I read a nice piece about the Paris murders by basketball legend, Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Why his take? As he explained, he's on the "Muslim celebrity speed-dial" when it comes to these issues. He's the world's tallest Muslim, for certain. And a very wise man.
His takeaway is similar to mine. These Muslim extremists are really criminals. There actually is nothing in the faith that tells them to do these things in the name of Allah or Mohamed. Kareem says "follow the money".
They are the middle-east's version of a mafia. The terror in the name of religion brings them attention and dollars. It is the dollars they want. And just like a street gang, the surface word is that they are "family" and that they offer "protection". The protection usually turns out to be protection from other gangs and, of course, authorities like cops or the United States. The drugs and crime, just a way to make a living... I have no idea how many terrorist groups there are but, like Crips and Bloods and politicians, it all comes down to turf and market share. I've long felt that the Crips and Bloods were just rival factions of the same criminal enterprise. What better way to keep your workers in line than keeping them on edge with a constant threat of violence? Work place competition. Are the philosophies of the gangs different that they must fight? There's no religious dogma separating them, just streets and colors, and money.
I think it's the same with Muslim terrorists. No doubt the end game is taking over countries because that is where the real money is at. That's rather obvious. Religious fundamentalism is a means to that end. I remember reading years ago, that the IRA in Northern Ireland was nothing more than a criminal enterprise whose aim was controlling drugs, gambling and prostitution. Why sell yourself as that when you can gain so much more money- and admirers- via religious freedom? That's something our American mafia was never able to do. It would have been a tough sell in America to claim they were fighting for Christian freedom. FOX is trying that now. Good luck with that- saying in what you declare is a Christian nation that the majority religion is being "persecuted". How pious is that?
Jabbar also refused, as a Muslim, to apologize for the terrorists association with his religion. Why should he? Should Christians apologize for the Klan's burning of crosses on the lawns of black folks? The Klan is to Christianity as ISIS is to Islam.
I wrote a bit about religious terrorism of the *Christian* variety already having happened here. It's not really the business model of religion in this country. But, it could be. Religious terrorism here wouldn't be as a result of oppression/persecution despite what FOX (and others) would like to promote. If there's money in it, it could happen here. We are better versed in capitalism than most countries. We can afford to promote *our* religion for profit and political gain and to effect changes in society rather than bomb and behead because, as per the Godfather- "blood is bad for business..."
For now it is. We live with the occasional abortion clinic bombing or church shooting because there's always somebody who takes Glenn Beck too seriously. Most Christians don't get too carried away. Blood isn't fiscally prudent in this market. I hope it stays that way.
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