Muslims, Patriotism, and Truthiness

Been too long since I've felt I've had something worthwhile to say. But recently I received the following little bit of "insight" from my well-meaning but mis-guided uncle recently.

Subject: FW: Can a good Muslim be a good American?

Interesting thoughts.


I forwarded that question to a friend that worked in Saudi Arabia for 20 years. The following is his forwarded reply.

"Have you ever thought -- Can a devout Muslim be an American patriot and a
loyal citizen? Is Muslim American really an oxymoron?

Consider this:

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.... The religious war is bigger than we know or understand.

Now, I have long considered my uncle to be open-minded, at least until now. Perhaps he did not read and think about the statements made in this little essay. He did serve the US in the military years ago, so he is entitled to his own slant.

I'm hoping that he just didn't read it. The more that people accept the above as fact, the more trouble we are in. If you have received thi before, or even read it and agree with it, please also understand the following:

1. I am not a Muslim, nor am I a particular fan of the religion. I am in favor of logically considering facts and trying my damndest not to be prejudice. Just because I do not agree with a religion does not make it categorically wrong.

2. The United States, although initially populated by pilgrims seeking the freedom to practice their religion as they saw fit, is founded on the precept of separation of church and state. Therefore each of the above arguments that claim anyone cannot be a patriot due to religious beliefs is simply incorrect.

3. The constitution is not based on biblical principals. Perhaps the author is in need of a civics class. In fact it upholds freedom of religion. I know of no reference to Christ in the Constitution.

4. Declaring "one nation under god" no more refers to the Western Judeo-Christian God that it does to Allah.

The author's name and the name of his/her friend from Saudi Arabia is conveniently omitted. This whole essay smacks of truthiness. Truthiness, as (re)popularized by Stephen Colbert's Colbert Report, is "the quality by which a person purports to know something intuitively or instinctively, without regard to evidence or to what the person might conclude from intellectual examination." As Colbert stated in an out-of-character interview, "It used to be, everyone was entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts. But that's not the case anymore. Facts matter not at all. Perception is everything. It's certainty...

"What is important? What you want to be true, or what is true?... Truthiness is 'What I say is right, and [nothing] anyone else says could possibly be true.' It's not only that I feel it to be true, but that I feel it to be true. There's not only an emotional quality, but there's a selfish quality.

As I said, I am no supporter of the Muslim religion. But when I read the email, I was profoundly offended by the closed-minded prejudice masquerading as patriotism.

Please don't let someone waving the American Flag trick you into hating.

Tad out.