Count Me In! Tolerant That Is

It’s now a crime to put a Koran in a toilet. In America. New York City to be exact. Don’t we have the right to free speech? Don’t we have a right to think whatever we want? Don’t we have a constitution? We’ll have nothing but sharia if CAIR get’s its way.

Last night on Hannity and Colmes, Alan Colmes actually seemed to think that putting a Koran in a toilet should not be a hate crime. Will wonders never cease? Alas, though, poor Alan could not shake his fear of losing his status as an intellectual. He had to make his offering to the PC gods by harping on the intolerance of the person who flushed the Koran. He presented intolerance as if it were Satan incarnate (Alan probably doesn’t believe in Satan, but you get the idea).

According to Merriam-Webster, tolerate means “to allow to be or to be done without hindrance”. So by definition, if we are to never be intolerant then we must allow everything. We must allow murder, rape, and theft. We must allow wife beating and pedophilia. We must allow violence and intimidation. If we try to hinder such things we are intolerant.

The idea that we must tolerate everything stems from the idea that there is no absolute truth. If there are no absolutes, everything has to be tolerated because there is no reason not to tolerate it. Western society continues to give up its Judea-Christian foundation. As that foundation erodes, so does any belief in absolute truth. The secularists will say that is as it should be.

Secularists will argue that strongly held religious beliefs breed hatred of those who are different. That is total nonsense. The issue is not whether people believe in absolutes. The issue is what those absolutes are. Religions are not all created equal. Does the Christian ideal of loving one’s enemies produce the same kind of world that is produced by the Islamic ideal of subduing the infidels?

The refusal to acknowledge the existence of absolute truth is nothing but intellectual laziness. If everyone tolerates everything, there is no need to think about what is really right and wrong. There is no need to take the risk of coming up with the wrong answer. This worship of tolerance is no different from the Islamic worship of intolerance. Anything un-Islamic must be irradicated. No thinking is required or desired. These are two sides of the same coin and the coin is totally counterfeit.

Intolerance in and of itself is not wrong. Western culture cannot survive unless we muster up the moral courage to believe in absolutes. What we don’t tolerate does matter. Giving up our constitutional rights in order to tolerate Islamic sharia will doom us to nothing but death and slavery.

A Must Read: Jihad by Paul Fregosi

I have just finished reading Jihad by Paul Fregosi. For anyone who wants to know the history of Islamic Jihad, this is a good starting point. Fregosi covers the Jihad in Europe from the 7th century to the end of the 1990's. This is a non-fiction account of the violence and mayhem caused by Islam (and yes the violent reponses by non-Muslims as well). It presents in detail the imperialist aspect of Islam and its quest for power, riches and sex.

John Doe Ammendment Is Nearly Dead

Update: Both the House and Senate have squashed the John Doe ammendment. This legislation would have privided protection from lawsuits for Americans who report suspicious (terrorist) behavior.

Michelle Malkin has the Senate roll call on her site. She includes this comment:

"This fight is not over. There still is a final conference
report to be hashed out. Keep your phones lit. The Senate Dems need to hear from
you."

I don't understand all the ins and outs of Senate procedures, but I have emailed my Senator just the same to voice my displeasure at his 'nay' vote. So let these Senators know what you think. It may still do some good.

When you look at the role call, notice the fence-sitting of Senator Obama. Was he afraid to vote 'yes' and lose all those Muslim votes that his Muslim family will get him? Was he afraid to vote 'no' and lose the other votes he thinks he can get? This man is not to be trusted.

Action Item: Franklin County Criminal Justice Planning Board

On July 11, 2007, FrontPageMagazine posted a very disturbing article regarding the Franklin County Criminal Justice Planning Board. As part of his ‘Hometown Jihad” series, Patrick Poole’s article has brought to public attention the presence of Abukar Arman on the Criminal Justice Planning Board. Who is Mr. Arman and why would his membership on this board be a problem?

It turns out that Mr. Arman, a Somalian immigrant, is quite a fan of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU). The ICU attempted to take over Somalia last year and oust the UN backed government. As the name indicates, the ICU began as dispensers and enforcers of Islamic law (Sharia) in Somalia. During its time in power, the ICU was in the process of imposing strict Sharia on Somalia. Since the ICU has been forced from power it has been discovered that they were fostering terrorist cells. The US State Department believes that the ICU has been controlled by al-Qaeda.

One of the responsibilities of the Franklin County Criminal Justice Planning Board is Homeland Security for Central Ohio. Can we afford to have a board member who appears to approve of having terrorists run Somalia? In other writings, Mr. Arman has shown admiration for terrorists such as Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Mr. Arman’s writings also indicate that he doesn’t think the threat of terrorist activity in the United States is very severe. It seems to me quite imprudent to have this man on a board that oversees Homeland Security.

The Criminal Justice Planning Board is about more than Homeland Security. Part of the board’s responsibility is…. Criminal Justice. Criminal law in the United States of America is based on laws that have been created by duly elected representatives of the citizens of this country. Sharia is not a part of that. Mr. Arman approves of the ICU. The ICU wants to impose Sharia in Somalia. What are Mr. Arman’s thoughts concerning Sharia for the Somali community in central Ohio? Is there a conflict of interest?

While I cannot answer all of the questions I have raised here, I think it is the duty of the Franklin County Commissioners to investigate Mr. Arman’s fitness for the position he holds on the Criminal Planning Justice Board.

Write the commissioners to request an inquiry.


Commissioner Kilroy's Contact Info:
Amy Billerman,
Aide to Commissioner Kilroy
614.462.5589
aabiller@franklincountyohio.gov


Commissioner Brooks Contact Information:
RJ Sontag,
Aide to Commissioner Brooks
614.462.5729
rjsontag@franklincountyohio.gov


Commissioner Brown's Contact Info:
Laura Stehle,
Aide to Commissioner Brown
614-462-3461
mailto:ljstehle@franklincountyohio.gov

The King amendment

Here is a followup to my previous post. The King amendment is part of H.R. 1401(Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007)

SEC. 137. IMMUNITY FOR REPORTING SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES
AND MITIGATING TERRORIST THREATS RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION SECURITY.
(a)
Immunity for Reporting Suspicious Behavior- Any person who makes or causes to be
made a voluntary disclosure of any suspicious transaction, activity or
occurrence indicating that an individual may be engaging or preparing to engage
in a matter described in subsection (b) to any employee or agent of the
Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Transportation, the
Department of Justice, any Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer, any
transportation security officer, or to any employee or agent of a transportation
system shall be immune from civil liability to any person under any law or
regulation of the United States, any constitution, law, or regulation of any
State or political subdivision of any State, for such disclosure.
(b) Covered
Disclosures- The matter referred to in subsection (a) is a possible violation or
attempted violation of law or regulation relating--
(1) to a threat to
transportation systems or passenger safety or security; or
(2) to an act of
terrorism, as defined in section 3077 of title 18, United States Code, that
involves or is directed against transportation systems or passengers.
(c)
Immunity for Mitigation of Threats- Any person, including an owner, operator or
employee of a transportation system, who takes reasonable action to mitigate a
suspicious matter described in subsection (b) shall be immune from civil
liability to any person under any law or regulation of the United States, any
constitution, law, or regulation of any State or political subdivision of any
State, for such action.
(d) Limitation on Application- Subsection (a) shall
not apply to a statement or disclosure by a person that, at the time it is made,
is known by the person to be false.
(e) Attorney Fees and Costs- If a person
is named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit for making voluntary disclosures of
any suspicious transaction or taking actions to mitigate a suspicious matter
described in subsection (b), and the person is found to be immune from civil
liability under this section, the person shall be entitled to recover from the
plaintiff all reasonable costs and attorney's fees as allowed by the
court.
(f) Retroactive Application- This section shall apply to activities
and claims occurring on or after November 20, 2006.

Note that this is retroactive to November 20, 2006 in order to protect the passengers who have been sued by the flying imams and their handlers from CAIR.

Action Item: The King Amendment

There are some members of Congress who are attempting to get rid of what is know as the "King amendment" or the "John Doe amendement". The amendment is very likey to pass if it comes to a vote in either the house or Senate. However, there are those who want to kill it in committee before it can come to a vote.

To refresh your memory: Several months ago a group of imams (hence know as the flying imams) behaved in a manner on on a U.S. Ariways flight that other passsengers thought was suspicious. The behavior was reported and the flying imams were eventually removed from the plane. The flying imams later decided to sue the airline and the 'John Doe' passengers who reported them. The essence of the King amendment (so named because it was proposed by Rep. Peter King of New York) is to protect citizens who in good-faith report suspicious behavior.

For more information see Andy McArthy's article. Also Michelle Malkin's blog.

We need to contact our representatives now to make sure this amendment is passed.
Contact Nancy Pelosi, too.

Who Is In Your Mirror?

“I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.”

John Adams

I sometimes feel that I am neglecting my children. I spend a considerable amount of time watching the news, reading the news, listening to the news and reading blogs. I spend time discussing all this information with my husband and I write for my own blog. I also read books to get background on the events of times we live in. When I’m really vexed, I write my Senators and Congressman.

So sometimes my girls watch a little too much television. Sometimes they fight with each other without my intervention. Sometimes the little one gets left in her highchair a bit longer than she needs to be.

The immigration situation is out of control in this country and all that our Senate can do is try to ram their (and the President’s) agenda down our throats. We are faced with creeping Sharia and the threat of Islamic violence. Free speech is under attack. (Can you say Fairness Doctrine? Sure, I knew you could.) Public education has turned into PC indoctrination.

What is a mother to do? As I look at the long term I feel the need to become more and more of an activist. A big part of that is to urge my fellow Americans to take the same approach. While I don’t want to advocate neglecting our children in the short term, sometimes sacrifices have to be made. If we want our children to have the opportunity to be good parents some day, we may have to be less than ideal parents now.

We can make a difference. Learn a lesson from the Senate immigration bill. When we talk loudly enough, even our Imperial Senators listen. We need to educate ourselves so we can fight for our country, and fight for our freedoms. Then we need to be persistent in spreading the information we gain. Our elected officials at all levels need to know what we think.

Take a look in the mirror this Fourth of July. Who do you see? Is it a person who is going to kick back, eat a burger, watch a parade and let everything we have slip away? Or is it someone who is going to be inspired to help keep this country strong and turn the wolf away from the door? Today is the day to decide who you really want to be.

The Freedom Season

June 23 is the anniversary of the Battle Bannockburn. While (hopefully all) Americans understand the significance of the 4th of July, probably very few are familiar with June 23 and its great battle. In 1314, at Bannockburn, an outnumbered army of Scots led by King Robert Bruce routed the English. After years of guerilla warfare, King Robert and his troops gained a decisive victory in their battle for independence from English control.

After the death of King Alexander III in 1286, Scotland was left with no firm hand to rule the country. Alexander’s heir was his three year old grand daughter, Margaret, who lived in Norway. In 1290, little Queen Margaret made the journey to Scotland to take her throne. She died upon reaching Orkney. Scotland was to endure years of conflict to determine who would succeed her.

Several families traced their lineage back to King David I. Each was convinced of the superiority of its claim. On the surface this looks like just a family squabble, a medieval version of Dallas with a nation instead of an oil company as the prize. So it might have been had it not been for the conniving of England’s King Edward I. Edward wanted the Scots to acknowledge him as their overlord. Edward was accustomed to getting what he wanted.

Edward played the various Scottish factions against each other. It came down to John Comyn and Robert Bruce. Comyn appeared to be willing to bow to Edward I in order to gain his help in securing Scotland’s throne. Bruce, though somewhat of a waffler in his younger days, had decided that he would not be a puppet king.

Bruce and Comyn met at the Greyfriars Church in Dumfries on February 10, 1306. There is no way of knowing what passed between them at that final meeting. Did they argue over Comyn’s treacherous alliance with Edward? Did each plan to seize the opportunity to rid himself of his arch rival? The only certainty is that Comyn did not survive their encounter that day.

Did Bruce kill Comyn in an outraged fit of patriotism? Or did he become a patriot that day to save his own skin? Whatever the motivation, Robert Bruce had himself crowned king shortly after the murder of John Comyn. He spent the next eight years working to gain the trust, respect and loyalty of the people of Scotland. Despite having been excommunicated, he won the support of the people from all levels of society. The people of Scotland were willing to support his cause and endure the censure of the pope. In June of 1314 at the Battle of Bannockburn, the army of Robert Bruce, by God’s grace King of Scots struck the blow that would give Scotland its independence.

So why should we care? That was nearly eight hundred years ago. Does it matter to 21st century Americans or even to 21st century Scots? I think it should.

I think that Robert Bruce figured out something very important about the building and maintaining of an independent nation. It can’t be done by the nobility alone. Nor can it be achieved solely by the ‘small folk’. Every socio-economic level must be willing to not only acknowledge the other’s right to exist, but must be willing to work for everyone’s good. The Scots’ determination to create a government to suit the needs of the people should be an inspiration to us. We owe a debt to their persistence and willingness to die in the cause of freedom. Read their own words.

“Yet if he [King Robert] should give up what he has begun, and agree to make us
or our kingdom subject to the King of England or the English, we should exert
ourselves at once to drive him out as our enemy and a subverter of his own
rights and ours, and make some other man who was well able to defend us our
King; for, as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any
conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor
riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom -- for that alone,
which no honest man gives up but with life itself.”

Declaration of Arbroath, April 1320

In the Scottish Wars of Independence, we also see the seeds of the Reformation. The Scots rallied to the king of their choosing whether the pope liked it or not. The Scots asked the pope for his blessing of their king and country in the Declaration of Arbroath. There is no indication, though, in its words that they would have given up their king had the pope not heeded them.

The American Revolution built upon all of this. The brilliance of the men who wrote the Constitution of the United States is astounding. They created a system that can work for all the people no matter what their place in society. They created a government that all citizens can take part in. No one religion is to be deferred to at the expense of the rights of others.

In 1789, France began its road to “liberte, eqalite, fraternite” with the storming of the Bastille prison. Though the French Revolution was a bloody mess and did not produce the kind of stability that the American Revolution did, it still is an event to remember. It’s ideals of liberty and equality should resonate with us all.

I propose that we institute a ‘Freedom Season”. Just as we have a ‘Christmas Season’. Let us open our season on June 23 by remembering the Battle of Bannockburn and the struggle for Scottish independence. Let us end at Bastille Day on July 14 by remembering French freedom fighters. In between should be the high point of our season. Celebrate the 4th of July, our American Independence and the Constitution it produced.

“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.--That to secure these
rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from
the consent of the governed.”

Declaration of Independence July 4th, 1776

Action Item: Oppose the Senate Immigration Bill

Write to your Senators now. Tell them in no uncertain terms that you oppose amnesty and rewards for law breakers. We want border security and we want it now!

We need immigration reform, but this bill isn't the way to do it. Tell your senators to kill this bill before it gets back to the Senate floor. They need to start over and give us something useful.

These people work for YOU! Tell them what you want.

President Bush and his minions have had the unmitigated gall to call opponents of this bill racists. This is not about race, it's about doing things decently and in order. This not about bigotry, it's about the rule of law. If we give up the enforcement of our laws, then we give up our country, we give up our civilization, we very likely will give up our lives.

Action Item: Governor Strickland and CAIR

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has decided to consort with CAIR (unindicted co-conspirator in a case involving terror-mongers, HAMAS). This past Sunday, the governor spoke at a banquet held by the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Part of his speech:

“On behalf of all Ohioans, [my wife and I] appreciate your vision to promote
justice and mutual understanding. We gather under CAIR-Ohio’s theme this year,
‘American Muslims: Connecting and Sharing,’ to do just that, to connect and
share and get to know each other better.”

No, Mr Strickland, you don't speak for me. Your unmitigated gall in attending this event, much less claiming to speak for all Ohioans is very disturbing. Unfortunately, a great many of the people of this state will be unaware of your support for CAIR (did I mention they are an unindicted co-conspirator in a case regarding funding for the terrorist organization HAMAS?) do to the fact that no major newspaper in this state has bothered to report on your little love-fest with these people.

For those of you who haven't been paying attention, CAIR (don't forget, they support HAMAS) claims to be a Muslim civil rights organization. In reality, their goal is to Islamize the United States of America.

From FrontPage Magazine:

" “Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith but to become
dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest
authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth.”

This was the sentiment
of Omar M. Ahmad, the Chairman of the Board of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations or CAIR, as told at an Islamic conference held in
Freemont, California, in July of 1998. "

I suppose in their eyes that qualifies as Muslim civil rights. After all, they think that Muslim civil rights should always trump the rights of infidels.

Ohioans, if you believe in the constitution of the United States, if you believe in government of the people, by the people and for the people, write to Governor Strickland and express your displeasure with the company he keeps.

"You never write, you never call....."

On April 25th, 2007, I became aware of an opportunity for members of Congress to view the documentary “Islam vs. the Islamists” that evening. This is a film that was funded with taxpayer money. PBS then refused to air the film because certain Islamic groups had pressured them not to. I sent an email to my congressman as well as my senators urging them to view the film. I received the typical automated email reply from all three.

Yesterday, June 4, 2007, I received an email from a member of my congressman’s staff. The staff person asked me to call and discuss the email and so I did exactly that today. It turns out that I am the only one who wrote to the congressman about viewing the film. The congressman and his staff seemed to be completely oblivious about the whole situation. I explained it as best I could. I have since sent an email to the staff person with links to articles that describe the film and what has been done with it.

What should we all learn from this? Our representatives are busy people. They really can’t keep up with everything that goes on in the world. If you think an issue is important, then you have to let them know. This may have been just a fluke incident, but I’m trying to take it as a hopeful sign that our voices can be heard.

Our federal government is a behemoth. It is very easy to get discouraged by its unresponsiveness. I have voted every year since 1979. Many times I wonder why I bother. However, I have seldom taken the time to write letters to congress. It’s time for we the people to participate in our government. I look around and sometimes think that this country is out of control and can do nothing but go into its final death spiral. Maybe that’s true, but maybe not. Either way, the United States of America is our country and we can’t let it go without a fight.

Get involved. Whatever your pet issue is, fight for it. Do something to make your country better. Whether it is local, state or federal, do something to make your opinions known.

Thought for the Day:

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Galatians 3:28

Thought for the Day:

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

John 8:36

Thought for the Day:

"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
July4, 1776

Thought for the Day:

"Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."
John 8:32

Thought for the Day:

"We fight not for glory nor for wealth nor honours; but only and alone we fight
for freedom, which no good man surrenders but with his life."

Declaration of Arbroath
April 6, 1320

"When You Wish upon a Star"

Today I have read some excerpts from Christopher Hitchens' new book, God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. So much to comment on, so little time. For this post, I'll concentrate on one little gem.

“There are four irreducible objections to religious faith:… and that it is
ultimately grounded on wish-thinking.”

Okay Mr. Hitchens, I'll take the bait on this one. If I could design life my own way, here's how I'd do it.

Item # 1 on the Wish List Hit Parade: I'm am an inherently good and nice person. Any shortcomings I have are the result of bad nurturing. I can overcome those shortcomings by working hard to be good. What exactly is goodness, though? That brings me to...
Item #2 on the Wish List Hit Parade: I will create my own moral code. I will be able to live by the rules I have created. If anyone does not like my moral code, it's too bad, so sad for them.
Item #3 on the Wish List Hit Parade:I'll do lots of good works (according to my standards) and everyone will love me.
Item #4 on the Wish List Hit Parade: I am autonomous. I can control myself and my life.
Item #5 on the Wish List Hit Parade: When I die, I'll have eternal peace. I'll either totally evaporate into nothingness or I'll go to some great collective human consciousness that is shared by everyone. I haven't decided which. I'l let you know when I figure it out.

Let's take a look at the reality list in Christianity:

#1 Christian Reality:I 'm a sinner. I was born that way and I can't blame anyone else for it.
#2 Christian Reality: I have to follow God's moral code.
#3 Christian Reality: Working really hard to follow God's moral code doesn't get me anything. I already broke the law and He doesn't like that.
#4 Christian Reality: God is sovereign. He doesn't let people do any old thing they want. I have to depend totally on the work of someone else ( i.e. Jesus Christ) or things will get really toasty for me.
#5 Christian Reality: When I die I'll be held accountable. If I don't have anything other than my own goodness to present to God, then it's off to the lake of fire I go.

Christopher Hitchens, come on down, you win today's award for unmitigated gall!

Allah who?

Pakistan has banned a play that makes fun of burqas. Comments from a Pakistani lawmaker courtesy of Reuters:

"They have committed blasphemy against the Prophet (Mohammad)," Razia Aziz, a female lawmaker from the Islamist opposition alliance, told the National Assembly.

Blasphemy according my dictionary sources is:

'A contemptuous or profane act, utterance, or writing concerning God '(FreeDictionary.com)
'The act of expressing lack of reverence for God '(Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

'Impious or profane speaking of God' (The Reader's Digest Great Encyclopedic Dictionary)

'Impious utterance or action concerning God'(Dictionary.com)

Yet Muslims have the unmitigated gall to say that Christians are polytheists.

Is Christianity Deficient?

"Perhaps Christianity, despite its many great qualities, needs to be balanced out by other more worldly elements, such as attachment to nation states."

This was the parting shot by the blogger Fjordman at the end of an essay titled A Christian Background for Political Correctness?

While I found most of Fjordman’s essay to be very well done, I have to comment on his final statement quoted above. Biblically based Christianity is not an impediment to loyalty to one’s nation. Christ himself said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” This tells us that the civil government is a legitimate institution sanctioned by God. The Bible states very clearly that governing authorities are instituted by God and should be respected (Romans 13:1, 6).

This, however, is not to take the form of a grudging recognition of the government’s power over us. Instead, we are to pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Praying for others is an active form of love. Not a touchy feely warm fuzzy love, but a form of love in action. I believe there is nothing unchristian about the concept of identifying oneself with a nation state and having a love for that nation.

So are Christians to do what ever their government says? Of course not. The Bible shows us the example of Daniel and others who would not bow to false gods. If the laws of our nation are in opposition to God’s laws we have an obligation to stand against them. However, if we do live under a system that grants us freedom of religion do we have a right to defend that system from those who would have us worship false gods? I would say that it is more than a right. It is a duty.

Contrast all of this with the Islamic notion that only the laws of Islam are valid. Muslims are taught that only Islamic law should be followed in all matters, religious or civil. They say that they ought not to follow the laws of men but of God only. Christianity, on the other hand makes it clear that the governments instituted by men are done so within God’s sovereign power. It would seem that the Islamic god is too small to control the world unless every person on the planet adheres to Islam. The God of Christianity has no such problem and is quite able to use the governments of men for His own purposes.

There is no need for additions, deletions or corrections to Christianity. It is perfect as it is. The fault lies in our sinful selves and our propensity for twisting Christian doctrine to suit our own agendas.