Quid Pro Quo

Is Islam inherently violent? Is it a religion that believes every other religion and dogma, which crosses its own, is heresy and should be annihilated from the face of the earth? Am I in danger of becoming a target for even questioning Islam? Am I an infidel and will killing me benefit, promote and fulfill Allah’s will?

Or is it actually a religion that is peaceful and only a small radical faction of believers is giving this wonderful revelation a black eye? Hold on a second and let me fill in a little history before I go further. Freely call me a bigot later if that pleases, but at least give me the benefit of the doubt. I want to exercise my American freedom of speech.

I am a dyed-in-the-wool American. I was born here and it is all I know. I was brought up with certain inalienable rights as a benefit of our Constitution, which just had a birthday, September 17. We Americans are guaranteed these human rights because we have men and women in our history who were willing to die on foreign soil. These ‘rights’ were paid for with blood and tears, millions of tears, millions.

I enjoy these very freedoms BECAUSE I am an American. I am also the grandson of two Army veterans, the son of a WWII veteran, I am a Vietnam veteran and the father of a 22-year-old man (he was a boy a couple of overseas tours ago, even before he completed his 60th mission in Iraq) who is currently a Sergeant in the U.S. Army.

My dearly missed father-in-law spent a couple of summers on Biak, a tiny island in the south Pacific enduring Japanese Zero’s bombs and bullets. Even with a bad back, he cut hair at Reno’s barbershop on old SH-146 for years and was so humble; folks called him Reno, because he didn’t want to bother them with pronouncing his real name…Willard Reneau.

The point I want to drive home right here in my hometown is so obvious to me, I can’t for the life of me see why it isn’t being screamed from the front lawn of the White House. We enjoy our freedom of religion because we are Americans. People come into this country legally or illegally and they demand American privileges and it burns my hide when I read it.

We do not owe them a dad-blame right or benefit other than protection while inside our borders.
Camp X-Ray soldiers gave prisoners copies of the Koran and prayer blankets and even little cloth hats so they could practice their religion, only to be accused of flushing a holy book down a toilet. Riots ensued. Danish cartoonists drew a picture of a man who lived 500 years ago and Muslim countries start burning buildings and calling for the heads (literally) of anyone involved. The Pope of Rome quotes a 14th century Byzantine Emperor and Iran let’s students out of school so they can demonstrate in the streets, calling for his head. Thailand has lost 1400 people to Islamic extremists in the last two years. The list of intolerance and violence is a mile long and growing daily.

I was sickened when I read today, the Catholic Pope who leads one billion followers did not stand up for what he said. Is the whole world afraid of a peaceful religion that does not tolerate criticism and turns violent to prove it?

I will believe this is a religion of peace when I see it. When American Muslims stand up and openly and passionately condemn the radical fundamentalist murders of women, children and innocent people, then I will begin to believe that Islam in America differs from what I see going on all over the world.

Quid Pro Quo (something for something) is all I’m asking. We Texans call it “putting your money where your mouth is”. If my neighbor wants to convert to a religion differing from my own, that is fine. That privilege is paid for, thank you Americans. If that same neighbor violates my peaceful existence practicing their religion and disturbs my way of life I’m calling the cops, it’s that simple.

The demands the leaders of Islam are putting on the world in the name of tolerance are the very facets they are violating.