Clarification?

I used to think I was a good writer, but apparently not. My last post received a lot of comments on Facebook, and many of them made me think I did not send the message I meant to send.

My main message is that there are people in the world who have declared their desire, and are actively trying to motivate others to act, to reduce the freedoms we have in the USA, and that people in other countries have, by putting into place their version of law, based on their religion.

We need to be aware, be observant, and guard our rights through the legal, peaceful means we have. This includes making our lawmakers aware of what we want, and asking them to be steadfast in protecting our constitutional rights.

No matter which group is being fanatical and trying to impose their views on me, I resist it and think it is not right. I defend their right to speak their mind and request what they want, but there are limits to the actions that follow, if it impinges on rights we have agreed to have in our society and under our chosen government.

A hallmark of our government is its ability to change. That is generally a good thing. I just don't want the Bill of Rights to be repealed. I think that is far too much a core of our society and the structure of American Government. If it is in danger, we must protect it and ourselves to continue in the vision of our founding fathers. I don't want to see those rights eroded.

Precious Freedom

I saw a scary movie last night. There were no ghosts, goblins, monsters, or aliens from other worlds in it. It was scary because it had to do with the erosion of American ideals from within our borders as a next step in a move to bring sharia law (Islamic Law) to everyone on the planet. The movie was called "The Third Jihad" and talked about the "cultural jihad" already underway world wide.

Now I'm a very tolerant person, accepting other's differences and also recognizing that I have often been a minority. I have always wanted to learn about and accept other's cultures. It's one of the things I love about travel -- it gives an opportunity to see and experience new things. I like talking to people, and learning about how we are similar and how we are different.

I do this with an attitude of respect and acceptance, even if the culture and choices are not ones I want to make part of my day to day existence. I believe in embracing diversity and being strengthened by the unique talents we all bring to bear.

What I struggle with, is those who are not tolerant, who feel they should tell me how to live, even if I live within the law, not harming any one or any thing. I support the freedoms we have in America and recognize that our nation was founded as a place where these freedoms and human rights would exist.

The first settlers in America were those seeking religious freedom. While within their tight communities there were strict codes of conduct, those in that community chose to be able to practice their religion, and they accepted its strict rules. They allowed those who did not believe like them to live outside of their community.

I have a problem with religions that indicate that everyone must be converted to that religion in order for the fulfillment of prophecies to come true. There are those who would force the conversion, or kill those who do not believe. To me that is not acceptable. A benevolent g-d would not work that way. Fundamentalists of all ilks frighten me.

I am happy to have the freedoms we have in America: freedom of speech, of the press, of religion. I am glad we've evolved to the point where we have equal rights regardless of gender, religion, race, etc. I am happy to have the ability to criticize government leadership and policy, and to influence change. As an educated, independent woman, I am glad to be living in a time like ours where women have the freedom to be educated, pursue a career, be a full time parent, or to do anything else they desire. I am glad men have these rights too.

I believe in tolerance. I believe that as long as my rights are not infringed upon and you are not causing harm or breaking laws that what you do is not my business, nor is mine yours.

A place where there is free thought, free speech, free action, and opportunity for all: this is the America in which I want to live.

The movie scared me. It outlines how radical Islamic leaders clearly state that they want everywhere in the world to obey Islamic Law. There would be no separation of Church and State. The choices would be to convert to Islam, submit to it, or be killed as an infidel. Women would have no rights and could be killed by their family for offenses like talking to a man or not wearing a head scarf or being raped. Homosexuals would be executed. Corporal punishment and violence would be the rule of the day. Muslims who believe in less strict interpretation of Islamic law would also be dominated and subject to the same harsh rule. The movie mentioned a case in the USA, in Georgia, where a father performed an "honor killing" because his teenage daughter did not want to wear a head scarf.

Today some Islamic countries do not allow other religious structures to exist. No churches, synagogues or practicing of any other religion is allowed. Carrying a bible is a cause for arrest. Women are accosted on the street if hair is showing under their scarf or if their skirts are not long enough, or their coat is not loose enough. They can be arrested for this.

The movie indicated that we and other western countries have our freedoms used "against us" by being a way for propaganda to be spread, for "political correctness" to undermine our ability to say what appears to be happening. Any slight criticism of anything Islamic is a major issue and is an instance of prejudice and intolerance.

Take, for example, the Danish cartoon depicting Mohamed. Instead of being satire, as we accept political cartoons of all kinds here, it was an international incident and the cartoonist received death threats. There were public apologies. There were many more examples. The movie said that every time we back down this way, instead of standing up, we lose ground. We open the door wider for giving up our freedoms in the name of being tolerant and politically correct.

After the movie screening, there was a panel discussion. I was struck by a comment made by Lieutenant Colonel Allen West, who had served in Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Afganistan, and several other operations that I don't recall well enough to write their names here. I consider him to be knowledgeable on the subject of Middle Eastern Islamic ideaology. The audience applause cut off the last part of his statement, but basically it was that if tolerance is not a two-way street, then there is a problem.

I see intolerance of anything other than Islamic law in the outcry against things like the cartoon, and the message the Imams and some world leaders are clearly articulating: that Shariah Law should be the law of every land, and that those not following it, or not following strictly enough, are infidels and need to be converted or killed.

I believe in tolerance and acceptance. I believe in human rights. I believe in the Constitution, and in the ability of the people to change the government with ammendments to that Constitution. I believe in guarding those freedoms, and not giving them away. As Benjamin Franklin wrote "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. " I believe in our way of life, even with the many lifestyles I would not choose and the problems we may have. It is still preferable to losing freedoms and liberties and living in a religious police state run by radicals.

This scares me, and I want to influence my political leaders to help stand up for our freedoms, with a watchful eye to not letting them be quietly eroded away in a cultural jihad, that can be won simply by allowing the birthrate to create a majority within a few generations. In America, tolerance must work in both directions.