It seems that mincing words has replaced baseball as the American pastime. Political correctness began as a philosophy employed strictly by those residing on the far left of the political spectrum, but, as with any social malediction, it managed to spread like a disease into even the more conservative circles.
When this country was engaged in the Cold War against the USSR, we spoke very clearly about the evils of communism. We were not simply combatting the spread of communism or its specific application in areas we considered sensitive to our own national security. We were bold enough and brave enough to combat communism itself. We called it for what it was – a flawed and inherently evil political philosophy that was not in harmony with the human spirit.
We of course knew at the time that many citizens of the USSR and other communist nations were not themselves our enemies. In fact, many such citizens were unwilling victims of this tyrannical system. We were at war with Russia and its government – not her people. Still, we had the wisdom to avoid mincing words. Communism was and is evil, and we did not hesitate during the Cold War to call a spade a spade.
I am afraid we have lost that sort of conviction in this country. We have abandoned all things black and white and embraced the numbing “freedom” of gray. There is no evil, because identifying anything as such would be politically incorrect. It would be insensitive to engage in such absolutism, as it would offend some of those associated with the matter being discussed.
The Cold War is over (for the most part, though it seems to be reemerging), but we have a new enemy. Unfortunately, this enemy has proven to be more nebulous. Identifying this enemy requires more honesty and candidness than our previous nemesis. If employs a high degree of subtelty, and could therefore be called the perfect evil.
We bend over backwards to ensure the world that we are not at war with Islam, but rather a radical element thereof. However, despite our rabid attempts to not offend anyone, the truth is not on our side. The problem with this claim is that there is no other Islam. Approximately one out of every 55 verses in the Koran provides some level of instruction on how Muslims are to deal with infidels (Christians and Jews are oftened singled out). These commandments range in intensity from “take no Christian or Jew as your friend” to “kill and enslave.” These may be viewed as simply words in someone’s holy book, but the well-documented history of Islam is one of conquest, oppression, violence and enslavement. Its history is absolutely in harmony with the teachings of the Koran, so anyone who values honesty must admit that Islam, at its core, has proven to be a violent, oppressive religion. The way in which women are treated within predominantly Muslim nations is further evidence of this nature.
I understand fully that there are moderate, peaceful Muslims in this world. In fact, I believe they likely remain the majority of the religion’s believers. Unfortunately, these moderates are held hostage by the radicals who follow a more literal translation of their holy book. For instance, it is rare to hear a Muslim refer to Hamas as a terrorist organization if they are asked to do so in a public forum. It is perfectly safe for a pundit, artist or anyone else for that matter to turn the name or image of Jesus Christ into a joke. They have the luxury of doing so without fear of death threats. I’m sure that disrespect toward Christianity has indeed resulted in death threats on a few occassions, but such a reaction from the Christian community is practically nonexistent.
Christianity does have skeletons in its closet to be sure. The Spanish Inquisition serves as a disturbing example of this. However, the Christian Church left such barbaric misapplication of religion in the dark ages where it belongs. The same cannot be said for Islam. Show me a nation that is predominantly Muslim or a community where Sharia Law is the dominant governing force, and I’ll show you a group of people who apparently weren’t affected by the enlightenment. The Arab world was once a land of progress and enlightenment – both in social and scientific terms. Islam and its oppressive effects on any society foolish enough to adopt it ended that era and replaced it with a seemingly eternal darkness.
I am not calling for open warfare against Islam. I believe we ourselves would become guilty of the sort of evil I have described above if we were to engage in such blanket hostility. I am, however, calling for Americans to speak in open, honest terms regarding Islam – for Islam is not simply another religion. It is a fanatical sociopolitical system that is cleverly wrapped in religion. Its spread is rapid and rampant, and the strict practice thereof, as seen in every location where such is the case, brings about the sort of oppression that we here in the West are supposed to abhor.
I am calling for Americans – not the government, but everyday Americans – to be honest with themselves about what Islam is and what it is not. I want to see Americans vocally reject the notion of communities within this country adopting Sharia law. Concerns regarding such a development in this nation may sound ridiculous to anyone who doesn’t follow the news, but we have already had at least one case in Michigan where a judge allowed Sharia Law to trump constitutional law. That is unacceptable. It is illegal, it is un-American, and it represents the sort of compromise that has gotten us to where we are as a nation today – spirtually and morally broken.
I would like to say that I have no desire to offend those Muslims who honestly consider themselves peaceful and live their lives accordingly, but that would be disengenuous – for I know this will indeed offend them. Having said that, this is thankfully still America. You have numerous rights, but you do not have the right to not be offended.
We have a spriritual and moral vacuum in this country. Let’s restore our nation by filling that vacuum once again with God and His principles. Otherwise, someone with stronger and darker convictions will fill that void for us. And I assure you that we will not like what they fill it with.
It’s time to once again wake up the sleeping giant.
