I was doing pretty well, but I just can’t hold my literary
tongue any longer. This whole Innocence of Muslims issue is really
beginning to bother me. In case you have
been living with your head tucked away someplace where nothing of importance
can penetrate, let me briefly explain what has been happening in the world.
A
small group of people decided to make a film depicting Islam’s prophet Mohammed
in a very unflattering way. An English
language trailer for this film was posted on YouTube in July, followed by an
Arabic language one in September. On
September 11th, a well-organized attack on the American consulate in
Benghazi, Libya resulted in the death of four Americans, including the American
ambassador to Libya. At about the same
time, Egyptians stormed the embassy in Cairo. Both attacks were reported to be
in response to the video, but many suspect at least the Libyan attack had been
planned ahead of time, since an Al-Qaeda spokesman stated the attack was
retribution for the death of Abu Yahya al-Libi, an Al-Qaeda leader in
Libya. However, once word about the
video got out, announced by many Muslim leaders, Muslims around the world
staged protests and rioted (encouraged by Muslim clergy), citing the video as the cause, and several more American
embassies were attacked. Who, exactly,
is responsible for the making of the film is still a little unclear. It appears to have been the creation of Nakoula
Basseley Nakoula, a “Coptic Christian” (too lengthy an explanation for here;
think “Eastern Orthodox”) immigrant from Egypt.
Nakoula was once convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine, and then served
21 months in prison for bank fraud. This
is only relevant in understanding why he has recently been detained by the
Orange County Sheriff’s Department. As
part of his probation (or parole?), he is not allowed to use the internet. Posting to YouTube would be a violation.
So,
what is it about this situation that has bothered me enough to take the time to
post this blog? Wow! Where to start? I guess first of all is the media’s
unwillingness to accept the possibility that the video was an insignificant,
even irrelevant piece of the story in the attack on the consulate in
Libya. By all accounts it was a
well-planned, military style attack.
Al-Qaeda says it was retaliation for the death of one of its own. The video was simply a convenient excuse that
terrorist organization used to further inflame the general populous, thus the
prolonged unrest in the region. If
anyone is to blame for the ongoing demonstrations and violent assaults, it’s
Al-Qaeda!
Next,
I find myself in the unenviable position of defending a group of people I
consider to be misguided at best, imbeciles at worst. This whole effort to make this film appears
to be directed toward infuriating about 25% of the world. I can’t imagine they actually thought their
approach would achieve anything remotely related to education or
proselytization. Yet, they are idiots…But,
in this country we believe that speaking our minds is a God-given right. Once we start down the road of allowing
whatever political party in power at any given time to censor words they don’t
like, we will always have to wonder when the government bus will be running us
off that road into a ditch. So, we allow
idiots, the depraved, evil-doers and the demented to give speeches, write
blogs, edit newspapers, air television shows and produce inflammatory,
offensive films. In our value system, it
is better to allow their demonstrations of stupidity than to limit our own
productions of wisdom.
The
government’s handling of the situation is also frustrating. Governor Romney made a correct
statement. We should not be apologizing
for the contents of our Bill of Rights.
I believe his timing was inappropriate, but his message was right on
target. I understand the desire to try
to mollify the unhappy hoards, but hasn’t experience shown us they are not
reasonable people? When has mollification
ever worked with them? They are
extremists, radicals, emotionally charged fanatics (Not unlike the film’s
producers. They are passengers on the
same bus exiting through different doors).
They are ignorant concerning us, our values, our laws, and our
history. The new leader of Egypt, the
man responsible for his government’s actions or inactions in controlling the
mob that stormed our embassy, the one who makes the rules regarding diplomacy
with other countries like ours, says he wants the video makers arrested. He obviously hasn’t even the most basic
understanding or our laws, or international law, since he initially made no
effort to stop the storming of the embassy and has made no efforts to arrest
those responsible. Ignorant leaders like
him have no credibility in my estimation.
Yet, those are the people we are stuck with at this time.
Americans
with knee-jerk reactions are irritating.
The many calls to cut off all money and/or relations with any country
encouraging or not doing enough to stop the attacks on our sovereign nation
(that’s what embassies and consulates are) do not understand the ramifications
of such actions or don’t care about the ramifications. Our aid to these countries is, whether you
like the term or not, a bribe to keep them from running to our enemies for that
aid. Push them into that camp and we
will have much bigger problems with which to deal. Take a deep breath. Think about what is best for long-term
absence of war. Diplomacy is very much
like walking a tightrope with no net.
Lean too far either direction and we fall.
Life in this world can be infuriating! The
only reason I am not yanking out the rest of my thinning hair is because, in
spite of how aggravating the world can be, I know none of it changes the
mandate I have from God. I will continue
trying to live a life pleasing to him, working for justice and trying to bring
real peace to those in turmoil. Nothing
changes that. But some days are more
difficult than others.
