No, no specific threats to take down the World Trade Center, but it did.

Islam is the enemy.

Posted by: Islofob IS-1 at July 16, 2006 10:54 AM

"...Qur'an 47:4. "Smite at their necks," of course, means "behead them." The fact that many Muslims take it literally and seriously has been abundantly established in Iraq, Afghanistan, Thailand and elsewhere in recent years.

Don't forget the three little Christian girls in Indonesia, beheaded and thrown off the side of a dirt road like animal carcasses.

That hideously grotesque incident has caused an estrangement between my sister and myself -- my sister, an American of German extraction, like myself born and raised in the USA, but unlike myself she has become infected with the dominant anti-Americanism and its bedfellow, pro-Islamism. When I told her about the three Indonesian girls beheaded, her immediate response was, to me, shockingly and outrageously impertinent. Instead of saying, "Gee, that's horrible!" -- which is how any decent human being still in possession of their logical and moral faculties would respond -- she immediately, reflexively made a statement about how "Well, Muslims are being attacked all over the world!" What the fuck does that have to do with three Indonesian girls beheaded!? Her immediately subsequent remark, after I expressed speechless, or incoherently sputtering outrage at her initial response, was only fuel for the fire: "Well, I condemn all violence, no matter where it comes from." The old PC multiculturalist equivalence game, with its ulterior, UNequal motive of blaming the West more than Islam. So, my sister and I have not spoken for several months now.

Remember the Indonesian girls.

Posted by: Television at July 16, 2006 1:22 PM

Television,
I too have many "former" friends for exactly the same reason. Some close family members as well, where the "muslim" problems cannot be discussed. However, I never fail to mention all the incidents as they come to my attention, mostly from JW.
Just knowing that I have put it "out there ", and that somehow, some day, the truth about islam may penetrate their brain, and open their eyes. We must do our part.

Posted by: freetoBEfree at July 16, 2006 2:24 PM

TV, freetoB,

I have gotten into a yelling match with one of the in-laws (a non-Muslim) over an Islam issue (specifically, it was over 9/11). I think it's important to keep the lines of communication open and to keep presenting the basic facts and arguments. (And yes, TV, I do acknowledge that does mean addressing the PC problem). Changing gears and offering reconciliation, to get those lines of communication open again for the purposes of persuasion, can an effective move. In a family context, it's not only about convincing that one person, but it's also about convincing everyone else closely associated with that one person.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 16, 2006 3:36 PM

"They accept that the book, Jihad in the Quran and Sunnah, advocates fighting for Islam, but contend it is too old and vague to do any harm."

"Too old and vague," yet it quotes the Koran and Sunnah extensively. It also comes up in a google search on the most popular site* for the word "Islam" on the internet.

* http://www.islamworld.net/jihad.html

Here is a simplified example which I think illustrates the problem of how many non-Muslims, such as those cited in the Sunday Herald Sun article, who should know better (e.g., those at the The Office of Film and Literature Classification), fail to assemble an understanding of the Islam problem. Suppose that to produce a jihadist you generally need to establish in his brain elements K, S, L, G, P, and A.

K= Koran,
S=Sunnah,
L=Islamic Law and canonical interpretation,
G=Social-support group of like-minded individuals.
P=Propaganda viz acceptability of violent jihad to address alleged grievances--propaganda that is largely consistent with K, S, L, and G.
A=Applications, specifics, technical know-how.

Those people at "The Office of Film and Literature Classification" seem to have concluded that because _Jihad in the Quran and Sunnah_ does not contain A, it is not dangerous. But clearly, the brief book fits into the category of P, without going so far as to include A. But A is the one ingredient that anyone, whether on their own or with G, can easily supply. Indeed, anyone with an absolute minimum of technical know-how and physical strength can torch a dwelling or ram an automobile through a crowd of people. Therefore, when combined with the other elements in the brain of the jihadist, P is dangerous. (Just like a single ingredient of an explosive concoction is dangerous).

Does this mean the book in question should be banned? Not necessarily, but like the other elements K, S, L, G, P, and A, its use should be closely regulated, monitored, and restricted, just like a dangerous chemical that can combined with other chemicals in an explosive application.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 16, 2006 4:38 PM

"Too old and vague"...this criticism overlooked the fact that Muslims generally do not see the Koran as too old and vague.

For some non-Muslim to detect that P is dangerous, the non-Muslims has to have some knowledge (even if only of the main points) of K, S, L, and G; and that those beliefs can lead to A--real consequences.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 16, 2006 4:56 PM

What on earth are mohammedans doing in Oz?.I always thought Australia had a policy of keeping riff-raff,lunatics and cannibals out.
Yes I know this is rich coming from someone living in the Caliphate of England.

Posted by: Paul at July 17, 2006 5:09 PM