27 August 2010
Greetings from Tyler,
There’s no denying the fact that the tensions
between western culture and Islam are on the
rise.
The debate over the 9-11 victory mosque,
already approved by New York City officials, has
only gotten hotter over the past week and
promises not to go away anytime soon. As you may
have seen,
rival protests have been held at the site of
the proposed mosque with the two sides being
kept some distance apart lest emotions boil over
into a brawl.
How is it that a “religion” which recognizes no
separation between church and state, demanding
that any Muslim state actually enforce the
dictates of Islam, can put forward
representatives to lecture us about American
values? Despite the fact that the liberal left
reviles any talk of
America’s Judeo-Christian heritage, wants it
banned from the schoolhouse, the courthouse and
the public square, nevertheless believes the
“state” should recognize Muslim “rights” in our
society. Would it be wrong to point out that
there are no rights or freedoms in nations that
are under Muslim rule?
The fact is that
the religion of Islam calls explicitly for the
subjugation of all nations, and urges its
followers to put to death those who resist.
Several
photos from past Islamic demonstrations in
London are being forwarded around again amid the
current debate. Numerous of them say,
“Behead those who insult Islam”. Another says,
“Freedom, go to hell”. Another, “Exterminate
those who slander Islam”, and Europe is the
cancer, Islam is the answer”; “Europe you will
pay, your 911 is on the way.”
We’ve entered a battle between Islam and western
culture, and it appears that the media, academia
and quite possibly the current administrative
branch of our government are ambivalent at best,
and at worst promoting the cause of our enemies.
Some of the buzz this week has centered around
news that the imam spearheading the ground zero
mosque project is traveling abroad at the
expense of the U.S. State Department doing,
well, nobody seems quite sure what. He’s been
widely quoted as saying
the West has more innocent blood on its hands
that al Qaeda.
Germany has big trouble with its Islamic
communities, and the fires of cultural and
religious hatred are gaining strength.
Sharia courts and councils are operating in the
Islamic communities of Europe and of England,
and that’s a stated goal for the United States
as well.
Our president described the Muslim call to
prayer as one of the most beautiful sounds on
earth. Those “prayers” incidentally, call
for our death and destruction. Debate over all
these issues is gaining tremendous attention
here in the U.S. of late, but the problems are
much more severe across Europe, and that is the
stuff of end time Bible prophecy.
The other news that is terribly troubling for
all of us here in the United States is the
tremendous doom and gloom over our economic
outlook. This week one economist declared
we’re actually in a
technical depression, while
administration officials keep telling us that
everything is ok. Still, numerous economists
are warning of the strong possibility of a
full blown crash, and a severely depleted if not
ruined dollar. We sure hope they’re wrong.
I’m traveling with my Mom for a visit to the
Sacramento congregation at Mr. John Mitchell’s
behest. We’re hoping for a good turnout, and
that this Sabbath will be a boost for attendance
at the upcoming Feast of Tabernacles. The update
is written early this week, and will include
recent telecast responses next time. Until then,
thanks to all of you who make it all possible.
We appreciate your efforts in the local groups
and in support of the overall work.
Have a great Sabbath,
Mark Armstrong
