Every once in awhile I get emails that are propaganda. What I mean by propaganda is the use of emotional appeals and inaccurate or misleading claims to influence readers. The difference between legitimate discussion/disagreement and propaganda is the accuracy of the information and the use of logical and rational arguments versus deceptive and misleading emotional techniques. Here is an example of a recent email I got with my comments in red.
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CAN MUSLIMS BE GOOD AMERICANS?
This is very interesting and we all need to read it from start to finish. And send it on to everyone. Maybe this is why our American Muslims are so quiet and not speaking out about any atrocities.
The opening question sets the tone by implying the possibility that Muslims (a very broad category of people) cannot be good Americans (a rather vague term).
Can a good Muslim be a good American?
Theologically – no. Because his allegiance is to Allah, The moon god of Arabia.
Allah is simply the Arabic word for God and is similar to Elohim, the Hebrew word for God found in the Old Testament, and to ‘Elaha, the Aramaic word for God in the language of Assyrian Christians. All three Abrahamic religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – claim the same deity. The Israelites God, Yahweh, was a war god, not a “moon god.”
Religiously – no. Because no other religion is accepted by his Allah except Islam. (Quran,2:256)
Yahweh in the Old Testament allowed no other gods, either. “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3). The Catholic Church tortured and killed thousands of people over several centuries for not believing in the “right” religion (heretics). Several Christian denominations today banish and shun those who reject their religious dogma.
Scripturally – no. Because his allegiance is to the five Pillars of Islam and the Quran.
Christians claim allegiance to the Bible and to the doctrine of their particular denomination. ALL religions have orthodox beliefs or dogma that define their religion. If having allegiance to a creed or doctrine prevented a person from being a “good American,” that would exclude all religious persons, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, military personnel, etc.
Geographically – no. Because his allegiance is to Mecca, to which he turns in prayer five times a day.
Facing Mecca is simply a ritual of conformity, not an allegiance to Mecca. It is similar to Catholics facing the crucifix in a church and genuflecting and crossing themselves or citizens facing the American flag for the National Anthem.
Socially – no. Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews.
This is just absurd and contrary to common experience. Thousands of Muslims throughout the world, including in America, have non-Muslim friends and even marry non-Muslim people. The Quran prohibits forming an “alliance” with anyone other than god. The Bible instructs Christians “do not be yoked together with nonbelievers.” (2 Corinthians 6:14). Would you interpret that to mean Christians cannot have non-Christian friends?
Politically – no. Because he must submit to the mullahs (spiritual leaders), who teach annihilation of Israel and destruction of America, the great Satan.
Most Muslim leaders do not teach annihilation of Israel or destruction of America any more than most Christian ministers teach death to homosexuals and abortion doctors or that a mass shooting or natural disaster is God’s will. Mullahs are religious scholars and Imams are leaders of a Mosque. They are no different than Christian theologians, ministers, priests, or Jewish rabbis. Muslims are not required to “submit” to their religious leaders anymore than you are required to submit to your minister, priest or rabbi.
Domestically – no. Because he is instructed to marry four women and beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him. (Quran 4:34)
According to the Quran, God says you cannot be equitable in dealing with more than one wife no matter how hard you try. (Quran 4:3, 4:19, 4:20, 4:129; 33:4) Polygamy is cultural and justified by several religions (e.g., Mormon church) and is found throughout the Old Testament. According to the Bible, women are considered the property of men, who have the God-given right to dominate, control, rape, capture, enslave, divorce, punish, or kill females with divine sanction.
Intellectually – no. Because he cannot accept the American Constitution since it is based on Biblical principles and he believes the Bible to be corrupt.
The US Constitution is NOT based on Biblical principles. It does not mention a god or Jesus and only mentions religion to separate it from government (“congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion . . .” (Amendment I) and “. . . no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United Sates.” (Article VI). The Treaty of Tripoli, written by George Washington and signed by John Adams in 1797, said right out, “the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.” The Constitution was established by “we the people,” not by any god. The power to govern comes from the people. The basic principles of our democratic republic were inspired by Greek and Roman philosophers. Our concepts of liberty, human rights, freedom of speech, and equality under the law are all from pagan Stoicism. Solon’s constitution for Athens (500 years before Christ) was credited by John Adams and Thomas Paine and many other Founders as what inspired the American Constitution. We elect our representatives and vote on our laws. Under Moses’ law in the Old Testament, all supreme offices in church and government were hereditary and instituted by God, not the people.
Philosophically – no. Because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran do not allow freedom of religion and expression. Democracy and Islam cannot co-exist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic.
The Bible does not allow freedom of religion or expression, either. Anyone worshiping a god other than Yahweh or saying anything offensive to God was to be killed. Neither Jews nor Christians had a democratic society.
Spiritually – no. Because when we declare ‘one nation under God,’ The Christian’s God is loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred to as Heavenly father, nor is he ever called love in the Quran’s 99 excellent names.
According to Wikipedia, Allah is called “the loving,” as well as “compassionate,” “merciful,” “kind,” “the source of peace and safety,” “the provider,” “the utterly just,” “the gentle,” and “the much-forgiving.” While Yahweh is described in the Old Testament as loving, kind, merciful, wise, and good, he is also jealous, angry, vengeful, and wrathful. Jesus is described as teaching love, compassion, kindness, etc. But none of that maters. “Under God” was added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954 by a joint resolution of Congress in the midst of communist paranoia. It does not specify a Christian god and is simply considered an historical tradition, otherwise it would be unconstitutional. The generic “god” in the Pledge applies to Allah as well as Yahweh or Jesus.
Therefore, after much study and deliberation…Perhaps we should be very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country. They obviously cannot be both ‘good’ Muslims and ‘good’ Americans. Call it what you wish, it’s still the truth. You had better believe it. The more who understand this, the better it will be for our country and our future.
The religious war is bigger than we know or understand!
Footnote: The Muslims have said they will destroy us from within. SO FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.
The Military wants this message to roll all over the U.S.
Please don’t delete this until you send it on.
These last comments are clear bigotry. Should we be “suspicious” of the more than 5,000 Muslims serving in the US military and all 3.3 million Muslims living in the US? To be effective, we have to be precise in identifying enemies and threats. Being too general is just as dangerous as doing nothing. It wastes resources, angers innocent people, helps our enemies recruit more followers, and simply does not work. This kind of email propaganda is meant to play on the fears and prejudices of readers and is part of the problem, not part of the solution. We must be smart, accurate, logical, and wise in our arguments. This email is none of those.
BSCRITIC 