Radical Islam hits home

Elephants are among the world's most potentially dangerous animals, capable of killing any other land animal, from rhinoceros and lions to humans.

I visited a village [just] demolished by a herd of elephants. It looked like an earthquake had hit. 20-foot palm trees were uprooted. Villagers told us the herd stood patiently by while a single male wreaked all this destruction on his own. And they knew the reason why. The herd was making a new route and were not happy at finding the village in the way.

Elephants never forgive, either.

July 4, 2007

In the USA this is Independence Day. There is a rabid elephant crashing our parades and ready to explode with something worse than fireworks. It’s time to stop pretending that it isn’t there.

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17 days ago my brother’s oldest son was riding in a Humvee somewhere in Iraq. His name is David Schrauger. He’s 23 years old and in the U.S. Army. Riding with 3 other men, the Humvee hit an IED.

SPC David Schrauger, Pre-IED injuries

I heard about it here, in Jerusalem. Almost immediately after David was wounded he spoke with his dad by phone. He expressed a number of I-love-you messages.

For a long time information was sketchy. David had a spinal injury, two shattered arms, a damaged knee and shrapnel wounds from shoulders to toes. But his bruised lungs contracted pneumonia. Necessary surgeries were put on hold.

Doctors insisted his parents immediately fly to their son’s bedside in Frankfurt.

Cliff is David’s dad and one of my two brothers. We are close. Before Cliff left we prayed, begging G-d to spare David’s life, to restore his spirit and his heart, his body and his mind.

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During these ensuing days I have continued praying for my nephew. And I’ve thought a lot about that angry elephant’s intent: crush anyone outside its herd.

This dangerous behemoth isn’t George Bush, Tony Blair, Republicans or Democrats. True, they and others like them are big and sometimes bad.

But Bush didn’t blow up 4 young men riding in a Humvee, defending Iraqi citizens from terrorists. Blair didn’t bury the IED that has damaged my nephew for life. Imperfect as these men and others like them are, none of them planted that IED any more than they hijacked those jets on September 11, 2001.

I’m all for blame. But for heaven’s sake let’s put it where it belongs.

The unapologetic rogue is Radical Islam (RI). That’s the rabid mastodon stomping a path through our lands: a rampaging ideology that’s wooing wounded souls with promises of Paradise. And crushing anyone who won’t convert or at least submit.

“Now-now-now,” patronizes the starry host shining in the West’s night sky. “That mammoth and its Ice-Age herd are Over There, not Here. If we’ll get off their land and bring our soldiers home, they’ll leave us alone. After all, they’ve promised.”

Oh. Well. That sounds reasonable. But when I turn the TV off and shut down my computer prickly thoughts resuscitate unease. Remember President Carter’s 1978 Camp David Accords? It created a sovereign Palestinian Authority to rule in Gaza and West Bank territories. And persuaded Israel to withdraw from Sinai.

And 29 years ago it was all based on the same promise: Land for Peace. And such a peace hath this promise wrought. Just ask Egypt’s Anwar Sadat. Whoops, can’t; sorry about that. He was murdered with religious sanction by the EIJ.

(Shh, don’t tell, but today’s CEO of the EIJ is al-Zawahri: al-Qaeda’s Number Two; Bin Laden’s right-hand man.)

Hello? Read that "Shh" again!

For 30 years RI has promised. Its ivory incisors (one called Land, the other Peace) cut deals in two Oslo Accords. Then after Camp David’s Summit “failure” the rogue went on rampage. It was the 2nd Intifada against the State of Israel: indiscriminate suicidal murders that lasted several years. And on that 9/11 day RI celebrated, dancing in the streets.

The Promise works so well, why change it? Today’s RI continues offering Land For Peace. And we continue buying it.

“Here’s an idea,” susurrates Western Intelligentsia like a Miss Universe contestant. “Let’s just bounce-bounce-jiggle-wiggle ourselves out of the Middle East and the Jews out of ‘Palestine.’ Then we’ll have our greatest wish: world peace. Land-for-peace, land-for-peace, land-for-peace…”

Let’s pretend we executed Miss Universe’s plan. Uh-oh, what about members of the RI herd who have trekked West? Are they going to pack their trunks and go home?

Not likely. Just ask the British who are defusing car bombs. Or in the USA let's add this activity to our Independence Day. Check out the government report, Exposing Terrorists in America. Look at the property they own in your State! Check out the training compound nearest to your home!

RI rogues aren’t only There; they are Here.

Soldiers fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan—and in Israel’s IDF—are risking their lives protecting the West from a whole-herd-rampage in our lands. It is high time we thank them and help them all we can. Especially with our prayers.

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Over the past 17 days David has been moved from Baghdad to Frankfurt to Washington D.C. and finally settled at the Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. That’s where he will remain for some time to come. His badly damaged body is recovering, but the road ahead is long.

As it also is for his heart and mind. In spite of a resilient spirit, he is fighting flashbacks. And he's only just begun a pilgrimage of grief. David recently learned that one buddy riding in the Humvee did not survive his injuries.

SPC David Schrauger, Post-IED injuries, in San Antonio's
Brooke Army Medical
3851 Roger Brooke Dr., Rm 462, Bed 1
Fort Sam Huston, TX 78234-4501

For the complete story of David’s drama and updates on his status, click this paragraph. Scroll down the new page and click on David's photo. That will take you his blogsite. Yes, this is the easiest way to get from here to there.

Is Jesus G-d?

May 31, 2007

It's a biggie. But this question is not my primary problem with G-d.

Still, no doubt: the issue is a sizzler. About 12 days ago an Israeli news agency reported: Chief Rabbinate Finalizes Ban on Christian Women's Conference. The facts are pretty clear. Israel's Chief Rabbinate (CR) issued a ban forbidding Jewish participation in two "Christian-sponsored conferences." The reason? In spite of advertised objectives to focus on social issues, the CR decided that both events were subtle attempts to persuade Jews "that Jesus is Messiah."

Neither conference was cancelled, however. And last week all sponsors announced success.

But oh the uproar that this ban provoked. Is Jesus the Messiah? Is he G-d?. In 131 Talkbacks there was a scathing storm of words. People on all sides of the issue called each other liars, idolaters and traitors.

It was nauseating. Not because people embrace different answers than I. And not because of anyone's intensity or passion. This question is anything but easy. Arguably it's not even nice. Those who wrestle with it should be fighting hard.

But for heaven's sake with G-d, not each other! Why? Because the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob blessed his people by naming them Israel, a wonderfully descriptive word that means "he who contends with G-d." It is a designation that is an invitation too.

The idea of G-d inviting us to wrestle shocks a lot of people. In fact I think it's self-evident that most monotheists believe G-d is someone to whom we must submit or die.

The word Islam, for example, means submission--although Muslims are hardly the only ones who approach G-d from this paradigm. Many if not most Christians believe the only way to G-d is submit or die. Sure they have different dogmas than Islam, but it's still submit-or-die.

And moi? As a defendant in G-d's Court of Law here's my affidavit: Jesus is the Messiah. What's more he is the uniquely singular Son of G-d. Meaning that he is, at once, completely human and completely G-d.

So, this means my faith's at ease because I have "right" answers? Oh sure, life's a breeze. The 10 zillion problems raised by my affirmations don't bother me a bit. Like: if this answer's true, why has G-d allowed so many atrocities in Jesus' name?

Ah, but perhaps my sworn testimony is an attempt to convert those who disagree--or maybe recruit gullibles who've never thought about it, hmm? Right; as if I can change anybody's heart about anything. Shoot, I can't even convert myself to stop eating junk food.

But at the very least doesn't my affirmation mean that I regard myself superior to those who answer differently? G-d forbid. Hear me on this: regardless of your answer, you are alright with me.

Why? Cuz charm is deceitful, beauty is vain, and words alone are cheap. Anyone can say anything. This is Torah truth, not mine: it is the heart G-d's after. And what kind of heart? Get this: a circumcised one; yup, one that's been cut up with a knife, then left wounded and scarred for life.

And that's why my biggest problem with G-d isn't the question about Jesus.

Go ahead, take a look. My wife and I are proud parents to 3 sons. They are wonderfully unique. I love each one so much I would gladly give my life to rescue theirs.

My biggest problem with G-d culminated 7 years ago today. That's when one of our sons died. His name is Taylor and he was four days shy of turning 12 years old.

He didn't die at the hands of evil men or by a sudden accident. Instead for 2 long years he fought a war with cancer. It literally hacked off an entire hip and leg, then maimed his torso too. In spite of all my tearful prayers, G-d did not rescue him from 24 months of torture or from a horrific death.

So what have I done with this, my biggest problem with G-d?

I have done the same thing Taylor always did with me. Even in agony and knowing that I could not take his place, he always accepted my invitation to move toward dad.

Sometimes his fists wailed away at pillows that I used to help absorb the blows. But most of the time my son turned to me and held on tight. Resting his head on my chest, we talked and laughed and cried. Somehow he found nourishment in my heartbroken love. It is the greatest honor I have ever known.

That's why I thank my divine Opponent for naming his people Israel. Sometimes it's tempting, but I don't have time to fight with you. I'm too busy wrestling in muck and mire with G-d, clinging in my woundedness to him, crying out in protest and in pride,

My son! My Son!! MY SON!!!