Clash of Civilizations- Arab Civilizations

With the recent Arab protests over an anti-Islam film, I’m weighing the critical aspects of this. The protests were bloody at times, and fed an assault by Islamic fighters on the American consulate  in Benghazi, Libya last week that killed four americans including the first ambassador killed in service since 1979, another time of severe unrest and Arab uprising. In a familiar message, insulting the prophet must be met with public outcry, and that translates into, "lets kill americans".

Slain Ambassador Christopher Stevens and a photo of the burning consulate buildings during the battle-ap photo

 

In an article in the Denver post, ap writer Brian Murphy  quotes an Imam in Qatar, Egyptian-born cleric Youssef al-Qaradawi, who calls for ‘sense and reason ‘ in their protests. But he’s up against a powerful popular force that feels passionately that denigration of the prophet is punishable by death.

"Yes, we understand the First Amendment and all of this stuff," wrote Khalid Amayreh, a prominent Islamist commentator and blogger in Hebron on the West Bank. "But you must also understand that the Prophet (for us) is a million times more sacred than the American Constitution."

Read more: Muslim protests have political, social, economic origins - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_21558392/muslim-protests-have-political-social-economic-origins?source=pkg#ixzz26jG8wzHe
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

 

I have never thought of our constitution as a secular document. It is written with the spirit of God, and written by men dedicated to God and to passing His word on to their countrymen.  Our forefathers’ ambition was to create a country where one’s religion was not attacked, no matter what religion it was, though they hoped all would have some kind of strong religious convictions. Yes, even then it was a balancing act to not let organized religion overpower the people’s government in its decisions and such.

In its essence, the Constitution they created says that all men, being equal, must account for their individual actions as well, and be responsible for propelling our country into a prosperous nation.  The doctrine of Islam, as interpreted by extremists, is a much different assessment of human character and it’s need for guidance.

I feel uncomfortable, and at times mental anguish when subjects, such as Jesus Christ are portrayed in a denigrating way. I oppose those who slander or seek to diminish Christ and his teachings, but nowhere in the bible does it say to “humiliate and punish those who do not succumb to and voluntarily accept” His religion. Therefore, like most Americans, I walk away when someone does this, I shun them, not silence them. This is the essence of free speech. To sacrifice this basic right, would be to invite obvious further incursions into the state of liberty Americans so cherish.

 

-katykarter