There are many elephants in our room. Huge issues we chose to ignore or avoid. This site’s mission is to illuminate the elephants.
The elephants addressed here are the continuing war in Vietnam that threatens the integrity of our society and the Ummah War that threatens our existence.
Vietnam:
This is not about that long lost war in Southeast Asia. That is far behind us. This is about the war today for the hearts and minds of the American people. No better examples of this ongoing conflict can be found than in Barack Obama and John McCain. For their visions for the future of this culture are in conflict on the most basic principles of governance.
This site uses the design of the no longer in use flag of South Vietnam as it so clearly symbolizes this conflict. It is both a symbol of pride and shame. A symbol of heroism and cowardice. A symbol of sacrifice and waste. Avoided and denied it becomes a hidden rot that poisons our national dialog. Painfully embraced it can lead to reconciliation and then growth.
Ummah War:
We talk of the war on terror. Drug dealers are terrorists, Basque and Irish and Sri Lanken separatists are terrorists. The Mafia is terrorist. Gang members are terrorists. There are many terrorists and terrorist activities that are not part of the war on terror.
Some practice jihad as terror. But jihad is not synonymous with terror. The lesser struggle is part of an ongoing relationship between a Muslim and the world that involves many areas of spiritual and community growth and development that have nothing to do with terror. Equating the war on terror with jihad demeans many Muslims who are not terrorists and who do not support terror.
However, there is a group within Islam that believe it is their duty, their requirement, to spread Islam through the sword. To conquer and coerce non-belivers into submitting to the sword of the Prophet. The Ummah War is their war. They declared it, they pursue it, they seek victory through the submission of the world.
The Ummah War is the use of the sword to further the goals of Islam. Islam can persuade, seduce, sell, demonstrate, induce, motivate, promise, present, beg, entreat, lure and entice non-believers into choosing to join the world of Islam, the Ummah. That is not the Ummah War. If Islam can spread by example and by persuasion, that is not the Ummah War.
The Ummah War is the sword of the Prophet is action. It is bombings, beheadings, assasinations, kidnappings and beatings. It is believing that is is Allah’s will to coerce submission. That Allah wants all non-belivers either dead, in submission or converted. We fight the Ummah War when we refuse to submit.
The Ummah War is not about religion, it is about ideology. It is not about belief, it is about governance. It is about using the sword to compel obedience. The Ummah War sees no difference between accepting Islam with the sword over your neck and your spouse’s neck and accepting Islam through the kind example and invitation of friends and neighbors.
Elephant number one: The ongoing war in Vietnam. The war for the hearts and minds of the American people.
Elephant number two: The Ummah War. The war that seeks to destroy everything we treasure.
Both are elephants dancing in our living room and yet we chose not to see them.
Open your eyes and once again live in freedom.