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Islam appears inconsistent with the US ConstitutionReader comment on item: Which Has More Islamist Terrorism, Europe or America? Submitted by Linda Korrow (United States), Jul 19, 2008 at 22:16 Edward, I was away for most of this past week. Some thoughts on your post: 1. "you people hate Islam and every time you see a person dressed like so, you want to pass out owing to heartily disgust . . ." I don't find anything to like about Islam, but that's a topic that let's just say the dialog below should suffice to explain. I have only seen Muslim women in such head-to-toe dress cover once and that was in Heathrow airport one August in the early-mid 90's. There was five or six of them sitting in a line on the concourse, watching people go by. My thoughts at the time were, what the heck is that, what are those poor things doing dressed like that? They looked spooky. Here, that's the kind of costume kids might wear for Halloween, only in white to depict a ghost. And, I thought, oh yeah, that's how they dress in the Middle East. I had a feeling their eyes were longing to be free, but that is subjective, of course. I believe you're mistaken that, "you people hate Islam and every time you see a person dressed like so, you want to pass out owing to heartily disgust." Although, some Muslim actions are deserving of such an emotion (hate). Most Christians love the person, hate the act, we treat people as people. There was little hatred of Islam by the general public prior to 9/11. The exception, of course, is the pockets of anti-Semitism, like Arab Israelis, who breed contempt of Muslims, by most people. You pretty much "made your bed" with the 9/11 attacks. I don't think it will be possible to revert to passive views of Islam until extremist forms of Islam are eliminated. Americans don't generally hate religions, we ignore them. However, that changed with 9/11. Now that we have learned of Islam's precepts, it is certainly looked down on, with good cause. I would say the emotions on burkas are pity and sadness, not disgust. The disgust would be focused on a society -- the men -- who treat women as possessions. You see, human as possessions is slavery to us, and slavery is against the law and our Constitution. To view it as disgust would suggest I am disgusted with the woman for tolerating such abuse, even if she does not know she is being abused or seeks some dignity in saying this is our way and, thus, defending it. When I see a woman in a burka now, post-9/11 learning curve, I see an ugly society dominated by men suppressing women. If you want to live like that, stay out of my country, it is not our way. That is my view on immigration. You're more trouble than you're worth. You're a threat I don't want to have to be forced to deal with with you or your next generation (as the British found out on 7/7). 2. I assumed Muslim women would not be happy with men using their hands on their bodies to look for undisclosed weapons. I stand corrected. 3. "loom [k] at Islam as a religion and look at Moslems as human beings, period!" To summarize your position, since we don't have Sharia law in America, we should only consider Islam a religion, not a political system. Are you practicing al taqiyya on me? Either way, you should know better. There is one Islam, It is practiced or in the process of being established. As you said, "Islam is a way of life." Sharia is pushed slowly and deliberately when the demographics support it. Sharia is against the Constitution of the United States. 4. "I asked you last time to point out for me just ONE practice in Islam which in any way contravenes any one provision of the American constitution. Kindly stop begging the question, by generalizing that Islam is inconsistent with the spirit of your country. point out for me ONE example on this" I assumed you were joking, since it is so obvious, and didn't respond. I suggest you google "US Constitution" and read it. It's short and sweet. The First Amendment , alone, could generate books. Amendment I - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Muslims are not permitted to change religions, on pain of death. And surely you must be aware of the treatment of "infidels." From our Declaration of Independence, "All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Of course the assault by Islam on freedom of speech is evident all over the world. This sums it up, " Reasonable men in free societies regard Geert Wilders's anti-Muslim rhetoric, and films like "Fitna," as disrespectful of the religious sensitivities of members of the Islamic faith. But free societies also hold freedom of speech to be a fundamental human right. We don't silence, jail or kill people with whom we disagree just because their ideas are offensive or disturbing. We believe that when such ideas are openly debated, they sink of their own weight and attract few followers. (Islam and Free Speech, WSJ)" An additional problem is mentioned by Walid Phares, "Both Salafists and Khumeninists reject the main pillars of the third branch of power: Independence of the Judiciary and the application of laws reflecting the will of the people." It appears that the bottom line is that by no stretch of the imagination is Islam consistent with the Constitution of the United States. Yet, your view is that it is. Please show me how Islam is consistent with the spirit of America and our Constitution and laws. Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments". << Previous Comment Next Comment >> Reader comments (90) on this item
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