The Third Jihad
 

A powerful look at our country from a Muslim American.

http://www.thethirdjihad.com/

Aw how precious, they have a nice little icon plugging that wonderfully accurate "Obsession" DVD that came with my newspaper! I wonder what their agenda is? Hmm

/sarcasm.

Agenda....?

Here let me get you a glass of Kook Aid...

You obviously did not listen to the video and make your own mind up, someone made it up for you. Obama?

Merc - you missed the sarcasm

On purpose. This shit is real. Well so is Obama for that matter and I still can't move off the grid.

Watch the free (for now) 30 min version.

http://www.thethirdjihad.com/30min.html

No, my mind has been made up by actual interactions and frank discussions with Muslims in my community,one a self described fundamentalist (not in the way that these publications would have you think) through my Islam and the West seminar via my university. There is no doubt that there are extremist splinter groups that wish to do Westerners, Christians, Jews, and other Muslims harm. Inflammatory media such as these, do nothing to help strengthen ties with the great majority of moderate Muslims, which is what we need now more than anything. These people genuinely fear our government and publications such as these. They live in uncertainty within our own free country because of wiretapping, no-fly lists, suspicious men following them, random questionings, and rendition. Many Muslims have tried to reach out, but are turned away by many folks because of the "Muslim stigma". Stigma instilled by fear-mongering publications like "Obsession".

And no I'm not voting for Obama just fyi. I do not agree with a nanny-state, abortion, or the assault weapons ban. Just hearing him speak grates on me.

Watching the 30 min video now.

No one need watch the video. Soundbytes from the video define it. Some people always need a bogeyman to hate and to justify a political agenda.

Well of course than we have our resident Jester take the stage. Dance tw, dance.....

Why of couse you can tell us all which parts you don't agee with.

I want to get this right. Are you saying there is absolutely no threat from extreme Muslims?

I think most people agree with TW and Bullett here. A lot of that video is just fear-mongering.

Yes, the video is an inflammatory piece. Agreed.

Still, are you trying to tell me that Muslim extremists pose no threat?

Pico...... Oh Reeellly. And when you went to the Middle East, what was your experience. Please share....

NO.

NO.

You've not been to the Middle East, or you don't want to share?

Both.

DO Muslim extremists care about women and children in their quest for Muslim supremacy? It is a battleground for ideology. The US is sleeping. Obama will foster it. And I will be here to remind you of it. Obama and his Demoncratic Congress will own all events that occur after November 4th.

Ok, please share. I would be very interested in your experince when you were in the Middle East. Thanks.

See here's the problem. Islam is much more fragmented than most realize. These splinter groups are to Islam as the Westboro Baptist Church is to Christianity. They claim to be Islamic. but have widely different beliefs than orthodox Islam and as such are not accepted by general Sunnis and Shi'as. Hell, Shi'as are just barely alllowed on the hajj by the mainstream Sunnis, let alone other splinter groups like the Sevener's and the Twelver's and one that believes Ali, Muhammad's son, is a messianic figure. We can't continue to paint this broad picture of an all-conquering, unified Islam, it just isn't accurate. Christian churches use very similar rhetoric about the End Times, judgement, God's kingdom established on earth, "go and make disciples of all nations", etc.

Dammm.... Sounds like Christian groups in the US!!!!

How many have used Car Bombs to get their message across? Just wondering...

Hey, if this is what floats your boat, go for it. Some people need something to fear and hate in order to generate purpose in their life. I reject it.

Cool, I respect your choice to stick your head in the sand. But I will be here to blame the next administration for everthing that happens after 4 Nov for the next 4 years.... And rub it in the face of anyone who supported them before that.

None that I know of. Abortion clinic bombings do come to mind though. Yet any self proclaimed "Christian" who uses a car bombing to get his/her point across is in the same boat as any "Muslim" car bomber. The normal, law abiding mainstream folks, Christians and Muslims, declare that such activities are not in alignment with the tenants of their faiths. To kill innocents goes against the central teachings of brotherly love and care-taking of the weak and the poor that both faiths share. These extremists are not considered a part of the Muslim faith, so it is irresponsible for us to label them as though they are representative of underlying Islamic tones of world domination by whatever means.

Merc, the challenges that we will face as a nation will be far more pressing than the threat that comes from Islamic Radicals.

I agree, so please tell me when the last Christian used a car bomb to get their point across and how often. Thanks.

Yes and no. Time will tell. Since I can only base my own experience of 20 years on active duty my view is scewed. I admit it. But I will also tell you that for every event that makes the news paper, that the average Joe reads about, there are 5 to 10 that they never heard about and never will. The world is evil people. Believe it or not.....

Do I really have to list all the atrocities committed during The Troubles?
Plenty of good Christians blowing eachother up. And please don't think they targeted the Armed Forces, or the Government.

They bombed pubs, hotels, shopping centres.
And it had as much to do with religion as politics as power as fear of invasion as any Muslim bombings.

ETA like to target commuters. Do they care about women and children?
Nope!
They care about a separate Catalan state.
Are they Christians?
Probably, they're certainly not Muslims.

Go on, blame the Government from 4 Novemeber for every single thing that happens, from you stepping in gum to the next bomb that kills American people. But if McCain wins the same thing stands. And it means you blame everything that has happened up until now on whatever Government was in power at the time too.

Well said, Sundae Girl!

That is why I posted it, [sarc]. To late, everyone already does that. And now this piece of news.


WARNING FROM THE MIDDLE EAST

This morning, from a cave somewhere in Pakistan, Taliban Minister of Migration, Mohammed Omar, warned the United States that if military actions against Iraq continues, Taliban authorities will cut off American's supply of convenience store managers, and possible candidates for President of the United States. And if this action does not yield sufficient results, cab drivers will be next, followed by Dell and AOL customer service reps., and then Motel 6 managers.

Folks, it's getting ugly........

Extremists
Extremists who need extremists
Are the pluckiest extremists in the world.


Nice to see an American who can't wait to see our country fall apart, as you think it will Merc. Though I've never been a Bush supporter, I still respect this country enough that I had hopes he and his administration wouldn't fuck it all up: that I might even be wrong and it would be a wonderful time of growth and prosperity.

You want an "I told you so" so badly: is that what patriotism is? You tell me. I've never served.

Like the Quarterback on a football team - The President gets too much credit and/or blame for things that happen during his/her administration. There is typically a lag from 5-10 years on most policy changes. However, with respect to congress it seems to be just the opposite. They seem to skate by unscathed from the ramifications of their actions.

I prefer to think of our president as the coach, if we're talking football analogy.

And if the team loses time after time after time, that coach no longer has a job! :rolleyes:

Shawnee you crack me up.

Oh, and fixed it for you.

How do you make the little music notes? I saw you had done it on another post...cute!

That's fine -
Same analogy holds.

There are many ways to be patriotic. Serving in the military is but one of those many. I don't recall saying that I am one of those "who can't wait to see our country fall apart". Nor am I much of a Bush supporter. So please, since you are wrong about your assumptions of me, what is your point?

Whatever you say, merc. I think your brand of extremism is very dangerous to our country.

I just think turn about is fair play. I will be having a blast. IMHO, Obama is an extremist. McCain is a wet noodle comparatively.

I am afraid that many will blame whatever happens over the next four years on the current administration. In some cases I think that will be correct. I think the next President will take the credit for the economic turnaround that will most likely occur during their tenure. Realistically, they may not have had very much to do with it. We'll see.

I hate to ask this, but you'll be having a blast doing what exactly?

it was [sarc], I forgot my tags.

[sarc]Having a blast blaming Obama for everything he didn't do.[/sarc] Sort of like Bush.

Uh ok - question 2...

Will there be a fourth Jihad?

Good question.

Everybody is an extremist to an extremist.

Extremists always need a bogeyman. Evil squinty eyes extremist who threaten us in SE Asia. Evil Soviets whose only life purpose is to nuke Americans. Evil Japanese companies vying to destroy American jobs. All Arabs are evil heathens whose only purpose in life is jihad.

To rally extremists, an extremist leader would protect bin Laden. Extremists can be manipulated by dangling these bogeymen and hyping the fear.

An extremist who acutally understood what Robert Baer writes would never post what has been recently been posted in the Cellar. Baer does not view Islam as a threat. Baer was long a valued source of tw's posts that extremists disagree with.

Those who are extremists will only see extremism everywhere. Rush Limbaugh's hypes fear of bogeymen; makes sure extremists always have something to fear.

Obama is an extremists. Obama is a muslim. Obama is a niger. What happened to Obama is a nazi?

They're gonna unveil that one on November 1st!

The 5th. The day after the elections. :D

The day after the elections, a 5th will be in order. ;)

No doubt. I am actually looking forward to it. I am really interested in what the statistical demographics are going to look like. Who voted for who and from where. I imagine the population clusters for the Demoncrats will not be unlike 2000 or 2004. Same for the Republickins. Something will be throwing one side over to a winner. Unless it is a landslide by NoBama (possible) the only other choice would be a slim win by McCain (possible), and in the end we will remain essentially what we are today, as on this forum, deeply divided.

I got one of those DVDs in the mail. What is it supposed to be about?

Merc I do find your mangling of Obama's name both cheap and wearing. I'd say the same if someone was doing it to McCain or Palin and posted it as often as you do. It's schoolyard stuff and does nothing to improve the points you are trying to make.

OK, lemme get this str8. They are launching the 4th on the 5th or with a fifth?

The threat of extremist Islamic people the world over pose to our peace-loving way of life. A scare tactic for the election season.

A forth with a fifth. That is the only solution. Washed down with a pint.

Oh, I am sooooo sorry. My bad....

Apology accepted.

You know what?
This thread gives me hope.

I see (read) Americans defending Muslims. And accepting that Islam is a religious choice and not necessarily a devil's mark which denotes genocidal tendencies.

And I am pretty sure that those who have positive personal experiences of Islam are in the minority, meaning that the others are just taking it on faith (ahem) in human nature.

Thank you for unintentionally bolstering my faith in reasoning human beings.

I do believe that the majority of Islamic people are peaceful and loving. Same goes for all religions. There are extremists in all aspects of society. But sometimes, as history has shown us, small segments of these groups can get the masses to do things that they would not otherwise do. Do you not think that radical elements of society can do this?

Of course - I've already mentioned what happens When Good Christians Go Bad.

My post was sincerely meant as a positive post about Dwellars seeing people rather than religion. I don't think that was the case three years ago and I view it as a step forward.

You and I are on the opposite side of the argument in many things, and this is one, but again I am heartened by your last post. And again, it gives me hope. I'm not an apologist and you are not racist. We can agree to disagree.

Thank you for you post. And thank you for seeing through some of my comments, if you knew me personally you would know that I am far from racist, I am certainly not a right wing conservative bible thumper. I have not been in a church for years, well not to include since my father died and before that when my sister died. I have extremely liberal views on some things, and conservative views on others. I like to play devils advocate to extremely liberal comments as well. Most people miss the point. Thanks again. You are a good person.

*Nods* I have the same response to the constant mangling of Hillary's name into Hitlery. It's vile. I don't care what your political grief with her is, the reason she's so hated is that she's a woman who got uppity.