korea?  It was changed because typical of western culture, the correct pronunciation of Koran was being bastardized.  Kay Siblani, executive editor of the Arab American News says, "It's like saying 'A-rab' or Sa-dam.  It's sort of an intentional denigration."  Kind of like calling me an "EYE-talian" or calling a Negro a "NEE-gro."  Our inability, lack of desire, and care less attitude toward pronouncing something correctly is only surmounted  by our lack of tolerance for those that do and our egotistical need for bigotry against something we know little about and see no reason to understand anything more than the worst of.  Yeah, let's go with the sordid history of Christianity for setting the bar.

The part of this email that strikes the right cord with me was the plea that is below the letter sent by the housewife to the editor.  In the plea I would have called the woman down, as I have here, for missing the target on several points due to obvious emotion.  Even in this plea, I  feel we will have to come to an understanding that any violence done against innocence in the name of Allah, the prophet Muhammad, or the Qur'an is done by heretics and not by true Muslims of faith.  We need to accept that their own religious hierarchy is peopled by these same heretics that would see the world burn rather than live in a world of diverse culture.  

Is this what the centuries of Muslim philosophy, science, art, literature, and touted peace of Islam boils down to?  If it is, then perhaps we do need to separate intellect from religion.  If we are to use history as a guide, intellect eventually uses God, or lack of one, as an excuse for crimes against humanity, genocide, torture, rape, child abuse, and fulfillment of other sick personal agendas, or so it seems.

As a Christian I would love to agree with the "Six defining forces that have ever offered to die" for anyone.  It makes it sound like an "Anglo only club."  As a Christian and a military man, I can't agree unless we refine definitions.  The "Turkish Brigade" fought valiantly in the Korean War. "Albanian Muslims saved over 2,000 Jews during World War II and Albania was the only Nazi-occupied European country that had more Jews in it before the war."  They did this out of "religious obligation."  Also during WW II, Punjabi and Baluch Muslims, from what is now Pakistan, fought with the multi-denominational British India contingent.  

(For more on the Albanian Muslim story, please visit http://www.loonwatch.com/2010/10/muslims-saved-jews-out-of-religious-obligation-during-world-war-ii/)  

So, when we consider the statement offered below, it may not be all that valid.  And members of varying, and differing religions, as well as atheists, have made up a percentage of all those forces shown below, and continue to do so with honor and distinction.

Also note that they make a point of saying "radical Muslims."  Remember that much of what we are witnessing is being perpetrated by heretics, not Muslims.  Even the Islamic leadership, sadly, walks the sharp edge of a scimitar when speaking for Allah or the Prophet, whom they seem to forget was given the word of God by the Archangel Gabriel.

If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your E-mail friends. Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behaviour! 

If you don't agree, then by all means hit the delete button. Should you choose the latter, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great country! And may I add:

'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. Our soldiers don't have that problem.' 

I have another quote that I would like to add, AND........ I hope you forward all this. 

Only six defining forces have ever offered to die for you:

1. Jesus Christ 

2. The British Soldier

3. The Canadian Soldier 

4. The US Soldier           

5. The New Zealand Soldier

6. The Australian Soldier

One died for your soul, the other five  for your freedom.

Note:  As always this is just an opinion.  It may be right, or it may be wrong.  You may have one of your own.  The point of this post, as with all my posts, is to get you to think, read, discover, and form your own opinion!  Discuss this with those around you, find out what they think.  Open your mind to a world of possibilities, but open your mind!  Learn to be tolerant, communicate, and discuss and debate in peace and with an agreement to disagree.