Wednesday
DEFINING THE STATUS OF MUSLIMS
AND ISLAM IN TODAY'S WORLD!
A DIFFERENT, BUT IMPORTANT, WORD OF INTRODUCTION:
First, we want to thank all those who wrote to say they liked our new
approach of commenting at length on one major issue, and then offering only
brief comments on a few of the other issues confronting us today. We plan to
continue to follow that editorial approach in future issues. And second, this
issue marks the completion of 8 full years of ANC. Next week, on July 6,
we will begin Volume 17, and will present ANC in an entirely new format,
new features which will enable you to participate, etc. But one thing will not
change: we will continue to be Pro-Christian, Pro-Conservative, and Pro-
American in our approach to the important news issues of the day. And third,
as we don't do often enough, we want to thank you -- our thousands of "ANC
family members"-- who have helped our circulation grow from 27 names to
thousands, here in America and all over the world. Literally: we couldn't have
done it without you!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"An America that is militarily and economically strong is not enough.
The world must see an America that is morally strong with a creed and
a vision. This is what has led us to dare and to achieve."
-- Ronald Reagan, 1983
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THE FAMILIAR BRITISH METAPHOR ABOUT AN ELEPHANT
IN THE ROOM, AND THE AMERICAN IDIOM ABOUT AN
800 POUND GORILLA, SEEM TO DEFINE THE STATUS
OF MUSLIMS AND ISLAM IN TODAY'S WORLD
And in line with our new format, this will be the "at length" commentary in this
issue, with just the highlights of other important issues presented in order to
help in keeping you informed.
The term, "elephant in the room," is a way of referencing a subject or an event
or a movement which is so big that it simply cannot be ignored. The other term,
an "800 pound gorilla," is a way of referencing a person or organization so
powerful that it can act without regard to the concerns or desires of others or
any limitations of existing law. It doesn't take much of a stretch of the mind to
see how either or both of those terms define the existing situation with respect
to Muslims and Islam, their chosen religion.
As for size, as in the "elephant in the room" description, it is not easy to get
an accurate count of Muslims in America. In 2008, three different surveys
reported Muslims as a percentage of the U.S. population ranging from 0.6%
to 1.6%. In 2010 the percentages ranged from 0.6% to 2.3% -- that last one
was from the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), a controversial
organization which is much in the news. The prevailing opinions seem to favor
the report of the Pew Research Center, which presents an 0.8% figure.
As for mosques in America, in 2000 the Mosque Study Project 2000
reported a total of 1,209 mosques. By 2010 that number had increased by
65% to something over 2,000 mosques. One additional proposed mosque
has captured the attention of America and the whole world -- it is the mosque
to be built at "Ground Zero" in New York to commemorate the Muslim attack
on 9/11 which killed 2,996 people. It is obvious that Muslims in America
are like an "elephant in the room;" they are entirely too large to be ignored.
As for the other aspect, referred to as an "800 pound gorilla," the Muslims
have shown no mercy in pursuing their Quran directed goal of religious world
domination, and the killing of infidels, the non-believers in Islam. Besides the
devastating Muslim attack on 9/11, there have been an unrelenting series of
other attacks -- some resulting in killings; others foiled before they could take
effect. In addition to incidents in Detroit, MI, Portland, OR, Salt Lake City,
UT, and Times Square, NY, to mention just a few, there was the horrendous
attack at Fort Hood, TX in November, 2009. Then Army Major Nidal Malik
Hasan, a devout Muslim, killed 13, and wounded more than 30 other American
military as he shouted "Allahu akbar" (Arabic for "God is great") while firing
his weapons in a crowded room. Has he been brought to justice? No, but he
is being given excellent medical care as the result of wounds he suffered during
his murderous attack. Like the "800 pound gorilla," militant Muslims can do and
are doing just about anything they choose to accomplish their goals.
We have spoken here only of Muslim attacks in America. In previous issues
we have mentioned their relentless attacks on Christians in lands where Islam
is the dominant religion -- in Egypt, Nigeria, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, and more.
Consider just this brief word from the Rt. Rev'd. Yusuf Janfalan, Bishop of
Ikara, Nigeria about killings in that African nation just last week: “The
attackers burned not only the church but the entire village. All living
and non-living things were set ablaze." And they are not geographically
restricted in their terrorist attacks -- over the past weekend the world was
shocked to learn of a suicide bomber killing 35 women and children in a small
medical clinic in Afghanistan.
As Christians, relatively -- but not entirely -- safe here in America, we must
be concerned about the growth of Islam and the militancy of Muslims world-
wide, and our prayers must be not only for the Christian Church in America,
but for our fellow believers who face persecution and death daily in Muslim
lands throughout the world.
And for our brief commentaries on other issues: first, there is the
economy. According to Rasmussen Reports, the Consumer Index has fallen
to its lowest point in 2 years. Now just 20% of U.S. consumers think the
economy is improving; 56% think it is getting worse. 46% see Mr. Obama as
doing a poor job in handling the economy; only 34% think he is doing a good
job. That is somewhat better than voters' opinion of Congress -- only 8% think
that the Congress is doing a good job; 52% consider Congress' performance
as poor. As for the president's overall performance rating, 46% of U.S. voters
at least somewhat approve of his performance; 53% disapprove. And his Daily
Tracking Poll rating remains in the double digit negative range. (Currently -15.)
Last week Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who is by default our
source of economic wisdom, said that the Fed has no explanation as to why,
after two years into a supposed "economic recovery," signs of growth remain
disappointing, and admitted that the outlook for next year has gotten worse.
(How would you like to be a president running for re-election on that news?)
And then there is the matter of Bible prophecy: we must always
remember what Jesus said about the end times, "Of that day and hour
knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."
(Matt. 24:36) Despite this unquestionable truth, one pastor recently set
the definite date of May 21, 2011 for the Lord's return. And some nominal
"Evangelical" spokespersons see the disastrous tornado which destroyed so
much of Joplin, MO, as resulting from Mr. Obama's urging Israel to accept
a return to the pre-1967 borders.
Stepping a bit outside usual theological sources for comment, we go to
Joel Rosenberg's Blog to find his viewpoint: "In a time when economic
religious and geopolitical threats are rising....a time when so much of
the world is turning against God...a time when so many have forgotten
God in their daily lives....a time when so many think the Church is
irrelevant and/or hypocritical....and a time when many have turned
against Israel and God's Chosen People, what we need isn't a bunch
of religious hot air -- slogans, bumper stickers or platitudes. What
we desperately need is a bold and sincere and solid and revolutionary
faith that moves us to action, that moves us to know God more deeply
and serve Him more faithfully before the Day of the Lord arrives."
What is the Christian responsibility for today's problems? We have
occasionally used the familiar Christian response to the Great Commission
of Jesus Christ: "Some can go; others can give; all can pray." Prayer
is the ultimate Christian capability and responsibility -- in the words of Jesus,
"Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name; Ask and ye shall
receive..."(John 16:24). Toward that end we have been counting the days
in which we can pray for America prior to the next Election Day, Nov. 6,
2012. As of today there are just 496 days to pray for our nation, our
leaders, and for God's direction as we vote for America's future.
Texas Governor Rick Perry last week made this perceptive analysis of
our need for prayer: "Right now, America is in crisis: we have been
besieged by financial debt, terrorism, and a multitude of natural
disasters. As a nation, we must come together and call upon Jesus
to guide us through unprecedented struggles, and thank Him for
the blessings of freedom we so richly enjoy...There is hope for
America ... and we will find it on our knees."
As usual, so as to balance the Liberal bias of the media, here are
a few examples of "What Others are Saying". . .
Mat Staver (Liberty Counsel): "In America, our core values are
systematically being dismantled, making us increasingly vulnerable to
attack from radical factions that seek to destroy our religious, social,
and moral foundations - and completely redefine our society."
Rasmussen Reports (National opinion pollsters): "Americans appear
more pessimistic about the economy than they have been in months,
and also express little confidence that their elected leaders will do
anything about it."
MSNBC's Chris Matthews (on Obama's troop withdrawal plan):
"Where's the hope? If I were with the Taliban right now, I'd put a little
Post-it up on that that month in 2011, and say: 'This is when we do
OUR surge.'"
Al Lewis (Dow Jones columnist): "The Federal Reserve and the U.S.
government injected trillions into the economy, yet the recovery has
remained 'moderate' at best, for two years. Instead of generating
'shovel ready jobs,' most of that money benefited financial companies
that probably deserved to fail."
Rich Galen (Conservative political commentator): "Obama’s plan
appears to have pleased almost no one except the Taliban who have
begun measuring for drapes in Kabul for when they return to power."
And here are some random "Afterthoughts" for this week . . .
A brief thought on New York's same-sex "marriage" law: at the huge
"gay pride" parade in New York on Sunday, Governor Cuomo said, "I was
so proud and honored to be governor of this state signing this law into
effect." Governor Cuomo is a Catholic, and in the Vatican the hierarchy of his
faith have said that he can no longer receive communion. One has to wonder
if the momentary pride, and political boost his action produced is worth
abandoning a primary, basic facet of his Christian faith. Among the first
reactions from Protestant denominations has been the enthusiastic support of
the new law from the majority of Episcopal bishops in New York State.
There are times when you just feel sorry for Mr. Obama -- part of his
failure, or lack of success, as president, is due to the abysmally incompetent
staff of advisors and counselors he has surrounded himself with. Like last
week when he addressed the Army's 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum,
and he told them about his awarding the first Medal of Honor to a soldier who
didn't receive it posthumously -- except the Medal awardee, Jared Monti, died
in service in Afghanistan, and the award was made posthumously. He is so often
made to look like a klutz, when he should be looking presidential, as our chief
executive. We are reminded of his flubbing his toast to the Queen during his
recent visit to England, when he tried to talk over the traditional playing of
"God Save the Queen." (So often we reflect that we should have a president
who looks and acts -- well, "presidential.")
Well, he said it himself . . . on NBCTV's Today show on June 14, Mr.
Obama said, "I'm sure there are days when I say that one term is enough."
No argument there, but then he said that his wife was "not invested in my
husband being president." Now there is a point where his opinion might be
questioned. It seems difficult to believe that Mrs. Obama would be happy to
give up some of the perks which come with being the president's wife -- like
last week's tourist visit to internationally non-strategically significant South
Africa, where she took along her two children, her mother and a niece and a
nephew. Or her holiday last August with her daughter, at a 5 star luxury resort
in Marbella, Spain. It will be hard to give up all that; still, she may be able to
get in a few more international holiday excursions before this term ends.
More and more we find that the opinions of our Founding Fathers
apply very appropriately to our problems today . . .
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude
better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace.
We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the
hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may
posterity forget that you were our countrymen."
- Samuel Adams, 1776
- Samuel Adams, 1776
"A rigid economy of the public contributions and absolute interdiction
of all useless expenses will go far towards keeping the government
honest and unoppressive." -- Thomas Jefferson, 1823
And from a 20th century president:
"Every collectivist revolution rides in on a Trojan horse of 'emergency.'
It was the tactic of Lenin, Hitler and Mussolini. In the collectivist sweep
over a dozen minor countries of Europe ... 'emergency' became the
justification of the subsequent steps. This technique of creating
emergency is the greatest achievement that demagoguery attains."
-- President Herbert Hoover
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
