Codes of dishonor

Submitted by Anthony Bruel (United States), Nov 10, 2009 at 17:50

One of the definitions of a religion is "the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices . . . generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects. . . often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs."

This definition could also fit those of large international criminal gangs or mafia-like organizations. The fact that a so-called "messenger" wrote the rules should not give it more value to rational beings. If the Koran is a rule-book for behavior that is against Western ideas of morality and respect for life, then its clerics and leaders are equivalent to underworld Godfathers and its students are merely doing their job according to the rules and a higher authority.

German soldiers of WWII were able to use the same cover and pretext to keep their pride. Someone in the future may look back and write about "Islam's Willing Executioners," but the book will be about the average TV viewer and wishful American, shocked by the behavior of these adopted citizens who looked just like the rest of us - without the Fedora hat. We would be wise to expand our definintion of "religion" to a group whose written beliefs are of peaceful coexistence, by declaration, behavior, and enforcement. Now that "terrorism" is becoming a synonym for "Islamic activism," we can change and enforce our own amended rules. We follow the rule of law and we have a duty to review our laws when danger prevails.

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