Thursday, June 11, 2009
I am not going to ascribe to all Baptists the biblical stylings of Wiley Drake.
He’s the preacher from California, a former vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, who told Fox News he prays for Barack Obama to die.
Drake has an ironclad explanation should the Secret Service show up at his door. He says it’s not Wiley Drake talking, but God talking through Wiley Drake. Whatever.
I think no less of Christians because this one says it is God’s will that the popularly elected leader of the free world buy the farm at 47.
Neither will I assail Christianity because the Old Testament reeks of militarism and vengeance. That would be unfair.
So, why, when America has 7 million peaceable, hardworking Muslims in its midst, do we continue to hear Americans say this about them:
“Their faith dictates that we nonbelievers of Islam must be violently put to death.” So said an anonymous post on our Web site last week after Obama spoke in conciliatory tones to the Muslim world in Egypt. This person simply was parroting what he’d heard others ascribe to Muslims in general. When their hands are called on it, some will qualify with “militant Muslims” or “radical Muslims.” That’s supposed to get them off the hook, leaving an intended slur of millions intact.
Authoritative source
After hearing this claim for the quadrillionth time, that followers of Islam are commanded to kill non-Muslims, I did what a parrot would never consider doing. I inquired. Not of Google. Not of Fox News. I inquired at the mosque.
In Waco, that’s the place adjoining Al’s Auto Repair — Al being Al Siddiq, president of the Islamic Center of Waco.
The anonymous poster probably would insist that I seek out a militant Muslim, not Siddiq, who is about car repair and peace. Good point. Siddiq is so interested in brotherhood that he also is president of the Greater Waco Interfaith Conference. (Originally it was the Conference of Christians and Jews. Several years ago it was renamed to be made more inclusive.)
Siddiq said the line in the Quran calling to “fight and slay the pagans” hearkens back to rhetoric when followers of Mohammed were warring with idol-worshipping Arabs — yes, Arabs — in a far-off century.
It has nothing to do with today, unless exploited by someone tetched in the head theologically, like, say, a Wiley Drake.
Speaking of far-off words, Siddiq said that if non-Christians read Deuteronomy the way some Christians interpret a single line in the story of Islam, they would flee this country.
“Kill any friends or family that worship a god that is different than your own.” Deuteronomy 13:6-10.
Are the voices of Islam and those of Christianity on a collision course? Not if one reads their sacred books, Siddiq said. In fact, he points out that the Quran mentions Jesus more often than it does Mohammed. It preaches about eternal salvation for the doers of good works.
Siddiq said he’d never heard about virgins and various eternal rewards for Islamic warriors until some of them, in suicidal blasts, left their blackened marks on the landscape.
He said religion is not driving the violence associated with radical Islam. What drives it is despair, economic hopelessness and the plights of marginalized people.
Though he’s a devout Muslim, when Siddiq uses “we,” he’s not referring to Islam. He’s referring to his country, a nation for which he served in uniform.
He’s as patriotic as any American, but he knows why many in the Third World distrust the West. It’s because of a history of invading, colonizing and exploiting people and resources.
Siddiq would not live anywhere else, however, or salute another flag. And the last thing he wants is conflict. He wants to live his life based on the tenets of his faith.
If the essence of Christianity is the Golden Rule, Siddiq said the essence of Islam is, “Serve mankind.” Some conflict.
John Young’s column appears Thursday and Sunday. E-mail: jyoung@wacotrib.com.
Comments
By BobB
Jun 12, 2009 4:45 PM | Link to this
John -- Your column and the many comments here show why Central Texans will miss you. There are pleny of us who welcome your insights and the refreshing news your bring - Saddiq's story is surely uplifting - and there are plenty more who need to hear and learn from you.
By john young
Jun 12, 2009 11:00 AM | Link to this
John Young responds
Clarification is needed per Sammy's comments. The online version was changed after readers pointed out instances of Muslim invasions/exploitations that contradicted a line in my column. Sammy is right. I should pointed out the online change here so as to not make any discriminating reader look foolish, but I wasn't keeping an eye on the blog posts.
By anonymous
Jun 12, 2009 7:37 AM | Link to this
sammy:
No, it is not kosher to change the original posted copy in an article and then fail to post a comment alerting readers to the change in content or wording.
By Warren
Jun 12, 2009 4:06 AM | Link to this
Wrong about this as well...
"What drives it is despair, economic hopelessness and the plights of marginalized people."
There is no link between Islamic terrorists and their economic condition, education background or social class.
For example, most of the 9-11 highjackers were very well educated from prominent families.
You find whatever youıre looking for in the books good or bad,
Khalid al-Mihdhar was born in May 1975 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia to a prominent family, related to the Quraysh tribe of Mecca.
Mohamed Atta was born on September 1, 1968 in Kafr el-Sheikh, located in Egypt's Nile delta region.[6] His father, Mohamed el-Amir Awad el-Sayed Atta, was a lawyer, educated in both sharia and civil law. His mother, Bouthayna Mohamed Mustapha Sheraqi, came from a wealthy farming and trading family and was also educated. In 1985, Atta entered Cairo University, where he studied engineering. As one of the highest-scoring students, Atta was admitted into the very selective architecture program during his senior year. In addition to his regular courses, Atta studied English at the American University in Cairo.[11] In 1990, Atta graduated with a degree in architecture.[12] For several months after graduating, Atta worked at the Urban Development Center in Cairo, where he worked on architectural, planning, and building design.
Osama bin Laden is from very wealthy family as well.
By sammy
Jun 11, 2009 9:46 PM | Link to this
Jeremiah, thanks for the unsolicited and unnecessary history lesson. I wasn't addressing the good or evil of invasions, nor did I use the modifier, "divine." I was merely trying to correct the completely erroneous impression that the "West" was alone in having "a history of invading, colonizing and exploiting people and resources," as implied by Mr. Young.
Incidentally, without comment or notice, THE OFFENDING SENTENCE (3rd. paragraph from the end) HAS BEEN REVISED SINCE ITS ORIGINAL APPEARANCE ONLINE, AND SINCE MY POST MAKING REFERENCE TO IT, WHICH READ: "IT WASN'T FORCES OF ISLAM THAT OVER CENTURIES INVADED, COLONIZED AND EXPLOITED PEOPLE AND RESOURCES." THE ORIGINAL ONLINE VERSION CAN BE VERIFIED BY READING TODAY'S NEWSPAPER, WHICH CONTAINS THE EXACT SAME VERBIAGE. THE REVISED VERSION, AS IT NOW APPEARS IN THE ONLINE EDITORIAL ABOVE, READS: "IT'S BECAUSE OF A HISTORY OF INVADING, COLONIZING AND EXPLOITING PEOPLE AND RESOURCES."
I don't mind the revision, especially since I'm the only one calling attention to its necessity. However, is it kosher to make online revisions and changes after the fact without some comment or notice by the writer or newspaper? Hmmmmm! Just wondering.
By Jeremiah
Jun 11, 2009 6:27 PM | Link to this
Sammy,
If we are going to talk about divine invasions, we can not leave out the fact that christians were the ones who lead the crusades, or when the Spanish christians came over to North America and completly decimated an entire race of people. No one faith can claim to have always been peacful. While christianity and Islam are peacful faiths, it is the followers of these faith that succumb to greed and power and begin their quest for more of it.
By Imez
Jun 11, 2009 5:43 PM | Link to this
John Young, you have to be the most ignorant of all writers. You say the word "hate" isn't in the bible. How about reading Malachi 1:3 and Romans 9:13. I could give you some more lessons in God's inspired, infallible word, but you are so ignorant that you wouldn't understand. The severity of the law given to Moses did require literal death for certain sins. Your lack of understanding that Jesus fulfilled that old law and that we are now under the law of Christ Jesus, a spiritual law rather than the literal law that the Jews had to meet, would be too much for you carnal hardhearted mind. Perhaps you are among those referred to in Romans 8:9. BTW, read the original 1611 Kings James Translation and don't waste your time on man's revised writings.
Sure glad you are leaving Waco and the Tribune. But I feel badly for Colorado.
By Virginia Crilley
Jun 11, 2009 5:39 PM | Link to this
Your thoughtful columns are always right on the mark. My thoughts have been along these same lines today as it seems like more and more hate is being spewed out and with tragic results.
"If the essence of Christianity is the Golden Rule, Siddiq said the essence of Islam is, ıServe mankind.ı Your closing sentence says it all.
So many vile crimes have been committed in the name of religion and God -- we forget the real teachings of Jesus while here on earth.
By sammy
Jun 11, 2009 4:38 PM | Link to this
"Heıs as patriotic as any American, but he knows why many in the Third World distrust the West. It wasnıt forces of Islam that over centuries invaded, colonized and exploited people and resources."
This quote from your editorial really must be challenged; not the first part but the latter. You must have been absent from World History class the day they covered the Islamic conquest and control of most (later only parts) of Spain from 711-1492, and a small part of France until 975. Considering their militant history, are we to believe that the far-flung spread of Islam was achieved by strictly peaceful means; that Islamic evangelizers peacefully converted Christian Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) [the heart and soul and birthplace of gentile Christianity, thanks to the Apostle Paul and friends] into an Islamic caliphate?
The Islamic conquest, five-century rule, and conversion of the Christian Balkans (Kosovo, Albania, Chechnya in Russia, etc.) to Islam was also a peaceful movement, right?
John, you're not an atheist or agnostic as I surmised. You've become a Quran/Koran-thumper. When did that happen?
By Barbara Truehitt
Jun 11, 2009 12:34 PM | Link to this
Thank you again John Young for giving valid unbiased information. You hit the nail square on the head. If we let hate and scare tactics influence our opinions and lives and our "religious leaders" start praying for other people to die, that does not speak well for Christians. Is that what Jesus would do? If I remember right as Jesus was being crucified he asked his father to forgive them for they know not what they do. My opinion is that path of hate seems to reek of brimstone as it travels to the lower regions. Thank you Al Siddiq for your reference to Deuteronomy 13:6-10. He is right. Good going on Al Siddiq and John Youngs part. Their level heads and sound thinking is what we need more of in our community. Christians should not condemn people on hearsay or just because someone is different. I thought Christianity was about loving one another, Agape? I am going to miss you John Young. Please keep your column coming to us in the Trib and know you are truly appreciated. You are a brilliant wordsmith and I admire your skills.
Barbara Truehitt
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