The Cost of Crossing the Devoted

I’m under no illusions that the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo was a frequent critic of Islam out of some noble desire to point people to the truth. The weekly publication recently attacked by Islamic terrorists is doggedly left-wing and anti-religious, targeting Judaism, Christianity, along with Islam. Nevertheless, when it comes to “infidels,” Islamic terrorists give no credit for equal-opportunity satirists.

In other words, it makes no difference if you’re an irreverent French cartoonist, a young Pakistani student, Nigerian villagers, or an Iraqi Christian child who simply wants to “love Jesus,” your fate is the same. Yet, not all under the wicked boot of Islam suffer death; some are only kidnapped and made sex slaves, while others, like liberals in Saudi Arabia, are imprisoned and flogged.

In what some are describing as a stunning development, after the Paris attacks, USA Today published an op-ed from the “radical” Muslim cleric Anjem Choudary. Though many blasted USA Today for allowing Choudary space to spew his terrorism apologetic screed, what is most surprising is that USA Today would allow itself to be a voice in revealing the true nature of Islam.

Choudary began, “Contrary to popular misconception, Islam does not mean peace but rather means submission to the commands of Allah alone.” He later added, “Muslims consider the honor of the Prophet Muhammad to be dearer to them than that of their parents or even themselves. To defend it is considered to be an obligation upon them. The strict punishment if found guilty of this crime [dishonoring the Prophet Muhammad] under sharia (Islamic law) is capital punishment implementable by an Islamic State. This is because the Messenger Muhammad said, ‘Whoever insults a Prophet kill him.’”

Contrast such vengeance with the message of Christianity, where Jesus instructs His followers to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matt. 5:44);” and where the Apostle Peter instructs, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you might inherit a blessing (1 Peter. 3:9).”

In spite of this gross disparity, many liberals, whether in Europe or the U.S., in order to show they are sufficiently “tolerant,” don’t treat Islam as if it were on equal footing with all other religions; they elevate it to a special class. Many have been sounding the alarm for years on the “no-go zones” that continue to pop-up throughout Europe.

There are hundreds of these no-go zones in Europe, with France alone containing over 700. “No-go” essentially means, if you’re not Muslim, you are not welcome, and thus, you’d better stay away. This applies not only to ordinary citizens, but to police, fire-fighters, and other such officials. Thus, these no-go zones have become places where nations have ceded sovereignty to Muslim rule.

Signs are hung that read, “You are entering a Sharia controlled zone, Islamic rules enforced.” Of course, Sharia law can mean “honor” killings (murder), forced marriages, polygamy, and so on. In many of the no-go zones, there is also rampant gang activity, drug trafficking, and organized crime. Much of this activity goes unreported or is ignored by authorities. Worse, as France reveals, jihad is allowed to prosper, and the scourge of liberalism is again revealed for what it is: a tragic form of quackery that enables the likes of a cancer such as Islamic jihad.

Worse still, some are reporting that similar no-go zones are on the way to the U.S, if they’re not already here. Will American liberals follow the lead of the European quacks and tell us that in the name of “tolerance,” this is their “right?” After all, who are we to judge another culture? What harm can come to us if we simply live and let live?

This is how it began with homosexuality and same-sex "marriage." First we were told that homosexuality was normal and did not need treatment. Thus, homosexual behavior did not need to be criminalized. In other words, we must be “tolerant,” you know, “live and let live.” Soon, we were told that homosexuals were being “discriminated” against and needed the protection of the law. Once this occurred, homosexual relationships began to get attention. Homosexuals sought and won the “right” to adopt. Thus, children became pawns and victims in the race to normalize homosexuality.

Of course, if homosexuals can be parents, then they should be able to “marry,” and here we are. But even the perverse notion of allowing homosexuals to “marry” is not enough. We must all—individuals, businesses, schools, churches, and the like—be forced to “submit” to the idea of homosexuality as normal, acceptable behavior, and same-sex "marriage."

The most recent case in point is that of former Atlanta Fire Chief, Kelvin Cochran. Mr. Cochran was suspended and just recently fired for self-publishing a book a little over a year ago that tells the truth on homosexuality. Cochran took less than a half-page to say that homosexuality, along with other sexual sins, is “unclean,” “vile,” “vulgar,” and dishonors God.

And as was the case with the French cartoonists, Cochran’s words could not go unanswered. He struck at the heart of one of the tenets of liberalism, and thus, there had to be consequences. It didn't cost him his life, but like the bakers, florists, and photographers who also recently ran afoul of the gay mafia, it cost him his livelihood. And thus we see, whether radical Islam or radical liberalism, there is a high cost to crossing the devoted.

Copyright 2015, Trevor Grant Thomas
At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.
www.trevorgrantthomas.com
Trevor and his wife Michelle are the authors of: Debt Free Living in a Debt Filled World
tthomas@trevorgrantthomas.com