>From Allen West: *Our Perplexing Hypocrisy* America celebrates liberty while embracing its enemies Last week on the Fourth of July, the 237th anniversary of our independence, I sat watching parts two and three of the HBO mini-series “John Adams.” As we know, or I hope you know, part two ended with the reading of Thomas Jefferson’s brilliant words in the Declaration of Independence. I began to think about what had transpired far from my simple home in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., some 24 hours earlier – in Egypt. It was as if the young people of Egypt – and almost 70 percent of that nation is younger than 30 – heard the words of Jefferson and realized that it was upon them to sever political bands and that their government no longer had the consent of the governed. They had come to understand that part of democracy is their ability to petition their government for redress of grievances. These young people, and others, realized they do not have to settle and accept a tyranny greater than that what they had previously endured. One-fifth of Egypt, some 20 million people, took to the streets and let the world see and hear them. They clamored for liberty and freedom. They sought a better future for their country. They realized that a strict, Islamist sharia state is not in their best interests. They actually taught us a lesson – that election by democratic process does not ensure a democracy. One would think we would have learned that lesson after Hamas was “elected” in the Gaza Strip. A military that with all its might could have enacted a vicious and bloody action in Egypt decided to be the true caretakers of the country. Soldiers acted as guardians of the people, recognizing their true role and responsibility – to serve and protect, to perhaps ensure a brighter future for their own children and maybe restore Egypt to a greatness that it once possessed. *American principles on display in Egypt* Some people are debating the question of coup or revolution? Well, ask the people on the street in Egypt. As for my view, if we use our own American Revolution as a paradigm, the inquiry answers itself. In the twinkling of an eye, we saw a reflection of the principles for which America was founded, a respect and regard for the rights of individual – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I do not portend to predict the future, but I wish Egyptians well in changing the course of their country and perhaps making it a beacon for the Islamic world. Yes, I do believe we can coexist, but I will not compromise my principles and commitment to freedom to the intolerant. See, I believe that when tolerance becomes a one-way street, it leads to cultural suicide – and I am certainly not a willing sheep offering my throat to the wolves. I am proud of the actions taken in Egypt to expel the Muslim Brotherhood from power. I am proud of the young people in Turkey who are taking a stand against autocratic Islamism. I am proud of the young Iranians of the Green Movement who stand for a new way forward, one without the rule of the Rasputin-like clerics, mullahs and ayatollahs. I am proud of young women like Malala Yousafzai and Julie Aftab, who have stood against unimaginable hate and assault but evidenced true courage to us. However, I see a very perplexing hypocrisy. Here in America, which is supposed to be the symbol and beacon of liberty and freedom, we find people embracing what young freedom lovers in the Middle East stand against. We have masked it under the guise of tolerance and multiculturalism. *A pattern of disturbing behavior* I find it utterly disturbing that our government openly consults with organizations that have ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Several of them were among the 57 Islamic organizations that in October 2011 sent a letter to then-Obama administration counterterrorism adviser John Brennan demanding the “purging” of training materials they deemed offensive. I find it disturbing that the Obama administration supports U.N. Resolution 16/18, which, as promoted by the Organization of Islamic Countries, would castigate as blasphemy any “speech” about Islam deemed offensive to radical Islamists. It is truly perplexing that our own National Security Council senior staff would invite radical Islamist cleric Sheik bin Bayyah into the White House for a chat and on the same day, June 13, announce arms support to Islamist rebels in Syria – who 10 days later beheaded a Catholic priest, Father Francois Durad. On our college campuses we find radical Islamic organizations such as the Muslim Students Association and American professors who viciously attack Jewish students and openly support Palestinian terrorist organizations – and we embrace them. As a matter of fact, the Obama administration has nominated for U.S. ambassador to the U.N. one Samantha Power, who has advocated for a massive American force to impose a pro-Palestinian will against Israel. How is it that here in America we find instances of radical Islamism and jihadism right under our noses, yet we are recalcitrant to declare it so. The Tsarnaevs, Carlos Bledsoe, Anwar al-Awlaki, Maj. Nidal Hasan and instances of honor killings have infiltrated our shores. Those of us who stand against Islamic totalitarianism are attacked as being “Islamophobic.” Is it not a perplexing hypocrisy that the United Kingdom would ban two Americans, Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, not even two months after the savage, broad-daylight beheading and hacking to death of a U.K. soldier, Lee Rigby, by declared Nigerian Islamists, jihadists? British Prime Minister David Cameron made every possible excuse to appease those who see appeasement as an aphrodisiac. *An admonition for Americans* I find it perplexing that President Obama did not support the Iranian Green Movement and that he demanded that former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak step down yet openly congratulated the Muslim Brotherhood’s president, Mohammed Morsi. All one need do is to read the Muslim Brotherhood charter to know its global intent to establish sharia dominance. The perplexing hypocrisy is that on the eve of our celebration of American independence, the people of Egypt stood against radical Islamic tyranny while we are embracing it and punishing those who speak against it. Our next generation should take note of the young people of Iran, Turkey and Egypt. Stop being uninformed drones who are only concerned about the next party or season of “American Idol” or who got dance moves. And our current generation, and indeed across Western civilization, should take heed and find the courage exemplified by the 20 million who said no to radical Islamists, no to the Muslim Brotherhood – just as we said no to King George III and monarchial tyranny 237 years ago. Steadfast and Loyal, Allen B. West ______________________________________________________ *A Pakistani Teen’s
Posted on: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 20:15:49 +0000
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