For a long time, I questioned the use of the word “terrorism” in describing the 9/11 attacks– not because I felt the term needed to be something more sensitive like “man-caused disasters,” but I felt the definition didn’t match the event. Terrorism is “the use of violence or threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.” In Osama bin Laden’s 1998 fatwa declaring war against the United States, though he frames his grievances around ending American “occupation” of Muslim holy lands, it’s clear his call to Al Qaeda and other jihadist organizations goes beyond a mere political end: “We — with God’s help — call on every Muslim who believes in God and wishes to be rewarded to comply with God’s order to kill the Americans and plunder their money wherever and whenever they find it.”
It was for this reason that I instead wanted to label the 9/11 hijackers more specifically; they were jihadists, conquerors. Their ultimate aim was not merely forcing an American policy change; their aim was the destruction of all American life. Our fear was just the icing on the cake.
Yet in the wake of 9/11, true terrorism has emerged, and its target has been the world of media, pop culture, and all public speech. Ranging from public shaming to reckless litigiousness to actual intimidation, violence, and murder, the extremist elements of the Muslim world have actively campaigned to suppress criticism of the ideology that birthed the mass murder committed ten years ago, and, sadly, many in the western world have capitulated to their hatred in slavish pursuit of “tolerance,” that most emasculating progressive virtue.
Largely unexamined through the 20th century, Islam and its theocratic culture dictates known as Sharia faced a fresh wave of scrutiny in the wake of 9/11, revealing much that does and should horrify those who believe in representative governance, individual rights, and the protection of minorities. Rape victims executed for charges of adultery, men sentenced to death by stoning because of homosexual relationships, honor killings for apostasy, draconian dress codes epitomized by the burqa– in the 21st century, these backwards and barbaric practices are the stuff of nightmares for the western world’s anti-Christian outrage machine, yet to point out their actual execution provokes a familiar litany of dismissive labels– bigot, Islamophobe, racist (?)– from those same individuals who froth at the mouth over the creeping fascism symbolized by Norman Rockwell.
But western anti-Christians have good reason to excuse, dismiss, and defend the misogynistic, anti-democratic culture brought about by Islamic extremism; they obviously don’t want to end up like Theo van Gogh, the Dutch filmmaker who, after making a short film critical of Muslim treatment of women, was shot eight times, then stabbed in the heart with a knife pinned to a five-page manifesto for Egypt’s Takfir wal-Hijra. They don’t want to end up like the 100+ innocent individuals murdered after the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published twelve cartoons satirizing the prophet Mohammed or the dozens of innocent individuals murdered after Newsweek falsely reported that Guantanamo Bay guards had flushed a Koran down a toilet.
They don’t want to live like Salman Rushdie who, since 1989, has faced the threat of assassination for writing a work of fiction. Similarly, vocal critics of Islam such as Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the authors of the Jyllands-Posten cartoons, or even Comedy Central and South Park, whose greatest sin against Islam has been portraying Mohammed inside a bear suit. And by refusing to defend the free speech of those who dare to criticize one of the world’s most prevalent religions, shaming those critics into silence rather than those who resort to intimidation and violence, they empower terrorism.
9/11 was an act of war, and we in the west fortunately have thousands of men and women willing to volunteer to take that war away from our soil, risking and sacrificing their lives overseas to stamp out jihad and those who would conquer and enslave America and its allies. It is our responsibility, as individuals involved in media and the arts, to boldly fight against the suppression of free speech and thought sought by Islamic extremists and their cowardly western enablers.
No idea should be free from scrutiny, no cause protected from heckling, no god insulated from derision. Let us honor the memory of those who died on 9/11 by never sacrificing our freedom of speech for fear of retribution.
How old is Mr Dulis? I was terribly impressed with the above article he wrote. Very well done. Do
keep up the good work!
I just turned 24, and thanks! I do what I can.
Great post Ezra. Keep up the good work.
Well said. I just attended a 9/11 event in Dallas, TX and an imam was permitted to speak, no Pledge of Allegiance was included. It was politically correctly creepy…the creepiest thing I have witnessed since 9/11. Your words are cleansing after witnessing that event. Thank you.
Best regards,
Gail S http://www.backyardfence.wordpress.com
I wonder why the audiences don't just stand on their own and recite the pledge. We don't need someone to "lead" us into it. How sad that must have been to witness.
"No idea should be free from scrutiny…" and I say "DUH!". The problem that all American writers have, from all sides, is they can't quite seem to place our founding documents into the ideological battle we face today with the muslims. Are we actually prepared to fight and die for the First Amendment? Or do we "fight for our freedom" in Afganistan while allowing them to impose, yet again, a Koran inspired legal doctrine that is proud to threaten new Christians with beheading on parliaments own carpets? There should be NO AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS, visas, aid, NGO support, or ANYTHING to a country that refuses to enshrine the First Amendment. It is the bright line in the sand where the free stand on one side and the enemies of freedom stand on the other. Egypt would fall within months or us removing our welfare from that Islamist supporting country. Saudi Arabia would evaporate in a flash of light if we said we would never defend our enemy from our Iranian enemy. But, NO, we import tens of thousands of Saudi students and when some attack us, we escort the leaders home safely as in 9-11. Fade to black.
Ezra. . . thoughtful and wise assessment. Thank you for that.
[...] is a very good article on what is going on. http://landmarkreport.com/edulis/201…re-terrorists/ GS_googleAddAdSenseService("ca-pub-9888434945255495"); GS_googleEnableAllServices(); [...]
If good people remain silent liberals will empower those that will destroy our constitution and base ideals. Tyrants identify themselves in many ways and now we have the Liberal Tyrants who believe they have the answers and the right to force others to agree.
Part 1 – Many people seem to miss the obvious: Christianity is a religion of peace (and truth), whereas Islam is a religion of violence. Liberal Progressives are used to defaming, misrepresenting and outright lying about Christians and having a peaceful, non-combatant response from those same Christians due to the Christian's peaceful worldview. In doing this they have had much success as (many) Christrians have fallen into laziness and take our countries Judeo-Christian foundation for granted. But when it comes to Islam, the Liberal Progressives don't know what to do. They are totally confused. They like Islam in the sense that it *isn't* Christianity, therefore they want it to increase. (cont'd below)
Part 2 – But Islam does things that are so blatantly evil (as taught by the Imam's – not necessarily by the Quran) that the Liberal Progressives should want to protest, but they know that if they do they'll get smacked in the mouth… which is NOT what they are use to. I can already see the day when there is a "Gay Pride Day" parade in this country, and Islam will have gained enough control that they attack the parade and apply Shariah law on-the-spot. After that, the Liberal Progressives will complain vehemently, only to be attacked again every time they do. Only *then* will they begin to understand the nation-of-peace that they helped destroy, and possibly show signs of regret…
I saw several videos yesterday that memorialized the day after 11SEP01 where Muslims are celebrating the killing of 3000 people. (most are taken in the Gaza strip on 12SEP01)
I have a question that occurred to me as I watched the celebrations:
Would the events of 911 cause shame for a bad Muslim or for a good Muslim?
Very nice Ezra!