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Kill Us Too: We Are All Americans

altmuslim.com — A prominent Muslim American responds to Al-Qaida's call to kill Americans.

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  • Dewhead, on 10/12/2007, -7/+110All of mankind --every nation, every religion, every race must not tolerate this indiscriminant killing by these bloodthirsty psychopaths. They are using their "religion" as a reason to slaughter and anyone's blood will do. Americans aren't the only ones they have murdered----every nation has lost innocent citizens--India, Great Britian, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and the list goes on and on. My fear is that many more will be lost before the world wakes up and says "enough is enough".

    • Paroparo, on 10/12/2007, -131/+30Damn right. Out with Bush!


      Wait, who were you talking about again?
    • gameboyhippo, on 10/12/2007, -6/+29Enough is enough. If we can get the world to unite behind a stance of no tolerence of terror, especially the cooperation of nations where terrorists live, we can imprison more terrists and protect citizens.
    • theragu40, on 10/12/2007, -6/+62@Parokki
      This article has nothing to do with President Bush. Why would you even bring it up? It's irrelevant and not nearly as funny as you think it is.

      As for this article...amazing. I wish more Americans could read this and realize the views held by the vast majority of Muslim Americans. Maybe that would help stop the prejudice toward them.
    • Yez70, on 10/12/2007, -61/+30Don't forget the Christians used their 'religion' for the very same purpose less than 500 years ago. First the crusades, then the inquisition.

      And people still want to argue there should not be a separation of church and state...
    • Xinareiaz, on 10/12/2007, -15/+57Yeah, 500 years ago
      then we realized how stupid we were and stopped.
    • uttles, on 10/12/2007, -49/+30500 ***** years ago, you *****!!! We're talking about TODAY, in 2006. ***** hell!!!
    • masamunecyrus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+28Really, to me, it the whole situation in the Middle-East is, more or less, an unorganized guerilla crusade.
      Christians had a go at it during the Middle Ages and now, being that they're currently stuck in a Middle-Age mindset, the Muslims are having a go at it.

      Unfortunately, it took us damn near half a millennia to get ourselves out of that abhorrent period, and it'll likely take them just as long.
    • DJcrayon, on 10/12/2007, -3/+32The christian killing in the crusades was wrong just as this situation. We should remember the past, but not repeat it!
    • AMCer, on 10/12/2007, -33/+13"Don't forget the Christians used their 'religion' for the very same purpose less than 500 years ago. First the crusades, then the inquisition."

      You're an idiot.

      #1- Every crusade started because muslims attacked/took first. (I discount the named crusades because they were not fought in the middle east.)

      #2- Every group has people who will abuse it. The difference between Christianity and Islam is that Jesus never said to kill anyone. He always taught tolerance. Conversely, Islam teaches killing. People who kill in Christ's name are not following Jesus' teachings.

    • masamunecyrus, on 10/12/2007, -6/+13@Yez70:

      Well, that's because there is no "seperation of church and state." That phrase was used in a letter from Thomas Jefferson (maybe it was someone else, I forget). Our constitution only made the point that the government shall not officially recognize any religion, and it should not NOT recognize any religion. Moreover, our government is not to delve into the affairs of any church, and there should be religious obligations as a qualification to any office in the government.

      In otherwords, when the government has "One Nation Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, I would consider that unconstitutional. However, when the religious symbols and behaviors of individuals are prohibited from being displayed, that, in my opinion, is also unconstitutional.

      Under no circumstances should the U.S. government ever recognize a religion and acknowledge it. Conversely, under no circumstances should the U.S. government ever recognize a religion and prohibit it, i.e., ban Christmas trees in public buildings, or prohibit the use of the term, "God bless America." Religion is, afterall, an ideology, and the belief of the non-existance of a God or supernatural being is also an ideology. Banning Christmas trees and prohibiting the showing of faith is just the same as the government sponsoring a religion -- because if religions are ideologies, then the government sponsoring religion A and forcing people to listen and follow its beliefs is no different than the government sponsoring the belief of the lack of religion and forcing people to follow its beliefs. In both cases, the government is sponsoring an ideology and forcing its beliefs and behaviors onto other people.

      To sum it all up: The government should not force people to follow the practices of a religion, and the government should not force people to follow the practices of the belief of the lack of religion -- both practices are one in the same. The government should stay out of religious debates and leave that to the people. If people don't like prayers at ballgames, that's fine. They'll stop coming and our free market will realize that the prayers are driving off business, and they will cease the prayers. If a government employee is wearing a cross and people complain, they should treat it like any other customer-oriented business and ask them to refrain from wearing the cross. If they refuse to comply, then they should be fired -- it wouldn't be discrimination against a religion, it would simply be the logical course of action to take against someone who is supposed to be helping customers, but is instead offending them. There is no reason for the government to become involved in ideologies and, I would argue that it's even unconstitutional for the government to become involved in such things.
    • bloqmon, on 10/12/2007, -6/+13Many of you commenting are failing to separate the radical fundamentalist Jihadists from the general Islamic populace. Although it seems like every Middle Eastern Arab is a terrorist, they are not. It only seems that way because its all we hear about in the news. There are over 1.5 billion Muslims in the world and yet all we seem to do is label every last one of them as terrorists. That being said, we are no better than them. We have killed more civillians in our war on terror than they have in their war against western globalization. We need to stop stooping to their level.
    • CorpT, on 10/12/2007, -10/+12Because it wouldn't be digg without someone pointing out that some Christians, some time, somewhere did something similar to what Muslims are doing today.

      Feel free to substitute Christians for Americans and Muslims for any other country that did something wrong.

      Moral relativism at it's best.

      The sad part is that I loved the article. Too bad the far-leftists couldn't resist pointing out the flaws from 500 years ago of Christians.
    • bitcloud, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6Just to clarify here.

      I agree that the world needs to stand up and say "enough is enough" to people who murder, but just so noone gets confused, the "coalition of the willing" has stated goals of doing whats best for America, while the stated goals of a coalition of democracies which should be formed in the coming years, would be to do what is in the best interests of peace and humanity.

      The UN is not a per capita representation of the population, so represents the smaller and plentiful dictatorships over the larger democracies, and the coalition of the willing was set up for the wrong reasons and has had its credibility shattered time and time again because of the incompetence of the leader, and by the singular philosophies of those who back it. The body that is set up needs to represent the population in a fair, per capita manner. For example, each country might get to elect one ambassador per 10 million citizens. The UN has let us down due to inaction, and the US Led "Coalition of the willing" has let us down through poorly concieved action, and a reckless attitude toward human life, and toward diplomacy, common decency & respect.

      We need to say no to war mongers in all their many forms, with muslims, agnostics, christians, buddhists etc all standing up together and saying no to murder. It's not a one way street, there is not one "victim" and one "murderer" in this. There have been many victims and many murderers from all countries and all creeds, and now we need to point the finger at those who have been perpetrating these atrocoties, inflaming hatred, & perpetuating war and make sure they know that we, the citizens of the world, will not stand for it.

      If you're not sure who i'm talking about: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4869921495750796405&hl=en
    • CallMeGoat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12America was built on immigration and diversity, for us all to be catagorized the way we are, that every American is a White Christian, further shows the ignorance of Terrorists. I admire you for speaking out.
    • igotdugout, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3It's a shame because depending on where you live, the media will always invoke images showing nothing but the evils of the enemy and simply generalize in the fact that decisions are made by the entire nation rather in truth, the decisions are decided by a single or a small gathering of indespicable jackasses with all sense of humanitary out the window.
    • traviskicks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5excellent article. these sorts of findings is why digg is great :)
    • saigumi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Wow.. the crusades... a set of campaigns fought 500 years ago as a response to the expansion by the Seljuq known as ghazwaf as well as other events and then became an offensive.

      Except most people using "The Crusades" as justification for their actions forget about that whole part the same way most people think the "War between the States" was fought for the sole purpose of freeing the slaves.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusades
    • AMCer, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4-23 diggs so far for my comment above...

      Funny, you point out facts and the liberals just digg you down. Proves that liberals think with emotions and not logic.


      Digg this one down too and prove me to be more correct!
    • lnf69, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@AMCer
      I dugg you down because of the ignorance you show of Christianity. You should do some research on the crusades. You are completely mistaken when you say:
      "... Every crusade started because Muslims attacked/took first. (I discount the named crusades because they were not fought in the middle east.) ..."
      This is a most uninformed thing to say. On the verge of stupidity.
  • eboskie1, on 10/12/2007, -2/+44WOW.. good read. I really hope the rest of the muslim american community feels the same way as this person does. Very good points he made about them twisting the faith around and pretty much doing what they want ie killing under gods name. Disgracefull. The only way I see we will win the "war" is for the people like this to stand up and say no more.

    /end rant
    • thepeacemaker, on 10/12/2007, -1/+56>@ eboskie1
      >The only way I see we will win the "war" is
      >for the people like this to stand up and say no more.

      They have been saying this for a long time. The mass media just doesnt cover it.
    • MasterGrief, on 10/12/2007, -1/+24Of course not! It doesn't have explosions and completely shatters what the media would like to call an average muslim!
    • BlackCow, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7How about everyone on digg just stands right up right now and says "no more!" That will show them! Sorry to bring every ones ideas of peace down, I'm in a grouchy mood. I really do think we need to take a stand against terrorist not just on the battle field but verbally to. This article is a good start.
    • flernk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7@eboskie1

      I couldn't agree more. This is a "war" of ideas and articles like this one are what will turn the tide.
    • labmouse42, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2The media writes for a fifth grade reading level.
      Anything that is not simple black and white does not fit into the theme, so Muslim-Americans disagreeing with Al-Queda is not front page news.
  • Popdmb, on 10/12/2007, -3/+34Incredible read.

    +Digg
    +My #1
    • thespace, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12same here... I think this is the first #1 I've added, thank you very much for the article and my hats off to the author.
  • drpeppper, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17indeed a great article. +digg to get it to the front page!
  • subscribtion, on 10/12/2007, -0/+42I hope this will help some people realize that we, Americans, are against the crazed extremist, not Muslims.
    • liquidrums, on 10/12/2007, -26/+3Makes things kinda difficult that we have two groups of Muslims that both believe in the Qur'an, just some a little more-so than others.
    • amanie, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15It's not a question of believing in the Qur'an "more-so" - it's a question of 'extremists' totally going nuts and using manipulation to justify killing. Which is why the word 'extremists' is so misleading. They're not muslim, nor are they actually following the Qur'an. It would be nice if these people stopped being associated with Islam. That's a real lesson all muslims wish Americans would learn.
    • halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8@liquidrums

      Only TWO? Man, that really simplifies things. Just look at how many different groups we have who believe in The Bible. Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Coptic Catholic (Why do Americans always forget about the Egyptian Pope anyway?)

      And once you get past those millennium old groups, you get into the obscure sects like the Gnostics.

      And then there's the Protestants. Oui, don't get me started on that whole mess. The Protestants start a new denomination if someone doesn't like a hymn for crying out loud! Did you know there are Churches that consider the King James translation to be the ONLY God Inspired version of the Bible? Some even give it higher authority than the existing original language texts! The KJV for crying out loud, the translation cribbed from a Greek translation by people who never saw a word of Hebrew or Aramaic!
    • jinexile, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I admit I didn't know there was an egyptian pope. Although I'm not american or a christian.
    • Mrkamikaze, on 10/12/2007, -5/+5Only problem is there is a larger segment of Islam that doesn't even consider people like this author Muslim at all. Kinda like the branch davidians.
    • halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@jinexile

      H. H. Pope Shenouda III
      http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/pope/index.html

      "In 1973, H. H. was the first Coptic Orthodox pope to visit the Vatican in over 1500 years. In this visit, both H. H. Pope Shenouda III and H. H. Pope Paul VI signed a common declaration on the issue of Christology and agreed to establish joint commissions for dialogue on unity. There have also been dialogues with various Protestant churches worldwide."

      Coptic Orthodox Church
      http://www.coptic.net/EncyclopediaCoptica/

      Coptic Catholic Church
      http://lexicorient.com/e.o/coptic_cath.htm

      There's more out there, but I'm lazy and need to head home.
  • ptryan123, on 10/12/2007, -0/+33This is the first time I've read something this definitive and powerful from the American Islamic community. Bravo!
    • rekrapt, on 10/12/2007, -3/+16That's the real point here... if more moderate Muslims would speak out against their radical "brothers" then non-Muslims wouldn't be so suspicious of them.
    • halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -5/+13@rekrapt

      The same could be said about Moderate Christians in relation to Extremists. Both Christendom and Islam have been hijacked by the extremists.
    • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Meh they're true Muslims.. The others are false..
    • Ghazi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5"This is the first time I've read something this definitive and powerful from the American Islamic community."

      Really? Do you know how to use Google yet?
      http://www.muhajabah.com/otherscondemn.php
  • greymaxcat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+20Man this guy has balls!
    He is my new hero!

  • seanalltogether, on 10/12/2007, -0/+30America is our home and will always be our home. Its interests are ours, and its people are ours. When you talk of killing of Americans, you first have to kill 6 million or so Muslims who will stand for every American's right to live and enjoy the life as commanded by God.

    Powerful.
  • KanosWRX, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9Wow very good article, I give that man respect for saying that. Really good read. I hope all the terrorists read that and realize the things that man was talking about.
  • bugsy187, on 10/12/2007, -3/+18Comments like this man's really help the Muslim community. There's too much fear and racism in America, currently.
  • 2point0, on 10/12/2007, -39/+5Hunt down the terrorists like dogs and give them what they deserve-- VERY VERY SLOW, PAINFUL deaths ;) I'd LOVE to watch them take their last gasps--it would be beyond orgasmic ;)

    2.0
    • Lord_oftheTrons, on 10/12/2007, -2/+23Then what would seperate you from the terrorists?
    • mandarin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+19You must be amazing in tea parties....
    • halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8@Lord_oftheTrons

      He would be alive, and the other guy would be dead.

      2point is clearly one of those folks who doesn't care about "Good Vs Evil" or "Right Vs Wrong." He doesn't care if he's the "Good Guy" in the fight.

      It's all about "Killing 'The Other.'" Right or wrong doesn't enter into the equation for him or her. 2Point has discarded the moral imperative.
    • labmouse42, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I would say 2point0 was just a troll. Probably an 11 year old kid trying to cause a ruckus.
  • bonked, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14This is exactly what we need more of - many, many non-muslims find it increasingly difficult to see where the outrage is toward terrorists and extremists that use their religion as justification for unjust murder.

    I for one would like to thank the author for having the guts to stand up and say that the terrorists are wrong, and that not everyone that is muslim agrees with them. We need more muslims to speak up against this incredibly vocal minority that gives their religion a bad name.

    This is akin to crazed fanatics that kill abortion doctors in the name of christianity, and we have never had to look far to find christian leaders denouncing those actions. I wish we could hear this kind of denouncing from more muslims when referring to the terrorists.
  • eclectro, on 10/12/2007, -5/+14Something Aljazeera will never carry.
    • thespace, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Good question actually, I'd really like to know if they'd read this on air. Anyone here know someone at Al-jazeera? (6 degrees, thought I might at least try) Can you get this on the air as a message to Osama?
  • Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -6/+6It's not Americans the Muslims need to be killing, it's their corrupt leaders. Muslim leaders, I mean. You know, those fat guys in Rolls Royces who drive their countrymen into the ground so that they can put another layer of gold on their palaces bought with oil money. Once again, to clarify, I mean the oligarchs of Muslim countries. You can tell them from our own leaders because ours usually speak English and aren't Islamic.
    • angusm, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Well, to give UBL and his friends credit, I think that the House of Saud - who answer the description of Rolls-driving palace-dwellers - are also high on their (s)hitlist. The Saudi royal family are well aware of this, which is why the Saudi security forces are so fierce with anyone suspected of membership of Al-Qaeda.
    • jamessavik, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Ding, ding, ding! We've got a winner.

      If the leadership in the Islamic world would invest in their countries rather than trying to be the new Saladin by buying tanks and jet fighters, the middle east would open like a flower.

      Do you want to kick the West's ass? The way to do it is by building schools, delivering health care and university studies to the best and the brightest students.

      By 2030 Americans will want to immigrate there.
    • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2So very true, remember the middle east used to be the middle of civilization at one point and many discoveries we use today came from there..
      Unfortunately there are several, to say the least, power hungry people that are willing to stab, murder, and lie to their own to achieve it. Hence radical Islam.... Notice the word radical...
  • weseire, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9I agree with the man's sentiment, if those Al-Queada SOB's want to kill my neighbours then you may as well do it over my dead body as well.
  • mandarin, on 10/12/2007, -8/+1Kewl :D
  • halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14Aslam Abdullah is one of the reasons it's called the "Religion of Peace."

    Those using religion as an excuse for murder are not worshiping God, they're worshiping death, violence and their own egos. God condemns human sacrifice, and yet a suicide bomber makes his last act on Earth that of human sacrifice. He is sacrificing his own life and those of his victims. What he doesn't see, is that he's not making that sacrifice to or for God. He's making that sacrifice to his own Ego.

    A suicide bomber's final act on this Earth is to worship himself, and not God.

    And he expects a reward for this idolatry?
    • JohnboiWaltune, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Hmm, In "The Bible", the god Yahweh demands the deaths of humans for a variety of offenses, including ridculous things like cursing your father or working on the "Sabbath". "The Koran" does actually promise a desirable afterlife for those who are killed while waging war on infidels. Killing because of your belief in a god IS human sacrifice.

      Gods are very, very keen on human sacrifice, as the tens and hundreds of millions who have been killed in a god's name could testify.
    • halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@JohnboiWaltune

      When discussing what "The Bible" says, its important to note that the Bible is divided into two portions. The "Old" and "New" Testaments.

      The difference between them is not merely academic or time line related. The New Testament chronicles the arrival of the Messiah that was promised throughout the Old testament. It also signifies a fundamental change not only in God's relationship with humanity, but in what God expects of us.

      All the fire and Damnation comes form the Old Testament, and those who cling to that judgment and violence, are in essence rejecting the Love, Compassion and Forgiveness inherent to the New Testament.

      Jesus said that the the Ten Commandments, indeed the entirety of all Jewish Law, were secondary to the command to "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

      We are told to "Love thy neighbor as yourself." When one of the Disciples asked Jesus "Who is my Neighbor?" Jesus told him that all men were his neighbors.

      This is the true promise and message of Christianity. Sadly, many people use religion not as a light to guide their actions, but as an excuse to rationalize the violence they already intend to commit.
  • wurzelgummage, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7This guy is really brave, huge kudos.
  • TheDrunkMonkey, on 10/12/2007, -26/+2It is great to see some non-fundamentalist muslims. That said, by being a Muslim he still gives support to their cause (in a very indirect sort of way). By being a Muslim, he accepts the Koran as having an element of truth- though he may not take the same literal interpritation. Simply by having unjustified (there is no other kind) faith, he legitimizes their faith.

    This doesn't go just for Muslims. Any normal moderate Christian is far from Fred Phelps (thankfully). However, it is much easier for Fred Phelps to justify his position on gay people because he can point to the bible. You cannot say he is wrong by pointing to verses in the bible.

    Essentially, moderate religion betrays faith and reason equally. When people start realizing that faith is nothing more than wishful thinking, fundamentalists can be recognized as the psychopaths that they really are.
    • Xinareiaz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Fred Phelps is insane, He is taking judgement into his own hands and causing people greif. The bible has "Dont judge!" writen all over it....he has nothing to back himself up with.
      Leave judgement to God.
    • TheDrunkMonkey, on 10/12/2007, -6/+6No ***** Fred Phelps is insane.

      Leviticus 13:
      'If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads."

      I think that is pretty clear what "god" thinks about homosexuals and that you should judge them. I think that view is completely WRONG. By having faith that the same book is true (as he does), you are indirectly giving that lunatic support.
    • FreeiPodGuy.com, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Well technically, the Bible doesn't say "don't judge"; it says judge only if you're ready to accept judgement yourself.
    • bonked, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5@freeipodguy

      "Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?"
      - James 4:11-12

      and in a more modern english translation:

      "Don’t speak evil against each other, my dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize each other and condemn each other, then you are criticizing and condemning God’s law. But you are not a judge who can decide whether the law is right or wrong. Your job is to obey it. God alone, who made the law, can rightly judge among us. He alone as the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to condemn your neighbor? " - James 4:11-12

      Gee, seems pretty clear to me that we have no right to pass judgement.
    • iamjake, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6@TheDrunkMonkey

      Is it a coincidence that most people arguing against the Christian religion quote the Old Testament? Do you understand what the Christian religion is, really? I mean... honestly?

      Let me break it down for you sir; there are two parts to the word:

      Christ and -ian

      Christ, is of course, Jesus. -ian would denote a follower of Jesus.

      Jesus inspired the writings of the New Testament which is the road map for the Christian religion.

      "The Old Testament was God’s law for Israel. The New Testament is God’s law for all men today. In the Old Testament, God foretold the time when He would make a new covenant or testament ( Please read Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrews 8:6-13). The New Testament became God’s law following the death of Jesus Christ for our sins and the beginning of the church of Christ on Pentecost Day (Acts 2)."
      from http://www.tftw.org/Courses/bcc_ots_l1.html

      The article continues on why it is important to study the Old Testament, but it is clear to me and anyone being rational and honest with themselves that since Jesus basically inspired a new philosophy of law the previous becomes null and void with respect to current events and law proceedings.

      (Sorry to go off topic but I can't stand ignorance of this magnitude)

      Back on topic, I'm sure American-Muslims get just as annoyed with people who twist words and use extreme examples to represent a biased and quite frankly inaccurate portrayal of their religion. Kudos Aslam Abdullah!

      Peace.
    • halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5@TheDrunkMonkey

      That lovely Leviticus verse is one of the Old Testament Purity Laws, which Christians aren't supposed to be following.

      According to the New Testament, Christians should be one of two things: Gentile Christians, following the teachings of Jesus, the Ten Commandments and That's it. Alternately, they could be Jews who accepted Christ as the Messiah, which entailed following all the Old Testament laws as well. (The issue rose because of the Circumcision of Christian Converts, and the concern that it may not be necessary.)

      According to the Bible, Phelps should be keeping Kosher and living like an Orthodox Jew if he wants to quote Leviticus as anything other than historical context.

      You can find a lot of rationales for horrible things if you read the Bible out of context. If you read it beginning to end, taking into account what we know about the people who wrote it, it's a guide book advocating love and charity towards your fellow human beings.

      The teachings of Christ are supposed to take precedence over the Old Testament, as Christ, in fulfilling the prophesies of the Old Testament, completed it, and ushered in the New Testament.

      The phrases "Old" and "New" referring to the two major portions of the Bible are not just editorial or time line based delineations. They're there to indicate a transformation in God's relationship with the Human race. Judgment and punishment are replaced with love, charity and forgiveness.

      Phelps and the like have rejected Christ's love in favor of worshiping their own hatred. They use the Bible to prop up and rationalize their hatred, but the are not worshiping God. They're worshiping their own egos.
    • GMorgan, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4This is a non argument. The Old Testament is deprecated. It was never intended to be taken literally in the Christian faith but was more included to help those early Jewish converts make sense of it all. Its a vestigal thing and has only been kept on because it can be used to justify just about anything. Like has been mentioned before the Old Testament has two contradictory creation stories. At least one of them has to be a myth but this is ignored as an unconvient truth by the fundamentalists.
    • TheDrunkMonkey, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1So the old testament is old and outdated myth but the new testament isn't? It couldn't possibly be true that Nazareth wasn't a city when Jesus supposedly lived there- could it?
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazareth

      What exactly happened anyway? Did god change his mind on what he thought of gay people? He couldn't have, as per Malachi 3 verse 6 "I, the Lord do not change". I don't understand how you can view the new testament and the story of Jesus as being completely seperate and somehow "more rational" than the old testament when they are essentially the same book.

      Fred Phelps was just one example because he was the first christian fundamentalist that I thought of.

      The point is that your beliefs are no more rational than those of fundamentalists. They really believe that the bible is the word of god and is meant to be taken literally. If you think any part of the bible is true, it only makes sense for the entire thing to be true. Why would god have a partly faulty book? Personally, I think it is all ridiculous myth.

    • halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1@TheDrunkMonkey

      "All things are permissible to be, but all things are not beneficial."

      The above is a New Testament quote.

      God did not change, but his relationship with humanity did. He came to Earth, lived as one of us, and died to redeem us from our own sins. Instead of requiring us to follow a long and complex set of rules, we were required to merely accept Christ and repent of our sins.

      God stopped bombarding us with judgment, and began to show us mercy.

      On a more flippant note, I've described the difference as "Well, God came down to earth, got laid, had a kid and found out what it was like to actually BE human. He really mellowed out after that."
  • angusm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I believe there is still some debate in Islam as to whether it is permissible for a good Muslim to live among unbelievers. Some commentators apparently consider that to live in "the House of War" (Dar Al-Harb, lands that are not occupied and ruled by Muslims) is haram, and that a good Muslim should leave at the earliest opportunity. Under this interpretation, a Muslim who voluntarily lives in the USA might even be considered an apostate, and - again, in certain interpretations - fair game for anything that the jihadis choose to do to them.

    This is not to say "this is what Muslims believe". It's just to say that Islam, like most religions, includes many different interpretations. If the killers want to find a selective reading that would let them feel good about killing people like Aslam Abdullah, they probably won't have to look too far.
    • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Last time I checked it was the same God across the board...
      The Christians, the Muslims and the Jews all believe and have faith in Allah/God...
  • uttles, on 10/12/2007, -7/+6It makes me sick to see so many nutjobs on this thread saying "but remember, the Christians did the same things 500 years ago."

    Come on people, that's just dumb. First of all, Kings, not preachers, were responsible for things like the Crusades. Secondly, the Crusades had an element of legitimacy, as the Arabs were not the original owners of the holy land. Finally, it was 500 ***** years ago, not today.
    • Xinareiaz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11Dude, I kind of agree with you but only one person said the 500 year thing....not "so many nutjobs"
      Also, the Pope ordered the crusades (at least some of them) It wasent just Kings.
      You just kind of come off sounding like a duchebag
    • halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5The Crusades were wars about economics, not about religion.

      Religion was just the excuse.

      Feudalism ensured that only the eldest son inherited the Father's property. As a result you has a large number of younger sons with no money, no land, but extensive training in the art of battle. To top it off they had the sense of entitlement that comes with the average privileged upbringing.

      This resulted in a dramatic destabilizing force on Medieval society.

      Enter The Pope, with the Crusades.

      Suddenly, all these disenfranchised younger sons got to head off to War to "reclaim the Holy Land" from the "Heathens." As a bonus, and I suspect this bonus was the REAL reason a lot of them went, they had a chance to claim some land of their own by killing the Turks who were inhabiting it.

      Lop off enough heads, and you would have a Fiefdom of your very own!

      Just like the current Islamic Extremism, the real motivation was money and power. Religion is just the excuse used to whip the foot soldiers into line and make the poor fools GLAD to die.
    • DeadDragon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Firstly the crusades started 1000 years ago ,and that was because of the Pope,sending a religous army against a Muslim army for Holy land this nothing new.
      The original owners were the Canaanites, then Egypt owned it, then several other people, it however never belonged to the Catholics(the pope) before it was taken by force.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem#History
    • iamjake, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Actually the Popes during the time helped sound the warcry.
    • puke, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1uttles: So you're saying that history means nothing then, huh? "That happened so long ago, it doesn't matter!" I guess you've never heard that little quip about being doomed to repeat history, huh?
  • richiestang78, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4More men should be like this not just Muslims but men in gneral cause these days the world is filled with religious extremists Muslim, Christian whatever. uttles, I agree somewhat with you but you cant honestly say Christians dont hate Muslims or anyone of different beleifs since in this country at least they impose antigay laws, impose religion in schools, etc. Extremist Muslims use violence to conform the world to there psychotic beliefs, Christians use there political power to do it and both are just as evil in there ultimate goal but maybe not how they are acheving it.
    • FreeiPodGuy.com, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Extremist Christians are as evil as extremist Muslims? I can count the number of abortionist deaths on one hand. You'd need a city of hands to count the number of Muslim terrorist victims.
    • kalisphoenix, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Hello, Ireland! Hello, Bosnia! (etc etc)
    • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Actually I can say for example Christians don't hate Muslims or others of different faith. That is absurbed... I was taught as a child in a private catholic school to be accepting of other religions that we are all the same...
      Research research research....
    • halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@VolatileWhimsy

      Well, there is that whole "Do unto others..." thing.

      You want to be accepted and allowed to practice your religion in peace? Then show others the same consideration. It sounds like your school was paying attention to scripture.
  • thespace, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I'd actually take a bullet for this guy, need more people like him
  • Cylus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I sincerely hope that the majority of Muslims hold this sentiment. I just want to coexist peacably with others, regardless of faith or other disagreements - if more people share that sentiment, life can be so much better. Idealistic sentiment? Yes. Will it ever happen? I don't know. But I can hope.
    • Mrkamikaze, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Hope but don't be Naive and don't shy away from the potential of having to fight to protect your way of life by any means...that is if you do truly value your way of life.
  • malkdome, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5A very brave Muslim to speak out against the extremist wing of his faith.
    I pray that no harm falls on him. We nee more Muslims, hell anyone of any faith to stand up and speak out against those of their own faiths that do not follow their faiths beliefs, they must remember what one of our founding fathers once said "We must all hang together, or surely we will all hang separately"
    That goes for Muslims, Christians, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindi, and even pagans....
    • Mrkamikaze, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Place you bets now if this gets any national airplay this guy will be killed by muslim extremists before the years end.
  • nzjrs, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7Before every american jumps on this article saying its the best thing since sliced bread step back. The stupid amongst you will use this as more justification that "the terrorists" are evil and soulless, while the americans, even american muslims, are the superior being.

    The reality is that the word "terrorist" today is just a synonym for middle eastern male. It is america and your war president who warped the meaning of the word and shaped the thought of your contry. Never forget he started a "war on terror", a war with such ildefined objectives that he was free to move from afghanistan to iraq without the people even noticing. What is the war now? Can any one of you answer with any specificity who your enemy is? You have as little idea as your president.

    It is you americans that started the generalisation, and it is you americans that also must stop it. Passing the buck is easy, changing the mindset of a generation is hard...

    Peace

    p.s. Ignore my generalisations
    • uttles, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4"The reality is that the word "terrorist" today is just a synonym for middle eastern male. "

      Wrong. Terrorist is a word for people who wage war by explicitly targeting civilians. It just so happens that a lot of middle eastern males choose to behave this way. It also happens that the vast majority of terrorists are Muslim, because a literal interpretation of their religious teachings leads them to believe that by killing infidels they will reach heaven.

      Please note that no other modern religion teaches that killing non-beleivers will take you to heaven. Not a single one.
    • halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@uttles

      I've been wondering about this.

      Does anyone have a quote from the Koran that states that killing unbelievers will get you into heaven?

      What are the passages being used by the extremists to prop up their position?
    • GMorgan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I always thought the IRA formed a sizable chunk of terrorists and they were Christian but then again thats an unconvient truth.

      Also terrorist is a well defined word that means a person who achieves a political means by inspiring fear in a population. Killing doesn't actually have to come into it, as long as they incite fear.

      The targeting of civilians is simply a war tactic that has been used in every single war from the dawn of time. Including our own against Dresden during WW2 and against Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

      Lets not get too carried away with the rights and wrongs here. They've killed a lot of our civilians, we've killed a lot of theirs. Its just an issue of them and us. There is no right and wrong in war.
    • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Last time I checked a Muslim was NOT a terrorist... Terrorist are terrorist.. you know those men or women that strap explosive to themselves and are so cowardly they go to easy targets to detonate...
    • nzjrs, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4@uttles

      Dont partially quote me or quote me out of context.

      "The reality is that the word "terrorist" today is just a synonym for middle eastern male. It is america and your war president who warped the meaning of the word"

      Have you heard your president use the word terrorist to describe anyone other than those of middle eastern descent lately?

      Thought not. ergo the meaning of the word has been warped and twisted for politcal purposes.

      Have another sip of Kool Aid please
    • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3"Have you heard your president use the word terrorist to describe anyone other than those of middle eastern descent lately?

      Thought not. ergo the meaning of the word has been warped and twisted for political purposes.

      Have another sip of Kool Aid please"

      Here I'll just simply cut and paste for you. You are not being clever here. The terrorist that ppl are dealing with at this time happen, notice the words at this time and happen, to be of middle eastern decent... Now if they were Caucasian or Asian would you be saying they are picking on the Caucasian or the Asian?

      Personally I don't like Kool Aid, but thanks anyways...
    • dancpsu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The IRA is not doing any more terrorist ops: "The Irish Republican Army on Thursday (7/28/05) declared an end to its campaign of violence against Britain that was meant to unify Northern Ireland with the Irish Republic, a battle that claimed more than 3,500 lives over 36 years."

      http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/07/28/news/ira.php
  • 2point0, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1It's refreshing to see a post by a Muslim that's not promoting hatred and violence....
    More people like Aslam Abdullah need to stand up to terrorists (Al-Quida etc) and remind them what they preach is nothing more than a PEVERSION of Islam....

    2.0
    • 2point0, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I hate it when the time runs out and you spot a typo!

      "PEVERSION" of course should be "PERVERSION".
  • silentex, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4A wonderful read and a wonderful guy. It's a shame this is only covered on Digg and one website. It needs to be out there more than this. Damn shame.
    • rajid, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4It's about time that normal, loving, Muslims stand up for their beliefs and make it widely known that these Cult Islam groups do not represent the true faith! I've been waiting for this for years. Now, maybe we can start making some progress toward recognizing the true nature of Islam (historically much more friendly toward other beliefs than Christianity).
  • yeahdoz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3This is good. American Muslims need good PR like this.
  • mrinternet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2wow!
    Digg ++
  • alxklo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Actually, there are quite a few large Muslim organizations in the United States with relatively moderate view points. A few of note, for those who care to research a bit more:
    Islamic Society of North America
    http://www.isna.net/
    Islamic Medical Association of North America
    http://www.imana.org/mc/page.do
    Council on American Islamic Relations
    http://www.cair-net.org/

    Just for starters. You might consider calling a local Mosque and talking to the Imam there if you want to find out more about what Islam does and doesn't dictate. And even there you will find many differences of opinion. One of the first things any non-Muslim ought to know about the religion is that Islam envisions a personal relationship with a higher power (people of any age can pray and read/ memorize the Quran) - so while certain behaviors and beliefs are standardized through scripture, many others are widely interpreted in different aesthetic and belief practices.

    • dancpsu, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1CAIR is a terrorist front group with several of its members convicted of terroism.
  • gormly, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0best read I have had all week

    On a personal note:
    I think we should invite all muslims over to the USA for a year or so, let 'em get fat on some MikeyD's and Give them a steady TV diet of American Idol, Baywatch reruns and "Dancing with the Stars".

    WoOt!
    • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Do they even show Baywatch anymore?
  • jwxa, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Thank-you for publishing your insightful perspective, Aslam Abdullah!
  • chijim70, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Wow, I'm a philosophic taoist. I hear people on TV that ask why the Muslim community doesn't speak louder against the terrorists in the world. It does not get louder than that! I am going to bookmark and share that post like it's my job! Absolutely beautiful!!!
    What a great speech! I feel the truth of his convictions right through the text. Just moving!
  • jls8705, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2I wish more Muslims felt this way where it counts - the Middle East.
  • kanecorp, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1finally a muslim who gets it
    • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I think the point was that the Muslim's were getting it all along it was just the psychos and cattle that weren't :/
  • talcyone, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The majority of people on earth do feel this way, including the middle east. But they're held hostage by corruption, repressive governments, poverty, their own history and the prejudices of the west. All of which ultimately push a few of them towards fundamentalism, giving the whole a bad image.

    There's more than one way to fight a war. Unfortunately, ethier due to sheer stupidity or some ulterior motives, the leader of the free world doesn't seem to realize that.
    • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Prejudices of the west?! Take a look at all the countries than compare how they treat their immigrants with how the Americans do... Its only here there is equality regardless...
      (And its in forced in the private sector of our country.. Drives me nuts that other countries say our civil rights are only with gov jobs... arghh)
  • talcyone, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I was talking about the Republican Partys' view of the world and the recent rejections of Turkey into the EU on what seems to be little more than religious hysteria. If we are the intelligent ones, our leaders need to first express an inclusive view of the world, rather than the divisive and exclusive rhetoric coming from their mouths at the present time. Although, as stated above that is only one part of the solution, but nevertheless and integral one.

    I think this point is more than valid.
    • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"I was talking about the Republican Partys' view of the world"
      I think that is a narrow minded view. I could say the same on the Democratic Party. Lets hold individuals up for censor instead of blaming a whole group.. kkthanx..

      I would advise for you to start reading papers from other countries on a daily basis for about 3 months.. Than you might start seeing that things are not any where near what they seem...
  • talcyone, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0You've taken things out of context and refused to read everything i've written . You have concentrated your rebuttal on a minor issue as there is little more that you can say. I'll replace "Republican Party's" with "current Republican administration". There you have it.
    • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Well that was what I had a problem with so I pointed it out. Thanks for changing it. But I refuse to believe that the current administration in America is evil or everything they do is wrong.... Still think it is narrow minded.. :/
  • dagonweb, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Keep it up, america, with your foreign policies and it wont be just Radical Islamists who want to kill americans. I am a white european atheist and I am already looking at people who voted Bush like they have a bullseye on their head.

    Stop plundering the rest of the world, you greedy bastards, and go home.
    • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2You're joking right? The only thing you know about our country is the crap you read in the newspapers...
    • BigBaRay, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I know Im getting here 14 hours late but better late than never.

      @ DagonDickSucker "***** You".
  • lebaige, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0While this fella has a nice message I think he's missing an important point. Al Qaeda would be more than happy to kill him.
  • birdfeed25, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I think this is an amazing article and one that all should read. I was definitely touched by this article.

    I feel that the conflict in the middle east is not one between nations, but between ideologies and values. Personally I don't think the conflict will ever end, because you can't kill values.
    • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1You can't kill values, but it is not the values of a nation that we are fighting, its values of criminals we are fighting... Get the criminals and things will smooth themselves out...
  • saigumi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1When you wake up in the morning, do you say "Heil!..... oh, good morgen!"?

    Killing off anyone who thinks different from you... how noble.

    Now if you are from the UK... lets talk about this world plundering thing and your "colonies" such as India, Australia, South Africa, North America, etc...
  • fr0gger, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i am pretty sure qaida will be happy to oblige
  • xsuite, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1HAMA CHALLAH!!!!!!!!

    sorry, mind of mencia, i stole that.
    THis s cool, we need bush to say something so stupid that only he would do it"americans kill at least one moslem!!" uhh mr. bush that about a third of the usa. retard
  • birdfeed25, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0VolatileWhimsy, when you find a way to sort out "the criminals" from the rest of the 1.4 million (roughly) Muslims in the world you let me know. Not to pick on Islam but the US campaign in the Middle East is between capitalism-Christianity and the Muslim extremists. I'm also not saying that all Muslims are terrorists, please don't take it that way. My point is that if it were easy to "find all the bad guys" it would have been done a long time ago.
  • nocountries, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1try Pennsylvania Avenue. World's #1 Terrorist in residence there.
  • blackcell, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Agent Smith: I'd like to share a revelation that I've had during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species. I realized that you're not actually humans. Every human on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment, but you cowardly barbarians do not. You move to an area, and you multiply, and multiply, until every civilized human being is killed or converted to radical Islam. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. A virus. Terrorists are a disease, a cancer of this planet, you are a plague, and we are the cure.
  • FazzMunkle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I dunno where else to do to let people know I never intended to vote this as a My#1. It was a new feature and I couldn't quite see what it was and I clicked on it to see what it did and now I can't undo it. I dugg this because it was controversial. Not because I have preference either way.
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