Democracy Is Not A Cure For Ignorance

AMERICAblog has a post on the Afghan man facing death for converting to Christianity. The original story appears on the ABC News website here.

Apparently, the only hope the man has of escaping the death penalty is if he is found to be insane. Apparently in Afghanistan, it is better to be insane than to be a Christian. Chalk this up to another manifestation of our failed worldwide democracy drive. I think our money would be far better spent on eradicating illiteracy than on blowing up Iraqis. We have declared victory and walked away from Afghanistan. We have handed over the keys to NATO and turned a blind eye to the resurgence of the narcotics trade in Afghanistan. Bringing a war-torn, impoverished and illiterate society into the community of nations is not as simple as ordering up the next batch of smart bombs. Once the military finishes its job, the truly difficult job of reconstruction begins. This Administration is clearly not up to that task.

My message to the Administration today is a very simple one. If you want to defeat terrorism, you must fight ignorance as hard as you employ the military option. Without it, this war cannot be won.

Before the all too easy Islam bashing gets going in earnest once this story starts flashing over the airwaves, let me do my part to combat the ignorance about Islam by separating "Ignorance" from "Islam". Only an ignorant law would suggest that a man ought to be killed for being a Christian. Here are some interesting tid bits about Islam that might dispel some common misconceptions:

• In Islam, it is fundamental that there is no compulsion in religion.
  • Verse 2.256 from the Koran: "There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbelieves in the Shaitan and believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle, which shall not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing. "
  • Verses 4.79 and 4.80: "Whatever benefit comes to you (O man!), it is from Allah, and whatever misfortune befalls you, it is from yourself, and We have sent you (O Prophet!), to mankind as an apostle; and Allah is sufficient as a witness. Whoever obeys the Apostle, he indeed obeys Allah, and whoever turns back, so We have not sent you as a keeper over them."
  • Verses 17.54 and 17.55: And tell my servants that they should speak in a most kindly manner (unto those who do not share their beliefs). Verily, Satan is always ready to stir up discord between men; for verily; Satan is mans foe. Hence, We have not sent you (Unto men O Prophet) with power to determine their Faith."
• Christian, Jews and other monotheistic religions are referred to as the "People of the Book" in the Koran. They are not "infidels" as is commonly mentioned.
  • Verse 2.62 from the Koran: "Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve. "

If countries like Afghanistan truly intend to live within the modern world, they must acknowledge that this is the 21st century and not the 7th century. For that to happen, there has to be literacy and poverty alleviation (two sides of the same coin). Until they do that, no amount of democracy at the point of a gun will change a thing. And very soon, they will slide back into banning the flying of kites and resume beheading people in soccer stadiums.