Posted on 08/19/2006 6:07:18 AM PDT by CobaltBlue
Arab Americans are as diverse as the national origins and immigration experiences that have shaped their ethnic identity in the United States, with religious affiliation being one of the most defining factors. The majority of Arab Americans descend from the first wave of mostly Christian immigrants. Sharing the faith tradition of the majority of Americans facilitated their acculturation into American society, as did high intermarriage rates with other Christian ethnic groups. Even though many Arab Christians have kept their Orthodox and Eastern Rite church (Greek Catholic, Maronite, Coptic) affiliations, which have helped to strengthen ethnic identification and certain rituals, their religious practices have not greatly distinguished them from the Euro-centric American culture. Roughly two-thirds of the Arab population identifies with one or more Christian sect.
(Excerpt) Read more at aaiusa.org ...
"Almost 80% of Arab Americans are Christians."
Sounds like they had been forced to flee their Muslim dominated homelands.
You're welcome. I am both pleased and proud that America is blessed with men and women such as you.
I am not suggesting Arab Christians in the United States stand up as Christians to prove their loyalty to the country, or to prove that they are not a danger. Please read the posts again. Key words are words like WITNESS and IMPACT. I believe a more open witness by them would have a great evangelistic impact on the Muslim portion of Arabs in this country.
I am not sure I can agree that atheists are not a danger to our country, but I don't think that athiests, per se, are necessarily the same KIND of danger. I nevertheless uphold any man's right to be an atheist, and I claim my Christian duty to attempt to win them to Christ.
WELL SAID!!!!
Good point.
A much better approach would be to send ALL non-citizens home.,p> Cancel all their visas; student, tourist, H1B, etc.
Putting Americans First, a winning strategy.
I actually know an African Christian pastor (an American citizen now, living here) named Mohammed.
I kid him saying, "well I'm glad Mohammed finally got saved!"
You really never can tell.
And what happens when foreign countries cancel the visas of Americans working overseas in retaliation?
Hmm, let's see. Collapse of the global economy, and a Great Depression that would make the one in the 1930's look like a picnic in the park, for one.
The end of the Pax Americana, for two.
And, possibly, a return to savagery the like we haven't witnessed since the collapse of Rome.
Thank God the people who actually make decisions are using more brain cells than we're seeing exhibited here.
And what happens when foreign countries cancel the visas of Americans working overseas in retaliation?
Well, we would welcome them home, of course, what else?
Okay, let's try it -- you know, just for laughs.
Not funny. If you think doing without the free exchange of goods, services, and finances internationally is a funny idea, take a look at North Korea, they're living it.
Okay, let's try it -- you know, just for laughs.
It's really not a laughing matter, but it WOULD work.
Common sense is the key word.
Theoretically, you're right, they'll use whatever persons are non-targetted...
However, up until now, 98%+ of the attempted and sucessful terrorist attacks have been by Arabic men with moslem names, between the ages of 18 and 40.
There must be exceedingly few (if any) blonde blue eyed little old lady Moslem terrorists...so logically such folk should be given less scrutiny than those who appear like virtually all the terrorists until now. Native scandanavian Moslems are very (VERY) few indeed.
Middle eastern men with Moslem names should be given extra scrutiny, that's all. Not denying anyones rights, or being "racist" ...its just common sense.
I was thinking more -- Albania circa 1970s.
It would re-shape the world, basically ending America as we know it.
I think this overstates it. I have read the Koran and see what you mean. But in my own experience with Muslims, most of them, like Christians, are businessmen and family members and humanists before being Muslim. The problem is, their religion is very specific as to what they must do if there is war between Islamists and non-Islamists. They must support the Muslims or be condemned to hell forever.
The fundamentalists are aspirational to the masses, just as, say, the Amish are aspirational to many Protestants. The street Muslims see the terrorists as defenders of Islam. But that does not necessarily mean they will take up arms against us.
Unfortunately, the more we target Islam as the enemy, the more we throw fire on the problem, which is why Bush has referred to Islam as a "religion of peace". It is a strategic tactic.
As Christians, we are not philosophically predisposed toward out and out genocide. Out WOT enemies are fully aware of this and use it against us time and time again. But so long as we retain the ability to indiscriminately level the enemy, their civilian shields as well as innocents, we have the upper hand. At some point in time, we may well have to use this power, but that time is not yet at hand.
Right now, we are at war for the hearts and minds of the citizenry. If, through democratic processes, they choose terrorists to lead them, then their "innocence" is naught if the terrorist leadership causes their civilization, and its feeble contribution to the betterment of mankind, to be wiped off the map.
The point is, we must be patient and fight the war on our timetable, not theirs. They do not yet have the capability to deliver an atomic weapon to a western city. Until they do, we must continue trying to change their hearts and hope for divine intervention, all the while holding the big stick conspicuously under their noses, vigilantly at the ready to deliver the decisive blow.
"It's time, then, for Arab Christian immigrants to the United States to stand up for Jesus Christ, and to tell openly what makes them a Christian and not a Muslim."
You've got to be kidding. Christians in this country (be they Protestant, Catholic or other) in general do not stand up for Christ. I do not think we should expect anything MORE of Arab Christians...or anything at all in the way of PROVING their faith to you. It is a matter between them and God.
Sure, we could shut the doors, and give up importing and exporting commodities and finished goods, not to mention the free flow of information, technology, and financial instruments.
No oil? No problem!
No foreign made goods? More for Americans.
We don't need to import no stinking chromium, cobalt, manganese, aluminum, nickel, we'll do without!
Or Japan under the Shogunate.
He concededs that Muslim Arabs are not assimilating but are putting burdens on society to maintain their separate identities. Hence the profiling should focus on Muslims. Anytime one of them sets foot on a plane, the airline should know about it.
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