I have posted this comparison before on Jihad Watch, on earlier Independence Days, but it always bears repeating and keeping in mind, for the nature of the struggle has not changed, and will not change. It is the eternal struggle over whether human beings will live free, or willingly submit to slavery.
I see slaves seeking slavery, and slaves defending slavery, all over the world today. I see people defending oppressors and carrying water for bullies and tyrants. I see freedom fighters being vilified and demonized, often by short-sighted self-seekers who delude themselves into thinking that in doing so they are serving the cause of freedom as well.
In reality, this is what it is all about. You are either fighting for one thing, or the other. It is always useful to check one's daily efforts against this, for if you're not working to advance the cause of one side of this comparison, you're working to advance the other.
1. Freedom of religion, and non-establishment of religion
What we must defend:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." — First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
What we must defend it against:
"Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth." — CAIR co-founder and longtime Board Chairman Omar Ahmad (he denies saying it, but the original reporter stands by her story)
"I wouldn't want to create the impression that I wouldn't like the government of the United States to be Islamic sometime in the future." — CAIR's Ibrahim Hooper
The Muslim Brotherhood “must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and ‘sabotaging’ its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and Allah’s religion is made victorious over all other religions.” — Mohamed Akram, “An Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goal for the Group in North America,” May 22, 1991
2. Freedom of speech
What we must defend:
"Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..." — First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
What we must defend it against:
"In confronting the Danish cartoons and the Dutch film 'Fitna', we sent a clear message to the West regarding the red lines that should not be crossed. As we speak, the official West and its public opinion are all now well-aware of the sensitivities of these issues. They have also started to look seriously into the question of freedom of expression from the perspective of its inherent responsibility, which should not be overlooked." — Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference
"Pakistan will ask the European Union countries to amend laws regarding freedom of expression in order to prevent offensive incidents such as the printing of blasphemous caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and the production of an anti-Islam film by a Dutch legislator..." — Daily Times, June 8, 2008
3. Equality of rights before the law
What we must defend:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." — Declaration of Independence
What we must defend it against:
"The indemnity for the death or injury of a woman is one-half the indemnity paid for a man. The indemnity paid for a Jew or Christian is one-third the indemnity paid for a Muslim. The indemnity paid for a Zoroastrian is one-fifteenth that of a Muslim." — 'Umdat al-Salik, o4.9
"Thus if [a] Muslim commits adultery his punishment is 100 lashes, the shaving of his head, and one year of banishment. But if the man is not a Muslim and commits adultery with a Muslim woman his penalty is execution...Similarly if a Muslim deliberately murders another Muslim he falls under the law of retaliation and must by law be put to death by the next of kin. But if a non-Muslim who dies at the hand of a Muslim has by lifelong habit been a non-Muslim, the penalty of death is not valid. Instead the Muslim murderer must pay a fine and be punished with the lash....Since Islam regards non-Muslims as on a lower level of belief and conviction, if a Muslim kills a non-Muslim…then his punishment must not be the retaliatory death, since the faith and conviction he possesses is loftier than that of the man slain...Again, the penalties of a non-Muslim guilty of fornication with a Muslim woman are augmented because, in addition to the crime against morality, social duty and religion, he has committed sacrilege, in that he has disgraced a Muslim and thereby cast scorn upon the Muslims in general, and so must be executed....Islam and its peoples must be above the infidels, and never permit non-Muslims to acquire lordship over them." — Sultanhussein Tabandeh, A Muslim Commentary on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
4. Governments deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed
What we must defend:
"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..." — Declaration of Independence
What we must defend it against:
Non-Muslims have "absolutely no right to seize the reins of power in any part of God’s earth nor to direct the collective affairs of human beings according to their own misconceived doctrines." If they do, "the believers would be under an obligation to do their utmost to dislodge them from political power and to make them live in subservience to the Islamic way of life." — Syed Abul Ala Maududi, founder of the Pakistani political party Jamaat-e-Islami
Never surrender. Never submit. Never be silenced. Freedom and independence forever.
Excellent points, Robert.
I fervently hope Americans wake up in time to meet head-on and defeat the islamic threat to their Constitution.
Civilisation MUST win over barbarism if humanity is to survive.
Good Luck to all of us of the free world.
Amen.
Happy 4th to Robert, Pam, Marisol, anti-Jihadist, the other RS (where have you been these last few weeks, Roland?), and the rest of the JW community.
Thanks for posting that...
'But if the man is not a Muslim and commits adultery with a Muslim woman his penalty is execution'...
That's probably why Anthony converted to Islam before marrying Huma...Another example of a sharia compliant official...Something else we should guard against...
Let's not forget to defend establishment clause against atheists who deliberately misconstrue it to remove all morality and displays of worship from the public sphere.
You have no idea how often I get taunted on Liberal newspaper sites by Muslims with their "billions" of demographics.
We have to stop letting them in. Shouldn't Dearbornistan be all the example we need?
Demography is Destiny. And I KNOW our forefathers' back in the 1700's were NOT envisioning the Mohammedans populating America.
"4. Governments deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed"
Beautiful, except for:
“If I could have Mubarak’s ear, I would whisper just two words of wisdom: Tienanmen Square. ”
Roland Shirk writing for jihadwatch, April 2011
Happy Independence Day Robert, Pamela and the rest of still freedom-loving Americans! America must take the great and most brave lead to free the Western world from the most savage Arabic-led Islamic Slavery and Imperialism!
Succinct as ever, oh Fearless Leader.
Happy 4th to the cast and crew of JW. In a world filled with misinformation, it's great to have someplace to go to GET THE REAL STORY!
God bless the good ole USA!!!
Robert, thanks for such clarity, and perhaps should be added #5.
5. Abolishment of slavery
What we must defend:
"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." -- Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution
What we must defend it against:
"Q33:50 - "Prophet, We have made lawful to you the wives to whom you have granted dowries and the slave girls whom God has given you as booty." -- Quran
"Q70:30 - "Except with their wives and the (captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (then) they are not to be blamed," -- Quran
"Q23:5 - "... except with their wives and slave girls, for these are lawful to them:..." -- Quran
"Q24.32 - "And marry those among you who are single and those who are fit among your male slaves and your female slaves..." -- Quran
Slavery in Muslim dominated society is a systemic threat within Islam, as the hadiths and Quran clearly state. Not in the Land of Freedom. Never submit.
Happy Independence Day to all. God Bless America.
Well, I have a certain sympathy for your position. The choice is, do we support a tyranny that provides security for minorities and domestic peace through draconian police tactics, or do we support a democratic movement that elects Hamas, or perhaps the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt?
One of the biggest problems with dictatorships is that they degenerate over time. Their bad points become more prominent, and their benefits shrink with the arrogance and isolation of the aging dictator. There are exceptions: Franco of Spain left what became a constitutional monarchy in Spain, and Pinochet in Chile handed over power to a democratic government, only to have it throw him to the wolves. Saddam Hussein protected Christians and kept the Sunnis and Shiites from tearing each other apart, but was becoming ever more dangerous and personally unstable.
I think it is a mistake for the US to participate actively in any Middle Eastern politics. We can provide an example of freedom and democracy, but unfortunately, our ideals become diluted when we try to actively promote governments which we favor.
This does not apply to Israel, by the way. Israel is an established democracy. All we need to do with Israel is to use our influence to prevent Israel's external enemies in Europe and the UN from establishing a crippling embargo in any form. Israel protects itself, and holds its own in any exchange of trade or military technology. It is, of course, a mistake for the US to try to influence which Israeli party is in power, or to get in a tiff over the building of a few apartment buildings.
5. The people's right to keep and bear arms
What we must defend:
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
-- Amendment II, United States Constitution
What we must defend it against:
"We shall not mount on saddles, nor shall we gird swords nor bear any kind of arms nor carry them on our persons."
-- The Pact of Umar, forced upon the conquered Christians of Syria and the template for all subsquent dhimma pacts
"We've got to tighten up our gun laws. ... local communities, and state governments, as well as the federal government, have a right to common-sense regulations and firearm ownership [rules] ... There has not been any evidence that allowing people to carry a concealed weapon is going to make anybody safer."
-- Barack Hussein Obama, Chicago Sun-Times interview, April 25, 2008
Greetings:
As a recovering printer, and hoping not to cast a pall on your holiday sentiments, I must expound on your choice of typeface for your Gadsen flag illustration. There weren't any "sans serif" typefaces back in Mr. Gadsen's day. An "old Style" serif face, such as Baskerville, Garamond or Goudy, would be much more appropriate
To our non American friends.
Anyone anywhwere can celebrate the 4th of july!
All you have to do is raise your glass to the idea that all are created equal!
And then another for the seperation of church and State!
And then another to the idea that all are equal under the law!
Then raise your glass one final time and sing out loudly for all the world to hear
Hooray for freedom of speach!
Hip Hip Hooray!
Here's is wishing all freedom lovers across the whole wide world a glorious 4th of july!
7. Cruel and unusual punishments
What we must defend:
"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted." -- Eighth Amendment to the US Constitution
What we must defend it against:
"Hadith No. 8.805: ‘A married man from the tribe of Bani Aslam who had committed illegal sexual intercourse and bore witnesses four times against himself was ordered by the Prophet to be stoned to death’. -- [This Hadith as narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah Al-Ansari].
"Hadith No. 8.804: ‘Ash Shaibani narrates that when he asked ‘Abdullah bin Abi Aufa; “Did Allah’s Apostle carry out the penalty of Rajam (i.e., stoning to death)?” He said, “Yes”. When the narrator asked; “Before the revelation of Surah-an-Nur or after it?” He replied, “I don’t know.” -- [This Hadith is narrated by Ash Shaibani and is repeated one more time under Hadith No. 8: 824]
"Q24:11-20 - The Surah-an-Nur [Chapter 24 of the Qur’an in which the penalty of flogging as prescribed] as revealed in or after the sixth year of Prophet’s migration from Makkah to the city of Medinah. This confirmed by Surah verses 11 to 20. It is inconceivable that the Prophet, who as been declared by Allah as the best of the examples for Humanity, could have dictated his own edict after the revelation of Surah-an-Nur, which was delivered to humanity through him. -- Quran
"Q5:33 - “The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution (by beheading), or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter;” -- Quran
Q5:38 - “As for the thief, both male and female, cut off their hands. It is the reward of their own deeds, an exemplary punishment from Allah. Allah is Mighty, Wise.” -- Quran
"In Sharia court, trials are conducted by the judge; there is no jury system. There is no pre-trial discovery process, and no cross-examination of witnesses. Rules of evidence are also vastly different, with Sharia giving priority to oral testimony over written documents/evidence. On most charges, testimony must be established by two witnesses, preferably male witnesses. (One exception is rape, which must be established by four eyewitnesses.) A woman’s testimony is worth only 1/4-1/2 to that of a male."
Not Sharia, not here.
God Bless America!
A Happy Fourth of July to all who value freedom, and the concepts of the equality of all men, and equality under the law!
Excellent post. Happy Fourth of July to all. :)
Never surrender. Never submit. Never be silenced. Echo.
Excellent list—I'm going to run it out for my files.
Battle of Tours wrote:
Robert, thanks for such clarity, and perhaps should be added #5.
5. Abolishment of slavery
7. Cruel and unusual punishments
.........................
And excellent additions, Battle of Tours!
Happy Independence Day to all Americans—and to anyone here who celebrates freedom!
I'm guessing... Flarov222 is a Looney?
Gotta love this:
http://nodhimmitude.blogspot.com/2011/05/flag-of-century.html
I greatly appreciate Robert's style of presentation of our hard won rights and what we must protect them against, so naturally I appreciate the add-ons by BOT and yourself.
And especially yours, because without the right that you chose to add on... none of the others would exist. It truly is the most natural, human, & American right that all others depend upon for their survival!
Long Live America!
Long live the West.
MOLON LABE.
This is a bit belated, but anyway - here's a Happy Independence Day wish from this Australian to our American friends and allies.
A hug and a sisterly kiss on the cheek for Gravenimage and IsabellatheCrusader and the other American ladies who take part in this forum, and a warm handshake for Cornelius, Wellington, Davegreybeard, Undaunted, duh-swami and all the other American gentlemen I've gotten to know and like here at jihadwatch. (Where's Alaskan Infidel? I'm worried about him - he hasn't posted for ages).
And roll on the day when *our* Foreign Affairs Department, and *your* State Department, and the generals in both our armies, get the taqiyya smoke out of their eyes and realize that we've got to defend ourselves and our entire civilisation against a war that got underway more than a thousand years before either of our nations came into existence.
Tanstaafl, Eastside - HOW could I have forgotten you!
Hope it is/ was a great 4th of July for you and your families and friends.
And, of course, most sincere greetings and thanks to Mr Robert Spencer and Ms Marisol; and I will also mention Mr Raymond Ibrahim, American of Coptic extraction, whose articles have taught me - and all of us here - much about the sources and nature of deception in Islam.
Now, what is the American equivalent of what we Commonwealth countries call 'the loyal toast'?
O well: I propose a round of applause for the good work of the Founding Fathers of the USA - and of those who, like John Quincy Adams (opponent of slavery and clear-eyed analyst of Islam and the Jihad) and Abraham Lincoln, built upon their foundation - and let's all raise an appreciative glass in their memory.
This is an excellent article. Our forefathers must be ashamed of our cowardice in addressing this "Islamic" threat to our society. Those who speak the truth are labeled with a derogatory title of Islamophobic. I thing a better title is "IslamNOphobic" or no fear of Islam. This "religion" must be stopped and the liberal "Churches" are traitors to the cause of Christ. They should crawl back in the hole from which they came...
For non-Muslims here who are also not citizens of the USA, and who may not yet have read the founding documents of the USA, here are links that will take you to the full text of both.
The Declaration of Independence is here.
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/declare.asp
Once upon a time, American schoolchildren used to learn it off by heart.
And for the Constitution
http://constitutionus.com/
http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/freedom/constitution/text.html
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html
I am given to understand that Amendments 1-10 form what is commonly called the 'Bill of Rights', together with the very important Amendment 13, which abolishes Slavery.
And here's something very interesting that was only figured out recently, and made public last July.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/04/2944253.htm
"Scientists at the United States Library of Congress have revealed the moment when Thomas Jefferson altered the Declaration of Independence to set the course of American history.
The discovery was made public to mark July 4, when the US celebrates Independence Day.
The blur of ink on the 1776 document has long puzzled historians.
Thomas Jefferson, the architect of the Declaration of Independence, had obviously changed his mind about something.
But until now nobody realised the significance of his thinking.
By examining the draft and the different wavelengths of light - a process known as hyper-spectral imaging - scientists discovered his original word was "subjects".
But in a flash of inspiration while the ink was still wet he wiped it and wrote "citizens" instead."...
(This seems to be in the line about 'he [i.e. the English king] has constrained our fellow-citizens...'.; I can't find any other occurrence of the word 'citizens' in the text).