November 12, 2009> 4:21 PM
allegiance
I generally don't comment on things like this, not specific events, but something I heard on the news about all this kind of drew it out of me. Apparently, at some point in his work history with the Army, the now notorious Ft. Hood shooter reportedly said that his allegiance was to Islam over the U.S. Constitution.
Annnnd this is a problem becaaauuse??
His skewed view of his own religion aside, I would answer - I should hope so! What if the soldier in question was a Christian and said his allegiance was to Christ over the U.S. Constitution? Sounds a little different now, doesn't it?
Well, sure he shouldn't have been shooting people on an Army base. Of course I would argue that he shouldn't be shooting at people anywhere, for any reason, if he is a Christian, but I understand the majority opinion - yeah, yeah. The point is, though, that in the "case" that is being built against this man is included that little story - that someone heard him say this phrase, which is supposed to be dangerous - that he is a Muslim before he is an American. That is being held up as "evidence" against him. "See, look at that psycho nut job, he puts his religion over the Constitution!"
Again, I say -- I should certainly hope so.
So, allegiance IS a serious thing, a serious word/concept. It is. I thought so, I was just checkin' there. Then we either take is too seriously, about the wrong things, or we take it too lightly, and scatter it around too widely. We should all hope that, if we are Christians, we are known for our allegiance being to Jesus Christ above and before ANYthing, much less the U.S. Constitution or any other man-made document.
*disclaimer: I want to make sure no one gets full-on in the throw is ignorance and thinks I'm saying what the man did was OK because he's Islamic, or for any reason at all. It wasn't - not for that reason - not for any reason. It was evil, nuts, crazy, etc. I'm just talking about that particular statement made about him, which could be made about anyone of any religion, and has nothing to do with killing people. That is all - the managment. :)
November 12, 2009
> 4:21 PM
038
