A Garland Opinion
By Neale Osborn, Guest contributor. May 9th, 2015
I'm nearly done with an article I've been working on regarding the types of handguns available AND suitable for self defense. But then, something came up - a cartoon contest in Garland, Texas. If you are unaware of the event, might I suggest leaving the basement and turning on the internet? What happened is simple in concept, yet quite complex as a whole. (Sound confusing? I'll straighten it out pretty quickly).
A few months ago, Islamic terrorists attacked a French periodical called "Charlie Hebdo" for their refusal to kow-tow to demands they stop printing cartoons depicting Mohammed as, well, Mohammed. He had relationship preferences that are un-acceptable to modern society. He was the "prophet" of a religion that demands spread by the sword to anyone who fails to immediately convert to Islam upon being "enlightened" about it. While the faith actually acknowledges Jews and Christians as "Children of the Book" (Islam considers the Talmud and the Old Testament to be legitimate precursors of Islam, and considers Jesus to have been "A" prophet, but not "THE PROPHET), it also provides for taxing anyone who has either of these faiths before they will be allowed to continue to practice them. And it prohibits you passing your faith on to your kids, THEY must be raised Muslim.
Now, before I go further, it is only fair for me to give the following disclaimer- I am not a person of ANY faith- I find religions a waste of time, they require a total denial of science and fact, and I do not practice one since I left the Episcopal Church 25+ years ago. That being said, I will NEVER deny anyone the right to practice their faith (as outlined in the 1st Amendment) as long as they leave ME alone to not have one. Of course, that means I'm just a moving target to Islam, but I digress.
In Garland, Texas was a contest to find the best Mohammed cartoon. This was a direct response to various attacks similar to, but less deadly than, the Charlie Hebdo attacks. I hear some of you saying "But why would you deliberately provoke these Muslims?" I suggest you go online and go to Al Jazeera's Middle East website, or the sites for any Middle Eastern newspaper in a Muslim land. Every day, you will see Jews depicted as apes, pigs, violent killers of children, and other caricatures of Jews that remind one of the propaganda cartoons Hitler used to denigrate Jews in Nazi Germany. In other words, far worse than most of what THEY kill people for publishing about Mohammed.
I happen to believe that this contest is in bad taste. I would have refused to view these cartoons, had these Muslims merely protested the contest like civilized human beings. Like Christians did for "P*ss Christ" and "Elephant Dung Virgin Mary". Look'em up, I'll wait.
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Back? Cool, let's continue, then.
I guess you could call having two men, one an apparent American convert to Islam, the other a Somali Muslim, take 2 AK-47 rifles and go forth to shoot up the contest site, a "protest". But it isn't how civilized human beings protest. (You're going to read that phrase a few more times here, get used to it!) A civilized human being might organize a group of friends, co-religionists, and people who also believe this is in bad taste, to carry signs in front of the venue. There, they could explain to the press why the cartoons are offensive, perhaps even state that they do not support the cartoons in Muslim publications oversees. Did this happen? Nope. These vile thugs decided the way to protest is to shoot up the contest venue. The good part of this is that in Texas, people know how to respond to such an attack. They kill the attackers. One security guard was hit in the ankle with a bullet, the other killed BOTH domestic terrorists with his Glock handgun. Something anti-gun people claim can't happen. But again, I have digressed.
Here's what really gets me going. The media is blaming Ms. Geller for the shootings, claiming that her deliberate provocations" are the cause of this event. Isn't it funny how the very same people who (quite correctly) state that there is NOTHING a woman can do that , whether it be provocative dress, sexy make-up, being in the wrong part of town at the wrong time of night, or even talking suggestively with her assailant prior to him beginning the rape, that provokes or justifies the act of rape. Again, they are correct. NOTHING justifies rape. A civilized human being can easily CHOOSE not to respond to the so-called provocation to rape. So why does drawing cartoons "provoke" or justifies a terrorist attack? It doesn't. Again, for civilized human beings.
ISIS (or ISIL, or the IS) has claimed "credit" for this barbarous act. That's nice. Their claim included such phrases as "To our brothers and sisters fighting for the Sake of Allah, we make dua for you and ask Allah to guide your bullets, terrify your enemies, and establish you in the Land." And,
"The attack by the Islamic State in America is only the beginning of our efforts to establish a wiliyah in the heart of our enemy. Our aim was the khanzeer Pamela Geller and to show her that we don't care what land she hides in or what sky shields her; we will send all our Lions to achieve her slaughter. This will heal the hearts of our brothers and disperse the ones behind her. To those who protect her: this will be your only warning of housing this woman and her circus show. Everyone who houses her events, gives her a platform to spill her filth are legitimate targets. We have been watching closely who was present at this event and the shooter of our brothers. We knew that the target was protected. Our intention was to show how easy we give our lives for the Sake of Allah."
"We have 71 trained soldiers in 15 different states ready at our word to attack any target we desire. Out of the 71 trained soldiers 23 have signed up for missions like Sunday, We are increasing in number bithnillah. Of the 15 states, 5 we will name... Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, California, and Michigan. The disbelievers who shot our brothers think that you killed someone untrained, nay, they gave you their bodies in plain view because we were watching."
The next six months will be interesting, "To our Amir Al Mu'mineen make dua for us and continue your reign, May Allah enoble your face."
"May Allah send His peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhummad and all those who follow until the last Day. Abu Ibrahim Al Ameriki"
I've read the Quran. Depending on how you interpret it, this comment is either an abhorrent twist of a Holy Scripture that Allah would oppose, or a dead on accurate call to do Allah's stated will. Since I do not believe in Allah's existence, I cannot claim to know which is the correct statement. In either case, however, you can rest assured. Americans, everyday people like you and I, will not be cowed by these people and their threats. While our government may lick the boots of terrorist murderers, while the media may blame cartoonists for the acts of un-civilized beings claiming to be sent by Allah, we Americans, men and women, will stand for the rights of people to say offensive things, to draw offensive pictures, and worship their God or gods however they choose as long as they harm no one in that worship. As has been said by Jews everywhere, "Never Again!"
Author's biography- Neale Osborn is a lifetime shooter, gunsmith, and (retired) plumber, who currently resides in western NY. He has carried, open and concealed, since 1989.