The latest attempts to "excuse" the brutality of ISIS are the arguments that say "we do the same thing." The left simply cannot stand the idea that ISIS is a manifestation of evil perpetrated in the name of Islam. They cannot abide by anyone stating that basic truth. For months, even years, these people have told us that to even call ISIS an group rooted in Islam is racist, or more specifically Islamophobic. That argument continued to be made by president Obama and all his minions. ISIS is "not Islamic" according to the president. They are just criminals, like the criminals encountered by the mayor of a big city who has to direct the police to keep crime down, or so said Obama just yesterday.
Lately, however, those on the left who push the Islamophobia argument have run into a problem. ISIS has gotten more brutal, more brazen and more evil. This push into depravity by the Islamic terror group hit its most recent zenith with the execution by burning of the Jordanian pilot last week. Across the Islamic world, leaders like King Abdullah of Jordan and president Sisi of Egypt denounced the "Islamic terrorists" at ISIS. Now even the Islamic leaders are calling ISIS "Islamic". We have had spectacles like a joint press conference by Obama and a European leader like prime minister Cameron of the UK or chancellor Merkel of Germany at which the European denounces the Islamic terror group and Obama only mentions "dangerous extremists". Even the delusional folks at the White House have been realizing that their refusal to even mention the real nature of ISIS is failing and looking silly.
In order to keep criticism of ISIS as Islamic terrorists to a minimum, however, the left has come up with a new strategy. The best way to describe that strategy is "everybody does it." Obama told the National Prayer Breakfast (and the nation) that Christians were no better than ISIS since the Crusades and the Inquisition were brutal and murderous. He also mentioned slavery and Jim Crow laws. With the signal given now for the full force of the left's media machine to jump into the battle, we are witnessing the onslaught of articles from leftist icons who tell us about all the terrible things that our ancestors have done.
One good example came today from old liberal standard bearer Bill Moyer writing at Salon. Moyer says that before we criticize ISIS we should look at our own history. He then recounts a story of a lynching 99 years ago in Texas in which the victim was burned after he was lynched. It is a horrible tale, but it was a century ago. No one who participated is still alive. For Moyers, however, those who perpetrated this lynching "were insiders. Home grown. Godly. Our neighbors, friends, and kin. People like us." In other words, because "we" did this 100 years ago, we cannot criticize the evil from ISIS now.
To call this sort of argument idiotic is to give it too much credit. Surely, events in history are not reason why later generations must be silent when confronted by evil. During the Roman Empire, people were routinely slaughtered, crucified, and dismembered. Whole peoples were enslaved, uprooted and destroyed if it served the interests of Rome. Does that mean that today's people of Italian descent cannot criticize evil? NO. All manner of past civilizations engage in mass killings of their enemies. Does that prevent us today from criticizing such behavior? No.
Think of what Moyers is now arguing. Consider that prior to the 19th century, most civilizations on Earth had slavery. There were slaves across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. If the Obama/Moyers argument were correct, then all those in the USA who agitated prior to the Civil War to end the evil of slavery really had no right to do so. After all, their ancestors had slaves. How could they denounce slavery if their grandfathers or great, great uncles had owned slaves?
The truth is that people advance in their moral thinking. Thank God that this is true. Each of us must make our own determination of what is right and what is wrong. Each of us can recognize evil when we see it. And guess what? No matter what one's grandparents or distant ancestors may have done, that need to make our own determinations of good and evil remains true.
One last point needs mentioning: For the last 150 years, the main purveyors of harsh racism in the USA have been Democrats. The Democrats fought against ending slavery at the time of the Civil War. The Democrats imposed Jim Crow laws across the South once Reconstruction ended. The Democrats fought the various Civil Rights laws passed in the 1950s and 1960s. Under the Obama/Moyers construct, that means that the Democrats today cannot denounce racism (even though that will leave them with precious little to say.)
The reality is that ISIS is true evil and it come right out of the ISIS view of Islam. We all need to recognize this reality.
Lately, however, those on the left who push the Islamophobia argument have run into a problem. ISIS has gotten more brutal, more brazen and more evil. This push into depravity by the Islamic terror group hit its most recent zenith with the execution by burning of the Jordanian pilot last week. Across the Islamic world, leaders like King Abdullah of Jordan and president Sisi of Egypt denounced the "Islamic terrorists" at ISIS. Now even the Islamic leaders are calling ISIS "Islamic". We have had spectacles like a joint press conference by Obama and a European leader like prime minister Cameron of the UK or chancellor Merkel of Germany at which the European denounces the Islamic terror group and Obama only mentions "dangerous extremists". Even the delusional folks at the White House have been realizing that their refusal to even mention the real nature of ISIS is failing and looking silly.
In order to keep criticism of ISIS as Islamic terrorists to a minimum, however, the left has come up with a new strategy. The best way to describe that strategy is "everybody does it." Obama told the National Prayer Breakfast (and the nation) that Christians were no better than ISIS since the Crusades and the Inquisition were brutal and murderous. He also mentioned slavery and Jim Crow laws. With the signal given now for the full force of the left's media machine to jump into the battle, we are witnessing the onslaught of articles from leftist icons who tell us about all the terrible things that our ancestors have done.
One good example came today from old liberal standard bearer Bill Moyer writing at Salon. Moyer says that before we criticize ISIS we should look at our own history. He then recounts a story of a lynching 99 years ago in Texas in which the victim was burned after he was lynched. It is a horrible tale, but it was a century ago. No one who participated is still alive. For Moyers, however, those who perpetrated this lynching "were insiders. Home grown. Godly. Our neighbors, friends, and kin. People like us." In other words, because "we" did this 100 years ago, we cannot criticize the evil from ISIS now.
To call this sort of argument idiotic is to give it too much credit. Surely, events in history are not reason why later generations must be silent when confronted by evil. During the Roman Empire, people were routinely slaughtered, crucified, and dismembered. Whole peoples were enslaved, uprooted and destroyed if it served the interests of Rome. Does that mean that today's people of Italian descent cannot criticize evil? NO. All manner of past civilizations engage in mass killings of their enemies. Does that prevent us today from criticizing such behavior? No.
Think of what Moyers is now arguing. Consider that prior to the 19th century, most civilizations on Earth had slavery. There were slaves across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. If the Obama/Moyers argument were correct, then all those in the USA who agitated prior to the Civil War to end the evil of slavery really had no right to do so. After all, their ancestors had slaves. How could they denounce slavery if their grandfathers or great, great uncles had owned slaves?
The truth is that people advance in their moral thinking. Thank God that this is true. Each of us must make our own determination of what is right and what is wrong. Each of us can recognize evil when we see it. And guess what? No matter what one's grandparents or distant ancestors may have done, that need to make our own determinations of good and evil remains true.
One last point needs mentioning: For the last 150 years, the main purveyors of harsh racism in the USA have been Democrats. The Democrats fought against ending slavery at the time of the Civil War. The Democrats imposed Jim Crow laws across the South once Reconstruction ended. The Democrats fought the various Civil Rights laws passed in the 1950s and 1960s. Under the Obama/Moyers construct, that means that the Democrats today cannot denounce racism (even though that will leave them with precious little to say.)
The reality is that ISIS is true evil and it come right out of the ISIS view of Islam. We all need to recognize this reality.
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