This morning I was on the Garrison show, which airs Monday through Friday from 8:30-11:30AM EST on 93.1 FM, WIBC in Indianapolis. Former Jerusalem Post Publisher Tom Rose was sitting in as guest host for Greg Garrison, and Tom and I had a good, wide-ranging discussion about the stealth jihad in America and related matters. Toward the end of the hour and for some time thereafter, producer Todd Meyer participated in this highly revealing text message exchange with a Muslim listener:
Listener: 10:44am
The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated Christian, Muslim & Jew shall all go to Heaven as they all worship the same God-Islam is the MOST tolerant of the 3-Shame
Listener: 10:49am
You will never speak of barbaric Israelis who run over Muslim families with bulldozers
Meyer: 12:15pm
This is the producer texting you back. Two questions: Do you denounce all the extremists in Islam that cut heads off or homicide bomb themselves and other innocents? Do you condemn the actions of Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Muslim Brotherhood? A simple yes or no.
Listener: 12:53pm
Producer Todd, your multi-faceted and loaded question requires more than a simple yes or no answer. Oversimplifying a belief system makes it easy to write off…I do not condemn those who defend their way of life within their homeland according to Islam, no. [Email me] for polite debate on this
Listener: 1:01pm
Producer Todd, much of what you call extremism is in many places rather desperation. In Morocco there is no threat therefore no extremism as in Gaza
Meyer: 1:39pm
No, it is a simple yes or no answer. You talk of being barbaric? Please! If you cannot admit that Islam has been corrupted by violent extremists, then you are part of the problem as an enabler. Please call the show if you would like the polite debate.
Listener: 1:52pm
Todd, I cannot call as I work in a noisy environment but I thank you for the conversation-you have reinforced my opinion of the mentality behind the show
Listener: 1:53pm
……..Perhaps I may elicit a response via email. True Muslims do not condone violence against innocents. Forced retaliation however is another matter.
Meyer: 2:04pm
Ah, there’s the rub – the word innocents. I’m guessing that’s a pretty narrow definition? I have two more questions for you: What – in your opinion – should be the punishment for some who leaves the Islamic faith and converts to Christianity or Judaism or Buddhism? And what should happen to a person that denounces Islam or draws cartoon pictures of Mohammad?
Listener: 2:17pm
Mr. Todd, if you hold nothing so sacred as to wish death upon those who would defile or dishonor it, then you are lost and will never understand.
Meyer: 2:35pm
And there we have the TRUE answer – finally! I live in the United States where freedom of speech is a protected right. You never did answer the conversion question, but I believe it will be the same as your last answer. No further correspondence is needed on this end.
A refusal to condemn Hamas and Hizballah and an affirmation of the death penalty for apostasy from Islam — all courtesy a Muslim radio listener in Indianapolis, Indiana, this morning.