Islamic fundamentalism is the elephant in the room

Islamic fundamentalism is the elephant in the room

By Arlene Peck
January 2 2006

Do you think it is possible to really see clearly anymore? Do we still have the capacity to detect the face of evil?

I ask this because, every time I open up a newspaper and see rampaging masses of Muslims in black ski-masks, fists upraised, armed to the teeth, shouting, "Jihad! Jihad!”, I am not only repelled by what I see but convinced I have seen the very Devil unmasked. However, I don’t think that most people have that reaction when they click on the news. Possibly it’s because I was reared in the south and remember the Klu Klux Klan marching in those stupid white sheets and dunce hats that those old feelings of revulsion lie just below the surface and are easily re-awakened? I don’t know.

Maybe we have it so good over here that we have become like the proverbial frog in the pot of water. As the heat was applied, he felt warmer and warmer until suddenly the pot was boiling over, with catastrophic consequences for the frog! Is that us now? The nightly terrorist attacks in Iraq no longer seem capable of scaring us. Who really notices when our President tells us that we are winning the war on terrorism? Who feels committed to the task, or that this is their war?

We are dealing with a mentality that is innately incapable of grasping the basic, simplified Democratic concepts; that whoever gets the most votes ….rules. And there is no need for us to wonder why this is so. It is fundamental to their religion, inherent in every “truth” they practice. Theirs is a religion based on submission, not representation and difference, where shame and “honour” supplant decency and compassion.

Somehow, the democratizing of Iraq has gotten mixed up with the success of the war on terror. To my way of thinking, this has only muddied the waters and, as usual, has inevitable and disastrous consequences for Jews and Israel. We are in a World War and just like in pre-War Germany nobody seems to want to acknowledge it.

Apparently there is no elephant in the room! Just to illustrate the point, recently Jerusalem Bureau Chief Aaron Klein was denied entry into Syria simply because he was a Jew. However his non-Jewish colleagues, travelling with him, were welcomed. As far as I know, not one news agency considered this newsworthy enough to report. I wonder? Would they have noticed had he been required to wear a yellow Star of David on his sleeve?

There was no worldwide outrage. It was received with the same ho-hummery accorded Iran’s President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, when he went on camera to ridicule the Holocaust and repeat how Israel should be blown off the map. Hello people! Nuclear threats from a certifiable madman, not retracted or repudiated…. but repeated, just so no-one would be left in doubt as to the intention. Nuclear destruction of a sovereign nation!

It has gotten to the point where not even leftist Jews think it is deplorable that Muslims continue to repeat their mantra –– no Jews should be permitted to live in the Middle East. How obvious does it have to be before there is outrage, International OR Israeli, over Palestine’s refusal to back away from their stated goal of Israeli annihilation and replacement by “Palestinian” hordes?

Repeat THIS mantra. In the history of the world, there has never been a Palestinian people (other than the Jews), a Palestinian king, a Palestinian state, a distinct Palestinian language or culture. It never existed! And, it should not now.

But, why should I be surprised? For years, I’ve been writing on the subject of the International Federation of the Red Cross and the deliberate attempts of its 182 members to block the admission of Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA). Why is this an issue at all? Isn’t the motivation of all these Associations to give aid, to whoever, wherever, not bicker like school-children over a flag?

But no, Arab nations, insulted by the Jewish Star, have used their 22 votes, in concert with many non-Muslims lands, to block Israel's entry.

They’re insulted? Insulted? When is the world going to become insulted by the manner in which one culture has changed the world in ways too horrible to comprehend? Maybe that’s why we stay so hung up on ‘political correctness’ and denial, refusing the politically incorrect notion that, in fact, that the Jews are the ‘good guys’ in this war of culture.

Our culture deniers seem more eager to have their ‘acceptable rules of behaviour’ defined by a barbaric and evil culture where “Death to All!” rules. Let the double standard prevail…rather than face the Devil and what they represent! There is another mantra we should all remember: “All Muslims are not terrorists, but, ALL TERRORISTS HAVE BEEN MUSLIMS.”

So, instead of a Jewish Star, Israel has been forced to accept a Red Crystal, a supposedly, “simple diamond shape”, thanks to another inane suggestion by South Africa. Apparently, the “diamond” originally proposed had connotations of slavery so, in the face of this compelling and vital issue, the MDA and Israel have caved in. Instead, eager to gain the world’s acceptance, they will use an empty crystal with their real symbol, the red Star of David to be allowed only in Israel, unless more is heard from this conference of anti-Semites.

By the way, virtually every major Jewish organization in the US, with rare exception, applauded this appalling flim-flam rather than resist the rejection of the historical symbol of Judaism. So, the Christians get to keep their cross, the Muslims keep the Red Crescent and the Jews get the shaft.

Israel, in her stupidity, or maybe because she is so used to grovelling for crumbs at the United Nations, accepted this and Israel’s Foreign Minister, Sylvan Shalom, actually said, “The vote reflects Israel’s improved international standing. This is yet another achievement for Israel’s diplomacy and paves the way for Israel to join international rescue missions.” So, once again, Israel openly admits that she is not worthy of the same status as the cross and crescent and we are privy to seeing the double standard applied yet again.

Examples such as these are small potatoes, in an overall world context. My gripe is that the cumulative effect of 50 plus years of this irrational behaviour towards Israel has seeped into not only World consciousness but also Israel’s own perceptions of herself. It’s ok to behave immaturely and appallingly, its only Israel!

I am disgusted at the lack of outcry, from any quarter, over the savagery we have allowed ourselves to become accustomed to. The world has to realize that Israel is not a banana republic and Israel has to learn a little more of “Just say no!” Personally speaking, I want to regain some of that pride I used to feel. But, why stop with the press, governments and the Red Cross, who could care less and, for the most part, are hostile to Jews and every Israeli position presented, seemingly by default.

Why should I be any less surprised by the actions of Israel-hating Jewish leftists - who are actively doing everything they can to destroy their very heritage, pointedly ignoring Jewish welfare and interests, yet proudly and publicly marching for the dolphins –– when I am surrounded by the Spielbergs of this world, denying our history, circulating false claims or outright lies in movies concerning things Jews have not done or endorse. Anything goes, in the name of political correctness.

I wrote a column a few years ago about the Jewish Federations, where bloated salaries prevail and dollars are wasted on causes which never promote Israel and are rarely pro-Jewish, where the very idea of affordable Jewish education is discouraged.

One of the many things that was so special about our Jewish heritage was the way we always took care of each other. In fact, that almost defined us! Not so today, where Jews are discriminated against, by Jews, especially the elderly in the inner cities who face poverty and illness. Where is their support? Hell, where is the support for the settlers from Gaza, who are now homeless, having been evicted by their own government?

Why should I be surprised? I called into the Israeli Consulate a couple of weeks ago and offered to do a program for them on my weekly television show. I told them it would run like a commercial for them and be great Public Relations. I’m still waiting for them to respond. Are they scared of me? Frightened I might talk about Israel positively, as though she has rights?

I know it’s an effort to attend meetings, write letters to government officials and attend marches. We’ve grown weary complaining about the biased newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times. However, one person CAN make a difference. I write these columns and people do respond. I’m invited to speak at Universities; Radio and Television shows contact me, asking me to speak .

I am encouraged, often, when I receive letters from all over the world from people who tell me how they are now doing their part to wake up the catatonic to the dangers facing us on a world-wide basis, but we all need to be doing this, and often! I know I am not the only Jew who has intimate knowledge of what happened to our people once before, not that long ago.The threat of Islamic Fundamentalism is marching over the hill....every hill. If we are going to survive, we have to turn back the tide! NOW!

Arlene Peck is an internationally syndicated columnist and television talk show hostess. She travels extensively worldwide, reporting to her audience about political events, social happenings (Cannes Film Festival, London event for the Variety Club, etc.) and “must see” spots. If there is a place to see and be seen, she'll write about it for her international audience.

Arlene’s syndicated column is read weekly by millions and her television show (Wow! It's Arlene Peck! http://www.arlenepeck.com ) can be seen throughout Southern California every Monday night.

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