By Donald E. Wildmon
December 31, 2002

A plane is commandeered and flown into one of the World Trade Center towers in New York. A few minutes later, another commandeered plane is flown into the other WTC tower. In Washington, a third plane is crashed into the Pentagon. And still another crashes in Pennsylvania. It was headed, it is believed, to the White House. Thousands of innocent citizens are killed.

Who is responsible? A group of Muslims. In Islamic countries, the streets are full of Muslims celebrating the carnage. No Muslim leader steps forward to apologize, to publicly refute the actions of those responsible. There is only silence from the Muslim leaders around the world. But, we are told by our own leaders, Islam is a religion of peace.

In Bali, a bomb explodes killing hundreds of innocent individuals. A group of Muslims is responsible. But, we are reminded, Islam is a religion of peace.

In Nigeria, hundreds of Muslim youths go on a rampage following their Friday prayers. Armed with sticks, daggers and knives, they set fire to vehicles and attack anyone they suspect of being Christian. The carnage leaves over 100 people dead. They are upset with an article in a local paper -- ThisDay -- which suggests that the Prophet Mohammed would have probably chosen to marry one of the Miss World contestants if he had witnessed the beauty pageant hosted by Nigeria. The newspaper apologizes for the article, which they say was run by mistake, but the rampage continues after the apology. We must remember that Islam is a religion of peace.

In the Philippines, Muslim rebels ambush a Canadian company's workers, killing 12 and injuring 10. Earlier, on Christmas Eve, a bomb made from an 81-mm mortar shell filled with nail fragments explodes outside the home of a town's mayor, killing 17 people. But remember, Islam is a religion of peace.

In Pakistan, three Christian girls -- ages 6, 10, and 15 -- attend a Christmas Day service to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace. Two assailants covered in burqas -- the all-encompassing garment worn by women in some Islamic countries -- toss a bomb into the church where 40 Christians have gathered. The girls die. A Christmas service is turned into bloody chaos. One of those detained as being responsible is an Islamic cleric who told his followers to kill Christians. Let us not forget that Islam is a religion of peace.

In eastern India, a gang armed with crude bombs attacks a Christian church, wounding six people and robbing hundreds of others. In Bangladesh, police guard churches as the nation's small Christian community celebrates Christmas with prayers, carols, and feasts. In the Sudan, over two million Christians have been slaughtered by radical Muslims. Still we are told that Islam is a religion of peace.

In Yemen, a Muslim extremist shoots and kills three American Southern Baptist medical missionaries -- there to help anyone needing their healing skills, including Muslims. We must not forget that Islam is a religion of peace.

What do those who do all this evil want? Land? No. Money? No. Political power? No. They want none of the things normally associated with individuals and groups who do such deeds. What, then, do they want? They want only to harm, to cause destruction and promote fear, to attack and kill the "infidels." That is their reward.

But, please, before we rush to judgment, let us remember that Islam is a religion of peace. We are told that these Muslims who are doing the killing are extremists who are outside the mainstream of Islam. That would be easier to believe if there were Muslim leaders who condemned the atrocities. But there are none.

Why, then, do our leaders continually tell us that Islam is a religion of peace? Perhaps it is easier to be politically correct than it is to tell the truth.

Mr. Wildmon is founder and chairman of American Family Association.

© 2002 AgapePress all rights reserved.

 

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