DAR AL HARB - U.S.A.: WILL AMERICA BE THE LAST CHANCE?!?

Confronting Radical Islam: Will America Be the Last Chance?
by Susan MacAllen

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In America, we are more free to dissent than anywhere on earth - still. But we need to keep it that way. American Islamic organizations criticize the freedom of expression such as that which took place at the Summit, yet use freedom of speech to justify their own activities. We must hold them accountable for this deception and twisting of our values. Journalists, clergy, politicians and other Muslims are regularly subjected to threats in America from radical Muslims. Ask Dr. Laura Schlessinger, who was not-so-politely scolded by CAIR after one radio program. Ask CNN’s Glenn Beck, who claims he is on the hit list. Ask Virginia Senator Virgil Goode, who knows firsthand what speaking against Islamists does.

It will be interesting to see what comes of the Secular Islamic Summit. It should be a source of pride to Americans that it happened here in America, where speech is truly free to an extent that even Europe doesn’t know. The Summit’s organizers and some 400 attendees see it as the beginning of a movement. They hope to discuss openly and question Islam thoroughly in years to come. The Summit issued a formal declaration of intent at its conclusion, which contains the statement: “We demand the release of Islam from its captivity to the totalitarian ambitions of power-hungry men and the rigid strictures of orthodoxy.”

This thinking comes on the heels of Ibn Warraq’s, the Summit’s Chair, who stated last year, “What we need now is an Age of Enlightenment in the Islamic world, of the Islamic mind-set or worldview. Without critical examination of Islam, it will remain unassailed in its dogmatic, fanatical, mediaeval fortress; ossified, totalitarian and intolerant. It will continue to stifle thought, human rights, individuality; originality and truth.”

If we as Americans truly support freedom and human rights in our country, we must insist that the Muslim leaders described above back off of individuals and groups who question orthodox Islam so that we can ensure free dissension in our homeland. In America, the First Amendment was designed to protect the very speech that incites controversy, specifically so that a free exchange of ideas can take place - only in this way can human society progress. Radical Muslim leaders in America need to just get used to it.


Pertinent Links:

1) Confronting Radical Islam: Will America Be the Last Chance?