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History is a wonderful source of helping us better understand the present. We would do well to be informed and aware of the history of Western nations with Islamic extremists and nations.
I am reading Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger. This book details a little known war during Jefferson’s Presidency with the Tripoli nations of Northern Africa. These nations were Islamic nations, that were ruling the Mediterean sea through pirating behaviors. The nations of Europe were paying a high tribute to allow their vessels safe transport. America, a young fledging nation, was trying to negotiate peace with these nations as some of their vessels were being attacked and sailors taken captive.
The cost of peace was excessive. This lead to one of the leading statesmen, a ship captain who had been enslaved by the nations earlier, to state, “Money is their God and Mahomet their Prophet.” They were involved in demanding such exorbitant tribute money, because of greed.
John Adams met with a representative of these nations named Abdrahaman, when asked how the nations could justify, “making war upon nations who had done them no injury.” The response was less than chilling.
“According to his holy book, the Qur’an, Abdrahaman explained, ‘all nations which had not acknowledged the Prophet were sinners, whom it was the right and duty of the faithful to plunder and enslave.” Christian sailors were, plain and simple, fair game. . . . ‘Every mussulman’, he explained, ‘who was slain in this warfare was sure to go to paradise.’ To Abdrahaman, this was not complicated. In his culture, the takers of ships, the enslavers of men, the Barbarians who extorted bribes for safe passage, were all justified by the teaching of the prophet Muhammad. ‘It was written in our Qur’an,’ he said simply.” [Excerpt from p. 14-15]
Some of my thoughts:
- I believe greed and money are a major factor today in the motives driving radical Islamic terrorists and aggressive nations. Just like in Christianity, greed can be disguised under religious motives and actions. What a great quote for today as well, “Money is their god, and Mohammad their prophet.”
- We should not be surprised that these terrorists justify their ruthless acts by appealing to the Koran. This is the historical pattern. Despite what many want us to believe, the Koran condones violence against unbelievers. Our nation was experiencing such violence over 200 years ago, we cannot act like many of our officials want us to act as if religion is not a key factor in these terrorist acts. The Islamic religion and the teachings of the Koran are something for us to be concerned about! History tells us that it does not produce peaceable nations who love their enemies. (See my post entitled: Because of Who Their God is?“
1 comment
Appreciate you taking on a politically incorrect subject. Our society is trying to brain wash us to believe that Islam is a peaceful movement. Look at what happened in Brussles from the Islamic terrorists. The Belgum society has been brain washing its people to believe that Islam is a peaceful movement for years. I hope they wake up before more death occurs. I hope and pray that the US does not go down the road that like Belgum.
The Islamic religion is very legalistic. Very little good comes from legalism. I think we are wise when we avoid legalism.