Cancer has got to be one of the worst things on this planet. It discriminates against nobody regardless of age, race, religion or socio-economic status. It takes our brightest and our best well before their time. I’m sure everyone reading this has lost a loved one due its wickedness.
I can’t imagine what it might be like to receive the doctor's news.
“I’m sorry, it’s cancer.” What would one think? “No, there must be a mistake." “This has to be a dream.” “I’m not ready to die.” After the initial shock wears off I imagine the doctor would talk about the prognosis and treatment options.
Now when we talk about options there are essentially two. One being to undergo treatment and the other to ignore the cancer and just go home.
The treatment might require surgery to cut the cancer out. This would likely include a battery of radiation and chemotherapy as well. By breaking this down to its base for one to return to health the cancer needs to be removed and any remaining cancer cells killed.
Ignoring the cancer doesn’t require you to be brave and fight. You just go home and allow it to consume you. In doing so, it will slowly devour the healthy parts of your body until you die.
Islam has a cancer that it is choosing to ignore as well.
The past couple of days I have heard that the actions of one do not speak for an entire religion. That may be so, but in my almost 49 years on this planet there sure do seem to be a heck of a lot of “individual(s)” willing to die in the service of Islam.
I didn’t understand it, but in 1972 I recall hearing snippets of the evening news in which they announced the death of the Israeli Olympic Team. In 1983 I woke up one morning to find out that a Marine barracks in Beirut had been bombed. In 1985 TWA flight 947 would be hijacked resulting in the death of U.S. Navy diver Robert Stethem. Just prior to Christmas 1988 I receive a call from my unit in Germany. After Pan Am 103 went down they were told to account for all personnel. I would later find out that another member of my unit was not so lucky. I watched the footage of the first WTC bombing in 1993 and the horror of 9/11. And now this massacre in Chattanooga.
After every single incident I have mentioned, and believe me my list was short, we are told these are misguided individuals. One must wonder what path they chose to go misguided in the first place? What is the common thread? Is it the KKK, National Socialist movement, Haven’s Gate, IRA, Aum Shinrikyo, or the SLA?
It seems as though the common thread with all these killers is Islam and a radical interpretation of the Quran. If I’m wrong please tell me.
Now I’m sure someone will respond with “Do you even know anything about Islam?” That’s fair. My response is “I believe I know all I need to know.” But that response comes with a caveat. I am going to go out and purchase a Quran. I want to learn about this peaceful religion. Trust me when I say I will read it cover to cover, but I hope it has an index. I want to fast forward past the passages that mention violence and get to those that deal with peace, love and tolerance.
If you are truly peaceful then I understand your struggle.
In the Godfather Part 2 while being driven through the streets of Havana, Michael observes a group of soldiers trying to arrest a group of rebels. Rather than be taken into custody the rebel blows himself and the officers up. Later in the movie Michael will retell this story at the birthday party of Hyman Roth. Michael didn’t trust Roth, but he was also skeptical about the ability of the government to put down the rebels.
Michael: I saw a strange thing today. Some rebels were being arrested. One of them pulled the pin on a grenade. He took himself and the captain of the command with him. Now, soldiers are paid to fight; the rebels aren't.
Roth: What does that tell you?
Michael: They could win.
Sometime yesterday I began to wonder what CAIR had to say about Chattanooga. CAIR is the Council on American-Islamic Relations. As I suspected CAIR had released a statement. It read in part:
"We condemn this horrific attack in the strongest terms possible. Such inexcusable acts of violence must be repudiated by Americans of all faiths and backgrounds. The American Muslim community stands shoulder to shoulder with our fellow citizens in offering condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured and in rejecting anyone who would harm our nation’s safety and security. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families impacted by this tragedy."
I have a response to the members of CAIR and all members of the Islamic faith.
Americans of all faiths and backgrounds do not need to repudiate anything. If the American Muslim community wants to do anything then you will not stand with anyone. You will stand out in front of all off us and condemn these killings yourselves. You will take to the streets, you will take to the radio stations, you will take to the TV stations, you will take to the newspapers, you will take to your community centers and houses of worship, and you will take your message of peace, love and tolerance to all countries in the Middle East and you will preach tolerance and acceptance of "Jews and non-believers" with as much enthusiasm and vigor as you seek to demand it here in the United States.
Please understand me that I cannot come to your Islamic center or Mosque and hear a speech only to be sent home with a few pamphlets’s which proclaim the love and peace of Allah.
Every time someone criticizes Islam they are asked “What do you know about Islam?” The fact is that most people don’t know that much about Islam. So if you understand and are a follower of Islam and you believe a small group of individuals is perverting the teachings of Allah are they not an abomination of Allah?
The reason why radical Islam is not identified and stomped out is fear. You can add in a dash of political correctness, but the paramount reason is fear. Just like the rebel that Michael witnessed the practitioners of radical Islam are a dangerous and formidable force. Someone who is willing to die for his/her cause is someone that is worthy of respect. This advocacy needs to be respected like cancer. It needs to be cut out and killed, but I would respectfully submit that it is Islam’s job to do it. We will stand with you, but you will need to be the ones to pull you heads out of the sand.
Until you do your statements and words of condolence are empty and void of meaning or sincerity
Ed Merritt
Soddy-Daisy