Last week Stiff Right Jab received a letter from a supporter of Islam. This letter was not unique, it was but one of a flood of pro-Islam letters to Stiff Right Jab, and we are sure, to every other columnist in the country. We know why they are sent.

They - the Islamic people - feel targeted by the War on Terrorism, and at the same time, thoroughly embarrassed by the inhuman, cowardly actions of the Osama bin Ladens and Yasser Arafats of the world who dress up in their holy Islamic garb and preach the phony bologna religious duty of suicide, mass murder, random killings of innocent men, women, and children engaged in ordinary domestic activities, as a means to the unholy end of taking down the Great Satan (the United States), and all that it stands for, economically, religiously, and politically.

Sure they feel embarrassed, sure they feel targeted, sure they want to set the record straight. If we were of the ordinary, salt of the earth followers of Islam, such as would have nothing to do with revolution and bloodshed, we would be defensive too.

Last week’s writer wrote: "I have some important things to share with you . . ."

O.K., let’s hear it.

"Some people who say they are acting in the name of religion may misunderstand their religion or practice it wrongly."

We can’t argue with that. This is true of all religions, all organizations, all political and educational movements.

"Islam as described in the Qur’an is a modern, enlightened, progressive religion. All forms of unnecessary acts of violence and unjust aggression are forbidden by Islam. The Qur’an orders people to be dignified, modest, trustworthy, kind, faithful, mature and responsive. On that account, [the] duty of a believer is to apply these superior principles that Allah has decreed."

These are noble goals, but if it is true that "by their fruits ye shall know them," and we say that it is -- this aspect of Islam is failing miserably at the moment, for like it or not, the Muslim world is a hotbed for violent revolution, and from an economic standpoint is not progressive, but backwards, dark age backwards. Why is this?

He continues:

"A Muslim educated in the fine moral teaching of the Qur’an, approaches everyone with the love that Islam expects. He shows respect for every idea. A Muslim lends beauty to the world and improves it. In societies composed of individuals such as this, there will be a higher civilization, a higher social morality, more joy, happiness, justice, security, abundance and blessings than in the most modern nations of the world today."

All right, we’ve given him his time. We respect his right to say those things, and we respect the depth of feeling which many Muslims feel about their faith. It is their right to so believe. The ideals expressed above are, every one of them, worthy.

But, if the discussion is to be fair, than let’s be honest about a few things, let’s have equal time for Stiff Right Jab to respond more fully and frankly.

Dear Sir,

Thank you for attempting to set the record straight. If we were to look to the roots of that terrorism that masquerades as Islam, we would to Marxist-Leninism (especially, as exported by Russia), not Islam, since the communists in Russia (and elsewhere) have been in the business of infiltrating and corrupting Islam over the past several decades, with but one goal in mind, to create one more "spontaneous" uprising against the existing order, against capitalism and the Judeo-Christian system of morals that inspired capitalism and its free forms of government, and all this under the facade of so-called "liberation theology."

Unfortunately, we believe, Islam is not alone in this penetration by communists. The communists have long ago planted agents in the World Council of Churches, the (US) National Council of Churches, and sent Marxists into the ministry everywhere else. Just look to the Reverend Jesse Jackson for proof of this. But regardless, this infiltration has not produced the same sort of violent results in the West as it has in the world of Islam. Why is that?

We have an answer. You may or may not like it, but here it is. If Islam would free itself of its radicalism, and gather to itself more support from the free world, and lend greater credence to its contention that it "approach[es] everyone with . . . love" and "shows respect for every idea" than Muslims must insist that within the borders of the nations of Islam the following legal changes come to pass:

1. Decriminalize the spread of Christianity, Judaism, and all other religious isms, including all peaceful forms of Islam which men hold near and dear to their hearts. In connection with this reform, decriminalize, the introduction of missionary and service organizations from all nations and all faiths.

2. Declare as inalienable rights, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly, and so institute political laws as to protect these rights in their full and legitimate sense, prohibiting government from making laws which limit them.

3. Usher in more republican forms of government. Republican government (that is representative government) should be recognized as a right and a necessity.

4. Outlaw the present laws in Islam nations which require the slaying of converts to Christianity by their Muslim parents or any other member of the community of Islam.

5. Permit religious dissent as a political right, and ensure that religious dissent never lead to a deprival of life, liberty, or property, but only to disfellowshipment, or excommunication from a given faith, the latter being the right of all private organizations to establish their own rules of membership.

6. Encourage the establishment of private secular and religious schools and universities.

7. Ban compulsory female circumcision, permit all women to pursue an education, to seek employment, and to possess full citizenship as is their God given right as a human being.

So this is the bottom line. If Islam wishes to prove it loves and respects every person and every idea, and free itself of its radicals, these things it must do.

Some Muslims, will wonder, why these things? The answer is that free agency, freedom of religion, and a free marketplace of ideas permits sensible people, the majority of the people anyway, to balk at revolutionaries in robes, whether of the clerical or collegiate variety, and move their families, commitments, and hearts to denominations, pastors, and educators which stick to Holy Books and good constitutions, not Red Books and Communist Manifestos. Again, this is only possible where freedom exists. Where it does not exist, whatever the cleric or the elitist says, goes, and sooner of later, that means terror, barbarism, cruelty, and poverty.

The harsh reality is this: Until Islam works to root out the tyranny of imposed belief in the world of Islam, it limits its ability to persuade an American mind which reverences moral agency as a gift from God, to believe that Islam is anything less than tyranny masquerading as true religion.

Therefore, Stiff Right Jab urges the defenders of Islam to put their political and economic might where there mouth and heart is, and work to defend religious and political liberty within the borders of the nations in which they now reside. If they do so, we are sure they can do wonders to reverse the growing perception that Islam and tyranny are synonymous.

Steve Montgomery & Steve Farrell

Look for Stiff Right Jab Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Contributing columnist Steve Farrell is the senior editor of the American Partisan, a contributing columnist for NewsMax.com, a widely published research writer, a former Air Force communications manager, and graduate student in Constitutional Law. Joining him is fellow researcher, historian, constitutional scholar, and friend, Steve Montgomery.

Contact Steve & Steve at StiffRightJab@aol.com

Keep an eye out for Steve Farrell’s upcoming book, "Missing the Mark With Religion."

Steve Montgomery & Steve Farrell

Copyright © 2002 by Steve Montgomery & Steve Farrell.
All Rights Reserved.