Christianity In The KKK vs. Muslims In ISIS/Digression

Only the most uninformed and willfully ignorant would say that the Ku Klux Klan is representative of Christianity.  I have NEVER met anyone who thought the KKK was a Christian group of upstanding citizens.  And thank God for that!  Because they are the furthest thing from it.  There may be those who claim to be Christians who are members of the KKK, but SHAME on them!  They are a group based on racism, hate and other behaviors that are completely NOT Christ-like.

Just as I separate the KKK from Christianity, I can separate Muslims from ISIS.  Why do I think I can do this?  Because I know many Muslims and they do not agree with ISIS.  Yes, I've heard of the so-called "polls" being taken that allege 90% of Muslims agree with ISIS, but come on! Do you really think that poll, like most polls, is not fixed to produce the wanted end result?  Of course it is.  All they had to do was go to a couple of radical groups and call it a poll.

And now ISIS has infected the United States, a country weakened by a President who clearly has no respect for this country he calls his own.  A man who, like the Al Sharpton's and Jessie Jackson's, deliberately incited racism.  But not white against black; rather black against white.  A wealthy black man and his wealthy wife (who grew up in wealth) saying they can currently relate to others in less fortunate circumstances.  I'm not saying there is no racism on the part of white people because there surely is, especially in areas where racism has always reared it's ugly head - the South.  But the attacks by blacks against whites has increased tenfold.  But I digress.

This is about the infection of a fanatical religious group that has infiltrated our country, many through our unsecured borders.  I am aware the tragedy of 9-11-2001 occurred under the watch of George W. Bush.  And I thank God he was the president at the time as he pulled a shocked and mourning country together, if only for a while.  But at that point, and certainly beyond with all we have witnessed and all the intel that has come to light, we should have closed our borders immediately while we sought out all those within our country's borders that supported, belonged to, or assembled together as followers of these murderers.  And that does NOT include ALL Muslims.  Despite an effort, our border patrol still watches illegals - and not just South Americans - flow over our southwestern border.

Some, even our President, would say there should be no "superpowers", but what chaos ensures without it!  If we are not seen as powerful, how can we support our allies who are surrounded by those intent on taking over their region, or the world?  Just as in every group, someone must be a leader.  Ideally, that leader is fair, benevolent, and wise.  That has rarely been our position and that is why we have not been a superpower that stands alone.  Both China and Russia have or do stand in similar positions.  Neither of these countries believe in the rights of their people, though.  Neither has a Constitution containing a Bill of Rights or a Declaration of Independence deciding their own fate. Instead, they are lead by dictators.  Again, I digress.

And why do I digress repeatedly?  It is due to my conclusion to all of this.  What a wild and circular condition we stand in.  It is hard to focus on one thing because so many parts of it intertwine with each other.  What I wanted to say, what I believe is the most important thing to say, and what will change our world is this:

Love your neighbor - even if his race, creed, or color differs from your own.  Nothing is taught by hate or anger.  Teach by love and example, not by violence.  Strengthen your own families and reach out to those who are single parents by helping them.  Be good in your thoughts and deeds.  Be kind. Be patient, and most of all, be Christ-like.  This is what will change the world.

      

Apparently, She's Not Been Talking About Much

Yeah, I took a little leave of absence.  I disappeared into 4 months of tax time horror.  Well, not so much horror as just lots of exhausting hours.  But my brain is back and it only took me about two months.  I guess my recovery time is beginning to reflect my age.  And.....I'm focusing a bit more on my writing, finally hoping to send things out in hopes of publication.  I'm starting small - just the short stories for now.  The novel is still in progress and I really do need to buckle down and focus on it, too.

So, where are my thoughts these days????

I have a new FaceBook friend, an old friend from high school.  He was a Marine.  He has suffered injuries from his time of service.  And he counts all Muslims in with the fanatical, demonic displays of horror that ISIS practices.  I think it's difficult for Americans to separate and see the difference unless you know a Muslim - or are related to some.  I am lucky to fall into the latter category.  My younger sister has been married to a man from Iran for about 26 years.  He no longer practices his faith, but that is because of his decision to practice no faith.  He is a wonderful man and has ALWAYS treated my sister like a queen.  He gave the utmost respect to my parents who lived with them until my sister could no longer manage because they required round the clock care.  He has helped raise my two beautiful nephews into kind, good, intelligent and amazing young men. Because of him, I am "related" to other Muslims.  Some of them continue to live in Iran.  Some have immigrated to the U.S. and Canada.  All of them are successful, good people.  All of them are kind. And NONE of them agree with ISIS and their actions.  Neither do any of the other Muslims I know living in this country.

Over centuries, we have watched Christianity change - to be reformed.  If you read the Scriptures, you read of murder, wars, etc, sanctified by God at the time.  You learn through history of the Crusades, which although a terrible time in the history of Christianity because of their actions, was a direct reaction to the Ottoman Empire's attempt to annihilate all Christians from the region.  Eurasian Christians struck back with the Crusades.  Even as late as the 1900's, Turkish Muslims were wiping out Armenian Christians by the 100,000's.  Around 90% of Armenians were Christian at the time. Now it is approximately 15%.

But when you read, study and learn from the Reformers of Christianity, you see how the tide began to turn in Christian's beliefs toward eradicating other faiths.  They began to see the wrong in this action. Even more recently, you see these same types of reform move toward tolerance and understanding - even defense of other faiths.  There are stories of Christians in Middle Eastern countries protecting Muslims from those who would seek to kill them.  These stories rarely hit the mainstream media coverage.  And why?  Because it does not fit the agenda we see being pushed in this country now. The agenda that will see this country in ruins if it is not stopped.

I'm going to spend the next few posts going more in depth about the historical significance of reform and the fact it is lacking in followers of ISIS.  Stay tuned.