What's not to understand about
Islamic terror in history?
The
practice of using force to compel conversion is a historic distinctive
to Islam compared to the world's other major religions. Since the 7th
century, Islam has used the sword to advance its territory.From the Halls of Montezuma, To the shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles, In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom, And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title, Of United States Marine.
There's a story behind that line that says "To the shores of Tripoli" – a story that most Americans are not familiar with. It involved our country's first encounter with Islamic terrorists, also known as the First Barbary War (1801-1805). The History Channel website says that President Thomas Jefferson "…ordered U.S. Navy vessels to the Mediterranean Sea in protest of continuing raids against U.S. ships by pirates from the Barbary states – Morocco, Algeria, Tunis and Tripolitania. American sailors were often abducted along with the captured booty and ransomed back to the United States at an exorbitant price. After two years of minor confrontations, sustained action began in June 1803, when a small U.S. expeditionary force attacked Tripoli harbor in present-day Libya."
Leading up to the First Barbary War, in 1786, before Jefferson was president, while serving as an ambassador for the new United States, Jefferson (and John Adams) met with Tripoli's ambassador to Great Britain to see if they could get an answer as to what right the Barbary states had that allowed them to kidnap and slaughter the innocent crews of passing merchant ships. Here's what Jefferson recorded:
"We took the liberty to make some
inquiries concerning the Grounds of their pretentions to make war upon
Nations who had done them no Injury, and observed that we considered all
mankind as our friends who had done us no wrong, nor had given us any
provocation.
"The Ambassador answered us that it was
founded on the Laws of their prophet, that it was written in their
Koran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority
were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them
wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take
as Prisoners, and that every musselman (Muslim) who should be slain in
battle was sure to go to Paradise."
The ambassador's answer was so matter of fact, it makes you wonder if when finished he just looked at Jefferson and Adams and said: "Any more questions?"
Since its inception in the 7th century, Islam has used the sword to advance its territory. It goes on to this day. The goal is to bring the world into submission to Sharia law. This is what motivates all these "terrorist" groups. ISIS is getting a lot of attention, but what is going on with Boko Haram against the people of Nigeria today is just as horrible. This practice of using force to compel conversion is a distinctive to Islam compared to the world's other major religions.
President Obama refuses to acknowledge the problems within Islam. Ironically, it is the president of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, himself a Muslim, who is having the courage to speak up publicly calling for a "religious revolution" among Muslims challenging clerics to denounce violence and jihad as a way of advancing Islam.
For the sake of the civilized world, may his tribe increase.
Tim Wildmon (contact@afa.net) is president of the American Family Association in Tupelo, MS.
This column is printed with permission. Opinions expressed in 'Perspectives' columns published by OneNewsNow.com are the sole responsibility of the article's author(s), or of the person(s) or organization(s) quoted therein, and do not necessarily represent those of the staff or management of, or advertisers who support the American Family News Network, OneNewsNow.com, our parent organization or its other affiliates.
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