December 30, 2006

Huge Development in Defending America from Radical Jihadists - Kudos to Sen. Boxer!

In a huge development, Sen. Barbara Boxer of California - in the words of AP, "one of the Senate's most liberal members" - has rescinded an award to a CAIR official because of the official's connections to CAIR. (via LGF: )

Dec. 29, 2006 - In a highly unusual move, Sen. Barbara Boxer of California has rescinded an award to an Islamic activist in her home state because of the man's connections to a major American Muslim organization that recently has been courted by leading political figures and even the FBI.

Boxer's office confirmed to NEWSWEEK that she has withdrawn a "certificate of accomplishment" to Sacramento activist Basim Elkarra after learning that he serves as an official with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). After directing her staff to look into CAIR, Boxer "expressed concern" about some past statements and actions by the group, as well as assertions by some law enforcement officials that it "gives aid to international terrorist groups," according to Natalie Ravitz, the senator's press spokeswoman.

This is enormously significant. For the Liberals to unite with the Conservatives in recognizing the danger of Radical Jihadists in this country, and in insisting that Muslims here learn to assimilate, would have tremendous impact in preserving this country from the suffering that is befalling France and England.

Muslims here will assimilate when they accept the Koran as a religion only, and reject the political ideology of Islam that constrains free speech and restricts the rights of women and non-Muslims.

Daniel Pipes has identified a line of thought, originated by a Muslim, which enables Muslims to do just that.

...note the original thinking of the Sudanese theologian Mahmud Muhammad Taha (1909-85). Taha built his interpretation on the conventional division of the Koran into two. The initial verses came down when Muhammad was a powerless prophet living in Mecca, and tend to be cosmological. Later verses came down when Muhammad was the ruler of Medina, and include many specific rulings. These commands eventually served as the basis for the Shari'a, or Islamic law.

Taha argued that specific Koranic rulings applied only to Medina, not to other times and places. He hoped modern-day Muslims would set these aside and live by the general principles delivered at Mecca. Were Taha's ideas accepted, most of the Shari'a would disappear, including outdated provisions concerning warfare, theft, and women. Muslims could then more readily modernize.

American Muslims can adopt such a view so as to be able to successfully assimilate. Muslims who follow the political ideology of Islam, which demands severely restricted freedoms for all, will never be able to assimilate successfully.

CAIR's response to Boxer showed that they view Islam as a political ideology, rather than as a religion:

...CAIR Executive Director Awad refuses to say whether he would also condemn Hamas-which has taken credit for similar attacks in Israel-as a group or even whether he considers it a terrorist organization like the U.S. State Department does. "We condemn these groups when they committed acts of terrorism," he says. "But I'm not going to play the game of the pro-Israel lobby just so they can put words in our mouth. Our position is very clear.

"The entire issue is going back to Israel," Awad adds. "If you love Israel, you're OK. If you question Israel, you're not. If that is the litmus test, no American Muslim and no freedom-loving person is going to pass that test."

"No American Muslim ... is going to pass that test," says Awad, and the test he's referring to is one of political ideology. In his view, Islam is nothing more than a political ideology.