Islam Ideology Is the Basis For Real Concern

Newt Gingrich, in his letter of February 9, 2011 published by Human Events (http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=41679), discusses Ronald Regan's CPAC speech in 1975 (http://reagan2020.us/speeches/Americas_World_Purpose.asp), and begins to outline three Lessons of Ronald Regan to the current events in Egypt.  Lesson #2 titled "Understand Our Enemies and Speak the Truth About Them" contains the following excerpt:

Reagan would have been prepared to have an honest conversation about the ideological connection that unites our enemies and motivates them. He would have been prepared to say quite bluntly that we are in a long war against radical Islamism, a belief system adhered to by a minority of Muslims but nonetheless a powerful and organized ideology within Islamic thought that is totally incompatible with the modern world.

Reagan would also have consistently found ways to reach out to all Muslims who genuinely recognize the same universal rights of man laid out at our nation's founding and who stand up for our Constitutional principles and the importance of religious freedom for all.

Furthermore, Reagan would have vigorously rebuked those who jump on any honest discussion about radical Islamism as an attack against all Muslims. After all, they're the ones conflating radical Islamists with all Muslims, not those trying to speak honestly about our enemies. In fact, knowing Reagan's humor, he probably would have found a way to make a joke about their confusion.

Muslims in general do not deserve the distinction of "radical."  However, Islam in and of itself does.  Once you get passed the Five Pillars, you discover some very troubling precepts of Islam, that while not all Muslims practice, it is part of Islam,  A deeper review of Islam reveals:

- A standing order to commit violence against non-believers in the name of Allah

- An important principle of Islamic interpretation known as "abrogation" - the principle whereby later-written verses supersede earlier written verses; this is important because many later written verses advocating violence in the name of Allah superseded older, more peaceful verses.

- Doctrine of Islamic supremacy - a doctrine that calls for the conversion of all peoples to Islam, else be subjected to "dhimmitude."

- "I knew Jesus. Jesus is a friend of mine.  Mohammad, you're no Jesus."

• Mohammad's last wife was six years old when he married her; nine when then consummated their marriage 
• Mohammad ordered the stoning of a man and a women who committed adultery
• Mohammad stating "Whoever changes his Islamic religion, then kill him."

- Sharia - a mandatory, legalistic codification of  societal behavior. Sharia is not in effect in the general manner in the United States.  It would have to replace the Constitution.  This not to say that sharia is not in effect in some Muslim communities in this country.  By definition, the Constitution and sharia law are mutually exclusive.

- Deception in the name of the protecting Islam - hearing "moderate" Muslims describe Islam as a religion of peace is a form of deception given these precepts.

- Dhimmitude - the prescribed treatment of non-believers in a Muslim society whereby non-believers are allowed to remain in a Muslim society under strict rules.

All of these tenets are found in the Quran.*  Just as not all Catholics follow all Catholic teachings, neither do all Muslims follow all Islamic teachings, especially those Muslims in the United States. However, there is something to be said about the mere presence of these tenets in Islam that some Muslims choose not to follow.  There must be no confusion about this.

This also leaves the task to identify and separate those Muslims who practice and uphold these tenets from those who do not a difficult one.  It is an equally difficult task to isolate "radical" Islam from Islam in general, and subsequently, the real enemy.

* Refer to the excerpt from Gregory M. Davis' book Religion of Peace? Islam's War Against the World posted at www.jihadwatch.org/islam-101.html.  Another excellent reference is two books by Robert Spencer: The Truth About Mohammad and Stealth Jihad.