Yesterday, I was featured on Coffee Talk with Chelle on Blog Talk Radio. In case you missed it, you can tune in HERE.
In the interview, I discuss the reasons I wrote my new book, Command Influence, my military history, and what you can expect when you pick up your own copy.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Troubling thoughts
I was brought up to be non discriminatory with respect to race or religion. I know that various hate groups exist in the USA and in many other countries for reasons of attracting money, political value to the haters, ethnic rivalry, tribal tradition and a myriad of other excuses such as religious duties and patriotism. I have clients of all religions and have found them to be without guile or intolerance. My clients, whether Pakistani Muslims or Indian Hindus, Protestants from the north of Ireland and Catholics from the Irish Republic, Jews, Catholics and other Christian denominations of every sort from fundamentalists to Unitarians; I have found to be tolerant. of others and with a desire to raise families and prosper in peace as Americans.
What is it that has caused this country and many others to send off so many men and women to fight Islamic extremism abroad and the establishment of the Department of Home land Security here?
What is troubling to me is the tie in between Muslim Fundamentalism and Jihad. "Jihad" is the Arabic word for "struggle" or "effort" and can mean "to strive," "to fight" or to"to exert" depending upon the context inwhich it is used. We in the West have generally understood it to be "holy war."
"Jihad" is considered every Muslim's duty to improve oneself, to aid the poor, and to improve society. jihad is not one of the five pillars of faith for the Muslim.Those are: the profession of the faith; prayer five times a day; fasting during Ramadan; alms for the poor and the performance of the Hajj by a pilgrimage to Mecca, at least once.
With those goals why has the non Muslim community become so apprehensive of Islam and afraid of Muslims?
I will express my thoughts with no animosity towards the followers of Islam or any desire to impugn the faithful. However i am certain that whatever I may say will be criticized by those within Islam and those who are critical of Islam The first issue that I have is why do a few young Muslims from western countries espouse a hatred for their native land and a desire to kill as many of their non Muslim countrymen as possible? I make reference to those going to Somalia to fight for the El-Shabaab forces; to those who tried to blow up aircraft in the USA and England; to those who detonated bombs in London, Moscow and Spain. to the catalyst of hate in Yemen. To the members of dozens of terrorist groups organized in the name of Islamic Jihad. Religious wars have been fought for centuries and are still being fought even between Islamic Groups such as the Sunni, Sharia and Kurds. why have some mosques in the West turned into recruiting stations for violence?
These are troubling thoughts for me. Most Muslim countries today do not tolerate any other religion except Islam, countires that rely on the West for their very existence such as Saudi Arabia do not allow Christian churches; or the profession of the Christian Faith; and do not allow Jews into the country. Pakistan, our greatest alleged ally in the fight against Muslim extremists practices the same discrimination and spawns the most terrorists against the West today. Modern day Malaysia is a Muslim counrty intolerant of other religions and practices open state sponsored anti-semitism and Malaysia just landed a major contract with H-P corporation for a major facility H-P facility to be built in that country. Malaysia is also the home of the CIMB Islamic Bank. this bank advertises that it provides Islamic Shariah Advisory Services which includes advice on Islamic securities and bonds and the investment of Islamic funds, etc. Is that evidence of a multicultural society ? I think not.
Supposing the United States barred any form of Islamic worship or teaching? There would be a world wide condemnation and breaking of diplomatic relations and declarations of war from almost every Islamic nation.
Even a country as enlightened as modern day Jordan serves as a way station for international slavery today. No western country would be permitted by world society to ignore so many principles of democracy and tolerance and still survive as a member of the international community of nations, known as the United Nations.
Are our values and policies all centered around oil and energy? If so, when does humanity get a chance?
What is it that has caused this country and many others to send off so many men and women to fight Islamic extremism abroad and the establishment of the Department of Home land Security here?
What is troubling to me is the tie in between Muslim Fundamentalism and Jihad. "Jihad" is the Arabic word for "struggle" or "effort" and can mean "to strive," "to fight" or to"to exert" depending upon the context inwhich it is used. We in the West have generally understood it to be "holy war."
"Jihad" is considered every Muslim's duty to improve oneself, to aid the poor, and to improve society. jihad is not one of the five pillars of faith for the Muslim.Those are: the profession of the faith; prayer five times a day; fasting during Ramadan; alms for the poor and the performance of the Hajj by a pilgrimage to Mecca, at least once.
With those goals why has the non Muslim community become so apprehensive of Islam and afraid of Muslims?
I will express my thoughts with no animosity towards the followers of Islam or any desire to impugn the faithful. However i am certain that whatever I may say will be criticized by those within Islam and those who are critical of Islam The first issue that I have is why do a few young Muslims from western countries espouse a hatred for their native land and a desire to kill as many of their non Muslim countrymen as possible? I make reference to those going to Somalia to fight for the El-Shabaab forces; to those who tried to blow up aircraft in the USA and England; to those who detonated bombs in London, Moscow and Spain. to the catalyst of hate in Yemen. To the members of dozens of terrorist groups organized in the name of Islamic Jihad. Religious wars have been fought for centuries and are still being fought even between Islamic Groups such as the Sunni, Sharia and Kurds. why have some mosques in the West turned into recruiting stations for violence?
These are troubling thoughts for me. Most Muslim countries today do not tolerate any other religion except Islam, countires that rely on the West for their very existence such as Saudi Arabia do not allow Christian churches; or the profession of the Christian Faith; and do not allow Jews into the country. Pakistan, our greatest alleged ally in the fight against Muslim extremists practices the same discrimination and spawns the most terrorists against the West today. Modern day Malaysia is a Muslim counrty intolerant of other religions and practices open state sponsored anti-semitism and Malaysia just landed a major contract with H-P corporation for a major facility H-P facility to be built in that country. Malaysia is also the home of the CIMB Islamic Bank. this bank advertises that it provides Islamic Shariah Advisory Services which includes advice on Islamic securities and bonds and the investment of Islamic funds, etc. Is that evidence of a multicultural society ? I think not.
Supposing the United States barred any form of Islamic worship or teaching? There would be a world wide condemnation and breaking of diplomatic relations and declarations of war from almost every Islamic nation.
Even a country as enlightened as modern day Jordan serves as a way station for international slavery today. No western country would be permitted by world society to ignore so many principles of democracy and tolerance and still survive as a member of the international community of nations, known as the United Nations.
Are our values and policies all centered around oil and energy? If so, when does humanity get a chance?
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Now Honoring Korean War Vets: Better Late than Never?
The news has been featuring many stories about Korean War veterans being honored here recently. The question is - is it better to honor them now (several decades after their actual service) than to have never done it at all?
Well, this all depends on if you're a glass half empty or glass half full person. Put yourself in their shoes. Looking at the world from a "glass half empty" perspective, it's easy to feel insulted that it took so long to receive acknowledgement for a job well done in the war. But, from a "glass half full" point of view, you would feel proud and bask in your accomplishment.
While I'm neither a "glass half empty" or "glass half full" type of guy, I do feel that time is of the essence. It is important to show war heroes how much you appreciate the risk they took, and the hard work they did while serving at war as soon as possible. Otherwise, they can't truly match your actions with their good deed. I'm definitely glad these guys are finally being honored, but I think that the timing could have been much better.
What do you think?
Well, this all depends on if you're a glass half empty or glass half full person. Put yourself in their shoes. Looking at the world from a "glass half empty" perspective, it's easy to feel insulted that it took so long to receive acknowledgement for a job well done in the war. But, from a "glass half full" point of view, you would feel proud and bask in your accomplishment.
While I'm neither a "glass half empty" or "glass half full" type of guy, I do feel that time is of the essence. It is important to show war heroes how much you appreciate the risk they took, and the hard work they did while serving at war as soon as possible. Otherwise, they can't truly match your actions with their good deed. I'm definitely glad these guys are finally being honored, but I think that the timing could have been much better.
What do you think?
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