We are not at war with Islam

In 1941 Japan attacked U.S. territory in Hawaii, and we declared war.   We knew who we were fighting and where -- even though it was all over the Pacific Ocean and along the eastern border of Asia (not to mention the simultaneous war in Europe).

But the point is, we were in a declared war with other defined nations.   Now we are at war with "terrorists" of many stripes without clearcut national identities.    Nor is it simply a war with "radical Islam," a most unfortunate term that Hillary Clinton was wise to avoid being drawn into using in the last debate.

We are not at war with any extremist branch of Islam, even though the attackers praise Allah as they carry out their atrocities.    At best, we could say that we are at war with "radical jihadists," who have taken as their jihid, their mission, to avenge what they consider violations of their lands, their laws, and their culture.

But as far as anyone can speak for a religion, Islamic scholars and imams denounce all this killing.   To those who claim that Islam is a violent religion, I say:   Have you read the Bible?   There are some pretty violent things in there too, including child sacrifice, slavery, eye-for-an-eye retaliations, and stonings.   In the history of Christianity, we have the Inquisitions and the Crusades, as well as the overthrow of the governments we didn't like -- or where we simply wanted their land or their oil.

In both religions' texts, there are also admonitions to love and to help your neighbors and those in need.    Either book can be quoted by those looking for justification for their own purposes, including violence.

To say that we are at war with Islam is to malign millions of gentle, caring, loving, and sharing people who want to live peacefully with us.

Ralph