Of Flags, Confederate and Islamic
by Bill Lockwood
The New York Times reports that, “What began as scattered calls for removing the Confederate battle flag from a single state capitol intensified with striking speed and scope on Tuesday into an emotional, nationwide movement to strip symbols of the Confederacy from public parks and buildings, license plates, Internet shopping sites and retail stores.”
The ostensible reason is that “images of the Confederacy” are viewed as “painful symbols of slavery, racism and white dominance.” Apparently, losing the War Between the States has not been enough for the Southern states, they must eternally do obeisance before the god-makers and idol craftsmen of the left. Visitors to Washington, D.C. will bow before images of socialist big-government heroes such as Franklin Roosevelt.
Before our culture runs over the cliff like the demon-possessed herd of swine in Jesus’ day (Mark 5;12,13) because of the Confederate flag, it might be beneficial to our rational processes to think about Islam for a moment.
Crescent Moon and Star?
The crescent moon and star symbols on the Islamic flag have been associated with Islam since the Ottoman Empire. Without controversy the religion of Islam and the Quran itself has spawned the most vicious killing around the world throughout history and in our current world. Bold are the declarations in the Quran advocating slavery. Surah 58:3, for example, encourages Muslims to own slaves, whether by purchase or spoils of war. It is not too much to say that slavery is imbedded in the heart of Islam.
Muhammad himself owned many male and female slaves. Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, one of great chroniclers of Islam and historians said, “Muhammad had many male and female slaves. He used to buy and sell them, but he purchased (more slaves) then he sold, especially after God empowered him by his message….He once sold one black slave for two. His name was Jacob al-Mudbir….He (Muhammad) was used to renting out and hiring many slaves, but he hired more slaves than he rented out.”
Muhammad owned a black slave named Mahran, who was renamed by Muhammad Safina (‘a ship’). Mahran himself relates why. “The apostle of God and his companions went on a trip. When their belongings became too heavy for them to carry, Muhammad told me, ‘Spread your garment.’ They filled it with their belongings, then they put it on me. The apostle of God told me, ‘Carry (it), for you are a ship.’ Even if I was carrying the load of six or seven donkeys while we were on a journey, anyone who felt weak would throw his clothes or his shield or his sword on me so I would carry that, a heavy load. The prophet told me, ‘You are a ship.’”
The question therefore becomes, if the liberal left is serious about eradicating “symbols” that are associated with slavery or racism, will they also call for a ban of Islamic symbols? Will there be calls for the removal of the crescent moon and star from America? Hardly. The legs of the lame are not equal.