[Austin-ghetto-list] a modest proposal

[Wayne Johnson]

As I understand Islam, you can NOT just profess "belief" and get into
Heaven, rather like a "bedside conversion".  Each person is "weighed" and
held accountable for his/her deeds.  Islam is not just a simple minded
refuge for the morally bankrupt, no more than Christianity, which, as we
have witnessed from the Inquisition and Witch Trials and "Children's
Crusades" is just as likely to foment madness and depravity as any other
organized belief system.

The Quran has extensive and beautiful writings about the need for Charity
and care of the poor.  There are many uses of the word Jihad, only one of
which is a Jihad of the Sword.   Mohammad stated that the most difficult
Jihad was the pursuit for internal understanding and guidance.  This is what
seems to be missing from the perverse mouthings and willful distortions of
the Taliban.    Sadly, there are many passages in the Quran also which call
for the "destruction" of those who do not believe in Allah.  It is easy to
quote these passages in their violent simplicity if you want to stir up the
rabble.  More complex issues, take more time for discussion and
understanding.  Time, here, is the enemy.

Wayne

-----Original Message-----
From: austin-ghetto-list-admin@pairlist.net
[mailto:austin-ghetto-list-admin@pairlist.net]On Behalf Of J. David
Moriaty
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2001 6:55 PM
To: dmcqklaatu@netscape.net; austin-ghetto-list@pairlist.net
Subject: [Austin-ghetto-list] a modest proposal


I understand that if you're a true moslem believer and die
defending the faith you will be instantly transported to
paradise, no matter what else you've done, so whiskey and strip
clubs are no big deal as long as you're reasonably sure you
won't die in a car wreck on the way home.

Instead of bombing the desert and threatening to kill people
who believe they'll be instantly transported to paradise should
we succeed, maybe we should try the mutually assured
destruction that has prevented atomic war for so long.  All
we'd have to do is announce that upon another terrorist
incident we'd immediately blast Mecca and Medina into twin
glass-lined craters, and since we'd announced our intent in
advance, leave it to the true believers to figure out how much
blame God would assign them for another such attack.

Dave