“If the moderate Muslim was inclined to resist the radicals, he will be less likely to do so if he looks around and notices that no one else is resisting… Why should he stick his neck out?”
William Kilpatrick makes a compelling case for resisting encroaching Islamization and the creeping advance of sharia culture in America.
How to Alienate Moderate Muslims
by William Kilpatrick, Crisis Magazine — May 26, 2015
The recent “draw Muhammad” contest in Garland, Texas not only drew fire from two armed jihadists, it also drew fire from Christian leaders and media critics. One of the chief objections was that events of this type will alienate moderate Muslims and possibly drive them into the radical camp.
It can just as easily be argued, however, that caving on the cartoon issue is more likely to result in a defection of moderate Muslims than the drawings themselves. And caving seems to be the order of the day. The Muhammad art exhibit and cartoon contest has been roundly criticized not only by the usual suspects in the liberal media but also by conservative journalists and conservative religious leaders such as Franklin Graham. In general, the critics say that free speech is a wonderful thing, but that it should never be used to insult what is most sacred to others.
When Franklin Graham registers his disapproval, it’s undoubtedly because he genuinely believes that it’s wrong to mock another person’s deeply held faith. On the other hand, when secular opinion-makers voice the same concern, it’s probably because they are genuinely afraid. Any moderately informed moderate Muslim knows that secular pundits have no problem if someone mocks the things held sacred by Catholics or Mormons [or Orthodox!]. He will understand that what’s at issue is not whether religion is insulted, but whether Islam is insulted. And, if the most powerful players in the media are afraid of Islam, why wouldn’t he be?
If the moderate Muslim was inclined to resist the radicals, he will be less likely to do so if he looks around and notices that no one else is resisting, except for a handful of people whom the media has labeled as “haters.” Why should he stick his neck out? If the supposed guardians of free speech who are relatively safe from retaliation nevertheless bow to Islamic law, then prudence suggests that he do the same. The constant kowtowing to Islamic demands has the result of putting increased pressure on the moderate Muslim to do some kowtowing of his own. He won’t necessarily join forces with the jihadists, but neither will he do much to oppose them.
One of the ways that the ever-helpful mainstream media is helping the public come to the “right” conclusion about the Garland event is by neglecting to say much about the context surrounding it. Three months before the cartoon contest, Islamic activist groups staged a “Stand with the Prophet” rally in Garland calling for restrictions on speech that is offensive to Islam. It was held in the same room in the same conference center. So the Muhammad art exhibit didn’t pop up out of nowhere. It was a response to the earlier event.
The cartoon contest is best understood not as a gratuitous provocation of Muslims, but as a wake-up call to non-Muslims. It was meant, in part, to show just how far down the road to capitulation we have gone. If we have to abide by Islam’s rules about drawing Muhammad, we may be further down the road than most realize.
Where’s the line at which Americans will take their stand against encroaching Islamization? Judging by the media reaction to the Garland event, the right to robustly criticize the prophet is a line too far. What then? Will Americans draw the line when Muslims request that the sculpture of Muhammad be removed from the Supreme Court chamber? Probably not. Why make a fuss? How about demands for sharia law courts? I’m guessing that many Americans won’t find it difficult to convince themselves that Muslims should be allowed to settle disputes among themselves in their own courts of law. Burqas on buses? Compulsory courses on Islam? Court imposed fines for critics of Islam? All along the road to complete sharia compliance there will be numerous places where one might draw the line—and numerous reasons why it will be deemed prudent not to.
Islam is a religion that respects strength. As Osama bin Laden famously said, “When people see a strong horse and a weak horse, by nature, they will like the strong horse.” This is not simply the idiosyncratic view of one extremist. As Lee Smith writes in The Strong Horse, it “represents the political and social norm” of the Middle-East. And of much of the rest of the Muslim world, as well. When Muslims view the controversy surrounding the cartoon event, they look upon it not as a contest between the forces of tolerance against the forces of “hateful” provocateurs, but as a contest of Islam against non-Islam. The Muhammad cartoon exhibit was a battle in a campaign to see whether or not Islam will dominate. The event organizers understand that. And so do most Muslims.
Many Americans think that if the contest organizers lose the opinion wars, then pluralism is the winner. Most Muslims will look at the issue in a different way. A defeat for the organizers makes it more likely that there will, indeed, be no future for those who slander the prophet of Islam. And that means not much of a future for those moderate Muslims who have only a lukewarm regard for the prophet.
The craven reaction to the cartoon incident comes on top of a number of other Western capitulations to sharia culture, if not always to sharia law. In view of these numerous victories, the moderate Muslim will reasonably conclude that militant Islam is the strong horse. When he places his bets for a secure future for himself and his family, he will place them on the side that looks to be the winning side.
If the citizens of the West are interested in keeping moderate Muslims moderate, they had better start showing more backbone when it comes to defending their freedoms. Many American Muslims no doubt hope that they can continue to live in a sharia-free society. But if their fellow Americans continue to kick the can down the road, it will become increasingly dangerous for them to express that hope. The surest way to push moderate Muslims into the arms of the radicals is to signal to them that if they resist sharia, they’re on their own—they can expect little sympathy and even less in the way of government protection. The response to the cartoon controversy suggests that no one will cover your back if you stand up to extremists. After all, it will be argued, people who won’t conform to Islamic norms are just asking for trouble.
Matthieu Baudin says
That’s right, we are not encouraging ‘golden rule’ Muslims is we kowtow to radical demands or accommodate to meet sharia principles.
t. says
William Kilpatrick is simply beyond brilliant in this article!! Thank you, Sir.
spot on says
Excellent article. I see Mohammed cartoon contests as one of the best moves for free people to demonstrate our way vs. the Islamic way. It challenges Sharia and Islam directly as nothing else will do.
No disrespect for Franklin Graham and other religious leaders but if we allow restrictions to speech, guess who gets to do the restricting. Yes… Washington-N.Y. corridore. Would Franklin Graham and all the other notable religious leaders want Washington to be inside their Churches telling them what they can and cannot say or do any more than they are today? I can only imagine how corrupt such anti speech laws would be. The old saying…”Watch out what you wish for, because you just may get it”.
Freedom of speech is uniquely American and Washington would love the chance to increase their power over us by taking it away. Just look at the debate in the last few days over government phone snooping on us. They have never successfully used NSA snooping once to protect us from Jihadists while they continue to bring Jihadists into our country at alarming rates. Now they still demand to keep NSA snooping on us but cannot explain why. Getting a private warrant to legally snoop in accordance with the law is not good enough for them. They also conveniently forget that they caught NSA employees snooping on their friends and girlfriends. Remember Lois Lerner anyone? They say we should trust them. This reminds me of one of President Reagan’s most frightful things to hear…”I’m from the government and I’m here to help you”.
Roy C says
I’m with you “spot on” but there was one very ugly aspect to the cartoon contest that isn’t being discussed enough. That was the shocking reaction from much of the conservative media types (including Fox news) slamming Pam and other organizers for hosting the event. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing from Bill O’Reilly and Laura Ingram who gave lip service to Pam and then unloaded on her with both barrels. Greta Van Susteren was just as bad – only Megyn Kelly was steadfast in defending Pam along with Sean Hannity. If middle of the road conservatives won’t stand up for true freedom of expression then we are really in trouble here.
spot on says
Roy, It is anybody’s guess but my opinion is that FOX mostly has big government types like Bill O’Reilly on their shows. They are also tight with Wall Street. They mostly live in the North East where population density is max amd government is important as a “service” and employer. They are accustomed to government telling them what to do. They look to government for solutions. The only problem they have with Democrats is their loony tune and make no sense ideas.
spot on says
I neglected to also mention that they listen to the clergy and take the same position as them on Mohammed cartoon contests.
Matthieu Baudin says
(previous error in text)
That’s right, we will not be assisting ‘golden rule’ Muslims if we kowtow to radical demands or accommodate to meet sharia principles.
Huck Folder says
“Many Americans think that if the contest organizers lose the opinion wars, then pluralism is the winner.”
NO, NO, NO!
If the good guys lose, SINGULARISM wins, the singularism of the banal worshipers of bastard mo.
Jack Diamond says
and what is a “golden rule” Muslim again? and where is it in the Qur’an?
you mean the non-Muslim Muslim don’t you? as in “many American Muslims no doubt hope that they can continue to live in a sharia-free society.” Can you find us a good and faithful Muslim who will denounce the shari’a for us? or will just asking them to “push them into the arms of the radicals”?
heather says
first of all how dare you think that id denounce my Deen(Islam). calling us name. you Deny Allah his rght over you worshippingfalse deities and you think that were gonna back down and walk away from the one True religion.
do you even know what the law of sharia is? my guess is nobecause your uneducated and blinded by the USA, bty osama bin laden disobeyed Allah his was a shianite not a sunni.
i am a faithful believer in Islam have been for 2 years and i will not back down from people like you, you challenge Islam and mock us, but maybe you should actually read the Qur’an and turn to Allah the One true God of the Alamin(man, jinn) and allother creation.
is it you who makes the rain fall from the sjy no it is Allah, oh yeah and your president obama is muslim, but he disobeys the Al-Mighty by detroying small afgahani children with his droens.
btw what youve done hear, making animage of our beloved nabi (PBUH) shmeon you and the reason we dont like pictures being drawn ofhim is fr the simple fact that noone knows what he looks like, only the Sahabah (RA) and Allah the Almighty knows that.
and the sharia is wearing the Hijab for both men and women, reading the Quran, going to the mosque, praying the Ju’muah, listining to the friday Khutbah, praying 5 times daily, wearing the appropriate clothing outside of your house, paying the Zakat( giving it to the people who realy deserve and need it).
so in saying so we as muslimeen are notthe bad ones, we dont court like the non-muslims, we do everything according to the law of sharia, you sir are the one who should read up or stay silent, because you may challenge usall you want but you can never and will never put out the light of Allah(our god(La Ilaha Illalah)-none has the right tobe worshipped but Allah). Salamalioum wa ramhtoullah wa barakatou!!!
Jack Diamond says
No, I don’t think you would denounce your Deen. Thanks for proving my point:
“we do everything according to the law of sharia”.
The shari’a that mandates warfare upon non-Muslims, that obligates jihad to conquer the earth for Allah, that subjugates non-Muslims (and women), that mandates the death penalty for apostasy (likewise blasphemy), that allows slavery and sex slavery, that requires four male witness for a rape conviction, the shari’a of barbaric punishments which were commonly cheered on by crowds after those Friday Khutbah throughout history, the Zakat which obligates a percentage go to those fighting Jihad? It’s a little more than wearing a hijab and the way you chose to court or pray 5 times day (ritually cursing the Jews & Christians each time, as those who earned Allah’s wrath and those who went astray). Wake up “heather” you’ve made an evil choice.
Tell me then, do you faithful Muslima take any kaffir as your friends or allies or would doing so go against your Islam? In other words, is Sura 5:51 still in effect or was it cancelled somewhere? Add in 58:22; 3:28; 3:118; 9:23. Do you believe in “al wala wal al baraa”, loyalty to the Muslims and hate and enmity for the non-Muslims, as a guiding principle? If not, why not? Do you know what “qital” means in the Qur’an? It means kill, slaughter and massacre. It occurs 85 times in the Medinan Qur’an. As in “Fighting,
q-t-l, has been ordained for you, though it is hard for you” (2:216) and in the last revelations on warfare in the Qur’an, Surah 9, “Fight (q-t-l kill, slaughter) those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor forbid what has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger and acknowledge not the Religion of Truth (Islam) even among the People of Scripture (Jews & Christians) until they pay the Jizya (punishment tax) with willing submission and feel themselves subdued.” (9:29)
You do see that the reason to fight and kill is not based on what others have done but what they believe or don’t believe? You do see that Islam does not preach peaceful co-existence or love your (non-Muslim) neighbor as yourself? Before you say something stupid like sura 9:29 is limited to an historical time and place and has no current application, I’ll remind you all Islamic scholars say otherwise, and that 9:29 is quoted in shari’a manuals like Umdat al-Salik in the chapter on Jihad as part of its ongoing objective.
Now explain us again how you are a good neighbor who only wishes us well?
You might also note that your religion teaches that the highest rung in Paradise is only guaranteed by one method, through the blood of the kaffirs or infidels. Those who kill and are killed fighting in the cause of Allah (9:111).
Huck Folder says
heather honey, this is part of your ‘deen’ [brainwashing]:
http://islamqa.info/en/21457
Islam Question and Answer Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid Tue 15 Shb 1436 – 2 June 2015
aruresid
21457: More Women in Hell Than Men?
Why will there be more women in hell than men?
Praise be to Allah.
It was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that women will form the MAJORITY of the people of Hell. It was narrated from ‘Imran ibn Husayn that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “I looked into Paradise and I saw that the majority of its people were the poor. And I looked into Hell and I saw that the MAJORITY of its people ARE WOMEN.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhari, 3241; Muslim, 2737)
With regard to the reason for this, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked about it and he explained the reason.
It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “I was shown Hell and I have never seen anything more terrifying than it. And I saw that the MAJORITY of its people ARE WOMEN.” They said, “Why, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Because of their ingratitude (kufr).” It was said, “Are they ungrateful to Allah?” He said, “They are ungrateful to their companions (husbands) and ungrateful for good treatment. If you are kind to one of them for a lifetime then she sees one (undesirable) thing in you, she will say, ‘I have never had anything good from you.’” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 1052)
It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went out to the musalla (prayer place) on the day of Eid al-Adha or Eid al-Fitr. He passed by the women and said, ‘O women! Give charity, for I have seen that you form the MAJORITY of the people of Hell.’ They asked, ‘Why is that, O Messenger of Allah?’ He replied, ‘You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more DEFICIENT IN INTELLIGENCE and religious commitment than you. A cautious sensible man could be led astray by some of you.’ The women asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is deficient in our intelligence and religious commitment?’ He said, ‘Is not THE TESTIMONY OF TWO WOMEN EQUAL TO THE TESTIMONY OF ONE MAN?’ They said, ‘YES.’ He said, ‘This is the DEFICIENCY IN HER INTELLIGENCE.* Is it not true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?’ The women said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘This is the deficiency in her religious commitment.’”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 304)
[* But ONLY in islam! Suck it up honey!]
It was narrated that Jabir ibn ‘Abd-Allah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I attended Eid prayers with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He started with the prayer before the khutbah (sermon), with no adhan (call to prayer) or iqamah (final call to prayer). Then he stood up, leaning on Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him), speaking of fear of Allah (taqwa) and urging us to obey Him. He preached to the people and reminded them. Then he went over to the women and preached to them and reminded them. Then he said, ‘Give in charity, for YOU ARE THE MAJORITY OF THE FUEL OF HELL. A woman with dark cheeks stood up in the midst of the women and said, ‘Why is that, O Messenger of Allah?’ He said, ‘Because YOU COMPLAIN TOO MUCH [like YOU are doing here heather] and are ungrateful to your husbands.’ Then they started to give their jewellery in charity, throwing their earrings and rings into Bilal’s cloak.”
(Narrated by Muslim, 885)
Our believing sisters who learn of this hadeeth should behave like those Sahabiyat (female Companions) who, when they learned of this, did good deeds which would be the means, by Allah’s leave, of keeping them far away from being included in that majority of the inhabitants of Hell.
So our advice to the sisters is to strive to adhere to the rituals and obligatory duties of Islam, especially prayer, and to keep away from that which Allah has forbidden, especially shirk in its many forms which is widespread among women, such as seeking one’s needs from someone other than Allah, going to practitioners of witchcraft and fortune-tellers, etc.
We ask Allah to keep us and all our brothers and sisters far away from the Fire and the words and deeds that bring one close to it.
And Allah knows best. [Got THAT honey?]
Another academic analysis here:
http://www.answering-islam.org/Women/in-hell.html
And finally remember honey, you can’t pick and choose, you accept the whole package, anything else is shirk. You sit at the back of the mosque, or in another room.
Or, you can go back on your meds, look in the mirror, and give up this 7th century misogynistic nonsense.
I bet you won’t answer this directly!
Angemon says
heather posted:
“first of all how dare you think that id denounce my Deen(Islam).”
Why would we think that? If you want to follow a religion that dehumanizes women and non-muslims and mandates them to be in a constant state of subjugation and humiliation, good for you. You’re free to do so, the same way I’m free to think you’re a brain-dead loser who would never get anything in life if not for supporting an ideology that allows you to take nice things from people who actually earn them.
“calling us name. you Deny Allah his rght over you”
Allah doesn’t exist.
“worshippingfalse deities”
I’m an atheist – I worship no deity.
“and you think that were gonna back down and walk away from the one True religion.”
No one here thinks you’re going to do anything. Well-wishers may hope and pray that you leave the death cult you’re in, but that’s it.
“do you even know what the law of sharia is?”
Sharia law is a set of rules derived from the quran and ahadith encompassing all aspects of live, from mandating which hand to use to wipe your ass with (the left) to how to implement foreign policies.
“my guess is nobecause your uneducated and blinded by the USA”
There are plenty of sources regarding islamic law available for anyone who wishes to look into it.
“bty osama bin laden disobeyed Allah his was a shianite not a sunni.”
No, he was a wahabi, so he’s a sunni. Either you’re ignorant or you’re lying.
“i am a faithful believer in Islam have been for 2 years”
Ah, the zeal of the new converts!
“and i will not back down from people like you, you challenge Islam and mock us”
How can anyone with a good set of morals not challenge an ideology mandating subjugation and humiliation of those who don’t adhere to it, as well as mandating warfare against them? And why should we not mock an ideology that spouts absurd nonsense, like women in jeans cause earthquakes?
Tell me “heather”: do you believe that satan sleeps in your nose? Do you believe that the earth is flat? Do you believe that the sun sets in a pool of murky water? Are you ok with your husband having 3 more wives and as many sex slaves as he wants to?
“but maybe you should actually read the Qur’an”
I believe most of the here did just that.
“and turn to Allah the One true God of the Alamin(man, jinn) and allother creation.”
Allah is quite ignorant for a god, isn’t he? What he writes about the earth being flat, or the sun setting in a pool of murky water, is exactly what we would expect to come from the mouth of a 7th century ignoramus, not from a divinity bearing the title of “all knowing”.
“is it you who makes the rain fall from the sjy no it is Allah”
*ahem* Have you heard about the water cycle? How about cloud seeding and rainmaking?
“ oh yeah and your president obama is muslim, but he disobeys the Al-Mighty by detroying small afgahani children with his droens.”
Nope. He’s following the example of muhammad:
Sahih Muslim, Book 019, Number 4321:
It is reported on the authority of Sa’b b. Jaththama that the Prophet of Allah (may peace be upon him), when asked about the women and children of the polytheists being killed during the night raid, said: They are from them.
“btw what youve done hear, making animage of our beloved nabi (PBUH) shmeon you”
Muslims have draw him through history. Other muslims were ok with it.
“and the reason we dont like pictures being drawn ofhim is fr the simple fact that noone knows what he looks like”
Actually, islamic sources give us an idea of what he looked like.
“only the Sahabah (RA) and Allah the Almighty knows that.”
See above.
“and the sharia is wearing the Hijab for both men and women,”
Huh, what? Men have to wear the hijab too, according to sharia? Where are you getting that info?
“reading the Quran, going to the mosque, praying the Ju’muah, listining to the friday Khutbah, praying 5 times daily, wearing the appropriate clothing outside of your house, paying the Zakat( giving it to the people who realy deserve and need it).”
And chopping the hands of thieves, stoning adulterers, killing apostates, extorting tribute from non-muslims, etc. You don’t get to choose which bits of sharia you want to apply. It’s a full-package deal.
“so in saying so we as muslimeen are notthe bad ones, we dont court like the non-muslims, we do everything according to the law of sharia”
Including killing apostates and chopping the limbs of thieves.
“you sir are the one who should read up or stay silent, because you may challenge usall you want but you can never and will never put out the light of Allah”
That’s straight from the quran, 61:8:
They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it.
“(our god(La Ilaha Illalah)-none has the right tobe worshipped but Allah). Salamalioum wa ramhtoullah wa barakatou!!!”
Ramadanga-ding-dong-woof-woof-oinc-oinc to you too. Don’t get your hijab get stuck on the door on your way out. Wait why aren’t you wearing a burqa? Are you here all by yourself? Where’s the accompanying male relative? Do you want to get raped or killed by a pious muslim? Do you?
Annak says
I read the Quran. And Hadith. Have you really ??? I found it weird, flowery language mot poetic in the least, fake, trying too hard as it were. Then all the killing and misogyny..Muhammad said we women are deficient in intelligence, we are like cattle, can be beaten for ” disobedience” AND YES IN THERE !!! And hey the 72 virgins bit..Win..win for Muslims makes..win a battle..give Muhammad 20% of the booty ( including sex-slaves) ! Or die fighting the ” infidel” and get virgins and wine in the heavenly
Brothel. ?!
What a racket..a criminal, gang that is Islam !! !! I just laughed.sorry. If you take that absurd nonsense seriously, your problem.
What is spiritual about Islam ??? I have not found it. Maybe just me ?
And as a woman, well no good deals here or in the here-after so will pass..I cannot imagine any woman in the modern world falling for this misogynistic barbarianism, but well, you did, so thereyou go.
What can I say but “have fun, whatever floats your boat dear.”
Just din’t try and sell it here. Go to some forum where lefties hang out. They seem to like that stuff.
Linde Barrera says
To Heather- Since you have justified Islam, and the doctrinal, or core texts that are part of it, such as the killings in the name of Allah (jihadi Mohammed Emwazi, I hope you are reading this) I would like to seize this opportunity to educate you what the Lord and Savior Jesus said to his disciples about preaching the Good News of God’s salvation: “And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.” – Gospel of Matthew chapter 10, verses 14-15, Revised Standard Version. This is my personal invitation to you Heather, to listen to the Holy Spirit and let it guide you to Jesus, God Incarnate. I will pray for you and your loved ones.
Lilkthwept says
Did you know that 75% of American converts to Islam apostate withing 3 years?
You are a coward. You come to an obviously anti Islam site and post a semi literate rant to defend your new religion. You wont come back and answer anyone who replied. You wont come back and debate anyone here.
Why is that? Is it because we know and understand your religion far better than you do?
The age of the internet means information is at your fingertips. We have taken advantage of this and have read the Islamic texts.
Muslims may be encouraged by the behavior of the current administration but I can promise you, in 2016 things will be different.
Muslims and their disposable “useful idiots” the Left, may think that you will be able to take over America without firing a shot. You think that you will continue to demand special preferential treatment simply because you are Muslim, and when your demands are right.y refused, you think that threatning violence that you will get what you want . And you think that you will use our hard won Rights and Freedoms against us.
But, thanks to the internet, information about exactly what your Koran and Hadiths say, and what Islam plans for all non Islamic countries has spread widely. And every day more and more Americans wake up and realize the Goverment and Media are lieing every day, that the truth of Islam is that it is totally incompatable with the Constitution,Bill of Rights, Democracy and the American way of life, and that Islam is a a plan for tyranny thinly veneered with religion where opression, rape,war, assignation,murder, slavery, piracy and all encouraged and approved of by your so called god.
And again because of the internet, those people who have realized the truth of what Islam is and its ultimate goal, are spreading the truth of how horrible Islam is, making more and more people aware of how horrible Islam is. And we are devising more and more ways to combat Islam every day here in America .The Goverment is one thing, the huge numbers of Americans who are sick and tired of Islam are an entirely different matter.
You Muslims have terrorized, killed our citizens,,threatened and demanded preferential treatment instead of being grateful you are in a country where you can practice your religion no matter what sect of muslim you are, a place where you are safe, you dont go hungry and there is no limit to who or what you can become. You have thrown all those privledges back in our faces.Smiling in our faces while you curse us in your hearts.
But you have no idea what you have woken up and angered by your ungrateful and barbaric actions. But you will find out. And I can promise you that you will not like what you will find.
Angemon says
Muslims like strong horses. Westerners like the weak horse that one way or another overcome its weaknesses and beat the strong horse. Muslims like stories about a big, strong army that came in and won by brute force. Westerners like stories about the ragtag bunch of misfits who, against all odds, beat the big, strong army of brutes. And that makes the difference between attacking only when and if when they feel they have the upper hand and using ingenuity to overcome a seemingly stronger force.
I remember a story from when I was a kid about a merchant who owned a horse and a donkey. He pampered the horse and mistreated the donkey. One day he loaded the horse with cotton and the donkey with salt and departed for the market. During their trip, the horse kept taunting the donkey about how noble and well-treated he was, and how the donkey was a worthless beast of burden fit only to be whipped and abused. Then it started to rain and the donkey’s salt dissolved away in the rain while the horse’s cotton became wet and heavy. The horse wasn’t used to carry heavy stuff and the merchant ended up whipping him harder than he ever whipped the donkey.
Let muslims support the seemingly strong horse. We’ll see who comes out on top once the rain starts.
Sadly, that’s the truth.
Indeed.
RonaldB says
I have a counter-hypothesis.
Suppose people like Franklin Graham are not actually scared at this point, but are just too dull and intellectually slothful to actually research the issue and find out what they’re talking about.
Someone blithering on about “moderation in exercising the freedom of speech” is not likely to be closely questioned, and can coast along on a pond of ignorance.
Someone saying “we need to engage in offensive speech, particularly against Muslim idols” is likely to be attacked, and will have to put effort into defending his position, with reference to ideas and history. I submit the prospect of having to logically and factually defend their opinions publicly is daunting to most of the idea-free mediocrities populating the mainstream airwaves these days.
Angemon says
To be honest, that wouldn’t surprise me one bit.
Ed in North Texas says
The author gives Franklin Graham the courtesy of allowing that he truly believes one should not satirize or otherwise attack the religious beliefs of others. I think that Graham is neither afraid of Islam, nor dull and intellectually slothful. He is applying his religious beliefs to the issue. That we are sure he is wrong in his belief regarding this matter is of no consequence to Graham, he is following his belief about how to treat other religions.
thelmalou says
This is arguable, but I think Graham is being a bad Christian. Does a true Christian bow to evil or stand up to evil? Depends on your brand of Christianity, but I prefer the stand up kind. Graham seems to be the turn the other cheek kind, but let’s face it, you only have 2 cheeks, and then it’s time to try something else.
somehistory says
Follow the principle of always doing what is right, for freedom from tyranny and the fear of men. Live a life of integrity. Choices are easier that way.
And for Christians, even easier as we have the Perfect Exemplar.
somehistory says
As far as what Graham said, it is doubtful if he saw a person about to drink poison as a *part of their faith*…he could just stand by and not tell them it was poison. He preaches…to whom does he preach if not to those who do not already believe as he does? Does he expect only those already in agreement with him to listen?
Annak says
It is true that muslims respect and even fear strength as they did the British of old.
When they can walk all over us they do so with relish. Despising our weakness. Same goes for Israel. An Israeli tourguide told of his conversation with a well-dressed Arab who warned him to warn Israel to stop being so nice to the ” Palestinians” as this causes a reverse reaction.
I was also VERY disappointed in Franklin Graham. He is usually outspoken about Islam. So feelings are hurt, so ? Muhammad is not a god anyway so no ” blasphemy” involved, he is just a dead man. Franklin surely does not equate Mo with Jesus ???
He should have stood with Pam Geller and others who were threatened !
NowI don’t trust him either anymore.
vlparker says
Why are so many Americans worried about insulting people whose prophet is a mass murderer, beheader, sex slave trader and child rapist? Wouldn’t any decent person vilify such a man and those who consider him the ‘perfect man’? He was the Adolph Hitler of the 7th century. He was pure evil. He deserves nothing but condemnation. Are people so afraid they cannot tell good from evil any more?
Ephesian says
vlparker…a lot of people,and not just Americans have no idea at all about islam,none.Nor do they want to know.When they see or hear of new beheadings,bombings,etc;they don’t equate the perpetrators with what they perceive as islam,but as the media are wont to say”just lone wolves” or “extremists” and often quote that there are extremists in every religion,and so the lie carries on.I’m convinced that most people just see islam as another religion,no different to Christianity,Hinduism,and so on.As one person said to me”you pray in a Church,THEY pray in a mosque,that’s it! There is NO difference!”…so there you have the problem,pure ignorance,wilfull ignorance,and couldn’t care less attitude and naivety.I’m afraid such people won’t realise what we have been saying for years until they hear the knock knock on the door and face islam head on.
vlparker says
I should have been more specific. I was talking about Franklin Graham, O’Reilly, Trump, Donohue, Ingraham, McCallum, et alia. They regularly comment on current events. It’s their job to know.
Ephesian says
Hah! So should I,I was talking in general…!
duh_swami says
There is no such thing as a ‘moderate’ Mahoundian…There is only Allah, the books, and an idol of death to be emulated, called ‘Prophet’…
A Mahoundian is either pious or he is not, there is no, ‘in between’. If he is not pious, he is not a Mahoundian…
Rob Crawford says
Nothing I could say about Mohammed is as bad as what’s in the Koran and hadith.
Red Bee says
Mr. Kilpatrick reasons it is a fear of Islam that makes secular opinion makers, [most powerful] players in the media and moderate Muslims kowtow to Islam. Fear as an explanatory factor, however presumes an awareness of the threat. I doubt the media, the public and the moderate Muslims fully understand what is going on. From their utterances I get the impression they did not read the Koran and do not know what it really is. If moderate Muslims did know they’d probably be very alarmed to see “the strong horse” coming and try to warn society.
It would be a very good thing if moderate Muslims and non-Muslims alike did take a closer look at the Koran and see what they are dealing with instead of assuming it is just another religious book. They can do so at my website (address:click my name). I designed it to enable visitors to draw their own conclusions before reading mine. I bet a lot of people will get a surprise when they spend 10 minutes.
vickie says
I wonder if Franklin Graham has read the Quran?
Every time the Quran is read out loud I AM OFFENDED!!
Annak says
You and me too Vickie ! I am VERY offended. As women we should be.
Graham is very disappointing, he knows Islam very well. He is trying to be understanding. ? Like understanding Nazi’s sensitivities??? No , we never did that ! Back then though,when the free world knew it’s enemy and most people were sane.
But he made a huge mistake, and for me no longer reliable, too big a mistake in my eyes to trust him again.. Too bad. Another one bites the dust.