Will the Real Islam Please Stand Up!

Van Jenerette Editorial Comment, Various Publications ^ | Sunday, October 14, 2001 | Van Jenerette

[Van Jenerette]

Will The Real Islam Please Stand Up?

Will The Real Islam
Please Stand Up?

Stop telling me about Islam. Shouldn't the media and talk shows hosts really be instructing 'wayward' Muslims and their followers who have 'hijacked' Islam about the true meaning of the Koran and Islam. I really don't care about their religion. Tell them about their religion! Just tell the Muslims who have their Koran and the Prophets' message all wrong that they have it backwards and inside out. They seem to be the ones who need to understand the 'true' meaning of the Koran and Islam. by Van Jenerette, Major, U.S. Army(ret) Ph.D. Candidate, University of South Carolina Sunday, October 14, 2001

I really don't give a rat's explicit about Islam. ...Tell the Muslim's who have hijacked Islam about their religion!			Why can't I turn on the television or read a newspaper or magazine without being bombarded by some instruction from the media on how I should 'understand' Islam? Thanks, but no thanks. I really don't give a rat's explicit about Islam. I just don't like Americans being killed by anyone - and I like it even less when someone comes into my country to do the killing. I don't care to hear any reason this or excuse that or please understand their anger explanations. I just want to hang the people who did it and never let anyone think they can do it again. Not here. I live here. Anyway, it's been over a month since the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks and there seems to be hundreds of TV talk-show hosts, news people, Islamic experts, roaming Imams, and Muslim clerics who keep telling me how I should get aquatinted with the 'real' Muslim world of the Koran, Hadith and the Sunna and how these terrorist guys who pulled off the 9/11 attacks don't really represent the actual Islamic faith or the teachings of the prophet. If this is true, why should I be the target audience on what 'true' Islam really is? I didn't crash a plane in to the WTC, and I didn't send my children out into the streets to cheer the deaths of thousands of innocent people. If I have it right, all the people who did this were Muslims. Correct? Shouldn't the media and talk show hosts really be instructing these 'wayward' Muslims and their followers who have 'hijacked' Islam about the true meaning of the Koran and Islam? I mean I already know what they did was wrong as do most honest American's, so why are you telling me? I don't really care about their religion. Tell them about their religion! Yes, tell the Muslims. Now there's a thought, just tell the Muslims who have their Koran and the Prophet's message all wrong - that they have it backwards and inside out. To me, they seem to be the ones who need to understand the 'true' meaning of the Koran and Islam. After all; according to the television 'experts', Islam means peace, not surrender or submission as I've read in Arabic. See, at this point as an outsider, I really don't know who has the Koran right - the Islamic Fundamentalist or the Islamic Traditionalist - the Sunni or the Shii Muslims, the Wahabis and who ever else is involved, including an assortment of Islamic terrorists themselves. I've heard so much talk from the experts that even Jihad is beginning to sound like a cross between a personal love fest or a pretty violent and murderous enterprise depending on who you are listening to at the time. So please, to all the media types and so-called Islamic experts - stop giving me your line on how these guys have hijacked a religion and just have the guts to tell Osama bin Laden, Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Hamas, the Taliban and other Muslims who agree with them, that they have the Koran and the Prophet Mohammad all wrong. Period. Like it or not, in the big picture there seems to be no shortage of Muslims who agree with Bin Laden and other Terrorism Inc. members, et. al. But, even worse is the fact that they live all over the world and there are millions of them! From, China to Chechnya, to Indonesia, to the Philippians, back to India, into Saudi Arabia, south to Nigeria and about 50 other places you might not want to visit. To top it off, they come in a variety pack of all races and colors - brown, white, black, blue-eyed; black hair, beards, turbans, suits and ties. Wow! You've got to wonder; which Koran are these guys reading? I mean, someone has to have the Koran right and someone else has to have it wrong! Right? So many Muslims today make it sound like there are two versions of the Koran floating around out there. If so, what is the difference between the Koran that the Terrorists are reading, and the Koran that the rest of the Muslim world is reading? Is there an Original Koran and Revised Koran? If so, who is reading which version? Why is there an absence of direct condemnation and action targeted at millions of wayward Muslims who follow the terrorists? Why is there no overt and highly visible attempt to re-educate error-laden-believers to the 'true' message of Islam and the Prophet Mohhamad? I'm confused. This leads to some pretty difficult questions that I would like some brave souls or the members of the media to ask some Muslim leaders or other Islamic experts and try to get some straight answers: #1) Why is there such a huge effort to convince Christians, Jews and other non-Muslims that Islam is a peaceful, tolerant, kind, respectful religion, but there is no such direct effort to convey the same messages into the Mosques and the Arab Muslim world; especially to those Muslims in Gaza, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Tajikistan, the West Bank, etc.? In the same breath, why are Christian churches, Christian worship and Christian preaching banned in so many Islamic nations if Islam is so tolerant of all faiths? #2) Where are the Muslim world's media television, talk-show hosts', news people, Islamic experts' and roaming Imams' and clerics' voices with the message that people should not listen to Osama bin Laden, Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Hamas and other Muslims who use terrorism. Why aren't they saying that the terrorist interpretations of the Koran and the Prophet's teachings are all wrong? #3) If the Terrorists and the Islamic Fundamentalists have 'hijacked' Islam to further their own agenda and are not following the Koran; why haven't the clerics and Imams issued a fatwa (religious decree) in full view of Muslims everywhere; as set forth in Islamic law and the Koran, for those who have decried the 'true' faith and edicts of Islam? Does anyone remember the author Salman Rushdie? They didn't waste anytime putting a price on his head and all he did is write a book that broke Islamic Law. #4) Why hasn't the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC); who represents nearly one-fifth of the world's population, named Bin laden directly and condemned him and other terrorist organizations as apostates to the Muslim Religion? Better yet, if in truth Islam is a religion that prohibits the murder and killing of the innocent, why haven't Muslims everywhere; including the OIC, condemned the bombing of Disco's, Pizzeria's, or the killing of civilians and of school children in Israel? #5) If Jihad, by definition does not include the concept of a violent 'Holy War', why do so many Islamic clerics and followers of the Muslim religion keep using it for justification of their killing of other people of other faiths or nations? Can millions of readers of the Koran have it that wrong? #6) Pardon my ignorance of the Koran, but if a Catholic Priest did a 'such-and-such' terrible deed, the Bishops, the Cardinals, and the Pope would all condemn the actions and excommunicate the offender. Why is there no such action against the terrorists who (according to all the Islamic clergy and American and Muslim experts who are 'educating' the American public to Islam) have violated the Koran? #7) Finally, can the Muslims have it both ways? Either the Koran is specific or it is not. Either the plethora of Islamic terrorists organizations are following the literal edicts of the Koran and the Sunan, or they are apostates that must be destroyed by other Muslims with even more vengeance - that which is extended to non-believers. Which way is it? I would really like some direct and specific answers. I don't want to hear history about the Crusades, or the U.S. foreign policy crap, or the rage of Muslims, or the Palestinians claims to the same lands as the Israelis, or comparisons to Christianity and Judaism, or stories of poverty or hunger, or the CIA, or other 'look-behind-you' and 'blame-the-victim' excuses. Most of what has been said in the media has been either pure bull or a lesser mix of lies and rumors. At this point, the majority of Americans don't want to hear excuses. We want action. Save the excuses for a more Politically Correct time period and a more gullible audience. Not that it matters, but I'm still not sure if I'm considered a non-believer that Muslims should live in peace with or if I am an infidel that should be killed for my corrupt life style, or my religious belief of Jesus Christ and the trinity of God. I need to have the 'real' Islam please stand up. I suppose for the time being we are stuck and must consider that there are but two possibilities: in the least, either the majority of Muslims aquiecese to the 'hijacking' of their religion, or at worst, they give tacit approval to the murderous actions the Islamic terrorists have done in the name of Allah.
			POST SCRIPT Note: Before the 11th of September, I really didn't care what Islam was all about. Actually I didn't give a rat's ass; it was just another religion with it's share of contradictions and eccentric notions. Outside of some studies of the Koran and the Sunan while at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, I never gave Islam much thought. In that case, I opened the book on this most 'interesting' religion only when confronted by some Muslim Officers from Arab countries who tried to convince me about the rightousnous of 'Honor Killing' for wayward daughters at the hands of their own families. A pretty chilling concept for a American father with six children. At least in their Muslim world my sons were safe. Small comfort - four of my children are girls. According to them, the female population of America would dramatically decrease; but improve, overnight once we 'saw the light.' Whew. That's a real scary thought.

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About the Writer....

Van Jenerette is a Senior Policy adivisor to U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, 1st Congressional District, South Carolina. He served as a Congressional Staff Assistant to U.S. Rep. Arthur Ravenel, Jr., 1st Congressional District, South Carolina from 1992 to 1994 and was a candidate for the 1st District Congressional seat in the 2000 election. He is a U.S. Army veteran and the father of six children.

Jenerette is a Ph.D. Candidate in Sociology at the University of South Carolina, where he has also taught Sociology. Van presently teaches Political Science, Leadership Development, and Sociology as a full time faculty member at Southeastern Community College, and he teaches Social Theory at Coastal Carolina University. He received his Bachelors degree from Troy State University, Alabama where he graduated Summa cum Laude in 1981, he holds a Masters Degree from the University of Kansas and has done post graduate studies at the College of Charleston. He is a member of the American Mensa Society, an athlete, a scuba-diver and a runner who has competed in every distance from the mile through the 26-mile marathon. While in the Army, he competed in the 1990 U.S. Army Europe Track and Field Championships. He has studied five languages and has lived in three foreign countries.

Jenerette had a distinguished military career. Enlisting as a private during the Vietnam War in 1967, he served a combat tour as a Recon Scout with an Infantry Battalion on the Korean DMZ during the USS Pueblo Crisis. He rose through the enlisted ranks to Staff Sergeant, saw duty as a Drill Instructor at Fort Knox and received a commission as an Infantry Lieutenant after attending Infantry OCS in 1972 at Ft. Benning Georgia.

Jenerette is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, the 7th Infantry Division Counterguerilla Warfare School and the Defense Information School Officers Course. He served fourteen Army tours and his assignments included duty with the 1st Special Forces Group (ABN), Okinawa; the United Nations Honor Guard Contingent, Korea, which included service with United Kingdom British and Ghurkha forces and duty with the 1st Infantry, 2d Infantry and 7th Infantry Divisions.

Jenerette is married to Katherine Schmidt of Newport News, Virginia who served with the US Army in Operation Desert Storm and now teaches American History and Western Civilization.

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Our Republic...If we can keep it... | Van's bio | Van's US Congress2000 | Desert Storm Book Preview |

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[JoeSixPack1]

Thanks for the ping Tonkin, this is right on target.

The American media is collectively anal retentive when it comes to explaining a mortal enemy of our way of life. Just as they coddle rogue politicans, baby killers and glorify any single criminal act that will sell a newspaper or drag in a viewer, they are now glorifying a entire region of the world.

WHY??

FEAR. Out and out, pure unadultuarated FEAR.

They have been banned from an entire country, Lock, stock and video camera. The biggest investor in AOL/Time Werner has just been outted as the Saudi Prince who got smacked in the wallet by Rudy. (GO RUDY!) If the American Media pukes comprehesibly educate the American people on what Major Jenerette is saying, The teachings of Islam would be a history book. Not a religion.

Senorita Jennings is said to be a target.. Ooooh scary (NOT). Blathering Dan is incoherent lately, and the richest set of gums on TV, bloutable Ophra is on the band wagen of islamic education/propaganda to the free world.

The real down home soccer moms, used car salemen, machinists, mechanics and even insurance agents for a short list of Americans know dam well who the bad guys are and only collectively want one thing.....A secure nation for their kids to grow up in.

But once again FEAR sticks its stinky little head in there and explains that we can shoot this person because there bad, but not this person because there bad. HUH? And if we do they will retaliate..HUH?

The inescapable answer is mind boggling. 873A.D. Islam almost took Europe but was squashed. That's pretty far back. How many "Religous wars" has this planet seen since then?

How many more do we have to endure before we can live without war? I remember one of my Uncles (ex-Navy WW2) saying to me, during the Vietnam era, that all nations should disarm. OK, but he never mentioned box cutters or even thought about them. We live in a global era. Safety in our daily lives is our primary goal. If erasing a warrior religion is our only hope, then its time we added one to the extinct religion list. If not, they need to cleanup there act once and for all. There are no hiding places on this planet where terror can live if we decide they should not.

YES, IF WE decide they should not. We are capable, we have the fire power. But we don't have the will. Because we can't comprehend religous genocide. And the civilians,, oh my...Where do you think warriors are from? We were all civilians once, and then with a little luck, we are once again, civilians. The little screaming, running, naked, starving babies that survive, can pick up a box cutter or a shoulder fired pop gun after we nuture them back to health. Red is red and hate is hate. If someone choses their path, they also accept the consquences of that path. Long winded I know, but one more ..

PATRICK HENRY ONCE SAID:
"Pacifists are among the most immoral of men. They make no distinction between aggression and defense. Therefore, pacifism is one of the greatest allies an aggressor can have!"

[FITZ]

Here's something you might find interesting. I should be sent to newspapers and emailed to people wondering the same thing as you in your question on the other thread.

[harpseal]

Thanks for the flag. I obviously agree with much of this article as the author has lifted many of the points I made in discussions of Free Republic prior to his pub date. I guess great minds think alike.

Stay well - stay safe - stay armed - Yorktown

[Stingray]

Excellent points, indeed!

I understand why Bush and his military and foreign policy team are reluctant to call a spade a spade when speaking of Islam and its adherents. After all, we are conducting military operations in their back yard against one of their neighbors, and the last thing we want is a world war against all of these people now.

And while I understand our leaders' reluctance to speak out about the evil that underlies all of Islamic thought, teaching, and tradition, I am still nevertheless p!ssed off about it.

Unfortunately, being "engaged" in that part of the world from now on will either mean we are at war with one of these Islamic nations, or buying their oil and continuing to support their numerous and sundry jihads against us with our petro-dollars. Since I believe we will always be at war with these people - in one form or another, we need to do two things now to help insure our ultimate victory:

• End our dependence on "cheap" foreign oil, because as we have seen "cheap" is a relative term which only covers the price of a gallon of gas or home heating oil. What it doesn't cover is the cost of the "tail-wagging-the-dog" foreign policy we have followed there since the mid-70's, when OPEC saw that they could bring us to our knees by simply producing less oil. As I have said on several other threads, we need to drill whenever and wherever we must in this country to asure that we no longer need to be told by these butchers how we are going to live or how we are going to conduct our relations with other nations. Build more nuke plants, too, so that whatever energy we can't get with oil, we can get with cheap, plentiful electricity. And screw the "green eco-terrorists" in this country, who won't let us build the energy infrastructure we need to assure our own independence and security. Californians know all to well how these people have just about destroyed California's economy.

 

• Embrace our only true ally in the region, Israel, and stop pressuring them to give up their land in exchange for a "peace and security" that will never materialize. Those who - like me - have recently begun reading the Koran understand that the Moslem mindset, as instructed by the Koran, is not about "peaceful coexistence" with Israel (Jews), but "violent overthrow of the infidels." Islam, as we have seen, can only exist "peacefully" when it has fully subjected entire nations, religions, and races of people under Islamic Law. Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Iran are all the examples we need of a "kinder, gentler Islam." And remeber that Israel has been fighting these b@st@rds longer than we have.

Obviously, we cannot continue to support Israel and have our foreign policy dictated to us by the Imams in Saudi Arabia who control the flow of oil and consequently our economy. Our energy independence is the only way to assure that our foreign policy isn't being dictated to us by our "nominal" friends, but who, in reality, despise us because of our long-standing support of Israel.

Some would argue that once we are energy independent, and we no longer have to be engaged in that part of the world at all, then we no longer need to be engaged with Israel, either. While that sounds good, the problem is we need access to Israel's vast intelligence-gathering network, so that we can continue to keep an eye on Islamic threats directed against us. And remember - once the Moslems have elminated Israel, who do you think they'll turn their full and undivided attention to next? Yep: Us. A nation now only nominally "Christian," but one whose founding documents are so anathema to Islam, that we will - like the defeated and subjugated Jews - remain the enemy of Islam until we are likewise defeated.

Whether we stick with Israel or not, we will remain at war with Islam unless and until we either defeat it or surrender to it. Let us never surrender to terrorism.

In conclusion, Islam is no less a threat to 21st century civilization than the Nazis and Soviets were to 20th century civilzation. It is no less an "evil empire" than the former Soviet Union was.

Time to retarget our nukes.

[NoClones]

When I see mass demonstrations of Islamics denouncing radical muslims and their acts...

When I see large gatherings of Islamics burning bin laden & the mujarhadeen in effigy...

Then, I'll give Islamics the 'benefit of the doubt.'
Until then, it seems we all have to watch our backs.

[philosofy123]

Good questions. The easy answer is Islam needs a reformer to take it to the 21th century. The old Christianity killed Gallilio for questioning that the earth was flat! It is about time that Islamic scolars in the Azhar, the highest Moslem university, start to develop "Islam Light" ! A new theology that focuses more on coexistance and aceptance of others openions. Chritisism of Islam should be allowed! Free thinkers should not be killed for philosophising. Former Prime Minister Buhto is on the right track declaring that Islam needs reforming!

[Travis McGee]

bttt

[TrueBeliever9]

Thanks for the bump; I copied and sent to my military buds!

[wardaddy]

I think that many in our muzzled defense department feel the same as this distinguished gent. I must confess (proudly) that I do not believe that the bulk of Americans including a fair number of liberals are buying this brainwashing we are all recieving from most of our leaders and media regarding the true face of Islam.

[Gritty]

BUMP for a good article.

It is impossible to fight an effective war if you don't recognize an enemy or mis-identify him. It appears we have publicly recognized only a small segment - the Al-Quaida, and perhaps (reluctantly) a few beastly nation-states whom we just can't ignore (try as we might). Whether either the former or the latter are ever brought to "justice" remains to be seen.

Nonetheless, even destroying the above recognized enemies does not address the poison that lies beneath and generates new, malignant enemy cells daily. It is possible our government recognizes this and are trying to take only the first bite of this immense apple - one bite at a time - while hoping to maintain some shaky, temporary secular alliances from some who clearly are not with us and will stab us in the back at the first opportunity. One can only hope our leaders see the problem clearly and will eventually act decisively and totally in our behalf and this is only a tactic to minimize our casualties.

The widespread excuses disguising Islam's bloody aims have not been lost on those who are watching. Only those who are either not or are (worse) being deluded by the siren song of those who are merely attacking on a different front miss the clear point.

Yes, Isalm is a "peaceful" religion; as long as the "peace" is dictated entirely on their terms and all other religions and peoples succumb to their laws and beliefs. Otherwise, it's Off With Their Heads!

Yes, it will be a long war. It already has been. This particular segment against Islam has been raging for thirteen centuries and is not about to be ended in a few more years and by addressing the "root causes" as understood by today's pundits. These are the wrong "root causes". The real "root causes" are spiritual and are wrapped in the ages-long battle of Satan against God.

Guess who Islam represents?

[Dumb_Ox]

The old Christianity killed Gallilio for questioning that the earth was flat

Point of fact: Galileo wasn't killed, but placed under house arrest, and not for questioning the flat earth--the West knew the earth was round since the ancient Greeks. Rather, he was putatively convicted for "vehement suspicion of heresy" for promoting the heliocentric system. I myself think the reasons were because Galileo annoyed some of the powers-that-be, and also promoted some semi-Protestant theological positions.

[LTCJ]

Iron on target, Major. Well put and Hooah!

[browardchad]

BUMP

[Willie Green]

Peaceful people who doe not speak out about the murder of innocents in the name of their religion are neither peaceful or religious - they are cowards. The term idiots rest more with the mass of silent 'Muslims' than with honest Americans of any faith.

The fact is that many in the Islamic/Muslim community have stood up to condemn the terrorist activities. Here are links to just a few threads that document this:

Muslim Ruling Endorses U.S. Action
Reject jihad, local Muslim leader says
New York Muslims pray for justice
Muslim Scholars Back Fight Against Terrorists

Frankly, I find the very premise of this article to be academicly simple-minded. To demand that "Will the Real Islam Please Stand Up!" is akin to demanding that the "Real Christianity Stand Up" under the assumption that since all Christian denominations read the same Christian Bible they should interpret the Bible the same way.

As a Ph.D. Candidate in Sociology, it would be my expectation that you would have the intellectual maturity and sophistication to understand and appreciate the complex nature of this situation. Yet the overall tone of your essay appears intended to blur the distinctions in an effort to paint all Muslims with a broad brush. In essence, an effort to turn this tragedy into a religious war rather than a war against evil terrorists.

Frankly, I don't see anything in your essay that violates the posting guidelines of this forum. And you do present an opinion that merits debate. However, I am requesting that JimRob monitor your postings closely. This is his forum, and ultimately, he is the one who decides if he wishes to facilitate your highly self-promotional writings.

[mississippi red-neck]

ISLAM IS WHAT MOSLEMS DO.

Exactly. N'uff said.

[Peter Libra]

Nothing like the old "thinly veiled threat" is there. If as you said, you see nothing wrong etc, whats yer beef? Cheers

[6323cd]

bookmark bump

[Willie Green]

If as you said, you see nothing wrong etc, whats yer beef?

The Middle East is a powder keg requiring intelligent differentiation of the numerous factions involved.

Advocating a disregard for those distinctions is akin to inciting a riot of monstrous proportions.

I expect somebody with professional training in Sociology to be able to constuctively explain those distinctions to the general populace. Not engage in fanning the flames of war.

[Peter Libra]

Happily we can agree to disagree, I take your point and thank you for your civilized rebuttal. Cheers.

[Van Jenerette]

...it would be my expectation that you would have the intellectual maturity and sophistication to understand and appreciate the complex nature of this situation

Willie - Just what do you want me to say? That you are correct and I shouldn't have asked such silly questions? Obviously you have set yourself up as the Free Republic 'benchmark' for what is or is not correct - and in my case - what should be monitored closely. Since you have decided that I lack intellectual maturity, etc. there probably isn't much I could say to change your mind - so I might as well just let my editorial commentary speak for itself and leave my record and Vitae speak for itself...

Oh, I more than understand the complexity of this situation, this tragedy, this war. I have been there and I have done that. However, when asking direct and simple (your word, not mine)questions can elicit a response like yours, I know that I have hit 'target' and provoked some thinking. I don't really need your approval for my writing; I had intentions and expectations of 'baiting' more than a few readers with more than a singular point of view. Thank you Willie, you took the hook and all.

Anyway, you probably will be distressed to know that I spend everyday of the week in college classrooms teaching hundreds of students each semester a view of politics, sociology, and leadership that you are welcome to drop in and monitor if you please.

As you well know, this is a very serious situation...I don't take it for less than what it is. I am on a mobilization call up list for return to Army active duty - I was an Infantryman. This is far to serious for me and my family personnaly to just sit back and wait for someone else to ask the questions I want answered. Others may - I won't.

Well Willie, my last class has ended for the day and I'm heading home. I'll write more on this and any other topic I wish to weigh in on. I'll be certain to send you a link...I'm sure you have some interesting comments to make. It all goes into the mix of ideas. Take care - Van Jenerette www.jenerette.com

P.S. I need to send you links to the Free Republic event's I have been the guest speaker at and I'm really happy to hear that you have asked Jim Robinson to monitor my activities...he's a pretty good judge of intellectual maturity and sophistication...