Random Thought

One of the effects in my life of the September 11 attack has been an onset of random thoughts. They seem to change without warning…like trying to read a William Faulkner novel. They race back and forth like wild horses. Trying to herd them into a corral for this article is highly unlikely, so I'm gonna give 'em to you like they've been coming at me. Maybe you can "hem 'em up" for me.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld revealed this week that the name of the military buildup in response to the attacks on the United States had to be changed from "Operation Infinite Justice" because it was offensive to many who are of the same religion as the terrorists. I would think that our adversaries got a big laugh out of this! They are well aware our country has not been in the habit of putting an end to anything in America that is offensive to even its oldest and most represented religion. Now, they see us changing the name of our military buildup because we don't want to offend those who practice the same religion as the ones who massacred thousands of Americans!

Can I assume this new "Religious Sensitivity Police Force" will not discriminate against those of us who do not share the same religion as the terrorists? Will they put an end to things in America we find offensive? Will they move in on Hollywood and force the movie industry to clean up the sludge? Will they install a filth filter on the Internet for us? In a show of force, will they back down the offensive special interest groups who are forcing us to embrace people engaged in aberrant behavior? Will they make reality T.V. disappear? (Since we all know they won't, do you think the A.C.L.U. would represent Christians in a religious discrimination lawsuit?)

There have been some good things. No one seems willing to question the moratorium on the ban against public prayer. I'm sure the A.C.L.U. will be making their statement on the news soon.

On the other hand, I'm not so sure that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-the God of the Bible-the God of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit-is necessarily pleased with being paraded across the stages with all the other 'gods' like a contestant in a divine fashion show. It would be appropriate for Elijah, the prophet in the Bible who dealt with Israel's 'multiple choice of gods' 3000 years ago, to appear at one of these god fairs and re-enact the scene on Mount Carmel as recorded in 1 Kings 18:21 NIV: Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him."

I wonder if a deranged sect of Christians killed several thousand innocent citizens in Baghdad in four separate incidences if that country would be allow Christian ministers to participate and parade their God in the ensuing religious memorial services to honor those killed? I wonder if their media would announce to their citizens over the television, "Now keep in mind that there are a lot of good, loving Christians that we don't want to offend…"

I wonder how many have begun investigating the Qur'an to see who the infidels are and what is Jihad. I wonder how someone can tell the difference between those who believe what their scripture teaches about Jihad and those who do not. I wonder why only the attackers are able to see this is a 'Holy War'. Is it safer for those being attacked if they convince themselves there are only a handful of deranged people capable of committing such atrocities? I wonder how many other celebrations we did not see that were like the one we saw on the news 9/11/01 where the people were cheering what happened in America?

Am I guilty of Bear Profiling if I carry bear spray with me when I go hunting?

I wonder how many think that Allah and the God of the Bible are the same? I don't wonder if our forefathers were confused about who God was when they put "In God We Trust" on our money. I wonder if the practitioners of all religions will begin their own personal investigation of the scriptures on which their religion is based to see for themselves what it really does say? I wonder how many understand now what God said to the prophet Hosea… My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6 NASB)