by
Joseph Farah
Posted: January 2, 2003
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., suggests the Arab and Muslim world
hates America because we don't help the poor by building hospitals and
day-care centers.
In comments for which she has still not apologized, she claimed
that Osama bin Laden's popularity is directly connected with his
humanitarian work on behalf of Arabs and Muslims.
Earlier this week, however, in Yemen, a suspected Muslim terrorist
shot and killed three American missionaries and seriously wounded a
fourth at a Southern Baptist hospital in southern Yemen. Yemen is the
ancestral homeland of bin Laden.
The gunman entered the complex of Jibla Baptist Hospital in the
town of Jibla hiding a semiautomatic rifle under his jacket to make it
resemble a child. The gunman entered a room where hospital director
William E. Koehn was holding a meeting and opened fire, according to
the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board.
Three people were killed instantly. Yemeni officials said all three
were shot in the head. The gunman then headed to the hospital's
pharmacy and opened fire, wounding the pharmacist.
The Southern Baptist International Mission Board identified the
dead Koehn, 60, of Arlington, Texas, who had planned to retire next
year after 28 years of service; purchasing agent Kathleen A. Gariety,
53, of Wauwatosa, Wis.; and Dr. Martha C. Myers, 57, of Montgomery,
Ala. The statement identified the pharmacist as Donald W. Caswell, 49,
of Levelland, Texas.
Caswell was shot in the abdomen and hospital officials said he was
in critical condition and struggling for his life.
The hospital has been treating Yemenis for 35 years.
The truth Murray and others don't understand is that the U.S.
government has showered Arab and Muslim countries with billions in
taxpayer funds. More importantly, and to the point, Americans working
through churches have selflessly given
their time, energy and money to helping people throughout the Arab and
Muslim world for decades – even in countries that have vast oil wealth
and no excuses for not sharing that wealth with their people.
Yet there is much more we could do to free the Muslim and Arab world,
because it's not really about poverty, it's not really about money,
it's not really about hospitals and day-care centers.
The Arab and Muslim world hates us so for two reasons never mentioned
by Patty Murray and not understood by our government:
And for every hospital we build and for every foreign-aid package
we approve, the United States exports far more of the above.
Let me give you an example of what I'm talking about.
For the first time since 1979, when the Islamic Revolution swept
through Iran and turned that country of 70 million into a theocratic
police state, there is a real chance for liberation. Iranians are
demonstrating in the streets against the mullahs. Iranians use every
opportunity they get to express their disapproval of the regime.
Many observers believe all these people need is a little
encouragement from the West and the Tehran government would fall of
its own dead weight.
But what does the United States do?
Last month, Washington ended its "Radio Freedom" broadcasts into
Iran in favor of "Radio Tomorrow."
"Radio Freedom" resembled the broadcasts of hard-hitting news,
thoughtful commentary and political discussions that helped topple the
Soviet Union a decade ago. Truth has that ability to set people free.
But, inexplicably, at this key moment in Iranian history, "Radio
Tomorrow" emphasizes pop music and entertainment. My friend Reza
Pahlavi, the son of the former shah, says this development has
absolutely delighted the ruling clerics.
Why? Because the materialism and cultural decay evidenced in such
programming paints a very negative picture of America in the Muslim
street. Even Muslims who hate what Iran has become do not want to see
it become infected with the cultural diseases ravaging America – teen
pregnancy, pornography, drug addiction, abortion, sexual
licentiousness and other forms of immorality spread by the pop
culture.
Is this America's best export? Or is it our heritage of freedom and
self-government? It seems our entire government, not just Patty
Murray, is confused.
Editor's note: Are you ready for the Second
American Revolution? Joseph Farah's new book, "Taking
America Back" exposes the weaknesses in America's current system
and offers practical solutions – solutions that are real and doable,
solutions that can revive freedom, morality and justice in our nation.
Order your copy now in WorldNetDaily's online store, ShopNetDaily!
Joseph
Farah's nationally syndicated column
originates at WorldNetDaily, where he serves as editor and chief
executive officer. If you would like to see the column in your local
newspaper, contact your local editor. Tell your paper the column is
available through Creators Syndicate.
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