Religion of Peace; Not so peaceful when it comes to women

No longer can we remain apathetic, fooled into a false sense of security by our errant belief that such things can only possibly happen in far off places. It is here now; at home in the US. As in the UK and Europe.

Western Pennsylvania:

"A community debate over religious freedom surfaced in Western Pennsylvania last week when Dutch feminist author Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somali refugee who has lived under the threat of death for denouncing her Muslim upbringing, made an appearance at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

Imam Fouad ElBayly, president of the Johnstown Islamic Center, was among those who objected to Hirsi Ali's appearance.

"She has been identified as one who has defamed the faith. If you come into the faith, you must abide by the laws, and when you decide to defame it deliberately, the sentence is death," said ElBayly, who came to the U.S. from Egypt in 1976."

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the author of Infidel, came here to America after she had to flee the Netherlands under threats of death by radical Islamists. The reason? She spoke. She spoke about the atrocities committed against women under fanatical Islamic faith. She spoke out against the physical mutilation of women by radical Muslims. She renounced the faith. For that, she lived in constant fear for her life.

She came here, to America, believing she would be safe. She is now under 24/7 security. Yes, in America. The supposed Land of the Free where Freedom of Speech is an unalienable right. Apparently not, however, if you choose to say anything against radical Islam.

Where are the Feminists now? Why are they not holding rallies or at the very least speaking out against the Islamists who want to KILL Ms. Ali for the crime of speaking her mind? Are they too busy crying that the Supreme Court upheld a partial birth abortion ban? Justice Ginsburg dissented in that case and called the majority opinion "alarming" and accused the 5 man majority of sexism and paternalism. Barbara Boxer immediately set about decrying the decision as a danger to women. Well, Justice Ginsburg, I believe KILLING women for SPEAKING is a tad more alarming, sexist and paternalistic, don't you? Ms. Boxer, genital mutilation and death threats are a real danger, no? Does THAT not bother you?

In fact, the first American article I could find on Ms. Ali was a New Yorker magazine interview wherein the interviewer made snide comments about Ms. Ali's "conservative" ties in Washington and ended with a jibe at President Bush. Yes, that's right. The article was more concerned with trying to pin a politcal agenda on Ms. Ali than with the atrocities she suffered as a child under Islamic rule or the very real death threats she's been receiving for years.

The left accuses President Bush on an almost daily basis of fear mongering. They claim he uses fear to influence us poor, stupid, gullible Americans. It is not President Bush that uses fear, but rather radical Islamists. The left falls for the very same tactic they accuse President Bush of using. Why else would they not speak out against the vile practices against Women? And children? And any and all "infidels"? They are afraid. They are afraid of what radical Islamists would do if anyone dared speak out against them. They see what happened when the Danish cartoons of Mohammed appeared in print, for example. They use the guise of political correctness to cover up the simple fact that they are afraid. They've stopped teaching about the Holocaust and the Crusades in some schools waving the banner of "too controversial; it might offend some students". Since when is the Holocaust controversial? We now must teach our children based on a madman's beliefs? So as not to "offend"?

It is time WE, the people, demand an end to the fear. Why are we allowing it? Because it doesn't affect us personally? That is where we are wrong. It does affect us all. And will affect us in ways we can't even fathom if we let it continue. Ms. Ali is not safe here........here in what I truly thought was the last bastion of freedom and liberty. I love my Country; The shining city on a hill about which John Winthrop wrote on his voyage here, looking for a land that would be free. Ronald Reagan spoke about that shining city. He said:

"after 200 years, two centuries, she still stands strong and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held steady no matter what storm. And she's still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness, toward home."

Does that mean anything any longer? Will we let fear and false claims of tolerance destroy that shining city of freedom? I pray that we won't.

Ms. Ali gives us fair warning here and in her book, Infidel. I have to believe we will listen to Ms. Ali, and others, and heed their warnings.