Sunday, January 13, 2013

George Washington and Muhammad, Together Again?


Sometimes you come across  an article that’s so shocking, it makes you wonder what’re the motivations of the author; then I read this PH.D candidate is an interfaith activist, and it all made sense.   Some people will go to great lengths to exonerate the failings of others, usually by comparing that person to another.  Craig Considine’s comparison of Muhammad to George Washington is a case point.

 Where does one begin?  Well, let’s start with the first paragraph:
In seventh century Arabia, a middle-aged man had a vision to create a new religious and social order for a largely pagan and tribal society. The man, Muhammad, told his band of followers to behave wisely and civilly. "The best among you," he said, "are those who have the best manners and character." More than 1,000 years later, Muhammad's wisdom would be echoed again, this time in the British colony of Virginia, by a 13-year-old schoolboy jotting down a lengthy set of behavioral rules that would later be published as "Rules of Civility." The schoolboy was none other than George Washington, who would one day become the first president of the United States of America.

 Muhammad did, in the beginning preach love and civility, but found that message wasn’t resonating.  What his potential followers wanted was an organized mob, hell bent on plunder and sanctioned killing.  And Muhammad had a god just for them.  He laid down the laws for slavery, booty, marriage, and just about every aspect of life, including murder.
George Washington on the other hand, didn’t write the “Rules of Civility.”  He copied them from a London magazine.  And he didn’t have a messiah complex like Muhammad.  He instead believed in Natural Law and Natural Rights, a concept foreign to a megalomaniac like Muhammad.  Washington was a reluctant leader.  Muhammad proclaimed himself a prophet.

 Muhammad may have preached chastity.  He was anything but that.  After seeing his son’s wife without a burqa, Muhammad had another one of his many revelations.  He instructed his son to divorce his wife so he could marry her.  Praise be Allah!  And let’s not forget the six year old bride.  This unfortunate girl was barely out of her diapers when this letch married her.  No one can say George Washington displayed such despicable character traits.



What these two men had in common besides good hygiene (as the author goes into great detail) were war and slavery.  George Washington reluctantly participated in both.  Muhammad established rules for it.    

I’m sure you can find the most despicable person in the world and find something good to say about them.  And that’s what PH.D candidate Craig Considine did with Muhammad.  Let’s keep in mind that this man is an “Interfaith Activist.”  His judgment is clouded with good intentions.  Just read his last paragraph.

Ultimately, Muhammad and Washington were gentlemen of the highest degree. This is no more evident than in the connection between them in the Holy Quran and "Rules of Civility." Perhaps Muslims worldwide and American could forge better relations if each group adhered to the advice Muhammad and Washington provided.
And that’s what we’re all worried about:  people taking the advice of Muhammad.

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