Tuesday, September 25, 2007

What don’t Americans understand? - Part II

“The Palestinian Issue”

Muslim’s respond to inquiries concerning terrorist acts against the United States as self-inflicted because Americans do not understand the “Palestinian Issue”. Most of the Islamic world condemns terrorism, but characterizes their terrorists as freedom fighters. If America would only side with the Palestinians instead of always backing Israel (dubbed the “True Terrorists”) the terrorist attacks upon Americans would cease. In essence, the United States must agree to the fact that Israel has no right to exist. Muslims and/or Arabs imply that American handling of the “Palestinian Issue” is the main reason Islamic “Freedom Fighters” exist all over the world. Let’s look into this “Palestinian Issue” from the beginning shall we?
The trouble began in 1948 when the United Nations agreed to partition the area into Palestine and Israel. This could only happen because Harry Truman was finally convinced to acknowledge Israel as a nation. There was no Palestinian Kingdom at the time, just a UN Protectorate (consisting of Sheikdoms and Kibitzes) administered by Great Britain whose army was constantly besieged by Israeli terrorists (Freedom Fighters?). Once Israel was established, this allowed the British to “Get out of Dodge” and leave the Israelites to defend themselves. Syria, Egypt and Jordan announced they would wipe Israel from the map. Unfriendly Palestinians (who aligned themselves with these Arab countries) were forcefully driven out by the Israelis. Those who did not mind the partitioning remained friendly and either stayed (to be attacked along with the Jews) or fled to avoid the violence, bringing the total refugee count to 750,000. Camps were established in Arab counties to house these refugees and ever since these “temporary” camps have been maintained through money provided by the UN (about 33% coming from America and about 3% coming from the richest contingent, all the Arab countries combined.)
It is interesting to note that many refugee camps were established at the end of World War II, but none of them existed for more than a few years even though the map of the world had changed extensively after the war. Why are there still Palestinian “refugee” camps almost 60 years later? Well, Americans do understand that if these “refugees” (How many millions now?) were assimilated and the camps disappeared, there would be no Palestinian issue and therefore no reason to destroy Israel. Keeping these camps going also helps foster hatred for Israel, especially from those forced to exist in their squalor. There is also one more thing that we Americans do understand and that is that even if Israel was gone and the “Palestinian Issue” was resolved, America would still be considered “The Great Satan” by Islamic Extremists. Since these extremists are the driving force behind the terrorist attacks, the United States would still be a target. The reason we would be considered “The Great Satan” will be discussed in my third, and final, rant on this subject.

Monday, September 10, 2007

What don’t Americans understand?

I am offended by statements such as: “America is under attack by Islamic Terrorists because it doesn’t understand...The Palestinian Issue…the Middle Eastern Mind set…Muslim values and has brought this trouble down upon itself because Americans just don’t realize that they are part of the problem”. People insist that if we would only take the time to understand these issues and negotiate in good faith with the terrorists instead of trying to destroy them, peace will prevail.
To this line of reasoning I respond “HORSE FEATHERS and BULL HOCKEY!” I will explain my position and reasoning through a series of rants and my first deals with the assertion that Muslims are a peaceful, religious people who do not advocate terrorism; Islam is a religion of peace; terrorism is not a part of Islam.
I won’t argue with that reasoning; most religions claim the same. However, more people have been massacred for religious reasons than any other. If you don’t believe me just look at the Genocides inflicted upon…Native Americans by Spanish Christians; Jews by Nazi Atheists through the Holocaust; the Armenians, Assyrians and Coptic Greeks due to “relocations” perpetrated by Turkish Muslims. Are not all the deaths caused by all the Crusades attributable to religious beliefs? What about the deaths incurred due to clashes between Irish Catholics and Protestants? Did you know that after Catholicism was outlawed in England, you could be killed just for being a Catholic? Even the Jews cannot be exempted from this discussion if you believe in the Bible’s Old Testament or the Torah in their treatment of the Philistines and Canaanites.
So to simply state that your religion does not condone “Terrorism” (even when that is true) does not absolve a group from practicing terrorist tactics. This is an important point to be made because most Muslims do not believe that the attacks on Israel or Coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan or anywhere where Muslims are fighting falls under the umbrella of terrorism. What Americans DO understand is that we are lumped in, as “The Great Satan”, with everything Israeli by most Muslims, and anything done to the Israelis and their supporters is not terrorism, merely justifiable actions.
So what do we Americans have to learn about this Middle Eastern mind set? Are we to sever all ties with Israel? Are we to let Israel be destroyed? I pray to God we never cut Israel adrift, but I am worried it may happen. I believe that one reason for the assault against Christianity in America is to facilitate cutting bonds with Israel because that is one thing no true Christian can ever do. Why? Because if you believe in the bible, then you believe that it is a Christian’s duty to stand by the Jews. So what we need to teach the World is that just because we believe that Israel has the right to exist (and we will never waiver on this point) doesn’t mean that we are fair game for Terrorists. We need to show the world what happens to those who kill our citizens and allies and friends. And we did this by declaring war against terrorism so attempting a truce with these assholes is only a show of weakness, which is not good in the Middle East. My next edition will cover the “Palestinian Issue”. Please feel free to comment.