Are We at War? (Updated from 9/11/2014)

 

"If you don't speak out against the atrocities; if you don't take a stand against the heresy; if you bury your head in the sand and ignore them, then you are condoning the monsters that perpetrate, and perpetuate, this evil. If you are not the solution, you are the problem and, as such, should consider yourself an enemy to humanity and civilization."

-- F.A. Villari

ISIS and other heretical Islamic cults, in a mundane comparison, would be like Islam saying the Westboro Baptist Church is representative of all Christians, or Jim Jones and the People's Temple, David Koresh and the Branch Davidians, or even Jeffrey Dahmer, and the Milwaukee Cannibals.  Oh, wait... Dahmer was a serial-killing cannibal. As such, he is not Christian and is more compatible with ISIS than Islam.  But this is all moot because our Presidents have all said we are not at war with a heretical Islamic cult that has declared war on the United States.  What?

Let us be clear on several points.  These are heretics.  They claim Islam but do not practice any tenet of this peaceful faith.  For all intents and purposes, any true followers of Islam should put a follower of ISIS to death just for the blasphemy issuing from their pie hole.

We are at war, and there will be more boots on the ground, in short order.  Look forward to many, many more.  The map above shows the desire of ISIS for The Caliphate, and they're not the only ones.  If you believe this map, the "Caliphate" already thinks they have a foothold in Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey. To assume, for one moment, that this stops as this map depicts, you would have to be brain-dead.  And, yet, we keep surrendering countries to the heretics. Afghanistan is the latest we gave back.  They have already stated they will not stop until their flag flies over our nation's capital.  

President Obama had his back put up against the wall by his own party and supporters.  He made a speech laying out a plan to deal with these butchers that, from the look on his face, must have tasted like vinegar as the words left his mouth.  This leaves no doubt that he is not, nor has ever been, a Commander in Chief, except in name.  His actions, compared to those of British Prime Minister Cameron, speak volumes...  although no one was quite sure what he was saying. Typical for his politics.

Key to my discussion here, though, is Islam.  DO NOT condemn the people of this faith until we have reason to doubt their resolve.  Islam is being torn apart by heretic Imams that promise, in the name of Allah, "virgins in heaven" for religious martyrs.  A virgin in heaven should be questioning Allah if she is told to give herself to these butchers for what they do.  A Muslim would have to be an insane moron to think God will bless them with virgins for killing innocent women and children.  And this is the point.  I give you an army of insane morons; I give you ISIS and the other heretical Islamic cults. 

I plead with all Christians and those of other faiths:  Do not harm the children of Islam for some misguided bullshit spewed forth by the media or from some homegrown, intolerant, miscreant one might find with the Westboro Baptist Church.  ISIS does not represent Islam.  Islam is not perfect, but, hell, neither are Christians.    

I would like to think we as a species are better than this.  But, then, I still believe in a peaceful Islam.

I am forever an outspoken critic of our educational system for either not teaching history or teaching a rewritten history to serve a socialist agenda.  ISIS is as bad or worse than the Nazis in their lack of respect for human life.  I leave you with one of my favorite quotes.  I use it when I think about what forgetting history can mean to the world:

"First, they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me —

And there was no one left to speak for me."

-- Martin Niemoller

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch - it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions, and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience... and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.

Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance... he chose the pen. He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com