Nothing Has Changed

Submitted by Caesar Arevalo (United States), Nov 8, 2006 at 02:24

It is historically true that the United States of America have never engaged in an open and official military action against Islam or a Muslim nation. Those who erroneously claim that the United States is at war against Islam because it liberated millions of Iraqis from Saddam and eradicated the Taliban from Afghanistan missed the point greatly.

However, Muslim nations have a different point of view toward America. If we put in context the document of the treaty of Tripoli, we are going to discover that Muslim nations saw their relation with America under the context of "Islam against Christianity." The reason is obvious: Islam and Christianity engaged in a "holy" war for almost two centuries for the capture of Jerusalem and the soul of Europe. The United States in an attempt to distance itself from a form of Christianity that was belligerent against Islam, declared, from a federal point of view, that the "United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion."

Of course, those who believe in conspiracy theories may argue that illuminatis, or masons govern the United States, or even, America is not a Christian nation. Politically, the United States of America is neither a theocracy nor a federally sanctioned "Christian" nation. That concept is in accord with the first Amendment of the Constitution. It is also true, that America in its colonial era was composed, in its majority, by Protestant Christian believers, and the government never intended to interfere with the free expression of Christianity in public life (Listen ACLU !).

However, the treaty of Tripoli teaches four important facts: Muslims always saw America and Europe as "Christians" and "Crusaders." Any political negotiation was within that historical-religious parameter. Second, the Muslim Barbary Powers were warring against what they claimed to be the "Christian" nations. Third, despise the treaty of Tripoli (1797), in 1801 Tripoli declared war against the United States, a "Christian" nation. During this time the five Muslim Barbary powers regularly attacked undefended American merchant. Fourth, America negotiated numerous treaties with Muslim nations; however, it always resulted unfavorable to Americans. Muslims never kept their promises and took advantage of the good will of the new Republic. Bringing the social and political background of the treaty of Tripoli to our times, we see the same attitude in Muslim nations toward America: Labeling America as the "Crusader," "Christian;" always engaging in battles and violence against America through Muslim terrorists, etc.

President Bush can insist tirelessly that we are not in a declared war against Islam, however, Muslims nations know that Islam is at war against America. Will financial aid and attempts to bring democracy to the middle-aged political system in the Muslim world the solution to Islamic violence? In my opinion, not. The battle continues against the oppressive ideology and religion of Islam. And we have to fight it at that level if we want to preserve our young democracy.

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