Revenge, Eating like the Terrorists!

Revenge n- making someone suffer for a wrong done to another, repaying evil for evil. (Websters Concise English Dictionary).

The Cordoba House argument has brought out those who want revenge for the actions of 911. While playing this up as a sensitivity issue it really boils down to one thing, reactionary pay back for the violence brought to our shores by 19 hate filled men.

By trying to stop the mosque from being built these few angry and simplistic complainers are falling right into the trap set by these terrorists. We would end up making the terrorists correct to those who may feel the same about our country. We enforce the reasons the terrorists used to justify their actions and end up losing the war on terrorism. Stopping the mosque in NYC and complaining about other mosques through out our nation will end up showing other nations and people that we do not believe in what we really support, religious freedom for all who come and live here in America.

We would end up handing the terrorists the propaganda they are looking to use against us.

While "an eye for an eye" sounds simple and direct it is not how we Americans have grown and become great. In fact the adage is still used in Saudi Arabia to enforce many of their laws. The recent story about the man who paralyzed another and now may be paralyzed by a doctor is a very good example how the adage has created more terror. Do we really want to become just like these repressive religious zealots, hacking off hands and stoning woman may not be the same as complaining about a mosque but it is the start of a slippery slope we may not want to go down. We are grouped as infidels by the terrorists, repressive middle Eastern Potentates and the less educated, do we want to do that also and group all muslims as potential terrorists, all mosques as potential Islamic forts? Do we really want to try and make Sharia law our next boogey man?

There is an old saying "revenge is a dish best eaten cold". Some read this as meaning that the best revenge is when you are patient and wait till the attacker is not expecting revenge and then getting your revenge the same way as they attacked you. Back to the 'eye for an eye" principle.

For me it means waiting till your outrage subsides so that your emotions do not control your actions and when you do act, you do it without getting as dirty as they are. We become those people by being just like them in our own actions.

How do we get revenge without becoming just like them, how do we get revenge without using the same tactics?

First we must prove them wrong, we must not react in kind. We must show that religious freedom is not just fancy words that we use when is is convenient for our cause. We will not prove them wrong by using anger and words that degrade others with a different religious background.

Second, we must show by example that we are not just tolerent but that we celebrate the diversity of our nation. We are better for being different than those countries that are less tolerent. It is the reason our ancestors came here and it is still the reason many still come here.

Third, we must not make enemies of the same people the terrorists are trying to attract to their side. We must use moderate muslim voices to help us in this struggle for the minds of others who may not agree with us now. We cannot change hate by giving hate.

Fourth, we must not fear, we must not breed fear in others. We must stand above the hate, anger and recriminations and show by our actions that we are who we say we are.

The terrorists of 911 sought revenge for what they perceived as our evil ways. They say that they were repaying evil for evil by killing innocent people. by calling us an evil empire they have given themselves a reason to kill men, woman and children who have never harmed anyone. They have taken on the vestments of righteous indignation and turned it into a political argument about which religion, group or country is better at following moral principles.

If we use words of anger against the innocent, we fall into their trap. If we argue for violent reaction we are no better than they are. If we blame all for the actions of a few, we become just like them. Do you want to eat like a terrorist?