The White House Sunday issued a statement condemning the barbaric beheadings of more than a dozen Egyptian Coptic Christians, but somehow the statement failed to note that that they were killed because they were Christian – or even that they were Christian at all.
The United States condemns the despicable and cowardly murder of twenty-one Egyptian citizens in Libya by ISIL-affiliated terrorists. We offer our condolences to the families of the victims and our support to the Egyptian government and people as they grieve for their fellow citizens.
ISIL’s barbarity knows no bounds. It is unconstrained by faith, sect, or ethnicity. This wanton killing of innocents is just the most recent of the many vicious acts perpetrated by ISIL-affiliated terrorists against the people of the region, including the murders of dozens of Egyptian soldiers in the Sinai, which only further galvanizes the international community to unite against ISIL.
President Obama’s determination to portray Islamist terrorism as merely “extremism” untethered from any religious motivation has now crossed the line from absurdity into profound offensiveness. These people died, horrifyingly, because of their religion. They are martyrs. But not, apparently, in the view of the White House.
Also deeply offensive is that the killings did not rate a “presidential” statement. The statement above was issued by the press secretary, a determination that is calculated based on what the White House perceives as its importance.
Clearly, this is part of Obama’s effort to minimize the threat from Islamist terror. It also may reflect his hostility toward Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who overthrew the Islamist revolution in Egypt that Obama supported and who has made clear that part of what is animating Islamist extremism comes from within Islam, and that Muslim religious leaders need to reform their practices.
The statement, furthermore, is inaccurate. ISIL is not “unstrained by faith, sect or ethnicity.” While it involves many sects and ethnicities, it features only one religion: Islam.
The sources of Islamist extremism must be combated from within Islam and from without, by the United States and its allies. But if the problem is not understood, it will never be eradicated.
Here’s someone who understands the threat. I’ve never seem Giuliani so passionate. “What is wrong with out president?” he demands to know.
64 thoughts on “Were These People Not Christians?”
THIS is why people of faith (irrespective of actual religion) need to be praying all the time that 1) our “leaders” (using this term lightly) in Washington will recognize the threat and act accordingly; 2) our fellow citizens will wake up, realize the threat not just from Islamic extremeism AND our own leadership; 3) that our allies in this fight will continue to be our allies, regardless of the weakness of American leadership and finally 4) that we can somehow muddle through the remainder of Obama’s presidency without things getting so bad that we can not recover. Oh, and 5) that we will elect the right President AND congressional leaders in 2016 that will put this country on the right path and restore American leadership around the world.
Amen Sarah.
I wholeheartedly agree with MrK’s statement.
But..I understand, somewhat, why the President or his minions are loathe to call these murderers “Islamists”. If the Knights of Columbus (a Catholic group) suddenly went beserk and started killing those not following the Catholic faith, it wouldn’t be fair to call them “Catholics” and besmirch the whole of the religon.
There is a way to describe the serial murderers who have wrapped the cloak of Islam around their evil deeds. The President should find those words, should use those words to identify the evil-doers and quit pussy-footing around.
IMO, the ISIS is a group who have hi-jacked the tenets of Islam to give their killings a false legitimate basis. MrO should say so.
Although it would be fair to identify the Catholic religion as having a problem if the Knights and 50 other Catholic groups around the world began preaching a version of Catholicism that validated mass murder, beheadings, slavery, misogyny etc., and acting on those beliefs. Right?
Let’s elaborate on your line of reasoning. When a small group of Catholic Priests broke their vows and abused child parishioners and had their acts overlooked by Cardinals who transferred them to make the problem go away, the Catholic Church at large was forced to pay $10s of millions in settlements to victims. That money would otherwise have gone to the many needy people helped by Catholic Charities, so in a sense, the people in the pews were penalized as were the needy. Many parishioners stopped contributing to force the issue. The offending Cardinals and priests were not penalized as much as they should have been. But since they represented an institution, the institution was held accountable.
Now if you look at the mosque in Boston that radicalized the Tsarnaev brothers which lead to the Boston bombings, you have not seen this Mosque sued and forced to pay a huge settlement to compensate the killed and maimed victims. In this case, the institution is not being held accountable. Why not? Why should it not be strangled under the weight of lawsuits? The catholic church sure was, and that was part of what forced the sane majority to turn against and purge that insane minority.
What if several mosques in Boston and Hamburg that are known to have radicalized the terrorists that gave us Boston bombings and 9/11 highjackers were sued for billions in damages by the victims. This would start the process of having the good muslims reject the bad apples in their midst and isolate those mosques which slander the prophet from those that honor him.
I am not a believer in frivolous lawsuits but I wonder if this would help force the issue. Name the bad guys and make them pay. Make the reasonable majority reject the unreasonable minority.
Some mosques are harboring an element that radicalized impressionable losers and encouraged them to harm people. If they want to continue to do that then I see no difference between what forced the catholic church to pay $10s of millions.
Most muslims are fine people. Does anyone doubt the same of catholics? Yet the institution was held to account for the actions of a tiny minority.
Why have the mosques known to foster radicalization not been sued yet? Are lawyers afraid to sue them, seeing what happened to the cartoonists? Does that not tell us something?
As you say, the Mosques have paid nothing to the victims and never will. The Catholic Church has paid out $2.5 BILLION in the US alone. More to come, I suspect.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/13/sex-abuse-settlement-cardinal-roger-mahony/1984217/
These people have not “wrapped the cloak of Islam” around their actions — they are muslims who are living the muslim religion in the way that they see to be sacred and fit. If others who call themselves muslims disagree, that doesn’t meant that this ever-growing group of muslims aren’t saying something religious that appears to ring a bell in the souls of others and calls them to jihaad.
To me Islam can be problematic because it requires conformity to rules down to how to wipe one’s butt and which foot to enter a room with. It practices gender segregation, degrades women and forces them to wear a garb outside the home that is a symbolic negation of their presence in the world. Other associated practices such as genital mutilation may or may not be required by Islam, but they flourish in the presence of Islam and that troubles me, too.
Well said, Anonna.
I wish this Rudy had showed up when running for President……….the U.S. could have another 9/11 type event and this President would do nothing. We are dropping our guard all over the place just like we did during the Clinton years.
Thank you for sharing this speech……..
I also loved the comparison between Carter and Reagan concerning the Iran hostages.
Keith thank you for the article on your day off. I will watch the video later on my relatives computer. Pope Francis has denouced the slaying by ISIS in Libya.
“They only said Jesus help me.”
The blood of our Christians brothers, be they Catholic, Orthodox,Copts, Lutherans, it doesn’t matter. They’re Christians!
Lee,…that is a great video well worth watching.
I had a problem with it stalling on this site and went to youtube to watch it,….much better.
Just click on the title of the video and it will take you to youtube where it will play more fluidly.
Tks AFVet. However I still need to get the speaker fixed. I know old news. :)
Great summary Keith.
On Morning Joe this morning they had the Atlantic writer Graeme Wood who has the cover article:
WHAT ISIS REALLY WANTS
The Islamic State is no mere collection of psychopaths. It is a religious group with carefully considered beliefs, among them that it is a key agent of the coming apocalypse. Here’s what that means for its strategy—and for how to stop it.
http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2015/02/what-isis-really-wants/384980/
Haven’t had time to get through it all yet, but the jest of it is that ISIS is absolutely religious (all be it a warped religion) and denying it as such denies reality.
You’ve put your finger on the precise, central issue of the ISIS and jihadist worldwide uprising. They are fighting a religious war with us,and the West is fighting a political, territorial war with them. Huge difference.
YES – this is it in a nutshell! bho is so consumed with protecting Muslims / Islam ideology / identity he overlooks the ramifications of their evil actions. bho, as president, is charged with protecting us from evil. Why do semantics / taxonomy trump national security ? I want obama removed from office.
I’ll second that motion! I’m sure he actually believes he will have an admirable legacy. Once the dust settles and serious historians start digging into the records, his goose will be cooked. Count on that.
I condemn the despicable and cowardly Obama administration for their juvenile varsity handling of terrorism. I profoundly condemn their open hostility towards conservative Americans, Israel and Egypt. I’m sickened that the slaughter of innocent men, women and children of Christian and Jewish faith, without a word of heartfelt condemnation by Obama or the State Department. I despise lectures about my Christian faith’s past, while completely ignoring the barbaric murderous rampages of Islam that have happened and continue to happen from the beginning of time. I am called an Islamaphobe, but what is a Muslim called, that hates Christians and Jews with such a deep, fathomless visceral hatred? Is there no term for them? I’m ashamed that my country has, with reckless abandon pushed aside allies like Israel, Poland, UK and Chech Republic. Our childish, spoiled, and petulant President will not even reach out to Israel, though they are surrounded by enemies. I’m ashamed that Obama encourages those same enemies against Israel. Finally, I’m ashamed and deeply offended that Obama plays golf or takes selfies, while our country and the world are in such dangerous termoil.
You are not alone OKLady, I believe many Americans feel the same way.
One by one the administration is turning it’s back on the governments in the Middle East that have some sense of normalcy. We aren’t stepping up to help Jordan, have put the screws to Israel and it looks like Egypt is next. Lump in the Kurds and we have alienated all that stand against ISIS.
There is nothing wrong with president oboutme. This is what he wants.
Setting aside motive, to a small degree I agree. This isn’t about religion. It’s about another totalitarian regime willing to use violence to suppress freedom. You either stand for freedom or you don’t. Can you have any doubt where oboutme stands!
Keith mentioned that the statement was from the Press Secretary. I mentioned yesterday that he should have made a statement! I don’t care if he was on break, shaving, burping, breating.
Sorry to be off topic, but I am not happy about this. Newspaper article.
Jeb Bush who hopes to become the 45th president thinks he can do so by portraying himself as the embodiment of modern America’s cultural melange: a fluent Spanish speaker and Catholic convert who married a Mexican immigrant, made Miami his home and preaches a gospel of inclusion and opportunity.
NO NO NO TO ALL OF THAT!!!!!!! Just more open border double speak!!!!!
I am less likely to draw such clear lines between the Islamic extremists such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda, etc and the rest of Islam ever since I saw this video: http://www.cnsnews.com/blog/michael-w-chapman/norway-islamic-leader-every-muslim-wants-death-penalty-homosexuals I just saw it a few days ago and now I give more credence to those (includes some Muslims) who argue that the problem is within Islam itself.
I Knew this was a war on christians also a war on our country. Obama has been in bed with Iran from day one. He’s a puppet and his side kick Val. works between the two. He support ISIS and I believe their sudden increase of support is some of our hard earned dollars. The truth always comes out it’s just a matter of time.
This speech must go viral. Share, people, share.
The Bible predicts that there will be a mass migration of Jews from all the world back to Israel in the end times.
Benjamin Netanyahu has opened the doors to any Jewish people to come back and many Jews are taking him up on the invitation.
Keep one eye on the news and the other one on Revelation.
My thoughts too.
Psalm 91 – encouragement for Jews and Christians everywhere…
That Obama and his administration continue to refer to the Islamic State (ISIS) as ISIL is telling.
This collection of Islamic psychopaths refers to itself as IS (Islamic State). The manner in which we should all be referring to this savage and barbaric group is ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria).
When Team Obama refers to ISIS as ISIL they are rewriting the map of the Middle East. They are not recognizing the existence of Israel — and also that of Lebanon.
The Levant is an historical geographical term referring to a large area in Southwest Asia bounded by the Taurus Mountains of Anatolia in the North, the Mediterranean Sea in the west, and the north Arabian Desert and Mesopotamia in the east. See this map:
http://www.makehummusnotwar.com/images/content/levant.jpg
When Team Obama uses ISIL they are then validating the Islamic totalitarian and jihadist claim that the modern day Jewish State of Israel is an occupation state and does not exist in the eyes of Muslims.
Thanks for noting. I had to look that up months ago. I refer to them as maniacs. I do not think they deserve any formal title, that may sound of value.
Exactly correct. the “L” stands for the Levant.
OT.
Leslie Gore has died, cancer, she was 68.
Where were you in 1965 ?
RIP Leslie Gore.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsYJyVEUaC4
Thanks for posting. I heard that as I came in, but had to peel shrimp, and forgot to post myself.
In 1965? Happier times for me. Still in school, had a paper route and scouted for empty pop bottles while delivering, 5¢ for quart size, 2¢ for 12 ouncer’s when returned to store.
In ’65 I was mowing yards around the neighborhood to make a dime.
I love the music of the ’60’s.
In 65′ I listened to those songs as well. I have a priceless silent film of my parents and aunts and uncles dancing. All the kids were playing. I got to dance with dad as well.
Wonderful memory.
My uncle had a wonderful juke box filled with 45’s form the fifties, and earlier sixties. He lost it in Katrina. All that was left was the slab. I mentioned that, because he never complained, and stayed as funny, and happy untill he died a couple of years ago.
1965? Stationed at LG Hanscom Field as a Com-Nav electronic technician, maintaining and repairing aircraft radios. The USAF loaned me out to MITRE’s Electronic Systems Division to participate in a few experiments. One of the projects was to help them locate intelligent, consistent, predictable electronic signals coming from from outer space. (I maintained the equipment, which was a simple Riometer). Did we find any? Yes. at 27.715 Megahertz. That’s all I will say about it, even after all these years. (The project has been long declassified),
Oh, And I got to party with the Rolling Stones who were on an American tour (in May, as I remember). A buddy of mine married a Brit who was a friend of Mick Jagger (went to school with him, as I remember), and we all got invited to a wild party camp on a lake nearby. Yes, they were very, very wild. And that’s all I will say about that. ;+}
Exciting job history, and Stones as well. :)
I’m sure, given the condition they were in, the Stones have absolutely no memory of that night. ;+}
In 69 I volunteered to serve the Country in the Air Force.
I was 17 yrs. old.
Two months later after graduating high school and attaining 18 years, within two weeks of my birthday I was in Texas in basic training.
Good old Lackland. Yep. Remember it well. Hot. Miserable climate. Crazy DI’s. Once we got into San Antonio on weekends, life got a whole lot better. ;+}
No memory at all. :)
Once out of basic, it was just a job.
I spent a year down there for training before my first assignment.
Technician ?
So was I.
I’m trying to remember the classification for com-nav –hmmm… 30454? Something like that. It’s been a long time. ;+} Were you com-nav or otherwise? I actually went to tech school at Ft Gordon (first three years in the Army). It was a tough course–about a year long, every day, all day long school (you know the drill). Started out with thirty students, and only five made it to graduation. Spent time at Lackalnd (Medina, actually) in OCS after completing AECP (thank you USAF ;+})
Crypto.
Cryptographic Equipment Systems Technician.
It came to my knowledge that Yetis fly UFOS.
Neither of which have ever been sited nor photographed.
Oh yes,…there have been many indications that these creatures and also that the very possibility that flying Saucers are watching everything you do and are in control of you, but it has been debunked by the government as so much as a bunch of foolish people that think that Yetis don’t exist.
Of course they do !
They are flying the UFOs.
I have not lost my mind, but, I am not in control.
Some that are have.
You can tell the yeti pilots. They’re the hairy ones! ;+}
Well, they are very stealthy and they can make the UFOs vanish in an instant.
Our government dismisses the possibility of these occurrences.
I question the fact that we have a government that has the intellectual capacity to make that judgement.
I also love the music of the 60’s. It’s amazing too, that I can remember most of the words to the songs yet I don’t remember what I ate for breakfast yesterday. LOL
I was in 7th grade in ’65. Things were changing in the fashion scene – we had hip huggers and bell bottom pants, jams shorts, and I loved Mary Quant dresses. We usually sewed most of our clothes, so it was a treat to buy something new and fashionable.
RIP Lesley Gore!
I was too much of a dreamer back then – I wanted to be a social worker and change the world. “Black Like Me” (published 1961) made an impression. Believe it or not, I never subscribed to the Democratic party, though most of my friends did.
#Reply to “a lawyer named sue”:
That’s a good idea, suing the Mosque, but only if there is a witness willing to come forward and testify that terrorism was promoted there.
When the Church was sued, dozens of victims came forward to attest that XXX molested them, they complained and the Church officials did nothing other than transfer the offenders to another location.
Did any member of a certain Mosque come forward to swear to what happened or what was said – not to my knowlege.
There’s no legally admissable evidence, nor will anyone who attends a Mosque come forward – no case.
Did any member of a certain Mosque come forward to swear to what happened or what was said – not to my knowlege.
You’re right srdem.
They are afraid to do so.
The Mosque would be targeted and any member that attended it would be targeted.
Here is some info about that Boston mosque…http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/23/boston-mosque-radicals/2101411/
It would be easy to find dozens of victims who were harmed by the Boston Bombings. Some of them are missing limbs. Others have less visible wounds.
In addition, it would appear that the whole Boston metropolitan area might have “standing” in this case. They were all forced to “shelter in place” for most of one specific day and suffered stress and anguish for part of a week. A lot of expensive overtime was incurred.
I am not suggesting a lynch mob. I am raising a legitimate question. Where is the accountability? When will the silent majority renounce the extremist minority?
OT, sorta, but here’s an article from the Daily Mail about how Jews are being treated in Paris. Very scary stuff and sad beyond words.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2956040/Journalist-puts-Jewish-skullcap-walks-streets-Paris-filmed-hidden-camera-safe-streets-are.html
I saw that as well on http://www.weaselzippers.us
Very sad.
Obama’s lies and deception are tarring not only himself but everyone who identifies themselves on the political left worldwide.
First mentally and emotionally ill “president”. Someone has to do something about him and make him leave. He doesn’t work, just gives dumb lectures that make no sense, He started the whole middle east uprising because he is so dumb and this welfare family is always living it up with expensive vacations, constant traveling to golfing expeditions bought and paid for by the American people like a selfish pig.
When will the military do something about this evil family that is in the White House? Shades of Marie Antoinette being greedy. She got hers when will they get theirs?
Poor Marie has been ill-served by history. She didn’t deserve her fate. The usurpers, on the other hand…
The Commander in Chief is probably awaiting the Muslim Brotherhood to write his remarks to the American People. I do not expect any retaliation from this administration.
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