Blog Smith

Blog Smith is inspired by the myth of Hephaestus in the creation of blacksmith-like, forged materials: ideas. This blog analyzes topics that interest me: IT, politics, technology, history, education, music, and the history of religions.

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Week 5, Islam

The presentation may contain content that is deemed objectionable to a particular viewer because of the view expressed or the conduct depicted. The views expressed are provided for learning purposes only, and do not necessarily express the views, or opinions, of Strayer University, your professor, or those participating in videos or other media.

We will have two ten-minute breaks: at 7:30 - 7:40; and, at 9:00 pm - 9:10 pm. I will take roll after the second break before you are dismissed at 10 pm.


Pre-Built Course Content

  • Complete and submit Week 5 Quiz 4: Chapters 7 and 8
  • Read the following from your textbook:
    • Chapter 9: The Rise and Spread of Islam – Middle East and Beyond
    • Chapter 10: Fiefdom and Monastery, Pilgrimage and Crusade – Early Medieval Europe
  • Submit topic choice for Week 8 Assignment 2
  • Submit activity proposal for Week 10 Assignment 3
  • View the Week 5 Would You Like to Know More? videos
  • Explore the Week 5 Music Folder
  • Do the Week 5 Explore Activities
  • Participate in the Week 5 Discussion (choose only one (1) of the discussion options)

Pre-Built Course Content


HUM111 Music for Week 5

Hide Details
In this week's readings (chaps. 9-10), there are several musical compositions mentioned.  These (or decent equivalents) can be found on YouTube.   Watch and give them a listen.   Here below is some background and description of each--and the link to the YouTube (and sometimes other helps).
  1. Traditional: Sunjata (chap. 9, pp. 302-304)
  
Traditional music of West Africa, and a traditional epic of West Africa:  Read carefully in Chapter 9 (pp. 302-304) about the importance of the epic story of Sunjata (=Sundiata or Sundjata), a hero of the Mandinka people and founder of the Mali empire in the 1200s AD.  His deeds have been widely told and sung by griots in West Africa for many centuries. Sunjata had been crippled as a child and his mother cruelly ridiculed because of it. Sunjata overcame these burdens to become a great hero and leader. See summary at http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/hum211/CoursePack/coursepackpast/sundjata.htm#Summary .  For the story in English translation, see http://www.bu.edu/africa/files/pdf/SUNDIATA1.pdf   .  Most in Mali in this time, including Sunjata himself, practiced indigenous West African religions, but Islam was starting to spread.  Sunjata’s grandson, Mansa Musa (p. 302), would be Muslim and become Mali’s most renowned ruler.

  1. Andalusian music from Nuba ‘al’istihlal (chap. 9, p. 308). This music is from Muslim Spain.  Signficant parts of spain were under Muslim rule (pp. 304, 307, 679) from 711 CE until the last Muslim stronghold of Granada fell in 1492, and chapter 9 describes some of the rich musical developments there. On p. 308 you read a description of the word oud and also of the development of the “guitar” (the word “guitar goes back to India’s Sanskrit language as well as to Persian and Greek--an ancient Greek stringed instrument was the kithara ).  But the modern instrument of the guitar seems to have evolved through a line of stringed instruments developed in North Africa and Spain.  See and hear at: 
                 ----------------------------- 
  1. Listen to a traditional Gregorian chant, a neumatic chant as described on p. 336 (chap. 10):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS_AjMPqy04 .  This is traditionally called Psalm 109 (the Latin Vulgate has slightly different numbering; in Protestant Bibles it is Psalm 110).  See full text of the Latin lyrics with english transaltion at:  http://www.artemusica.us/repertoire/handels-dixit-dominus/lyrics-of-dixit-dominus/. 
Here is a similar chant of the same type: 
      Alleluia Pascha Nostrum
Read carefully chapter 10 (pp. 335-336) about neumatic chant and then give a listen to this musical chant. (Alleluia Pascha Nostrum= Hallelujah, Christ our Passover; based on 1 Cor. 5:7).  This is an adaptation of plainchant or neumatic chant from the medieval church. 

  1. Kyrie Eleison, Cunctipotens genitor Deus (chap. 10, p. 336)
Read p. 336 (in chap. 10) carefully and then listen to this.  This is an example of a melismatic chant in which some syllables are extended and sung with many notes. Kyrie Eleison Cunctipotens genitor Deus ("Lord, have mercy, all-powerful Father, God") is sung here in melismatic form.
  1. O successores (chap. 10, p. 336)  Hildegard of Bingen
Read p. 336 (in chap. 10) carefully.  Then give this a listen; the composition of this chant  is attributed to the great Hildegard of Bingen (see pp. 333-5), who lived ca. AD 1098-1179) and was renowned as a writer, composer, and scholar. This chant, as described on p. 336, is more complex in form than those in the previous two music selections above.

  1. Alleluia, Dies Sanctificatus (chap. 10, p. 347; compare  chap. 12, p. 417)  Leonin (this selection was also in Week 6; it is discussed in both chapters 10 and 12)
Read p. 347 (in chap. 10) carefully; also glance ahead at p. 417 (in chap. 12).  Then consider the term polyphony (two or more lines of melody) as you listen to this, as well as the other terms suggested. This selection is a partricular form called “melismatic”.  The composer (Leonin) worked in the Notre Dame Cathedral (Paris) in the late 1100s AD.  Alleluia, Dies Sanctificatus (="Hallelujah, A Holy Day") is a chant normally sung at Christmas. This was one of the polyphonic chants in Léonin’s Magnus Liber Organi (his “Big Book of Polyphony”!).  You can see how chant is developing even further from those examples in the earlier works above.
  
  1.     Can Vei La Lauzeta Mover (chap. 10, pp. 350-351)  = "When I see the skylark beating..."
Read pp. 350-351 in chap. 10. This is a secular troubador song about a romantic love but now lost in rejection. The troubador who originally composed this in the late 1100s AD was Bernard de Ventadour.  Can Vei La Lauzeta Mover (="When I see the skylark beating" its wings) is here done in a traditional style for a sad song such as this.

  1. A chantar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NACeUqS2D4  (chap. 10, p. 351) Beatriz de Dia (for original language, see: http://www.recmusic.org/lieder/get_text.html?TextId=46209;  see English translation at http://el-hydra.blogspot.com/2011/03/chantar-mer.htm; added note: Reading 10.8 on p. 351 is a translation of lyrics of a different song by Beatriz, one for whom the music does not survive, though some have tried anyway)
Read p. 351 in chap. 10. The title A chantar simply means "A Song".  This one was done by a female troubadour (Beatriz de Dia) of the late 1100s AD.



Pre-Built Course Content 

4:13

 Muhammad recites, the 5 pillars are established. Islam's dynamic spread in the 7th Century.


Pre-Built Course Content

3:03

The 7-Day Stare: Charles Martel defends Christian Europe and starts a dynasty.

Charles Martel 01.jpg

Charles Martel (c. 688 or 686, 680 – 22 October 741) was a Frankish statesman and military leader who, as Duke and Prince of the Franks and Mayor of the Palace, was de facto ruler of Francia from 718 until his death.[3][4][5][6]
The son of the Frankish statesman Pepin of Herstal and a noblewoman named Alpaida, Charles successfully asserted his claims to power as successor to his father as the power behind the throne in Frankish politics. Continuing and building on his father's work, he restored centralized government in Francia and began the series of military campaigns that re-established the Franks as the undisputed masters of all Gaul.
After work to establish a unity in Gaul, Charles' attention was called to foreign conflicts, and dealing with the Islamic advance into Western Europe was a foremost concern. Arab and Berber Islamic forces had conquered Spain (711), crossed the Pyrenees (720), seized a major dependency of the Visigoths (721–725),[7] and after intermittent challenges, under Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi, Governor-General of al-Andalus, advanced toward Gaul and on Tours, "the holy town of Gaul"; in October 732, the army of the Umayyad Caliphate led by Al Ghafiqi met Frankish and Burgundian forces under Charles in an area between the cities of Tours and Poitiers (modern north-central France[8]), leading to a decisive, historically important Frankish victory known as the Battle of Tours (or ma'arakat Balâṭ ash-Shuhadâ, Battle of the Palace of Martyrs), ending the "last of the great Arab invasions of France," a military victory termed "brilliant" on the part of Charles.[9][10][11][12][13]
Charles further took the offensive after Tours, destroying fortresses at Agde, Béziers and Maguelonne, and engaging Islamic forces at Nimes, though ultimately failing to recover Narbonne (737) or to fully reclaim the Visigoth's Narbonensis.[9] He thereafter made significant further external gains against fellow Christian realms, establishing Frankish control over Bavaria, Alemannia, and Frisia, and compelling some of the Saxon tribes to offer tribute (738).[9]
Apart from the military endeavours, Charles is considered to be a founding figure of the European Middle Ages.[14] Skilled as an administrator as well as a warrior, he is credited with a seminal role in the emerging responsibilities of the knights of courts, and so in the development of the Frankish system of feudalism.[15] Moreover, Charles—a great patron of Saint Boniface—made the first attempt at reconciliation between the Franks and the Papacy.[citation needed] Pope Gregory III, whose realm was being menaced by the Lombards, wished Charles to become the defender of the Holy See and offered him the Roman consulship, though Charles declined.[9][16][17][18]
Although Charles never assumed the title of king, he divided Francia, like a king, between his sons Carloman and Pepin. The latter became the first of the Carolingians, the family of Charles Martel, to become king. Charles' grandson, Charlemagne, extended the Frankish realms to include much of the West, and became the first Emperor since the fall of Rome. Therefore, on the basis of his achievements, Charles is seen as laying the groundwork for the Carolingian Empire.[5] In summing up the man, Gibbon wrote that Charles was "the hero of the age," whereas Guerard describes him as being the "champion of the Cross against the Crescent."[19][20]



Pre-Built Course Content

5:08



The Norman conquest of England was the 11th century invasion and occupation of England by an army of Norman, Breton, and French soldiers led by Duke William II of Normandy, later styled as William the Conqueror.
William's claim to the English throne derived from his familial relationship with the childless Anglo-Saxon King Edward the Confessor, who may have encouraged William's hopes for the throne. Edward died in January 1066 and was succeeded by his brother-in-law Harold Godwinson. The Norwegian king Harald Hardrada invaded northern England in September 1066 and was victorious at the Battle of Fulford, but Harold defeated and killed him at the Battle of Stamford Bridge on 25 September 1066. Within days, William landed in southern England. Harold marched south to confront him, leaving a significant portion of his army in the north. Harold's army confronted William's invaders on 14 October at the Battle of Hastings; William's force defeated Harold, who was killed in the engagement.
Although William's main rivals were gone, he still faced rebellions over the following years and was not secure on his throne until after 1072. The lands of the resisting English elite were confiscated; some of the elite fled into exile. To control his new kingdom, William gave lands to his followers and built castles commanding military strongpoints throughout the land. Other effects of the conquest included the court and government, the introduction of Norman French as the language of the elites, and changes in the composition of the upper classes, as William enfeoffed lands to be held directly from the king. More gradual changes affected the agricultural classes and village life: the main change appears to have been the formal elimination of slavery, which may or may not have been linked to the invasion. There was little alteration in the structure of government, as the new Norman administrators took over many of the forms of Anglo-Saxon government


Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror and the bloody scramble for England.



Pre-Built Course Content
3:14
Why did the crusades begin, and what did they achieve?

The Crusades were a series of intermittent military campaigns sanctioned by various Popes in the Middle Ages, from 1096 to 1487. In 1095, Byzantine Emperor Alexios I sent an ambassador from Constantinople to Pope Urban II in Italy requesting military support in the conflict with the eastward invading Turks.[1] The Pope responded promptly by calling Catholic soldiers to join the First Crusade. The immediate goal was to guarantee pilgrims access to the holy sites in the Holy Land that were under Muslim control. His long-range goal was to reunite the Eastern and Western branches of Christendom after their split in 1054, with the pope as head of the united Church. A complex 200-year struggle ensued.
Hundreds of thousands of people from many different classes and nations of Western Europe became crusaders by taking a public vow and receiving plenary indulgences from the church.[2][3][4] Some crusaders were peasants hoping for Apotheosis at Jerusalem.[5] Pope Urban II claimed that anyone who participated was forgiven of their sins. In addition to demonstrating devotion to God, as stated by him, participation satisfied feudal obligations and provided opportunities for economic and political gain. Crusaders often pillaged the countries through which they traveled, and contrary to their promises the leaders retained much of this territory rather than returning it to the Byzantines.[3][6]
The People's Crusade prompted the murder of thousands of Jews, known as the Rhineland massacres. Constantinople was sacked during the Fourth Crusade, rendering the reunification of Christendom impossible for that time. Due to the weakening that resulted from the siege, the remnants of the Byzantine Empire finally fell to the Ottomans in 1453. Western European potentates mounted no coherent response when the last Catholic stronghold in the region, Acre, fell in 1291.[7]
Opinions concerning the conduct of crusaders have varied from laudatory to highly critical. The impact of the crusades was profound; they reopened the Mediterranean to commerce and travel, enabling Genoa and Venice to flourish. Crusader armies would trade with the local populations while travelling, and Orthodox Byzantine emperors often organized markets for crusaders moving through their territory. The Crusades consolidated the collective identity of the Latin Church under papal leadership, and were a source of heroism, chivalry, and piety. This consequently spawned medieval romance, philosophy, and literature. However, the crusades reinforced the connection between Western Catholicism, feudalism, and militarism, which was counter to the Peace and Truce of God that Urban had promoted.[8]

Multicolored map of the 12th-century Near East

Week 5 Explore

Hide Details
Muslim Structures and Pilgrimage
Christian Structures and Pilgrimage


Islam FisherBriefPPT_Ch10.ppt
List of Killings Ordered or Supported by Muhammad
http://wikiislam.net/wiki/List_of_Killings_Ordered_or_Supported_by_Muhammad
Islam Notes
Islam Notes.jpg
Imam vs. Religious Scholar: http://youtu.be/LfyXUszMyOk
London Imam and Robert Spencer






  • Qur’an
In Search of the Original Koran: The True History of the Revealed Text by Mondher Sfar, Other authors: Emilia Lanier (Translator), Prometheus Books (2008), Hardcover, 152 pages: http://www.librarything.com/work/5277730/summary/56079606
References on the Qur'an: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/gmicksmith&collection=-1&deepsearch=Quran+Koran
  • Spread of Islam
"Contrary to the conventional wisdom, it is the Middle East where the institution of empire not only originated (for example, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Iran, and so on) but where its spirit has also outlived its European counterpart. . . . The birth of Islam, by contrast [to Christianity], was inextricably linked with the creation of a world empire and its universalism was inherently imperialist. It did not distinguish between temporal and religious powers, which were combined in the person of Muhammed, who derived his authority directly from Allah and acted at one and the same time as head of the state and head of the church. This allowed the prophet to cloak his political ambitions with a religious aura and to channel Islam's energies into `its instrument of aggressive expansion, there [being] no internal organism of equal force to counterbalance it'" (pp. 2, 6).
Islamic Imperialism: A History by Efraim Karsh, Yale University Press (2007), Edition: Updated Ed, Paperback, 304 pages: http://www.librarything.com/work/837890/summary/33242772
References on the spread of Islam: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/gmicksmith&collection=-1&deepsearch=Jihad
The Kaaba
In her book, Islam: A Short History, Karen Armstrong asserts that the Kaaba was at some point dedicated to Hubal, a Nabatean deity, and contained 360 idols that probably represented the days of the year.
In the history of religions, Mircea Eliade developed the notion of the axis mundi (also cosmic axis, world axis, world pillar, columna cerului, center of the world, world tree), and in religion or mythology, it is the world center or the connection between Heaven and Earth. As the celestial pole and geographic pole, it expresses a point of connection between sky and earth where the four compass directions meet. At this point travel and correspondence is made between higher and lower realms. Communication from lower realms may ascend to higher ones and blessings from higher realms may descend to lower ones and be disseminated to all. The spot functions as the omphalos (navel), the world's point of beginning. Numerous sites have been noted in Africa, the Middle East, Australia, The Americas, Europe, and Asia. The Kaaba is one such site.
The Iran Nuke Documents that Obama Doesn't Want You to See
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/07/30/the-iran-nuke-documents-obama-doesn-t-want-you-to-see.html

As a review, bear in mind the self-critical, and skeptical tradition that characterizes the Judeo-Christian West with figures such as Voltaire, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche.

Christianity

In a letter to Frederick II, King of Prussia, dated 5 January 1767, he wrote about Christianity:
La nôtre [religion] est sans contredit la plus ridicule, la plus absurde, et la plus sanguinaire qui ait jamais infecté le monde.
"[Christianity] is assuredly the most ridiculous, the most absurd and the most bloody religion which has ever infected this world. Your Majesty will do the human race an eternal service by extirpating this infamous superstition, I do not say among the rabble, who are not worthy of being enlightened and who are apt for every yoke; I say among honest people, among men who think, among those who wish to think. ... My one regret in dying is that I cannot aid you in this noble enterprise, the finest and most respectable which the human mind can point out.."
In La bible enfin expliquee, he considered Bible as:
It is characteristic of fanatics who read the holy scriptures to tell themselves: God killed, so I must kill; Abraham lied, Jacob deceived, Rachel stole: so I must steal, deceive, lie. But, wretch, you are neither Rachel, nor Jacob, nor Abraham, nor God; you are just a mad fool, and the popes who forbade the reading of the Bible were extremely wise.
Mohammed
In his tragedy Le Fanatisme ou Mahomet, Voltaire described Mohammed as an "impostor", a " false prophet", a "fanatic" and a "hypocrite". Voltaire defended the play, he said that he "tried to show in it into what horrible excesses fanaticism, led by an impostor, can plunge weak minds".
Historical-critical work on the Text of the Koran
Does the original text of the Koran exist?
Keith E. Small
The source is an evangelical Protestant scholar; believing scholars criticize the text as well.
http://evangelicaltextualcriticism.blogspot.com/2011/07/textual-criticism-and-quran-manuscripts.html
This is the first book-length examination of the kinds of textual variants one can observe in Qur'an manuscripts, and how these variants affect commonly held views on the transmission of the text of the Qur'an. Ahmed, for instance gives a very common view that the Qur'an's original text is preserved better than the NT because of oral tradition supplementing the written tradition. Actually the reverse is true. The NT is better preserved because of the written record that remains, even without an accompanying oral transmission.

My book challenges this normal Islamic views and concludes that the oral tradition actually complicated the textual history rather than simplifying it and preserving the original text.
Also,if the early Caliph Uthman performed the action on the text of the Qur'an that is attributed to him in Islamic tradition of establishing one text and destroying variant texts around 653 AD, then he cut off access to more original forms of the text of the Qur'an. One cannot recover the original text of the Qur'an from Islamic written or oral tradition or a combination of both. What one can achieve is a later revised version of a consonantal text that was officially standardized in the first Islamic century. Also, that particular consonantal text, over three centuries, went through a process of development and improvement so that it could phonetically reproduce just one form of the text. Before that, the text was recited in at least 50 different ways, because the ambiguity of the Arabic script allowed such diversity. Every time the written script was improved it provided a new platform for the development of additional oral traditions and discouraged the use of prior ones.

The challenge of textual criticism as applied to the Qur'an is to account for the plethora of factors, both intentional and unintentional, oral and written, that have made the text what it is today. It was produced over four centuries to read a certain way to bring political and religious unity in the midst of competing Islamic groups. There has consistently been more of an attitude of standardizing the text to a desired ideal, then preserving the most original forms of the text. Bart Ehrman's approach and conclusions actually fit the history of the Qur'an more than they do the New Testament, in my opinion.

Permit me to quote my own conclusion (p. 179):

'Though Muslims may take pride in the fidelity of the preservation of this text, it does not reproduce precisely what was originally considered to be the Qur'an in the early seventh century. Because of the standardizations of the text in 653-705/33-86 AH and 936/324 AH, together with the constant pressure throughout Islamic history to have one text match their dogma, many texts which had equally good claims to containing authentic readings were suppressed and destroyed. And, because of the emphasis on oral transmission and the vagaries of Arabic as it developed, the written text was constantly vocalized in new ways which did not preserve the original vocalization. The original vocalization must have been lost very early on if it did indeed exist. While bearing testimony to the careful preservation of one particular consonantal text, the history of the transmission of the text of the Qur'an is at least as much a testament to the destruction of Qur'an material as it is to its preservation. It is also testimony to the fact that there never was one original text of the Qur'an.'
In conclusion, the Koran, as we have it today, is the one politicized, authoritative text collated years after Mohammed died; and, this is the one version from among at least 50 that existed previously but were destroyed within Islamic tradition. The original text of the Koran does not exist.
Small's conclusion has been supported by other scholars: John Burton demonstrates the certainty that "necessitated the placing of the collection of the Qur'an in the period following the Prophet's death" (from the book jacket).
The Collection of the Qur'an by John Burton, Cambridge University Press (1977).
http://www.librarything.com/work/3395401/33705857
In Search of the Original Koran: The True History of the Revealed Text by Mondher Sfar, Other authors: Emilia Lanier (Translator), Prometheus Books (2008).
"This is an excellent introduction to the issue of how corrupt the text of the Koran is. Sfar demonstrates that Muhammed never collected a Koran, that in fact it was a controversial decision to collect the Koran--literally recitation, and not a book--after his death, and the original fragments of Koranic material were destroyed, and perhaps most importantly, a book of the Koran did not exist until about the time of the Third Caliph. Nonetheless, Islam has suppressed any attempt to understand the Koran in historico-critical terms and has thus glossed over the problematic collection of Koranic materials. In its stead, a miraculous and fanciful narrative predominates Islamic accounts of the Koran and this fairy tale predominates contemporary accounts of Islamic development as well."
The Koran_PP.pptx
Activity
In small groups, compare and contrast the reliability of accounts in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Synoptics, and the Koran.
Life of Muhammad
Even if the text is corrupt, a religious tradition may have access to its founder, and in the case of Islam, seek to emulate Muhammed. As cited in the introductory PowerPoint, "Muhammad's life became a model for Muslims to follow."
The use of assassination to achieve political/religious goals has been important throughout the history of Arabia and Islamic expansion, and the very word "assassin" has Arabic roots (حشّاشين).
This list contains the results and reasons for the targeted killings and assassinations ordered or supported by Prophet Muhammad, as well as the primary sources which mention these incidents.
List of Killings Ordered or Supported by Muhammad
http://wikiislam.net/wiki/List_of_Killings_Ordered_or_Supported_by_Muhammad
There are 43 separate incidents.
Banu Qurayza tribe 600-900 beheaded
Attack Banu Qurayza because according to Muslim tradition he had been ordered to do so by the angel Gabriel. One of Muhammad's companions decided that "the men should be killed, the property divided, and the women and children taken as captives". Muhammad approved of the ruling, calling it similar to God's judgment,[Documentation listed] after which all male members of the tribe who had reached puberty were beheaded.
  1. Peters, Muhammad and the Origins of Islam, p. 222-224.
  2. Stillman, The Jews of Arab Lands: A History and Source Book, pp. 137-141.
  3. Subhash C. Inamdar, Muhammad and the Rise of Islam: The Creation of Group Identity, Psychosocial Press, p. 166 (footnotes), ISBN 1887841288, 2001, http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=PNDXAAAAMAAJ&q
  4. Ibn Ishaq, A. Guillaume (translator), The Life of Muhammad (Sirat Rasul Allah), Oxford University Press, pp. 461–464, ISBN 978-0-19-636033-1, 2002 pp. 461–464.
  5. Adil, Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam, p. 395f.
  6. William Muir, The life of Mahomet, Kessinger Publishing, p. 329, ISBN 9780766177413, 2003, http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=QyIPouT4DqcC&printsec=frontcover
Banu Qurayza - Muhammad the "excellent example" Allah Qur'an 33:21, 1:54
The religious scholar, Robert Spencer, explains.
How should the `perfect man' act?
How many Jews were beheaded?
What happens when 7th Century warlord behavior occurs today?
http://youtu.be/l0NI93kL-C8

Activity
In small groups, compare and contrast Muhammed, Jesus, or other religious figures we have studied.
The Spread of Islam
Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes by Tamim Ansary, PublicAffairs (2010).
This is an important work to consider for an understanding of Islamist prejudices. As Ansary himself explains, he is propagandizing American textbook publishers to promote his biased view of Islamic history and he seeks to evangelize among impressionable and ignorant youth. He states: "I kept wanting to give more coverage to Islam in world history" (p. xiv), translation, make it positive. Historians of religion have no problem providing equal space to Islam, except that often the standard histories, encyclopedias, and accounts of ideas that arise from Eliade and others do not prioritize Islamist ideas. Ansary does.

Historians of religion have long understood Islam, with different conclusions than the supremacist Ansary, in fact he provides the example of Wilfred Cantwell Smith who in the '50s noted the importance for Islamism of Sayyid Jamāl ad-Dīn al-Afghānī (Persian: سید جمال‌‌الدین افغاني‎), also known as Sayyid Jamāl ad-Dīn Asadābādī (Persian: سید جمال‌‌الدین اسد‌آبادی‎), and commonly known as Al-Afghani (1838/1839 – March 9, 1897). He was a political activist and Islamic ideologist in the Muslim world during the late 19th century, particularly in the Middle East, South Asia and Europe. One of the founders of Islamic Modernism and an advocate of Pan-Islamic unity, he has been described as "less interested in theology than he was in organizing a Muslim response to Western pressure."

Since Ansary wants to dispense with a Western story, the triumph of Islam historically would place us in the period of the Islamist Reaction currently. He so clearly is a supremacist he makes simple, factual errors in the history of religion. He wrongly states that older (presuming their irrelevance in light of the revelation of Islam) religions are the Other. Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism are in fact dynamic, evolving, and ongoing religiously today despite the alleged prophetic clarifying message of Mohammed. In addition, he also mistakenly states that the Koran was faithfully preserved from the very beginning of Islam's history (xxi-xxii). In fact, the process took years and was anything but clear, straightforward, and accurate which numerous scholars have demonstrated. Ansary states that he is not writing a scholarly work but this does not free him from accuracy and making factually correct statements despite his biases.

If you wish to be informed about the Ottoman Empire for example, Osman's Dream: The History of the Ottoman Empire by Caroline Finkel, does a much more thorough job of surveying the last gasp of Islamism, and the subsequent updating of the archaic dreams of many Muslims to live in the past. I suppose the appeal though of Ansary is the Romantic notion that implies he is somewhat more authentic than the sound research demonstrated in the Finkel volume.
Basic Books (2007), Paperback, 704 pages
http://www.librarything.com/work/8095754/summary/91147624
Islamic Imperialism: A History by Efraim Karsh Yale University Press (2007),
Karsh begins by describing the two main interpretive lines that have emerged since 9/11. The first position invokes the clash of civilizations as a motif along the lines of Bernard Lewis and Samuel Huntingdon; the other postulates an anti-American, pro-Islamic line such as that enunicated by Karen Armstrong and Edward Said. Karsh concludes though that a solution to Islamic imperialism will occur only when Islamists cease acting like Saladins and confine their religious beliefs to the private sphere.

"Contrary to the conventional wisdom, it is the Middle East where the institution of empire not only originated (for example, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Iran, and so on) but where its spirit has also outlived its European counterpart. . . . The birth of Islam, by contrast [to Christianity], was inextricably linked with the creation of a world empire and its universalism was inherently imperialist. It did not distinguish between temporal and religious powers, which were combined in the person of Muhammed, who derived his authority directly from Allah and acted at one and the same time as head of the state and head of the church. This allowed the prophet to cloak his political ambitions with a religious aura and to channel Islam's energies into `its instrument of aggressive expansion, there [being] no internal organism of equal force to counterbalance it'" (pp. 2, 6,)
http://www.librarything.com/work/837890/summary/33242772
The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror by Bernard Lewis Random House Trade Paperbacks (2004).
In this slim volume Lewis artfully explains the complexity of Islam in brief but understandable terms. The work would be a useful introduction for anyone seeking to learn reliably and usefully how to explain the Islamic holy war against the West. It is superseded by many more comprehensive works but Lewis does not claim to go beyond the introductory in this short work. Lewis is on less sure ground, and more controversial on his political and diplomatic points but I do not see him straying from an accurate and factual account of Islam regardless of what his critics argue.
http://www.librarything.com/work/22270/edit/42589776
Melanie Phillips Interview, 40:24

Londonistan by Melanie Phillips Encounter Books (2007).
This is a frightening book and yet one that is essential to understand how Britain is under ideological attack. The attack is so critical to the U.K. that it will largely determine Britain's ability to support further efforts by the U.S. against Islamism. Phillips provides sound evidence that the ideological underpinnings of the liberal British tradition may not survive the latest onslaught from Islamofascism. There are books of this ilk but Phillips nails the dilemma that Britain faces. Insecure in its moorings in the liberal legal tradition of the West, which guarantees constitutional law and citizen's rights to liberty, the U.K. is prone to the victim mentality of Islamofascists who seek to replace British tradition with international law, human rights, as defined by segments of the world community who are anything but humane, and by forces which push their agenda in order to displace one of the nations that exemplifies personal liberty and limited government.

Great Britain is in dire straits and the implications for Europe are enormous, not to mention how America may stand alone as the sole standout of constitutional government and personal liberty. The U.K. may not enjoy the special relationship that had previously characterized the grand cultural Western tradition shared by the U.S. and Britain. Britain may fall, and fail to be up to the cultural task of reviving liberty.
Great Britain, and Europe in general, has recently been described as Eurabia in that Islamist penetration and a lack of assimilation has meant that the European tradition has been compromised.
The Morality of Terrorism: Religious and Secular Justifications (Morningside Book) by David C. Rapoport
Other authors: Yonah Alexander (Editor)
Columbia University Press (1989).
I feel fortunate to have learned at UCLA from one of my professors, David Rapoport, and one of the earliest works available to identify terrorists with religious violence. I have been identifying religious violence prior to 9/11.
Why did the Balfour Declaration produce problems in Palestine?
In-class: what are the Islamists connection to Hitler?
Who represented the Islamists before Hitler?
Where was a Muslim army formed to assist Nazi Germany?
The Nazi Connection To Islamists, 4:13.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/dbP2EyF8d34

Adolph Hitler Meets with Grand Mufti Amin Al Husseini. Grand Mufti Amin Al Husseini of Jerusalem organises recruitment to Bosnia's and Kosovo's Muslim Nazi SS divisions. Another prominent Kosovar Albanian Muslim, Bedri Pejani, was appointed to committee the Nazi occupation authorities established to rule the Nazi-created Greater Albania. Pejani announced a plan to create a Greater Islamic State consisting of Albania, Bosnia-Hercegovina, and the Sandzak/Rashka region of Serbia. The plan was presented to the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin el Husseini, who approved of the Pejani plan because it was seen as being in the interests of Islam.
Consider the effect on individuals that the transition of Europe from a post-Enlightenment tradition to an Islamist one has had.
Morning Has Broken, 1971, 3:01
Consider the beauty and peacefulness (another of his hit tunes was "Peace Train") of Cat Stevens (product of an English Greek Orthodox and a Swedish Baptist home).
http://youtu.be/X48weyESpec

Roman Catholic Hymn sung in a 7th Day Adventist Church
Cat Stevens Islam Theft.
On the other hand, Stevens formally converted to the Islamic religion on 23 December 1977 and hereafter he was known as Yusuf Islam. As Yusuf, Stevens was asked about the Rushdie Affair.
Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie (/sælˈmɑːn ˈrʊʃdi/; Kashmiri: अहमद सलमान रुशदी (Devanagari), احمد سلمان رشدی (Nastaʿlīq); born 19 June 1947) is a British Indian novelist and essayist.
The Satanic Verses controversy, also known as the Rushdie Affair, was the heated and frequently violent reaction of Muslims to the publication of Salman Rushdie's novel The Satanic Verses, which was first published in the United Kingdom in 1988. Many Muslims accused Rushdie of blasphemy or unbelief and in 1989 Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran issued a fatwa ordering Muslims to kill Rushdie. Numerous killings, attempted killings, and bombings resulted from Muslim anger over the novel.
The issue was said to have divided "Muslim from Westerners along the fault line of culture," and to have pitted a core Western value of freedom of expression—that no one "should be killed, or face a serious threat of being killed, for what they say or write"—against the view of many Muslims—that no one should be free to "insult and malign Muslims" by disparaging the "honour of the Prophet" Muhammad. English writer Hanif Kureishi called the fatwa "one of the most significant events in postwar literary history."
1989, Muslim convert would kill author Salman Rushdie.
Cat Steven on BBC Program Discussing Salman Rushdie, 1989, 2:14
Cat Stevens aka Yusuf Islam discussing Salman Rushdie on BBC program in 1989.
Should people be killed for what they say or write about Muhammed?
http://youtu.be/2-wjxwpvqps

Sir Salman Rushdie vs. Yusuf Islam
Sir Salman Rushdie responds to Yusuf Islam, 1:35
http://youtu.be/ThUgpNYr2Oo

Activity
In small groups, discuss the Rushdie Affair, are there limits to free speech about religious figures? Should people be killed for their ideas?
Islam in American Politics
What would happen if the ISIS flag, and then an Israeli flag, were waved at Berkeley?
Anti-Semitism at Berkeley, Islamic State Support
As demonstrated in an earlier session, the Islamic State is not condemned on University campuses, however, Israel and the Jews are roundly criticized.
Who Advocates Violence?
Three major peer-reviewed studies in the last 10 years have all found the same results. Over 75% of the 2,000 mosques in America are "radicalized." And what does radicalized mean?
That of the 100 mosques surveyed, 51% had texts on site rated as severely advocating violence; 30% had texts rated as moderately advocating violence; and only 19% had no violent texts at all.

That in 84.5% of the mosques, the imam recommended studying violence-positive texts.

That mosques which are Sharia adherent were more likely to feature violent texts than their non-Sharia-adherent counterparts and that leadership at Sharia-adherent mosques was more likely to recommend that a worshipper study violent texts than leadership at non-Sharia-adherent mosques.
In the years since 9/11 in the U.S., what group is most often the victim of religious violence?
The statistical fact remains that world-wide, both the perpetrators of violence, and the victims of violence, are similar.
About five deaths a day, or 25,183 since 9/11 were comitted by Muslims.
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Pages/TheList.htm
A famous example of Islamist religious violence was of course on 9/11.
Last statement by Islamists Praising Allah on 9/11
http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-releases-copy-of-four-page-letter-linked-to-hijackers

In the four-page document, written in Arabic, that was found in the baggage of the suspected ringleader behind the carnage, Mohamed Atta, there are 90 mentions of Allah in the text. The Observer, Sunday 30 September 2001 11.31 EDTThe
THE LAST NIGHT 1) Making an oath to die and renew your intentions.
Shave excess hair from the body and wear cologne.
Shower
2) Make sure you know all aspects of the plan well, and expect the response, or a reaction, from the enemy.
3) Read al-Tawba and Anfal [traditional war chapters from the Qur'an] and reflect on their meanings and remember all of the things Allah has promised for the martyrs.
4) Remind your soul to listen and obey [all divine orders] and remember that you will face decisive situations that might prevent you from 100 per cent obedience, so tame your soul, purify it, convince it, make it understand, and incite it. Allah said: 'Obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not fight amongst yourselves or else you will fail. And be patient, for Allah is with the patient.'
5) Pray during the night and be persistent in asking Allah to give you victory, control and conquest, and that He may make your task easier and not expose us.
6) Remember Allah frequently, and the best way to do it is to read the Holy Qur'an, according to all scholars, as far as I know. It is enough for us that it [the Qur'an] are the words of the Creator of the Earth and the plants, the One that you will meet [on the Day of Judgment].
7) Purify your soul from all unclean things. Completely forget something called 'this world' [or 'this life']. The time for play is over and the serious time is upon us. How much time have we wasted in our lives? Shouldn't we take advantage of these last hours to offer good deeds and obedience?
8) You should feel complete tranquility, because the time between you and your marriage [in heaven] is very short. Afterwards begins the happy life, where Allah is satisfied with you, and eternal bliss 'in the company of the prophets, the companions, the martyrs and the good people, who are all good company'. Ask Allah for his mercy and be optimistic, because [the Prophet], peace be upon him, used to prefer optimism in all his affairs.
9) Keep in mind that, if you fall into hardship, how will you act and how will you remain steadfast and remember that you will return to Allah and remember that anything that happens to you could never be avoided, and what did not happen to you could never have happened to you. This test from Almighty Allah is to raise your level [levels of heaven] and erase your sins. And be sure that it is a matter of moments, which will then pass, Allah willing, so blessed are those who win the great reward of Allah. Almighty Allah said: 'Did you think you could go to heaven before Allah knows whom amongst you have fought for Him and are patient?'
10) Remember the words of Almighty Allah: 'You were looking to the battle before you engaged in it, and now you see it with your own two eyes.' Remember: 'How many small groups beat big groups by the will of Allah.' And His words: 'If Allah gives you victory, no one can beat you. And if He betrays you, who can give you victory without Him? So the faithful put their trust in Allah.'
11) Remind yourself of the supplications and of your brethren and ponder their meanings. (The morning and evening supplications, and the supplications of [entering] a town, and the [unclear] supplications, and the supplications said before meeting the enemy.
12) Bless your body with some verses of the Qur'an [done by reading verses into one's hands and then rubbing the hands over whatever is to be blessed], the luggage, clothes, the knife, your personal effects, your ID, passport, and all your papers.
13) Check your weapon before you leave and long before you leave. (You must make your knife sharp and must not discomfort your animal during the slaughter).
14) Tighten your clothes [a reference to making sure his clothes will cover his private parts at all times], since this is the way of the pious generations after the Prophet. They would tighten their clothes before battle. Tighten your shoes well, wear socks so that your feet will be solidly in your shoes. All of these are worldly things [that humans can do to control their fate, although Allah decrees what will work and what won't] and the rest is left to Allah, the best One to depend on.
15) Pray the morning prayer in a group and ponder the great rewards of that prayer. Make supplications afterwards, and do not leave your apartment unless you have performed ablution before leaving, because the angels will ask for your forgiveness as long as you are in a state of ablution, and will pray for you. This saying of the Prophet was mentioned by An-Nawawi in his book, The Best of Supplications. Read the words of Allah: 'Did you think that We created you for no reason...' from the Al-Mu'minun Chapter.
THE SECOND STEP
When the taxi takes you to (M) [this initial could stand for matar, airport in Arabic] remember Allah constantly while in the car. (Remember the supplication for entering a car, for entering a town, the supplication of place and other supplications).
When you have reached (M) and have left the taxi, say a supplication of place ['Oh Allah, I ask you for the best of this place, and ask you to protect me from its evils'], and everywhere you go say that prayer and smile and be calm, for Alah is with the believers. And the angels protect you without you feeling anything. Say this supplication: 'Allah is more dear than all of His creation.' And say: 'Oh Allah, protect me from them as You wish.' And say: 'Oh Allah, take your anger out on [the enemy] and we ask You to protect us from their evils.' And say: 'Oh Allah, block their vision from in front of them, so that they may not see.' And say: 'Allah is all we need, He is the best to rely upon.' Remember Allah's words: 'Those to whom the people said, "The people have gathered to get you, so fear them," but that only increased their faith and they said, Allah is all we need, He is the best to rely upon.' After you say that, you will find [unclear] as Alllah promised this to his servants who say this supplication:
1) They will come back [from battle] with Allah's blessings
2) They were not harmed
3) And Allah was satisfied with them.
Allah says: 'They came back with Allah's blessings, were not harmed, and Allah was satisfied with them, and Allah is ever-blessing.'
All of their equipment and gates and technology will not prevent, nor harm, except by Allah's will. The believers do not fear such things. The only ones that fear it are the allies of Satan, who are the brothers of the devil. They have become their allies, Allah save us, for fear is a great form of worship, and the only one worthy of it is Allah. He is the only one who deserves it. He said in the verses: 'This is only the Devil scaring his allies' who are fascinated with Western civilisation, and have drank the love [of the West] like they drink water [unclear] and have become afraid of their weak equipment, 'so fear them not, and fear Me, if you are believers.'
Fear is a great worship. The allies of Allah do not offer such worship except for the one Allah, who controls everything. [unclear] with total certainty that Allah will weaken the schemes of non-believers. Allah said: 'Allah will weaken the schemes of the non-believers.'
You must remember your brothers with all respect. No one should notice that you are making the supplication, 'There is no Allah but Allah,' because if you say it 1,000 times no one will be able to tell whether you are quiet or remember Allah. And among its miracles is what the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: 'Whoever says, "There is no Allah but Allah," with all his heart, goes to heaven.' The prophet, peace be upon him, said: 'If you put all the worlds and universes on one side of the balance, and "No Allah but Allah" on the other, "No Allah but Allah" will weigh more heavily.' You can repeat these words confidently, and this is just one of the strengths of these words. Whoever thinks deeply about these words will find that they have no dots [in the Arabic letter] and this is just one of its greatnesses, for words that have dots in them carry less weight than those that do not. And it is enough that these are the words of monotheism, which will make you steadfast in battle [unclear] as the prophet, peace be upon him, and his companions, and those who came after them, Allah willing, until the Day of Judgment.
Do not seem confused or show signs of nervous tension. Be happy, optimistic, calm because you are heading for a deed that Allah loves and will accept. It will be the day, Allah willing, you spend with the women of paradise.
[poetry] Smile in the face of hardship young man/For you are heading toward eternal paradise
You must remember to make supplications wherever you go, and anytime you do anything, and Allah is with his faithful servants, He will protect them and make their tasks easier, and give them success and control, and victory, and everything...
THE THIRD PHASE
When you ride the (T) [probably for tayyara, aeroplane in Arabic], before your foot steps in it, and before you enter it, you make a prayer and supplications. Remember that this is a battle for the sake of Allah . As the prophet, peace be upon him, said, 'An action for the sake of Allah is better than all of what is in this world.' When you step inside the (T), and sit in your seat, begin with the known supplications that we have mentioned before. Be busy with the constant remembrance of Allah. Allah said: 'Oh ye faithful, when you find the enemy be steadfast, and remember Allah constantly so that you may be successful.' When the (T) moves, even slightly, toward (Q) [unknown reference], say the supplication of travel. Because you are traveling to Almighty Allah , so be attentive on this trip.
Then [unclear] it takes off. This is the moment that both groups come together. So remember Allah , as He said in His book: 'Oh Allah, pour your patience upon us and make our feet steadfast and give us victory over the infidels.' And His words: 'And the only thing they said Allah, forgive our sins and excesses and make our feet steadfast and give us victory over the infidels.' And His prophet said: 'Oh Allah, You have revealed the book, You move the clouds, You gave us victory over the enemy, conquer them and give us victory over them.' Give us victory and make the ground shake under their feet. Pray for yourself and all your brothers that they may be victorious and hit their targets and ask Allah to grant you martyrdom facing the enemy, not running away from it, and for Him to grant you patience and the feeling that anything that happens to you is for Him.
Then every one of you should prepare to carry out his role in a way that would satisfy Allah. You should clench your teeth, as the pious early generations did.
When the confrontation begins, strike like champions who do not want to go back to this world. Shout, 'Allahu Akbar,' because this strikes fear in the hearts of the non-believers. Allah said: 'Strike above the neck, and strike at all of their extremities.' Know that the gardens of paradise are waiting for you in all their beauty, and the women of paradise are waiting, calling out, 'Come hither, friend of Allah .' They have dressed in their most beautiful clothing.
If Allah decrees that any of you are to slaughter, dedicate the slaughter to your fathers and [unclear], because you have obligations toward them. Do not disagree, and obey. If you slaughter, do not cause the discomfort of those you are killing, because this is one of the practices of the prophet, peace be upon him. On one condition: that you do not become distracted by [unclear] and neglect what is greater, paying attention to the enemy. That would be treason, and would do more damage than good. If this happens, the deed at hand is more important than doing that, because the deed is an obligation, and [the other thing] is optional. And an obligation has priority over an option.
Do not seek revenge for yourself. Strike for Allah's sake. One time Ali bin Abi Talib [a companion and close relative of the prophet Muhammad], fought with a non-believer. The non-believer spit on Ali, may Allah bless him. Ali [unclear] his sword, but did not strike him. When the battle was over, the companions of the prophet asked him why he had not smitten the non-believer. He said, 'After he spat at me, I was afraid I would be striking at him in revenge for myself, so I lifted my sword.' After he renewed his intentions, he went back and killed the man. This means that before you do anything, make sure your soul is prepared to do everything for Allah only.
Then implement the way of the prophet in taking prisoners. Take prisoners and kill them. As Almighty Allah said: 'No prophet should have prisoners until he has soaked the land with blood. You want the bounties of this world [in exchange for prisoners] and Allah wants the other world [for you], and Allah is all-powerful, all-wise.'
If everything goes well, every one of you should pat the other on the shoulder in confidence that (M) and (T) number (K). Remind your brothers that this act is for Almighty Allah. Do not confuse your brothers or distract them. He should give them glad tidings and make them calm, and remind them [of Allah ] and encourage them. How beautiful it is for one to read Allah 's words, such as: 'And those who prefer the afterlife over this world should fight for the sake of Allah .' And His words: 'Do not suppose that those who are killed for the sake of Allah are dead; they are alive... ' And others. Or they should sing songs to boost their morale, as the pious first generations did in the throes of battle, to bring calm, tranquillity and joy to the hearts of his brothers.
Do not forget to take a bounty, even if it is a glass of water to quench your thirst or that of your brothers, if possible. When the hour of reality approaches, the zero hour, [unclear] and wholeheartedly welcome death for the sake of Allah. Always be remembering Allah . Either end your life while praying, seconds before the target, or make your last words: 'There is no Allah but Allah, Muhammad is His messenger'.
Afterwards, we will all meet in the highest heaven, Allah willing.
If you see the enemy as strong, remember the groups [that had formed a coalition to fight the prophet Muhammad]. They were 10,000. Remember how Allah gave victory to his faithful servants. He said: 'When the faithful saw the groups, they said, this is what Allah and the prophet promised, they said the truth. It only increased their faith.'
And may the peace of Allah be upon the prophet.
• The document was released by the F.B.I. and translated for The New York Times by Capital Communications Group, a Washington-based international consulting firm and by Imad Musa, a translator for the firm.
FBI stats
–Of the 5,928 incidents of hate crime tabulated in 2013, 135 (2.3 percent) were anti-Islamic, an increase of five over the prior year but still slightly below the annual average of 139 from 2002 to 2011. –The small rise in recorded anti-Islamic incidents could be attributable to improved data collection rather than a true uptick. Reports submitted by law enforcement agencies covered a population of 295 million Americans in 2013, 18.6 percent higher than in 2012.
–There were 1,031 incidents inspired by religion last year, 625 (60.6 percent) of which were anti-Jewish. Anti-Islamic ones constituted just 13.1 percent.
–Anti-Islamic incidents were also outnumbered by those targeting blacks (1,856), whites (653), gay men (750), lesbians (160), LGBTs in general (277), Hispanics (331), and people of other ethnicities (324). Anti-Asian incidents (135) equaled anti-Islamic ones.
–Based on a 2013 estimate of 2.95 million Muslims derived from Pew’s 2011 figure and typical growth of 100,000 per year, there were 4.6 anti-Islamic incidents per 100,000 Muslims in 2013, the same as 2012’s rate and lower than the average of 6.0 per 100,000 for 2002–11. The 2013 rate for Muslims was less than half that for Jews (9.6 per 100,000 for a population of roughly 6.5 million) and homosexuals/bisexuals (11.0 per 100,000, assuming that they comprise 3.5 percent of the U.S. population). The rate for blacks was similar to that of Muslims (4.5 per 100,000 for a population of 41.6 million).
–Anti-Islamic hate crimes were no more violent than others in 2013. Of the 6,933 offenses spanning all hate crimes, 734 (10.6 percent) were aggravated assaults and 1,720 (24.8 percent) were simple assaults. The 165 anti-Islamic offenses mirrored this breakdown: 17 (10.3 percent) were aggravated assaults and 41 (24.8 percent) were simple assaults. Further, none of the five deaths in 2013 resulted from anti-Islamic hate crimes.
Year after year, the hostility against Jews is consistent (previous year's report):
Religious bias
Hate crimes motivated by religious bias accounted for 1,166 offenses reported by law enforcement. A breakdown of the bias motivation of religious-biased offenses showed:
  • 59.7 percent were anti-Jewish.
  • 12.8 percent were anti-Islamic.
  • 7.6 percent were anti-multiple religions, group.
  • 6.8 percent were anti-Catholic.
  • 2.9 percent were anti-Protestant.
  • 1.0 percent were anti-Atheism/Agnosticism/etc.
  • 9. 2 percent were anti-other (unspecified) religion. (Based on Table 1.)
Anti-Semitism Plagues D.C.
Anti-Semitic D.C.
Activity
In small groups, discuss who most often perpetuates violence, and who is most often victimized by violence?
Sharia
These cases are the stories of Muslim American families, mostly Muslim women and children, who were asking American courts to preserve their rights to equal protection and due process.
As of 2015, there were 146 cases in 32 states in which a party to litigation attempted to have the matter resolved by applying shariah, rather than the statutes of the state in question (in 2011 when I first tabulated the results there were only 23 states).
Should families that came to America for liberty from Shariah be afforded protection?
Or, should American courts apply Shariah law in the lives of these families, and deny them equal protection?
Shariah in American Courts: The Expanding Incursion of Islamic Law in the U.S. Legal System
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/2015/01/05/shariah-in-american-courts-the-expanding-incursion-of-islamic-law-in-the-u-s-legal-system/
The Myth of the Tiny Radical Muslim Minority, 6:17
Is there anything to fear from only a tiny, radical minority?
http://youtu.be/CkwsQvPZn2M

What does the 1st Amendment state about religion and government?
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . . ." - See more at: http://constitution.findlaw.com/amendment1.html#sthash.TXyM1fww.dpuf
Since 2009, New Islamic mortgages are available in Minnesota
http://www.mprnews.org/story/2009/02/28/islamicfinancing
home buyer to get a loan through the state's New Markets Mortgage Program. That's because, program manager Nimo Farah says, he has all the makings of a successful homeowner.
"I had lots of applications, but he's the first one, because really, he was ready. He has been working at the same job for quite a while; he took care of his credit; he had the right size family, and he had all his documents together," she said. "He was basically ready to go."
The program is targeted at low-to-moderate income families. Qualified applicants have to complete first-time home buyer education classes. The goal is to help Muslim home buyers build wealth and reap the benefits of home ownership.
There is no such thing as a Christian mortgage, a Jewish mortgage, etc.
Pearson World History
A world history book used in American classrooms is under review over allegations it favors Islam at the expense of Christianity and Judaism.
The Prentice World History textbook rewrites Islamic history and presents a biased version of the Muslim faith.
The book has a 36-page chapter on Islam but no chapters on Christianity or Judaism.
The authors make a very obvious attempt not to insult Islam by reshaping history.
For example, a reference to Mohammed and his armies taking over Medina states, “people happily accepted Islam as their way of life.”
It leaves out that tens of thousands of Jews and non-believers were massacred by Mohammed’s armies.
The book indicates that Jesus proclaimed himself to be the Messiah while stating as fact that Mohammed is a prophet. Students are also given lessons on the Koran and the five pillars of Islam, not for Christianity.
Some of the descriptions of the battles use the word ‘massacre’ when it’s a Christian battle and ‘takeover’ when it’s a Muslim battle.” In young minds, massacre paints a very different visual picture than a takeover or occupation – when in fact both battles were very bloody.
The book devotes an entire chapter to Islam.
Homeland Security Promotes Plight of U.S. Muslims

Plight :46
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY JEH JOHNSON: "We in the administration and the government should give voice to the plight of Muslims living in this country and the discrimination that they face. And so I personally have committed to speak out about the situation that very often people in the Muslim community in this country face. The fact that there are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world and the Islamic faith is one about peace and brotherhood."


Obama Editorial Promotes Islam
Promote Islam

Obama declared that the root cause of the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorism is not radical Islam but poverty.

“We have to address grievances terrorists exploit, including economic grievances,” said Obama.
However, as terrorism experts explain, a vast percentage of Islamic terrorists come from middle-class backgrounds, wealthy families, or have impressive educational pedigrees. CNN’s national security analyst Peter Bergen says many of the world’s most notorious terrorists came from affluence and education:
  • Osama bin Laden: son of a Saudi construction magnate who attended Saudi Arabia’s top high school and best university.
  • Mohamed Atta: ringleader of the 9-11 terrorist attacks and the son of an Egyptian lawyer. Atta worked on his doctorate at a German university.
  • Ayman al Zawahiri: Present leader of al Qaeda and a “surgeon who comes from a leading Egyptian family that counts ambassadors, politicians and prominent clerics amongst its ranks.”
  • Nidal Hasan: the Fort Hood terrorist who “was not only an officer in the U.S. Army and a psychiatrist, but is also from a comfortably middle-class family in Virginia.”
  • Faisal Shahzad: the terrorist who tried to blow Times Square on May 1, 2010. “He had obtained an MBA in the United States and had worked as a financial analyst for the Elizabeth Arden cosmetics company. His father was one of the top officers in the Pakistani military.”
  • Anwar al-Awlaki: “The late leader of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, who tasked the underwear bomber to blow up an American plane over an American city, was studying for his Ph.D. at George Washington University before he took up arms with al Qaeda. Awlaki’s father was a Cabinet minister in Yemen.”
  • Umar Abdulmuttalab: the so-called “underwear bomber” who tried to detonate “a bomb on a U.S. passenger jet flying over Detroit on Christmas Day 2009, is the son of one of the richest men in Africa and attended University College London.”
Numerous studies have found similar trends. One study of 172 al Qaeda terrorists conducted by former CIA case officer Marc Sagemann found that “just under half were professionals; two-thirds were either middle or upper class and had gone to college; indeed, several had doctorates.”
In the case of ISIS terrorists, if its estimated 31,500 members weren’t well off to start, they certainly could be now if ISIS were to divvy up its massive $2 billion and growing wealth–a sum that makes it the world’s richest terrorist group. That works out to $63,492 per ISIS terrorist–an amount well above U.S. median income. As even the U.S. Treasury Department notes, ISIS makes about $1 million a day off just its black market oil sales.
Other ways ISIS makes massive money? “They rob banks. They lay waste to thousands of years of civilization in Iraq and Syria by looting and selling antiquities,” said David Cohen, the Treasury Department official in charge of undermining ISIS finances. “They steal livestock and crops from farmers. And despicably, they sell abducted girls and women as sex slaves.”
Moreover, ISIS uses its digital savvy to recruit often middle-class individuals online. As recently as Friday, ABC News reported on three London teenage schoolgirls who had been recruited by ISIS boarding flights to join the Jihad–an increasingly common story.
Still, the Obama White House persists in forwarding its belief that poverty, not radical Islam, fuels Islamic State terrorism.
State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf insisted on doubling-down on her contention that poverty is the root cause of terrorism.
“We need, in the longer term, medium and longer term, to go after the root causes that leads people to join these groups, whether it’s lack of opportunity for jobs,” said Harf.
Obama agrees.
“When millions of people — especially youth — are impoverished and have no hope for the future, when corruption inflicts daily humiliations on people, when there are no outlets by which people can express their concerns, resentments fester,” said Obama. “Where young people have no education, they are more vulnerable to conspiracy theories and radical ideas.”
Muslim Brotherhood and the Obama Administration, 5:58
Muslim Brotherhood
"Allah is our objective; the Qur'an is the Constitution; the Prophet is our leader; jihad is our way; death for the sake of Allah is our wish."
A Brotherhood document came to light during the Holy Land Foundation jihad charity trial in 2007, "An Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategy Goal for the Group in North America," documented in 1991. Brotherhood operatives "must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and `sabotaging' its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God's religion [Islam] is made victorious over all other religions" (Government Exhibit 003-0085, U.S. vs. HLF, et. al.).
According to The Washington Post, U.S. Muslim Brotherhood supporters "make up the U.S. Islamic community's most organized force" by running hundreds of mosques and business ventures, promoting civic activities, and setting up American Islamic organizations to promote Islam. In 1963, the U.S. chapter of Muslim Brotherhood was started by activists involved with the Muslim Students Association (MSA). U.S. supporters of the Brotherhood also started other organizations including: North American Islamic Trust in 1971, the Islamic Society of North America in 1981, the American Muslim Council in 1990, the Muslim American Society in 1992 and the International Institute of Islamic Thought in the 1980s.
The Brotherhood is considered a terrorist organization by the governments of Bahrain, Egypt, Russia, Syria, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

How many terrorists do you think the U.S. government should employ?

Report, 5:58
Seven Muslim Brotherhood affiliates are in the administration.


Original article
5:58
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/want-to-know-just-how-close-the-muslim-brotherhood-is-to-the-obama-admin/
Arif Alikahn, Former Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Policy Development: Now a Distinguished Visiting Professor of DHS and Counterterrorism at the National Defense University, Alikahn also served as Deputy Mayor for Public Safety for the City of Los Angeles where he reportedly derailed the LAPD’s efforts to monitor the city’s Muslim community — particularly its radical mosques and madrassas where certain 9/11 hijackers were said to have received support. He is affiliated with MPAC, which has called the terrorist group Hezbollah a “liberation movement.”
Salam al-Marayati, Founder and Executive Director of Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC): Marayati is an Iraqi immigrant who drew national attention over a decade ago when then-House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt nominated him to serve on the National Commission on Terrorism. Backlash over al-Marayati’s defense of Hezbollah and other Islamic groups prompted a withdrawal of the nomination. The Center for Security Policy reports that MPAC was formed in 1986 as the Political Action Committee for the Islamic Center for Southern California, one of the largest Wahhabi mosques in the country. While MPAC later fractioned-off, one of the founders of the Islamic Center, Hassan Hathout, was a senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood who also spent time in Egyptian prison.
Mohamed Elibiary, Homeland Security Advisory Committee Member: He is the former president of the Freedom and Justice Foundation, which was billed to ”promote a Centrist Public Policy environment in Texas by coordinating the state level government and interfaith community relations for the organized Texas Muslim community.” He spoke at a 2004 conference in Dallas praising the “Great Islamic Visionary” Ayatollah Khomeini. Most recently he is famous for leaking highly sensitive intelligence documents to a media outlet in Texas.
Rashad Hussain, State Department Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation: The Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Report uncovered that Hussain spoke at a conference sponsored by the Muslim Brotherhood affiliate, the Association of Muslim Social Scientists. An internal Brotherhood document dubbed the Social Scientists as one of “our organizations and the organizations of our friends.” Hussain also spoke at the Prince Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding of Georgetown University, which reportedly receives Saudi funding and is directed by Muslim Brotherhood advocate, John Esposito. In 2004, Hussain also participated in the Muslim Students Association’s annual conference, a group founded by the Muslim Brotherhood and known as one of its front-groups. The report also asserts that many of the Student Associations’ nearly 600 college chapters “have engaged in extremism and the group closely collaborates with the other Brotherhood fronts.”
Other Brotherhood sympathizers involved in the administration but who tend to travel beneath the radar include:
Imam Mohamed Magid, Homeland Security Countering Violent Extremism Working Group Member : He is a Sudanese-born president for the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) with alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. ISNA’s parent is the Muslim Student Association. ISNA completed a $21 million headquarters in Indianapolis using funds raised in part from Muslim Brotherhood.
Eboo Patel, Obama Administration Advisory Council on Faith-Based Neighborhood Partnerships: Patel spoke at a Muslim Students Association and ISNA convention, appearing on a panel alongside Tariq Ramadan, grandson of the Muslim Brotherhood’s founder, and Siraj Wahhaj, who was named as a possible co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and has defended the convicted WTC bombers. Wahhaj allegedly advocates the Islamic takeover of America.
Huma Abedin, Deputy Chief of Staff to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: Perhaps most famous for being wife of the disgraced former congressman Anthony Weiner, Huma Abedin appears to have family ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. In an interview with FrontPageMag, anti-Islamist author Walid Shoebat explained that Huma’s mother, Saleha Abedin, is involved with the Muslim Brotherhood and that Huma’s brother, Hassan, sits in on the board of the Oxford Centre For Islamic Studies (OCIS) where he is a fellow and partners with other board members including “Al-Qaeda associate, Omar Naseef and the notorious Muslim Brotherhood leader Sheikh Youssef Qaradawi; both have been listed as OCIS Trustees.”
REFERENCES
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/003-wife-beating.htm
The Qur'an:
Qur'an (4:34) - "Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great."
Qur'an (38:44) - "And take in your hand a green branch and beat her with it, and do not break your oath..." Allah telling Job to beat his wife (Tafsir).

From the Hadith:
Bukhari (72:715) - A woman came to Muhammad and begged her to stop her husband from beating her. Her skin was bruised so badly that she it is described as being "greener" than the green veil she was wearing. Muhammad did not admonish her husband, but instead ordered her to return to him and submit to his sexual desires.
Bukhari (72:715) - "Aisha said, 'I have not seen any woman suffering as much as the believing women'" This is Muhammad's own wife complaining of the abuse that the women of her religions suffer relative to other women.
Muslim (4:2127) - Muhammad struck his favorite wife, Aisha, in the chest one evening when she left the house without his permission. Aisha narrates, "He struck me on the chest which caused me pain."
Muslim (9:3506) - Muhammad's father-in-laws (Abu Bakr and Umar) amused him by slapping his wives (Aisha and Hafsa) for annoying him. According to the Hadith, the prophet of Islam laughed upon hearing this.
Abu Dawud (2141) - "Iyas bin ‘Abd Allah bin Abi Dhubab reported the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) as saying: Do not beat Allah’s handmaidens, but when ‘Umar came to the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) and said: Women have become emboldened towards their husbands, he (the Prophet) gave permission to beat them." At first, Muhammad forbade men from beating their wives, but he rescinded this once it was reported that women were becoming emboldened toward their husbands. Beatings are sometimes necessary to keep women in their place.
Abu Dawud (2142) - "The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: A man will not be asked as to why he beat his wife."
Abu Dawud (2126) - "A man from the Ansar called Basrah said: 'I married a virgin woman in her veil. When I entered upon her, I found her pregnant. (I mentioned this to the Prophet).' The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: 'She will get the dower, for you made her vagina lawful for you. The child will be your slave. When she has begotten (a child), flog her'" A Muslim man thinks his is getting a virgin, then finds out she is pregnant. Muhammad tells him to treat the woman as a sex slave and then flog her after she has delivered the child.
Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 969 - Requires that a married woman be "put in a separate room and beaten lightly" if she "act in a sexual manner toward others." According to the Hadith, this can be for an offense as petty as merely being alone with a man to whom she is not related.
Kash-shaf (the revealer) of al-Zamkhshari (Vol. 1, p. 525) - [Muhammad said] "Hang up your scourge where your wife can see it"

Additional Notes:
Some contemporary Muslim apologists often squirm over this relatively straightforward verse from the Qur'an (4:34) - which actually give men the right to beat their wives if they even have a "fear" of disloyalty or disobedience. Their rhetorical aerobics inspired us to write a separate article:
Wife Beating- Good Enough for Muhammad, Good Enough for You
Others are not nearly as squeamish. Sheikh Yousef al-Qaradhawi, one of the most respected Muslim clerics in the world, once made the famous (and somewhat ridiculous statement) that "It is forbidden to beat the woman, unless it is necessary." He also went on to say that "one may beat only to safeguard Islamic behavior," leaving no doubt that wife-beating is a matter of religious sanction. (source)
Dr. Muzammil Saddiqi, the former president of ISNA (the Islamic Society of North America), a mainstream Muslim organization, says it is important that a wife "recognizes the authority of her husband in the house" and that he may use physical force if he is "sure it would improve the situation." (source)
Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Muhammad Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, the head of Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's most prestigious institution says that "light beatings" and "punching" are part of a program to "reform the wife" (source).
Dr. Jamal Badawi endorses corporal punishment as "another measure that may save the marriage" (source). He isn't clear on how striking a woman will make her more inclined toward staying with her assailant, unless the implication is fear of a more serious beating if she leaves.
Egyptian cleric, Abd al-Rahman Mansour, said in a 2012 televised broadcast that in addition to discouraging the wife from filing divorce, beatings would inspire the wife to "treat him with kindness and respect, and know that her husband has a higher status than her." (source)
During Ramadan of 2010, another cleric named Sa'd Arafat actually said the woman is "honored" by the beating (source). No one else seemed terribly surprised by this.
An undercover report from progressive Sweden in 2012 found that 60% of mosques there actually advised beaten women not to report the abuse to the police. These women were also told that they must submit to non-consensual 'sex' with their husbands. (source)
In the birthplace of Islam, about half of Saudi women are beaten at home. "Hands and sticks were found to be used mostly in beating women, following by men’s head cover and to a lesser extent, sharp objects." (source)
According to Islamic law, a husband may strike his wife for any one of the following four reasons:
- She does not attempt to make herself beautiful for him (ie. "let's herself go")
- She refuses to meet his sexual demands
- She leaves the house without his permission or for a "legitimate reason"
- She neglects her religious duties
Any of these are also sufficient grounds for divorce.
Respected Quran scholars from the past interpreted verse 4:34 with impressive candor. Tabari said that it means to "admonish them, but if they refused to repent, then tie them up in their homes and beat them until they obey Allah’s commands toward you." Qurtubi told wife-beaters to try to avoid breaking bones, but added that "it is not a crime if it leads to death." (source)
Muslim apologists sometimes say that Muhammad ordered that women not be harmed, but they are actually basing this on what he said before or during battle, such as in Bukhari (59:447), when Muhammad issued a command for all the men of Quraiza be killed and the women and children taken as slaves. (Having your husband murdered and being forced into sexual slavery apparently doesn't qualify as "harm" under the Islamic model).
But, in fact, there are a number of cases in which Muhammad did have women killed in the most brutal fashion. One was Asma bint Marwan, a mother or five, who wrote a poem criticizing the Medinans for accepting Muhammad after he had ordered the murder of an elderly man. In this case, the prophet's assassins literally pulled a sleeping infant from her breast and stabbed her to death.
After taking Mecca in 630, Muhammad also ordered the murder of a slave girl who had merely made up songs mocking him. The Hadith are rife as well with accounts of women planted in the ground on Muhammad's command and pelted to death with stones for sexual immorality - yet the prophet of Islam actually encouraged his own men to rape women captured in battle (Abu Dawood 2150, Muslim 3433) and did not punish them for killing non-Muslim women (as Khalid ibn Walid did on several occasions - see Ibn Ishaq 838 and 856).
In summary, according to the Qur'an, Hadith and Islamic law, a woman may indeed have physical harm done to her if the circumstances warrant, with one such allowance being in the case of disobedience. This certainly does not mean that all Muslim men beat their wives, only that Islam permits them to do so.
The Kominas Sharia Law in the U S A, 3:45
http://youtu.be/_M1cijnO4nA

Muslim Punk - A Taqwacore Call to Prayer, 2:57
http://youtu.be/NNZnZJIRL40

#4567 - New Palestinian Computer Game Teaches Players: Armed Resistance, Not Negotiations The Internet, Sky News Arabia (U.K./Abu Dhabi), Al-Ghad Al-Arabi (UAE/U.K.) - July 6, October 19 & 22, 2014 - 02:39
http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/4567.htm

Muslim Sesame Street V: Pepsi Cola, the Apes, Pigs and Jews, 2:59
Saudi TV
palestinian kid "jews are apes" - parents teaching kids to hate jews, propaganda, 1:42
Jews are apes.
War song, 3:03

Spencer Geller vs. Islamists at Temple, 4:42
Krauthammer on Obama's 2015 Prayer Breakfast, 7:23
Dearborn Sharia, 11:24
http://youtu.be/-2okgUG_5Ys


Fitna The Movie, 16:48
Dutch politician Geert Wilders made this short film about islam and was put on trial for telling the truth.It seems the Dutch government would rather prosecute one of its own citizens concerned about the islamisation of the Netherlands than tell muslims to integrate or leave.
http://youtu.be/8RmiRPEvUIk



Maher Zain - Palestine Will Be Free | ماهر زين - فلسطين سوف تتحرر
Awakening Records, Palestine will be Free, performed by Maher Zain. 5:39


#2628 - Hamas Holiday Song Performed by Children: Give Us Our Pocket-Money to Buy Guns and Wage Jihad Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas/Gaza) - September 8, 2010 - 04:16
http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/2628.htm

Beyond the Sound Bites

James O’Keefe as Osama bin Laden crosses border from Mexico to US, 6:24

https://youtu.be/fB37TCDcZBg



DISCUSSION


Week 5 Discussion Option A

"Muslim Structures and Pilgrimage" Please respond to the following, using sources under the Explore heading as the basis of your response:
  • Describe the main purpose of the Hajj in the Muslim faith, and identify two (2) specific aspects of the Hajj that you find fascinating or significant. Next, explain the association between Muhammad and the area of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. Lastly, describe the sacred art of Islam’s key qualities, and explain the fundamental reasons why Muslim artists of sacred works are reluctant to include images of humans (i.e., at least in sacred areas). Think of a place of worship (of any religion) today, and explain which type of artistic tradition would be more conducive to worship: Byzantine art (Chapter 8), Hindu art (Chapter 7), or Muslim art (Chapter 9).
Explore
Muslim Structures and Pilgrimage
Week 5 Discussion Option B

"Christian Structures and Pilgrimage" Please respond to the following, using sources under the Explore heading as the basis of your response:
  • Identify two (2) aspects of Romanesque cathedral architecture, and explain their significance. Discuss two (2) details one might encounter or experience on the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela (i.e., on the way and / or once there) that you think a medieval Christian pilgrim might find especially meaningful. In modern times, identify the place you would find most meaningful to visit, and explain why. Write a paragraph from a letter you might send home about this "pilgrimage".
Explore
Christian Structures and Pilgrimage







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Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Killer LinkedIn Summary

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Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Galaxy Nostalgia Network

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Bloodless Coup Against the President

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Monday, August 14, 2017

Exercises for the Back

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Sunday, August 13, 2017

Trump Supporter Killed

g-brooks-jennings

A personal contact stated:

"Brooks Jennings was 51-years old, husband to his wife Jill and father to his 9-year-old son Matthew.  He was a good guy, and he was a loyal, hardworking, fun, republican committeeman who lived close to West Chester East High School.  I met him a few times at Chester County GOP events and liked him.

His next door neighbor was a sick man named Clayton Carter.  To say Carter was "anti-Trump" would be an understatement.  He had homemade anti-Trump signs in his yard.  Apparently he detested Donald Trump and probably all who voted for him.  Carter also had a history of violence.

As a former Republican Committeeman myself, I know we were always encouraged by the Chester County Republican Committee to put yard signs in our yard, to show our support for our candidates, the yard signs help influence and hopefully start conversations about our republican candidates with our neighbors that we represented.  So, more than likely, Brooks had a Trump sign in his yard.  And, I'm guessing, Carter hated seeing that Trump sign in his neighbor's yard.  

I think Carter is no different than James Hodgkinson, the anti-Trump nut that fired his rifle and severely wounded Steve Scalise at that Republican Softball practice near Washington, DC.  Hodgkinson had a hate in his heart for republicans and was just sick enough to act on it, he also had a history of violence.   I think maybe Carter had the same kind of hatred and was just nuts enough to act on it.

A friend told me he was at Brooks house and he heard Carter ranting and yelling some profanity laced anti-Trump/anti-republican statements.     I would say that Carter was, what we would all consider, OUR WORST NIGHTMARE, as a neighbor.....

Apparently Carter had brandished his handgun at least once in his yard.   I'm sure Brooks was at his wits end, dumbfounded by this psycho-neighbor, who wanted nothing to do with tolerance or acceptance.  And I'm guessing that to Carter, Brooks represented everything he hated about Trump and republicans.

After all, as a committeeman, Brooks would walk around and hand-deliver election literature and brochures to those in his neighborhood/precinct.  Brooks would be visible at the polls, handing our sample ballots and other literature, putting up yard signs outside the polling place, that's what committeemen do, and it probably infuriated Carter.  And Carter's hatred festered and simmered and burned, and there was going to be no good ending for Brooks.  It's so sad.

Anyway, a few nights ago "the dispute" between neighbors came to a head.  Apparently Carter shined his car high beams on Brooks house, Brooks came outside and finally, Carter shot him, and as Brooks lay still on the ground, Carter walked up and shot him again in the head.  His wife Jill saw it all from her 2nd floor window.  

I'm so sad.  Could it have been prevented?  Maybe, after all, Carter did have a history of violence, and Brooks probably reported Carter pulling his gun before.  But, Carter slipped through the cracks and was allowed to remain free to do and act however he pleased.
I'm sure Brooks knows that the catalyst for his ultimate massacre was Carter's hatred for Trump and people like Brooks who openly supported him.  I'm sure Brooks is crying from the coffin "Let the truth come out, this is all about Trump hate" and I'm also sure that if it was the other way around, the left would be screaming about how this was a political murder and how hateful Trump supporters are.  It's very sad and frustrating.

I'm asking anyone who might have witnessed Carter's behavior or heard his rants.  If you visited Brooks and saw it, or if Brooks talked about it.  I'm asking you to please call the West Goshen Police Department and tell them what you know.  It's possible that Carter's statements would help prove motive and that maybe premeditation took place.

I believe West Goshen is generally a "democrat" area, in other words, the democrats usually win there.  I don't know if that is influencing this investigation, but I have a brain and I'm still allowed to use it.  So far (in the papers) the West Goshen PD is saying they have "no evidence" that Brooks murder was politically motivated or anything like that.  The papers call it "a dispute"....   Jeez, that's like a bully shoving a kid in the playground, poking and pushing, and the victim finally shoves the bully back and the playground monitor says, "they were have a dispute"  I dunno...  I just believe Brooks deserves and is crying from his coffin for the truth....  And in the paper, they call Brooks "a republican activist" - just because he's a committeeman the Daily Local gets away with calling Brooks an activist, like he played a 50-50 role in this "dispute".  Well, maybe he did, but... like I said, "I have a brain and I'm going to use it" I just think we have a classic bad guy / good guy situation here, the bad guy was motivated by something, and my brain says it was hatred for trump and all who support him, and Brooks was at his wit's end, felt helpless.... I dunno, please pardon me.  I just had to get this all out...

Anyway, tomorrow is Brooks funeral service, I am asking readers to attend if possible, Brooks deserves it, I look forward to giving my condolences and support to Jill and Matthew.  I'm sure she is devastated, stunned, crushed.  God please have mercy on her and Matthew."

Here are the details:
Westminster Presbyterian Church
The family will receive guests after 9 AM.
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  • Adkins, Lesley and Roy A. Adkins, Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome;
  • Ali, Ayaan Hirsi, Nomad: From Islam to America: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations;
  • Ali, Tariq, The Clash of Fundamentalisms: Crusades, Jihads, and Modernity;
  • Allawi, Ali A., The Crisis of Islamic Civilization;
  • Alperovitz, Gar, The Decision To Use the Atomic Bomb;
  • American School & University: Shaping Facilities & Business Decisions;
  • Angelich, Jane, What's a Mother (in-Law) to Do?: 5 Essential Steps to Building a Loving Relationship with Your Son's New Wife;
  • Arad, Yitzchak, In the Shadow of the Red Banner: Soviet Jews in the War Against Nazi Germany;
  • Aristotle, Athenian Constitution. Eudemian Ethics. Virtues and Vices. (Loeb Classical Library No. 285);
  • Aristotle, Metaphysics: Books X-XIV, Oeconomica, Magna Moralia (The Loeb classical library);
  • Armstrong, Karen, A History of God;
  • Arrian: Anabasis of Alexander, Books I-IV (Loeb Classical Library No. 236);
  • Atkinson, Rick, The Guns at Last Light: The War in Western Europe, 1944-1945 (Liberation Trilogy);
  • Auletta, Ken, Googled: The End of the World As We Know It;
  • Austen, Jane, Pride and Prejudice;
  • Bacevich, Andrew, The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism;
  • Baker, James A. III, and Lee H. Hamilton, The Iraq Study Group Report: The Way Forward - A New Approach;
  • Barber, Benjamin R., Jihad vs. McWorld: Terrorism's Challenge to Democracy;
  • Barnett, Thomas P.M., Blueprint for Action: A Future Worth Creating;
  • Barnett, Thomas P.M., The Pentagon's New Map: War and Peace in the Twenty-First Century;
  • Barron, Robert, Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith;
  • Baseline: Where Leadership Meets Technology;
  • Baur, Michael, Bauer, Stephen, eds., The Beatles and Philosophy;
  • Beard, Charles Austin, An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States (Sony Reader);
  • Benjamin, Daniel & Steven Simon, The Age of Sacred Terror: Radical Islam's War Against America;
  • Bergen, Peter, The Osama bin Laden I Know: An Oral History of al Qaeda's Leader;
  • Berman, Paul, Terror and Liberalism;
  • Berman, Paul, The Flight of the Intellectuals: The Controversy Over Islamism and the Press;
  • Better Software: The Print Companion to StickyMinds.com;
  • Bleyer, Kevin, Me the People: One Man's Selfless Quest to Rewrite the Constitution of the United States of America;
  • Boardman, Griffin, and Murray, The Oxford Illustrated History of the Roman World;
  • Bracken, Paul, The Second Nuclear Age: Strategy, Danger, and the New Power Politics;
  • Bradley, James, with Ron Powers, Flags of Our Fathers;
  • Bronte, Charlotte, Jane Eyre;
  • Bronte, Emily, Wuthering Heights;
  • Brown, Ashley, War in Peace Volume 10 1974-1984: The Marshall Cavendish Encyclopedia of Postwar Conflict;
  • Brown, Ashley, War in Peace Volume 8 The Marshall Cavendish Illustrated Encyclopedia of Postwar Conflict;
  • Brown, Nathan J., When Victory Is Not an Option: Islamist Movements in Arab Politics;
  • Bryce, Robert, Gusher of Lies: The Dangerous Delusions of "Energy Independence";
  • Bush, George W., Decision Points;
  • Bzdek, Vincent, The Kennedy Legacy: Jack, Bobby and Ted and a Family Dream Fulfilled;
  • Cahill, Thomas, Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter;
  • Campus Facility Maintenance: Promoting a Healthy & Productive Learning Environment;
  • Campus Technology: Empowering the World of Higher Education;
  • Certification: Tools and Techniques for the IT Professional;
  • Channel Advisor: Business Insights for Solution Providers;
  • Chariton, Callirhoe (Loeb Classical Library);
  • Chief Learning Officer: Solutions for Enterprise Productivity;
  • Christ, Karl, The Romans: An Introduction to Their History and Civilization;
  • Cicero, De Senectute;
  • Cicero, The Republic, The Laws;
  • Cicero, The Verrine Orations I: Against Caecilius. Against Verres, Part I; Part II, Book 1 (Loeb Classical Library);
  • Cicero, The Verrine Orations I: Against Caecilius. Against Verres, Part I; Part II, Book 2 (Loeb Classical Library);
  • CIO Decisions: Aligning I.T. and Business in the MidMarket Enterprise;
  • CIO Insight: Best Practices for IT Business Leaders;
  • CIO: Business Technology Leadership;
  • Clay, Lucius Du Bignon, Decision in Germany;
  • Cohen, William S., Dragon Fire;
  • Colacello, Bob, Ronnie and Nancy: Their Path to the White House, 1911 to 1980;
  • Coll, Steve, The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century;
  • Collins, Francis S., The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief ;
  • Colorni, Angelo, Israel for Beginners: A Field Guide for Encountering the Israelis in Their Natural Habitat;
  • Compliance & Technology;
  • Computerworld: The Voice of IT Management;
  • Connolly, Peter & Hazel Dodge, The Ancient City: Life in Classical Athens & Rome;
  • Conti, Greg, Googling Security: How Much Does Google Know About You?;
  • Converge: Strategy and Leadership for Technology in Education;
  • Cowan, Ross, Roman Legionary 58 BC - AD 69;
  • Cowell, F. R., Life in Ancient Rome;
  • Creel, Richard, Religion and Doubt: Toward a Faith of Your Own;
  • Cross, Robin, General Editor, The Encyclopedia of Warfare: The Changing Nature of Warfare from Prehistory to Modern-day Armed Conflicts;
  • CSO: The Resource for Security Executives:
  • Cummins, Joseph, History's Greatest Wars: The Epic Conflicts that Shaped the Modern World;
  • D'Amato, Raffaele, Imperial Roman Naval Forces 31 BC-AD 500;
  • Dallek, Robert, An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy 1917-1963;
  • Daly, Dennis, Sophocles' Ajax;
  • Dando-Collins, Stephen, Caesar's Legion: The Epic Saga of Julius Caesar's Elite Tenth Legion and the Armies of Rome;
  • Darwish, Nonie, Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel, and the War on Terror;
  • Davis Hanson, Victor, Makers of Ancient Strategy: From the Persian Wars to the Fall of Rome;
  • Dawkins, Richard, The Blind Watchmaker;
  • Dawkins, Richard, The God Delusion;
  • Dawkins, Richard, The Selfish Gene;
  • de Blij, Harm, Why Geography Matters: Three Challenges Facing America, Climate Change, The Rise of China, and Global Terrorism;
  • Defense Systems: Information Technology and Net-Centric Warfare;
  • Defense Systems: Strategic Intelligence for Info Centric Operations;
  • Defense Tech Briefs: Engineering Solutions for Military and Aerospace;
  • Dennett, Daniel C., Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon;
  • Dennett, Daniel C., Consciousness Explained;
  • Dennett, Daniel C., Darwin's Dangerous Idea;
  • Devries, Kelly, et. al., Battles of the Ancient World 1285 BC - AD 451 : From Kadesh to Catalaunian Field;
  • Dickens, Charles, Great Expectations;
  • Digital Communities: Building Twenty-First Century Communities;
  • Doctorow, E.L., Homer & Langley;
  • Dodds, E. R., The Greeks and the Irrational;
  • Dostoevsky, Fyodor, The House of the Dead (Google Books, Sony e-Reader);
  • Dostoevsky, Fyodor, The Idiot;
  • Douglass, Elisha P., Rebels and Democrats: The Struggle for Equal Political Rights and Majority Role During the American Revolution;
  • Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan, The Hound of the Baskervilles & The Valley of Fear;
  • Dr. Dobb's Journal: The World of Software Development;
  • Drug Discovery News: Discovery/Development/Diagnostics/Delivery;
  • DT: Defense Technology International;
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