what it is

Let’s call it what it is — and not what it’s not…

The unfathomable beheading at a food processing plant in Oklahoma City is not simply “workplace violence.” It was the evil act of a disgruntled, fired employee who was a Muslim convert, who may or may not have been imitating recent, publicized acts by Muslim militants overseas — who have publicly called on Muslims across the globe to join in the terror.

The military involvement overseas attempting to destroy ISIS is not simply a coalition addressing a “conflict.” It is a war. War is “a state or period of fighting between countries or groups” or “an organized effort by a government or other large organization to stop or defeat something that is viewed as dangerous or bad.” The United States is fighting organized terrorist groups — currently ISIS, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

(Note: that also means that there is no “war” against women, teachers, or Christmas, much to the rhetorical chagrin of many.)

We also are not fighting simply against a “radical extremist group.” We are fighting against an Islamic extremist group. While many seem most comfortable omitting the religious affiliation, the reality is that Christians, Jews, Buddhists, etal. do not kill former members or those who don’t embrace their religion. As said ironically, perhaps best by the too-oft, in my opinion, disrespectful Bill Maher: “Vast numbers of Christians do not believe that if you leave the Christian religion you should be killed for it. Vast numbers of Christians do not treat women as second class citizens. Vast numbers of Christians do not believe if you draw a picture of Jesus Christ you should get killed for it.”

And perhaps Maher’s best line, when CBS/PBS’s Charlie Rose attempted to compare the ISIS terrorists to so-called “radical” Christians: “Well you’re wrong about that. The Qur’an absolutely has on every page stuff that’s horrible about how the infidels should be treated.”

(Another note: many do not know what the Qur’an actually says.)

My point again: let’s call things what they are — and not what they’re not…

As for the “what they’re not” perspective, observe the current hot seat of Democratic Party Chairwoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Regardless of one’s political leanings, she’s fascinating to watch. Let me say now, I don’t know her heart; I don’t know what drives her; I have no ability to accurately assess her moral integrity. But with multiple polls suggesting a current souring of Democratic candidates as we near the November elections, she’s restlessly working to drum up support for the politically likeminded. For a second time in recent months, she’s actually said that an opposing gubernatorial candidate has given women “the back of his hand.” What Wasserman Schultz must intend to imply (accuracy seems secondary) is that her opponent’s policies have not been friendly to the female gender. However, she instead calls the candidates something they are not.

Yes, we should call things what they are — not what they are not — always with respect, recognizing, too, we may possess a limited view of the facts.

Respectfully…

AR