Hatred, Faith And Works

What is it that keeps the Islamists hitting the Russians harder and harder and harder again? Granted, between 1979 and 2001, the United States was hit several times by these types of terrorists, but after 9/11 and its response, they seem to be confining themselves to individual American targets and military targets in Iraq.

It certainly isn’t true that the Russians haven’t been more ruthless than we have been in striking back. In fact, if the latest drama and the Moscow theater incident are exemplary, they have been far more ruthless; willing to accept great loss of their own people in defusing (no pun intended) terrorist hostage dramas.

Of course, the Russians have an ugly history with Chechnya, along with a border which gives Islamists ready access to their Russian foes. Americans don’t have to contend with the monstrous hatred that the Islamic Chechens (justifiably) hold for Russia. However, 9/11 and Sudan have shown us that a group need not have persecuted Islamists to incur their hatred. Just existing without bowing down to Allah seems to be provocative.

But, in spite of the de facto open border to the south of us serving as an easy entry to the US, we’ve had no follow-up to the spectacular “success” of three years ago.

Why not?

The old Soviets had their eighties “adventure” in Afghanistan, but, now, so have we. Additionally, we’ve gone into Iraq twice in the last fifteen years. Indeed, there are many objective answers to the plaintive question: “Why do they hate us?”

With the latest terror trend of striking directly before an election, there are likely to be some plans for us in the making. However, “somehow” I don’t think that such plans will come to fruition.

Why not?

Tangent (sort of):

As a Christian I do believe in the power of prayer and this is indeed a Judeo-Christian nation for the most part, the constitutionally built-in secularity of the government notwithstanding. I do believe that, because of this, God protects us, to a certain extent.

However, the truism that “God helps those who help themselves,” applies here also. Contrary to popular belief, that particular saying isn’t in the Bible, but it is a paraphrase of St. James’ assertion that “faith without works is dead.” In spite of the actions of the ACLU and like-minded organizations, this country has faith and acts on it. Even many of the atheists and the agnostics of this country recognize the benefits that faith brings to all of us (the fact that they can exist in peace and friendship with most believers being one of them).

With all of the ironic screeching and moaning over the Patriot Act and the “crushing of dissent” here in the US notwithstanding, we have taken meaningful steps to protect ourselves from Islamist terror--with the gapping entrance existing to the south of us being the exception. We don’t just pray and then sit around waiting for God to intervene. We pray, ask for God’s wisdom and guidance, and then we act. Even though many an American atheist holds this admirably trait as well—minus the praying, of course--it’s definitely a Judeo-Christian concept; an American concept.

Coming back to the point, do Islamists hate the Russians more than they hate us? I say “yes,” but not (just) for the Soviet/Russian penchant for violently suppressing dissent of *any* group, including their own. To take the idea that God protects the US and turn it on its head, remember that Russia in its Soviet incarnation was a militantly atheist state. (Question to those more knowledgeable: what is the Russian Federation’s stance on religion at present?) That fact has to be more galling to Islamists, than the ascendance of those of us who *do* believe in God, just not in the Islamic manner.

May God continue to protect us; and spill some of that over onto the Russians as well, atheist or no. In spite of the old sins of the Soviets and the new ones of the Russian Federation, Russian civilians do not deserve what is happening to them.

The War continues.

(Thanks to Allah (no, not that one) and to The Command Post)

UPDATE:

A photo from the latest Russian terror incident. Check the t-shirt.

(Thanks to Instapundit)

Comments

[Christopher Taylor]

I am not overstating things when I say Russians will put up with a lot, but if you mess with their children, you better hope you die BEFORE they get to you. Let's just say the theater in 2002 was an example of how Russia deals with hostage situations.

[teal marie]

The Islamists may be hitting harder, but they are choosing softer and softer targets. Evil cowards. Evil!

[Jim]

I remember reading a story on Volokh's blog about the Checkens being part of a Russian lullaby,along the lines of "protect us from the chechens".. The emnity may go back much further than the 1850's.

Remember that the Russians sewed the derd terorists up in pigskins before they were buried so they would be denied the moslem heaven

"May God protect us [...] atheist or no." -- baldilocks

Thanks, we're not all bad. I've been pleasantly suprised at what seems like a growing tolerance among many people of faith towards atheists. Most of us aren't like the irritating, insulting, anti-Christian, foaming-at-the-mouth zealots that make so much noise in media. I get along just fine with religious folks, because I believe in freedom, tolerance and mutual respect.

[baldilocks]

Anonymous:

I changed the last part of the post a little. I hope it still fits with your very admirable sentiments.

[torchy]

In 1997 the Russian gov't passed a law granting the Orthodox Church special status which ended the ecumenical movement in Rome to draw the Catholic and Orthodox churches closer together. Like the Roman Catholic Church they view Protestants as reactionary and illegitimate. I've read stories of threats and coercion against Protestant movements in Russia, especially Evangelical (born again) Christians. President Bush (and myself)identifies religiously as an evengelical. At one meeting with Putin he noticed Putin wearing the maltese cross of the Orthodox faith and saw it as a means of identifying with him as a Christian. It's not clear to me if Putin felt similar sentiments. Russians in general seem to harbor antagonism towards anyone of differing ethnicity or religion, whether Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, animist, etc. The fact that one of the Beslan terrorists was "black" probably enraged them as much as his/her putative Islamic motivations.

[Beth Donovan]

Torchy, I think your view on the Catholic Church's views on Protestantism are a bit outdated - by what - 40 years?
Protestants, Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Greek Orthodox - we are all Christians.

[Jim R]

The Romans had their lions dens, the Catholics had their inquistions, the Protestants had their crusades, the Muslims are having their jihads.

How about a little tolerance here. It's their turn.

[Samantha]

Hey Beth,
You'd be surprised how much grief other Christians get from Catholics and Orthodox churches in the rest of the world. Especially where the Catholic or Orthodox church is in tight with the government. It's really depressing to hear about it because, as you say, we are all Christians and Christians of all stripes have suffered persecution and really should know better than to dish it out themselves. You can check the Barnabas Fund or Voice of the Martyrs websites for more specific info.

[DaveP.]

Jim R: So do I take it that you are volunteering your children to be next?
Becaue unless you're unwilling to have what happened to over 100 Russian schoolchildren happen to yours, maybe you'd better rethink all this "tolerance" BS.

[Tom Proebsting]

Enjoyed your article on Russia and the hard-hitting Chechens. Check out my piece on the Chechen rebels that I wrote Thursday on my blog: http://truthprobe.blogspot.com

Tom

[torchy]

Jim R- The "Christian" Crusades ended around the 13th century, whereas Martin Luther nailed his thesis to the Wurtemburg church door in 1517, beginning, in effect, the Protestant revolution.

Beth Donovan- Maybe you believe Vatican II ended all differences between Catholic/Orthodox and Protestant faiths. Sure, Protestant leaders were called to observe the council but I think alot of things still divide the various faiths. For instance, papal infallibility, prayers to saints, the veneration of Mary all seem to be misdirections from the basic tenets of Christianity, the Lordship and Redemptive power of Christ. Vatican II proclaimed Mary the Mother of the Church, not my church. There's another faith that declares the holiness of Mary and that's Islam. She was a blessed woman to be chosen to birthe Jesus, as well as being of the proper Davidic lineage, but that's blessed, past tense. She went on to birthe other children, was not a perpetual virgin, and died as all humans die.

[Jim R]

Thanks for the correction in my religious history, Torchy.

Dave, of course I am not asking for tolerance for the terrorists in this Russian attack. I understand some of the attackers were Muslims and other may have gotten training from terrorist connections.

I was making the point facetiously that tolerance of each others beliefs has not been the history of religions. Quite the opposite. It has been very violent, and a faction of the Muslims are using it now, as others have in the past, as excuses for the most barbaric acts.

I am convinced Abraham, Jesus, Mohammad, etc, etc, etc, would all be disgusted and horrified to know what man has done to each other over the ages, and still doing to this day, while calling their names.

[David Blue]

"But, in spite of the de facto open border to the south of us serving as an easy entry to the US, we’ve had no follow-up to the spectacular "success" of three years ago.

Why not?"

Because the jihadis and their supporters are in general lazy, inept screw-ups. Their malice is demonic and completely without limits, as Beslan proves, but their skill and common industry do not keep pace. It's a cultural thing. Anything can go wrong for them, even simply travelling through Mexico. They naturally prefer the soft targets right next door.

If Mexico, right next door to you and with a land border, was Muslim, those could be your children now. If you want to talk about God protecting America, talk about Mexico being Catholic not Shi'ite.

"Coming back to the point, do Islamists hate the Russians more than they hate us?"

You, America, are the Great Satan. Israel is the Little Satan. Both of you are hated more than Russia. Nobody could be more hated than the Jews. But Russia is an easy mark with corrupt police and security forces, so Russia has been hit. Putin is right. The weak get beaten. Russia has been weak. Russia has been beaten.

The demonic malice of the attack simply reflects the religion, culture and character of those doing the beating. They raped Russian girls, not because the girls or Russia were especially provocative but because /they want to/. This is what the worst possible class of combatants do, in any era and culture. And in this case, the religion is highly favourable to forced sex at the expense of the infidel, as well as to all sorts of other violence and humiliation. Also, it's what their paradise promises them, endlessly. Virgins!! It's their eternal reward for jihad, for doing things like forcing Christian children to perish of thirst and stay amid their own excrement, for bayoneting, for shooting Russian infants in the back. They were hard for their reward, these heroes of Allah, and they couldn't wait.

I'm not getting less angry over this. Can you tell? I thought I would get numb, but no, it's like beating on a bruise. It's something a little like 11 September, 2001 and Bali. In fact for me, this is the third strike and you're out, forever.

By the way, torchy knows what he or she is talking about, though I wouldn't have said these things myself.