I received a horribly shocking and appaling e-mail recently from someone close to me. We have often disagreed in the past over soci-economic, political and religious positions. That's fine I enjoy a good debate and in particular feel it is very important to be exposed to ideas contrary to one's own.
This particular individual tends to think of himself as a Conservative, though I think he along with much of the rest of the Conservative party has finally realized alliance with Bush is tantamount to political, moral and intellectual suicide. That being said, he regularly regurgitates Conservative think-tank b.s. which I regularly refute with much vigor.
Again, I must repeat that I enjoy this kind of intellectual sparring, it is important to ensure that one's ideals are as highly polished as they can be - not having this kind of regular discourse can lead to lazy, sloppy thinking and reasoning, something which I personally despise.
The problem is the most recent piece of mail I received from this person is extremely disturbing, nearly to the point of no return. While I relish the debate for the sake of debate, I will not do so with a participant who is not equally engaging his/her intellect.
The piece is quite long, so I will quote it in its entirety at the end of this post. It is entitled "Can a Muslim be a Good American". It's premise is that because of inherent beliefs that Muslims hold, they cannot inherently be good Americans.
I am impressed with the person who wrote it - because they obviously understood exactly what they were doing. To hide an illogical and amoral viewpoint within a logical and moral discourse is highly subversive and intelligent. I don't for one second think the originator of this email didn't know precisely the kind of intellectual power required to see through the ruse, and therefore reject it outright, knowing full well that the majority of our populace does not and will not spend (or even possess) the requisite intellectual discipline required to understand, let alone refute, the fundamental argument it presents. I am of course appalled at those who would forward it on, without first analyzing the full impact of its contents, but then again, as I said, it was quite obviously crafted quite intricately to do just that.
Fundamentally, this piece is as Anti-American as it gets. And thats only the beginning. Overall, its arguments are reminiscent of the McCarthy era in which it was pre-supposed that to be a Communist meant you could not be an American. The illogic in that presupposition was of course lost upon those who easily fell into the trap of condemning those who do not think the same as themselves. Fortuitously, we (as Americans and as a Society) were able to overcome that particular set of illogical and amoral thinking, and there it seems the issue laid to rest, dormant in the American psysche only to be tested once again by the appearance of what seems to be yet again an "imminent threat" to the American way of thinking (and life).
Let me spell it out for those who just simply don't seem to get it: To be American is to be free, intellectually, socially, politically, religiously and morally. That means you are free to think, feel, believe in whatever you like. That is American, anyone who tells you otherwise just simply does not understand what it is to be American, or has the the likes of Falwell and Limbaugh on the speed-dial.
Now behavior, that's where things change, (and why we have laws) -- and that is the crux of what causes the problem. When does thought turn into action, and at what point do you stop it.
The Constitution, despite what others may have you believe, is quite clear on this, but that doesn't stop those would rather the world just thought the same as they do. Quite simply you are free to believe in what you like, be it Evolution, Creationism or Death to America. There is no law, no decree anywhere the Constituion that can possibly prevent this - it is protected up and down left and right (that doesn't stop people from trying, and one day they might succeed it seems we must be ever-vigilant).
Moreover, you are even free to SPEAK about that belief and that is protected by the most vaunted of Rights given by our Constitution - the Bill of Rights as the very first thing that was granted, the #1 Right in America, the Freedom of Speech.
So it is painstakingly clear - to hold and share individual, yet differing beliefes, that is American. We can argue all day long how much action is a result of belief, but to be American is to accept that others have the absolute right to believe what they wish. There couldn't be anything more un-American than to suggest otherwise.
Which gets me to this e-mail, which is the source of my disgust and disbelief. It is as anti-American as can possibly be, by suggesting that a set of beliefs, in and of themselves, are in fact anti-American. Remember, no matter what the belief, you, as an American have the right to hold it.
The text of the email I received is:
"CAN A MUSLIM BE A GOOD AMERICAN?
This is something I've wondered about for some time now: How & why do the Muslims hate us & everyone else so much? Doesn't their God teach them to love?
Can a good Muslim be a good American?
I sent that question to a friend who worked in Saudi Arabia for 20 years.
The following is his reply:
Theologically - no. Because his allegiance is to Allah, the moon god of Arabia.
Religiously - no. Because no other religion is accepted by his Allah except Islam (Quran, 2:256)
Scripturally - no. Because his allegiance is to the five pillars of Islam and the Quran (Koran).
Geographically - no. Because his allegiance is to Mecca, to which he turns in prayer five times a day.
Socially - no. Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews.
Politically - no. Because he must submit to the mullah (spiritual leaders), who teach annihilation of Israel and Destruction of America, the great Satan.
Domestically - no. Because he is instructed to marry four women and beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him (Quran 4:34).
Intellectually - no. Because he cannot accept the American Constitution since it is based on Biblical principles and he believes the Bible to be corrupt.
Philosophically - no. Because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran do not allow freedom of religion and expression. Democracy and Islam cannot co-exist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic.
Spiritually - no. Because when we declare "one nation under God," the Christian's God is loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred to as heavenly father, nor is he ever called love in The Quran's 99 excellent names.
Therefore after much study and deliberation....perhaps we should be very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country. They obviously cannot be both "good" Muslims and good Americans.
Call it what you wish....it's still the truth.
If you find yourself intellectually in agreement with the above statements, perhaps you will share this with your friends. The more who understand this, the better it will be for our country and our future.
Pass it on, Fellow Americans.
This war is MUCH bigger than most Americans know or can understand."
