One of my favorite holidays will soon be upon us, second only to Christmas. Please don’t let this holiday go by without remembering what we are celebrating!
Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Adams, September 12, 1821
I found this article linked from Pajamas Media to Family Security Matters. Adrian Morgan has written the first of four parts on Women Under Islam. This initial article addresses the hijab and it seems to be a well written with plenty of links to the sources it cites.
Positing the question, is wearing the hijab a political or religious statement, Adrian explores the recent developments in the U.K. and some European history for explanation.
According to Islam-Watch.org, “Adrian Morgan is a British based writer and artist who has written for Western Resistance since its inception. He also writes for Spero News, Family Security Matters and Faithfreedom.org. He has previously contributed to various publications, including the Guardian and New Scientist and is a former Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Society.”
Here’s some highlights.
Back in the 1980s, few young Western Muslim women wore the Muslim head scarf, or hijab. In fact it was banned in some Muslim countries for teachers and those employed by the state.
The wearing of hijabs and their subsequent bans in schools, followed by legal appeals, have changed the political landscape of the West almost as much as terrorism.
Within all this controversy, the involvement of political factions in encouraging Muslim women to wear the hijab, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, Tablighi Jamaat and Hizb ut-Tahrir, has been forgotten. Muslim women are portrayed in the media as wearing the veil through their own volition, ignoring the pervasive effects of peer pressure.
You may want to spend some time surfing through the FSM web site. My worries were that it would be an emotion filled, irrational right wing mouth piece for some opinionated snob proved invalid. Not only is the site professionally done, many of its contributors are qualified and educated men and women of solid repute.
This war is about much more than Iraq or Afghanistan. In case you haven’t quite figured that out, here’s another example of why we must win…
June 27, 2007
No.1635
Senior Al-Qaeda Sheikh: ‘May Allah Send Someone Who Will Kill Them Even More [Savagely]… Tear Their Hearts Out… Cut Their Heads Off, Tear Them Limb From Limb, and Shed Their Blood in Rivers’
The April-May 2007 issue of the jihadi e-magazine Sada Al-Jihad, published by the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF), includes an article by Sheikh Hussein bin Mahmoud [1] titled “Let Them Find Ruthlessness in You,” in which he criticizes the Muslims for being too lenient in their war against their enemies. Bin Mahmoud states that Allah commanded the Muslims to fight their enemies fiercely, without compassion or mercy, and uses Koranic verses to back up his assertions. He extols the example of Abu Mus’ab Al-Zarqawi, who cut off the infidels’ heads and struck terror in their hearts.
The catch phrase of the day is the religious intolerance of Muslims in the United States and Europe. CAIR and other groups are clamoring over racial profiling at airports, telling us we fail to understand Muslim taxi drivers who refuse fairs because the passengers have alcohol or dogs or cashiers who refuse to ring up pork products at Target stores.
But, let me show you their intolerance through this one instance posted at PrisonerAlert.com.
Prisoner Profile
PRISONER NAME Issa Motamedi Mojdehi
LOCATIONI ran (Islamic Republic of)
ARRESTED July 2006
REVISED June 27, 2007
No personal or prison address is available for Issa Motamedi Mojdehi. Please be an advocate on his behalf and contact government officials.
Issa and his wife, Parvah, attempted to register the birth of their son, Micah, who was born in January, with the civil population bureau. Selecting such a Biblical name may have caused the authorities to begin investigating this Christian family. Issa was arrested July 24th on false charges of drug trafficking.
At the time of his July 24th arrest the convert was told he must renounce Christianity or face years in jail and possible execution for his apostasy. Under Iran’s judicial system based on Islamic law, anyone who leaves Islam for another religion has committed a capital offense. Lakan Prison officials reportedly tried for days to force him to confess to being involved in illegal drug trafficking.
Using strong psychological pressures, including threats to kill his family and other Christian believers, Issa was interrogated by secret service agents and a professor of Islamic theology, who urged him to recant his Christian faith and return to Islam. Issa refused to do so.
Iranian court authorities in the Northern city of Rasht have released Issa. He was granted bail August 24th, but the judge introduced new accusations against him at this hearing. According to unnamed “confidential witnesses,” the judge said, the convert’s eight-year-old daughter, Martha, allegedly had been trying to lead other children to the Christian faith.
He was reunited with his wife, Parvah, and his two children following his release. He has moved his family to an undisclosed location, but is subject to be recalled to court. Issa converted to Christianity seven years ago. He asks, “Pray for me, that I would be stronger in my faith.” Issa told other believers that the calmness and protection God gave him during his time in prison were miraculous.
Source: Compass Direct News
I’ve been watching Fox’s presentation of the movie that PBS chose not to air. According to Gaffney, Burke and Alexiev, the makers of the documentary, PBS found it to be too alarmist in their representation.
Twenty three minutes into the show, I can almost understand why they might say that. The first twenty minutes relies heavily on an interview with a confirmed terrorist who has ties to Omar Abdel-Rahman, the Blind Sheik. No other moderate Muslim leader’s counterpoint is presented.
It is unclear at this point if Fox is presenting the entire film or select scenes. If the latter is true, then Fox certainly is taking the film slightly out of context.
Where are the interviews with moderate Muslim leaders who are speaking out against such things as Jihadism, honor killings and intimidation of moderate Muslims? Are we to believe that Frank Gaffney and Alex Alexiev, both of whom are experienced, recognized National Security experts, would purposefully slant the presentation.
Perhaps, but wouldn’t this be obvious and discredit them? And I certainly don’t want to go down another conspiracy rabbit hole.
Fifty two minutes into the film, they have not yet shown any moderate Muslim leaders. I may be going against the grain here, but I think I understand why PBS didn’t want to show this. While the film doesn’t exaggerate the problems with radical Islam, it really doesn’t present any substantial footage of moderates speaking out against radicalism.
PBS probably didn’t want to show a one sided piece, no matter how accurate it was.
I’ll continue on this later…
Over at The Weekly Standard is this Op-Ed piece by Kagan and Kristol. From a historical perspective, it is certainly an interesting parallel, but I believe flawed.
The terrorists have been mounting a slow-motion Tet offensive of spectacular attacks on markets, bridges, and mosques, knowing that the media report each such attack as an American defeat. The fact is that al Qaeda is steadily losing its grip in Iraq, and these attacks are alienating its erstwhile Iraqi supporters. But the terrorists are counting on sapping our will as the VC did, and persuading America to choose to lose a war it could win.
Militarily speaking, these two are missing some critical information from ground commanders which weakens their argument.
Additionally, most news articles fail to take into consideration the massive civil-military operations whose aim is to connect the populace and deny safe-haven for the enemy. After four years, the stability operations have had profound effect on critical areas of the country.
None-the-less, the article is worth a read.
Found over at LGF and posted on Gulfnews.com, there seems to be a conspiracy to piss off the folks of the UAE by importing toy pigs. Looking at the context of the story, there are no names mentioned, the mall isn’t identified, no picture of the offensive toy, no direct quotes from law enforcement personnel.
Either its a crappy piece of journalism or it is the typical propaganda piece aimed against Western Cultures. I’ve noticed this type of journalism coming from new sources in Mid-Eastern countries. Emotions run high, but quantifiable, verifiable facts are slim.
From our western ideals, its stupefying that a simple animal can cause such a splash in their religious/social pool. Why do they teach their children such hate for such a non-threatening being? What exactly is the threat posed? And why can’t these folk let go of such ingrained hatred?
In understanding the Systems of System Analysis, we have to first understand the Social System. At the core of any social system and culture lies the accepted beliefs. Islam core beliefs are never meant to be challenged, to do so is to invite death.
One of those core beliefs are that pigs are filthy low creatures. Hundreds of years of beliefs have never been allowed to be challenged. Any rationality of the subject might deduce that pigs are probably no worse than some other animals and in fact, may be far cleaner. I’d rather have a pig in my house than cockroaches or rats.
So here we are in the 21st Century and it seems that pure superstition dominates this culture. And I use superstition, because the fear is irrational. It will only take the loosening of religious intolerance that will allow rationality to replace blind fear. But, we’re talking some stiff social re-engineering to accomplish that!
Oh, the irony! From FARS, those poor Iranians are upset that Israel says that Iran should be wiped from the map. Oh, wait, they didn’t say that, Iran said that about Israel.
TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- The Iranian ambassador to the UN, in a letter to the secretary-general, complained that the UN Security Council has done nothing to stop Israel’s “unlawful and dangerous threats” against Iran.
Javad Zarif protested yesterday a recent statement from Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz that Israel has not ruled out military action against Iran to disable its nuclear program. He also referred to a similar statement that Zionist regime’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made in April.
”I wish to inform you that, emboldened by the absence of any action by the Security Council, various Israeli officials have unabatedly continued to publicly and contemptuously make unlawful and dangerous threats of resorting to force against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Zarif said in the letter, dated June 11. He also sent a copy to the president of the Security Council. Zarif faulted the council for not condemning the statements and for “pushing for statements against Iran based on various distortions and unsubstantiated allegations … in a failed attempt and tired smokescreen to distract the international community’s attention from the real and serious threats that the (Israeli) regime poses to international and regional peace and security.”
Hamas owns Gaza, Fatah owns the West Bank. Syria is preparing for attack Israel this summer. It’s all our fault as well as Israel’s, right? The out of touch U.N. thinks so. So why are Palestinians fleeing into Israel if given the chance? The following is an interesting read.
From Investor’s Business Daily Editorials.
Harvesting The Thorns Of Hatred Sown For 50 Years In ‘Arafatistan’
By MONA CHAREN | Posted Friday, June 15, 2007 4:30 PM PT
The New York Times reports that “two Palestinians were thrown from the roofs of high-rise buildings in Gaza City. One was an officer of the Presidential Guard, loyal to Fatah, and the other a member of the Executive Force, which was set up by Hamas as a counterweight to the Fatah-dominated official security forces…”
Who is responsible for this savagery? Why, the U.S. and Israel, of course. So declared the United Nations envoy to the Middle East, Alvaro de Soto, in a “confidential report” shared with The Washington Post.
Read the whole article below the fold…
In this photo, taken at Keesler AFB (1958), my dad, in his early twenties, finishes his basic training. He recently sent me this photo, giving me a startling vision of how much I looked like him as I grew up. I guess through typical adolescent denial, I refused to accept my genetics. Now, as I get older, I find myself turning into my father.
Anyway, to pay homage to my dad, here’s a little bit of his history. The following was taken from Wikipedia.
Keesler Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Biloxi, Mississippi.
In early 1956, Keesler entered the missile age by opening a ground support training program for the Atlas missile. In 1958, all control tower operator, radio maintenance, and general radio operator courses came to be under Keesler’s already broad technical training roof.
His 20 years of service as an instrumentation technician allowed him the opportunity to work on missile systems and test air craft, to include the Hound dog missile and several different models of the F16 and the B1. Because we lived on a test base, these aircraft were in the experimentation stage. Dad retired from the Air Force in 1979 from Edwards AFB, but kept the family in the area so that us boys could finish high school at the base. He is now pretty much retired after spending the last 15 or so years working at several defense contractors. Now, he volunteers his time to teach computers to other retired folks.
And through all that hard work, he helped raise 4 boys and a girl. No easy task on an enlisted man’s pay.
Thanks, Dad! Have a great Father’s Day.
H/T Michelle Malkin
Tom Tancredo, with fairly good support, gets his amendment passed to cut funding for “Sanctuary” cities. Seems to be a great move for getting these cities back in line with public sentiment. Denver and San Francisco, both considered to be sanctuaries for illegal immigrants would not receive funding for first responder programs, law enforcement or terror prevention grants.
Seems that some sanity is coming back to our law makers. I just wish Mr. Bush would start listening. As Michelle says, too bad the White House isn’t sending this threat.
A strike against Sanctuary Nation
By Michelle Malkin · June 15, 2007 07:48 PM
There was a glimmer of hope on the shamnesty landscape today in the House. Stalwart immigration enforcement proponent Tom Tancredo won approval–by a significant margin–of his amendment banning DHS funds for renegade sanctuary cities.
After reading through some recent blogs, I’ve noticed lots of authors developing lists (they call ‘em memes?) and sharing these with their readers. So, I thought I’d try my hand at one.
Growing up, there were some TV shows that I often watched and to this day hold a special place in my heart. For better or worse, here are my top shows that stand out in my mind some 30 - 35 years later.
1. Mr. Peabody and the WABAC (wayback) machine. Remember ole bespectacled Mr. Peabody and Sherman, his adopted kid? Loved that one, where they’d travel back in time to meet historical figures only to realize that things were going wrong? Mr. Peabody and Sherman would have to help the poor schmuck so that history would turn out right? The show was part of the Rocky and Bullwinkle show, which also had the “Fractured Fairy Tales”.
2. Sigmund and the Sea Monsters. No, no, no, this wasn’t one of my favorite shows, but I include it because it was so horrible and continues to scar me to this day. Even at 9 years old when the show started (1973), I knew this one was wrong in so many ways! And that damn theme song just won’t go away… Johnny Wittaker, from Family Affair (1966-1971) starred in this piece of dreck. A Family Affair almost made it into my list, but I absolutely hated Mrs. Beazley! SATSM was a Sid and Marty Krofft production, the same team that brought us the subliminal druggie show H.R. Pufnstuf and the equally atrocious Liddsville (RIP to Charles Nelson Reilly (2007), who starred in this one).
3. The Banana Splits Adventure Hour. For years I thought this show was a dream until the Internet arrived and various nostalgia websites proved it’s existence. None of my family seemed to remember this one. Yep, the Banana Splits were real or at least existed. A collection of dorks dressed as animals, they perhaps have one of the most bizarre theme songs, “la la la, la la la, one banana, two banana, three banana, four…” And what were they again? A dog, elephant, gorilla and lion?
4. My Favorite Martian. Bill Bixby and Ray Walston (1963). It went into syndication in 1966 after being canceled that same year. My memories come for watching the reruns while lying on the living room couch the times I stayed home sick from school. What stands out most in my mind was that weird little noise when Uncle Martin’s antennas popped out of his head. And even at my young age, I thought the show must have been too cheap to build a full size flying saucer, so they played up that silly one stuck in Tim O’Hara’s garage.
5. The Courtship of Eddie’s Father. Odd that Bill Bixby would be in two of my choices, but Eddy, his dad, and Mrs. Livingston really made an impression on me. Perhaps because I came from a fairly stable and conservative family, I couldn’t quite get over the fact that poor Eddy had lost his mom. The one moment that stands out the most… Eddy’s voice-over joke to his dad, “Dad, you know how to tell a happy motorcycle rider?” “No.” “From the bugs on his teeth.” Why does our brains latch onto these inane little moments in time and never let go?
Special mention: The Hudson Brother’s Show. The show was hysterical, but it was Rod Hull and his Emu that caused the biggest riot in our household. The poor Australian would inadvertently provoke his Emu and be viciously, yet hilariously attacked! I’ll never forget my brothers and I rolling on the floor in fits of laughter!
Special NO mention: The Bugaloos. Enough said, jeez that show was absolutely horrible! If it weren’t for Joy (played by Caroline Ellis) and her little mini-skirt, I doubt I ever would have watched it.
Let’s get into the ”way-back machine” and visit a portion of a blog I wrote back in March and remember what’s happening in Lebanon, Gaza, Baghdad, Thailand, Somalia, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Algeria, Ethiopia, Yemen, Sudan, Indonesia and the Phillipines, all in the name of the religion of “peace”… All photos are AP or Reuters.
11 The angel of the LORD also said to her:
“You are now with child
and you will have a son.
You shall name him Ishmael, [a]
for the LORD has heard of your misery.
12 He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone
and everyone’s hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
toward [b] all his brothers.” Genesis 16 (New International Version)
I’ve altered the following post from Atlas Shrugs. See if you can pick out the changes. If any part of what you read next had any shred of truth, don’t you think the world would be outraged, calling for the arrest/detention/stopping of the Christian faith?
Private undercover team exposes nationwide network of radical, anti-U.S. Christian centers INSIGHT Magazine hat tip Pim’s ghost. Hundreds of Christian centers in the United States have become a hot-bed of extremist activity; they promote violence, terrorism and hatred against Islam. “Our initial investigation has concluded there are between 400 to 500 radical Christian centers in the U.S.,” said David Gaubatz, the director of counterintelligence and counterterrorism for the Society of Americans for National Existence. “In those places, they preach an extreme version of Christianity that says Islam and the East is the enemy. They espouse violence, hatred and the need for terrorism.”
Churches and “Christianity centers” must be monitored.
Gaubatz is a former senior U.S. intelligence official, who now works for the Mapping Gospel in America Project (http://www.mappinggospel.com/), which is supported by SANE, a national non-profit group devoted to investigating the 2,300 Christianity centers in the U.S. for extremist activity.
SANE’s President, David Yerushalmi, of Mapping Gospel will be on Atlas on the Air next Tuesday evening.
Gaubatz and his investigators are currently active and will soon form a team of about 12. They pose as people interested in converting to Christianity or who are current Christians. Their goal is to infiltrate churches and christian centers.
Sporting no beard and conservative dress, Gaubatz said he went on May 18 to the center, pretending to be an Middle Easterner interested in becoming a convert to Christianity. He discovered the center espoused terrorism and jihad against Islam.
“They are teaching what they call Jihad Qital, which means physical jihad,” Gaubatz said. “They’re teaching violence and hatred of the Mid-East.”
No, it can’t be true, Christianity is a religion of peace, you must be tolerant of us, accept us and allow us our own places to pray in your airports, let us refuse to handle your pork products while you buy groceries, we should be able to refuse to drive you in our taxis because you carry alcohol, you must allow “Christian” day in school, but not allow Muslim prayer groups. You must allow our students to pray before a football game, but never allow them to prayer day for cultural sensitivity.
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