The Muslim Hate Filled Koran

Summary Answer:The Quran contains at least 109 verses that call Muslims to war with nonbelievers for the sake of Islamic rule.  Some are quite graphic, with commands to chop off heads and fingers and kill infidels wherever they may be hiding.  Muslims who do not join the fight are called 'hypocrites' and warned that Allah will send them to Hell if they do not join the slaughter. Unlike nearly all of the Old Testament verses of violence, the verses of violence in the Quran are mostly open-ended, meaning that they are not restrained by the historical context of the surrounding text.  They are part of the eternal, unchanging word of Allah, and just as relevant or subjective as anything else in the Quran. Most of today's Muslims exercise a personal choice to interpret their holy book's many calls to violence according to what their own moral preconceptions find justificable.  Apologists cater to their preferences with tenuous arguments that gloss over historical fact and generally do not stand up to scrutiny.  Still, it is important to note that the problem is not bad people, but bad ideology. Unfortunately, there are very few verses of tolerance and peace to abrogate or even balance out the many that call for nonbelievers to be fought and subdued until they either accept humiliation, convert to Islam, or are killed.  Muhammad's own martial legacy - and that of his companions - along with the remarkable stress on violence found in the Quran have produced a trail of blood and tears across world history.

The Quran: Quran (2:191-193) - "And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution [of Muslims] is worse than slaughter [of non-believers]... but if they desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful.   And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah."  The historical context of this passage is not defensive warfare, since Muhammad and his Muslims had just relocated to Medina and were not under attack by their Meccan adversaries.  In fact, the verses urge offensivewarfare, in that Muslims are to drive Meccans out of their own city (which they later did).  The use of the word "persecution" by some Muslim translators is thus disingenuous (the actual Muslim words for persecution - "idtihad" - and oppression - a variation of "z-l-m" - do not appear in the verse).  The actual Arabic comes from "fitna" which can mean disbelief, or the disorder that results from unbelief or temptation.  Taken as a whole, the context makes clear that violence is being authorized until "religion is for Allah" - ie. unbelievers desist in their unbelief. Quran (2:244) - "Then fight in the cause of Allah, and know that Allah Heareth and knoweth all things." Quran (2:216) - "Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not."  Not only does this verse establish that violence can be virtuous, but it also contradicts the myth that fighting is intended only in self-defense, since the audience was obviously not under attack at the time.  From the Hadith, we know that this verse was narrated at a time that Muhammad was actually trying to motivate his people into raiding merchant caravans for loot. Quran (3:56) - "As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help." Quran (3:151) - "Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority".  This speaks directly of polytheists, yet it also includes Christians, since they believe in the Trinity (ie. what Muhammad incorrectly believed to be 'joining companions to Allah'). Quran (4:74) - "Let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other. Whoso fighteth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward."  The martyrs of Islam are unlike the early Christians, led meekly to the slaughter.  These Muslims are killed in battle, as they attempt to inflict death and destruction for the cause of Allah.  Here is the theological basis for today's suicide bombers. Quran (4:76) - "Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah…" Quran (4:89) - "They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks." Quran (4:95) - "Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and their persons. Allah hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home). Unto all (in Faith) Hath Allah promised good: But those who strive and fight Hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward,-"  This passage criticizes "peaceful" Muslims who do not join in the violence, letting them know that they are less worthy in Allah's eyes.  It also demolishes the modern myth that "Jihad" doesn't mean holy war in the Quran, but rather a spiritual struggle.  Not only is the Arabic word used in this passage, but it is clearly not referring to anything spiritual, since the physically disabled are given exemption.  (The Hadith reveals the context of the passage to be in response to a blind man's protest that he is unable to engage in Jihad and this is reflected in other translations of the verse). Quran (4:104) - "And be not weak hearted in pursuit of the enemy; if you suffer pain, then surely they (too) suffer pain as you suffer pain..."  Is pursuing an injured and retreating enemy really an act of self-defense? Quran (5:33) - "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement" Quran (8:12) - "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them"  No reasonable person would interpret this to mean a spiritual struggle. Quran (8:15) - "O ye who believe! When ye meet those who disbelieve in battle, turn not your backs to them. (16)Whoso on that day turneth his back to them, unless maneuvering for battle or intent to join a company, he truly hath incurred wrath from Allah, and his habitation will be hell, a hapless journey's end." Quran (8:39) - "And fight with them until there is no more fitna (disorder, unbelief) and religion should be only for Allah"  Some translations interpret "fitna" as "persecution", but the traditional understanding of this word is not supported by the historical context (See notes for  2:293, also).  The Meccans were simply refusing Muhammad access to their city during Haj.  Other Muslims were allowed to travel there - just not as an armed group, since Muhammad had declared war on Mecca prior to his eviction.  The Meccans were also acting in defense of their religion, since it was Muhammad's intention to destroy their idols and establish Islam by force (which he later did).  Hence the critical part of this verse is to fight until "religion is only for Allah", meaning that the true justification of violence was the unbelief of the opposition.  According to the Sira (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 324) Muhammad further explains that "Allah must have no rivals." Quran (8:57) - "If thou comest on them in the war, deal with them so as to strike fear in those who are behind them, that haply they may remember."   Quran (8:59-60) - "And let not those who disbelieve suppose that they can outstrip (Allah's Purpose). Lo! they cannot escape.  Make ready for them all thou canst of (armed) force and of horses tethered, that thereby ye may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy." Quran (8:65) - "O Prophet, exhort the believers to fight..." Quran (9:5) - "So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them."  According to this verse, the best way of staying safe from Muslim violence is to convert to Islam.  Prayer (salat) and the poor tax (zakat) are among the religion's Five Pillars. Quran (9:14) - "Fight them, Allah will punish them by your hands and bring them to disgrace..." Quran (9:20) - "Those who believe, and have left their homes and striven with their wealth and their lives in Allah's way are of much greater worth in Allah's sight. These are they who are triumphant."  The "striving" spoken of here is Jihad (Arabic). Quran (9:29) - "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."  "People of the Book" refers to Christians and Jews.  This was one of the final "revelations" from Allah and it set in motion the tenacious military expansion, in which Muhammad's companions managed to conquer two-thirds of the Christian world in the next 100 years.  Islam is intended to dominate all other people and faiths. Quran (9:30) - "And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!" Quran (9:38-39) - "O ye who believe! what is the matter with you, that, when ye are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah, ye cling heavily to the earth? Do ye prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter. Unless ye go forth, He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place."  This is a warning to those who refuse to fight, that they will be punished with Hell. Quran (9:41) - "Go forth, light-armed and heavy-armed, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the way of Allah! That is best for you if ye but knew."  See also the verse that follows (9:42) - "If there had been immediate gain (in sight), and the journey easy, they would (all) without doubt have followed thee, but the distance was long, (and weighed) on them"  This contradicts the myth that Muslims are to fight only in self-defense, since the wording implies that battle will be waged a long distance from home (in another country and on Christian soil, in this case, according to the historians). Quran (9:73) - "O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination."  Dehumanizing those who reject Islam, by reminding Muslims that they are merely firewood for Hell, makes it easier to justify slaughter.  It also explains why today's devout Muslims have little regard for those outside the faith. Quran (9:88) - "But the Messenger, and those who believe with him, strive and fight with their wealth and their persons: for them are (all) good things: and it is they who will prosper." Quran (9:111) - "Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Quran: and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that is the achievement supreme." Quran (9:123) - "O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness." Quran (17:16) - "And when We wish to destroy a town, We send Our commandment to the people of it who lead easy lives, but they transgress therein; thus the word proves true against it, so We destroy it with utter destruction."  Note that the crime is moral transgression, and the punishment is "utter destruction."  (Before ordering the 9/11 attacks, Osama bin Laden first issued Americans an invitation to Islam).  Quran (18:65-81) - This parable lays the theological groundwork for honor killings, in which a family member is murdered because they brought shame to the family, either through apostasy or perceived moral indiscretion.  The story (which is not found in any Jewish or Christian source) tells of Moses encountering a man with "special knowledge" who does things which don't seem to make sense on the surface, but are then justified according to later explanation.  One such action is to murder a youth for no apparent reason (74).  However, the wise man later explains that it was feared that the boy would "grieve" his parents by "disobedience and ingratitude."  He was killed so that Allah could provide them a 'better' son.  (Note: This is one reason why honor killing is sanctioned by Sharia.  Reliance of the Traveler (Umdat al-Saliq) says that punishment for murder is not applicable when a parent or grandparent kills their offspring (o.1.1-2).) Quran (21:44) - "We gave the good things of this life to these men and their fathers until the period grew long for them; See they not that We gradually reduce the land (in their control) from its outlying borders? Is it then they who will win?" Quran (25:52) - "Therefore listen not to the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the utmost strenuousness..."   "Strive against" is Jihad - obviously not in the personal context.  It's also significant to point out that this is a Meccan verse. Quran (33:60-62) - "If the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, and the alarmists in the city do not cease, We verily shall urge thee on against them, then they will be your neighbors in it but a little while.  Accursed, they will be seized wherever found and slain with a (fierce) slaughter."   This passage sanctions the slaughter (rendered "merciless" and "horrible murder" in other translations) against three groups: Hypocrites (Muslims who refuse to "fight in the way of Allah" (3:167) and hence don't act as Muslims should), those with "diseased hearts" (which include Jews and Christians 5:51-52), and "alarmists" or "agitators who include those who merely speak out against Islam, according to Muhammad's biographers.  It is worth noting that the victims are to be sought out by Muslims, which is what today's terrorists do.  If this passage is meant merely to apply to the city of Medina, then it is unclear why it is included in Allah's eternal word to Muslim generations. Quran (47:3-4) - "Those who reject Allah follow vanities, while those who believe follow the truth from their lord.  Thus does Allah set forth form men their lessons by similitude.  Therefore when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners,"  Those who reject Allah are to be subdued in battle.  The verse goes on to say the only reason Allah doesn't do the dirty work himself is in order to to test the faithfulness of Muslims.  Those who kill pass the test. "But if it had been Allah's Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the Way of Allah,- He will never let their deeds be lost." Quran (47:35) - "Be not weary and faint-hearted, crying for peace, when ye should be uppermost (Shakir: "have the upper hand") for Allah is with you,"    Quran (48:17) - "There is no blame for the blind, nor is there blame for the lame, nor is there blame for the sick (that they go not forth to war). And whoso obeyeth Allah and His messenger, He will make him enter Gardens underneath which rivers flow; and whoso turneth back, him will He punish with a painful doom."  Contemporary apologists sometimes claim that Jihad means 'spiritual struggle.'  Is so, then why are the blind, lame and sick exempted?  This verse also says that those who do not fight will suffer torment in hell. Quran (48:29) - "Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard (ruthless) against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves"  Islam is not about treating everyone equally.  There are two very distinct standards that are applied based on religious status.  Also the word used for 'hard' or 'ruthless' in this verse shares the same root as the word translated as 'painful' or severe' in verse 16. Quran (61:4) - "Surely Allah loves those who fight in His way"  Religion of Peace, indeed!  This is followed by (61:9): "He it is who has sent His Messenger (Mohammed) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam) to make it victorious over all religions even though the infidels may resist." Quran (61:10-12) - "O ye who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous Penalty?- That ye believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that ye strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah, with your property and your persons: That will be best for you, if ye but knew! He will forgive you your sins, and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow, and to beautiful mansions in Gardens of Eternity."  This verse was given in battle.  It uses the Arabic word, Jihad. Quran (66:9) - "O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be stern with them. Hell will be their home, a hapless journey's end."  The root word of "Jihad" is used again here.  The context is clearly holy war, and the scope of violence is broadened to include "hypocrites" - those who call themselves Muslims but do not act as such.

From the Hadith: Bukhari (52:177) - Allah's Apostle said, "The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. "O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him." Bukhari (52:256) - The Prophet... was asked whether it was permissible to attack the pagan warriors at night with the probability of exposing their women and children to danger. The Prophet replied, "They (i.e. women and children) are from them (i.e. pagans)."  In this command, Muhammad establishes that it is permissible to kill non-combatants in the process of killing a perceived enemy.  This provides justification for the many Islamic terror bombings. Bukhari (52:220) - Allah's Apostle said... 'I have been made victorious with terror' Abu Dawud (14:2526) - The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Three things are the roots of faith: to refrain from (killing) a person who utters, "There is no god but Allah" and not to declare him unbeliever whatever sin he commits, and not to excommunicate him from Islam for his any action; and jihad will be performed continuously since the day Allah sent me as a prophet until the day the last member of my community will fight with the Dajjal (Antichrist) Abu Dawud (14:2527) - The Prophet said: Striving in the path of Allah (jihad) is incumbent on you along with every ruler, whether he is pious or impious Muslim (1:33) - the Messenger of Allah said: I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah Bukhari (8:387) - Allah's Apostle said, "I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah'.  And if they say so, pray like our prayers, face our Qibla and slaughter as we slaughter, then their blood and property will be sacred to us and we will not interfere with them except legally." Muslim (1:30) - "The Messenger of Allah said: I have been commanded to fight against people so long as they do not declare that there is no god but Allah." Muslim (1:149) - "Abu Dharr reported: I said: Messenger of Allah, which of the deeds is the best? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Belief in Allah and Jihad in His cause..." Muslim (20:4645) - "...He (the Messenger of Allah) did that and said: There is another act which elevates the position of a man in Paradise to a grade one hundred (higher), and the elevation between one grade and the other is equal to the height of the heaven from the earth. He (Abu Sa'id) said: What is that act? He replied: Jihad in the way of Allah! Jihad in the way of Allah!" Muslim (20:4696) - "the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: 'One who died but did not fight in the way of Allah nor did he express any desire (or determination) for Jihid died the death of a hypocrite.'" Muslim (19:4321-4323) - Three separate hadith in which Muhammad shrugs over the news that innocent children were killed in a raid by his men against unbelievers.  His response: "They are of them (meaning the enemy)." Muslim (19:4294) - "When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) appointed anyone as leader of an army or detachment he would especially exhort him... He would say: Fight in the name of Allah and in the way of Allah. Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war...  When you meet your enemies who are polytheists, invite them to three courses of action. If they respond to any one of these, you also accept it and withhold yourself from doing them any harm. Invite them to (accept) Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them... If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands. If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah's help and fight them. Tabari 7:97  The morning after the murder of Ashraf, the Prophet declared, "Kill any Jew who falls under your power."  Ashraf was a poet, killed by Muhammad's men because he insulted Islam.  Here, Muhammad widens the scope of his orders to kill.  An innocent Jewish businessman was then slain by his Muslim partner, merely for being non-Muslim. Tabari 9:69  "Killing Unbelievers is a small matter to us"  The words of Muhammad, prophet of Islam. Tabari 17:187  "'By God, our religion (din) from which we have departed is better and more correct than that which these people follow. Their religion does not stop them from shedding blood, terrifying the roads, and seizing properties.' And they returned to their former religion."  The words of a group of Christians who had converted to Islam, but realized their error after being shocked by the violence and looting committed in the name of Allah.  The price of their decision to return to a religion of peace was that the men were beheaded and the woman and children enslaved by the caliph Ali. Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 327: - “Allah said, ‘A prophet must slaughter before collecting captives. A slaughtered enemy is driven from the land. Muhammad, you craved the desires of this world, its goods and the ransom captives would bring. But Allah desires killing them to manifest the religion.’” Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 990: - Lest anyone think that cutting off someone's head while screaming 'Allah Akbar!' is a modern creation, here is an account of that very practice under Muhammad, who seems to approve. Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 992: - "Fight everyone in the way of Allah and kill those who disbelieve in Allah."  Muhammad's instructions to his men prior to a military raid.

Additional Notes:  Other than the fact that Muslims haven't killed every non-Muslim under their domain, there is very little else that they can point to as proof that theirs is a peaceful, tolerant religion.  Where Islam is dominant (as in the Middle East and Pakistan) religious minorities suffer brutal persecution with little resistance.  Where Islam is in the minority (as in Thailand, the Philippines and Europe) there is the threat of violence if Muslim demands are not met.  Either situation seems to provide a justification for religious terrorism, which is persistent and endemic to Islamic fundamentalism. The reasons are obvious and begin with the Quran.  Few verses of Islam's most sacred text can be construed to fit the contemporary virtues of religious tolerance and universal brotherhood.  Those that do are earlier "Meccan" verses which are obviously abrogated by later ones.  This is why Muslim apologists speak of the "risks" of trying to interpret the Quran without their "assistance" - even while claiming that it is a perfect book. Far from being mere history or theological construct, the violent verses of the Quran have played a key role in very real massacre and genocide.  This includes the brutal slaughter of tens of millions of Hindus for five centuries beginning around 1000 AD with Mahmud of Ghazni's bloody conquest.  Both he and the later Tamerlane (Islam's Genghis Khan) slaughtered an untold number merely for defending their temples from destruction.  Buddhism was very nearly wiped off the Indian subcontinent.  Judaism and Christianity met the same fate (albeit more slowly) in areas conquered by Muslim armies, including the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Europe, including today's Turkey.  Zoroastrianism, the ancient religion of a proud Persian people is despised by Muslims and barely survives in modern Iran. So ingrained is violence in the religion that Islam has never really stopped being at war, either with other religions or with itself.  Muhammad was a military leader, laying siege to towns, massacring the men, raping their women, enslaving their children, and taking the property of others as his own.  On several occasions he rejected offers of surrender from the besieged inhabitants and even butchered captives.  He actually inspired his followers to battle when they did not feel it was right to fight, promising them slaves and booty if they did and threatening them with Hell if they did not.  Muhammad allowed his men to rape traumatized women captured in battle, usually on the very day their husbands and family members were slaughtered.  It is important to emphasize that, for the most part, Muslim armies waged aggressive campaigns, and the religion's most dramatic military conquests were made by the actual companions of Muhammad in the decades following his death.  The early Islamic principle of warfare was that the civilian population of a town was to be destroyed (ie. men executed, women and children taken as slaves) if they defended themselves.  Although modern apologists often claim that Muslims are only supposed to attack in self-defense, this is an oxymoron that is flatly contradicted by the accounts of Islamic historians and others that go back to the time of Muhammad.  Consider the example of the Qurayza Jews, who were completely obliterated only five years after Muhammad arrived in Medina.  Their leader opted to stay neutral when their town was besieged by a Meccan army that  was sent to take revenge for Muhammad's deadly caravan raids.  The tribe killed no one from either side and even surrendered peacefully to Muhammad after the Meccans had been turned back.  Yet the prophet of Islam had every male member of the Qurayza beheaded, and every woman and child enslaved, even raping one of the captives himself (what Muslim apologists might refer to as "same day marriage").  One of Islam's most revered modern scholars, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, openly sanctions offensive Jihad: "In the Jihad which you are seeking, you look for the enemy and invade him. This type of Jihad takes place only when the Islamic state is invading other [countries] inorder to spread the word of Islam and to remove obstacles standing in its way."  Elsewhere, he notes: "Islam has the right to take the initiative…this is God’s religion and it is for the whole world. It has the right to destroy all obstacles in the form of institutions and traditions … it attacks institutions and traditions to release human beings from their poisonous influences, which distort human nature and curtail human freedom. Those who say that Islamic Jihad was merely for the defense of the 'homeland of Islam' diminish the greatness of the Islamic way of life." Muhammad's failure to leave a clear line of succession resulted in perpetual internal war following his death.  Those who knew him best first fought to keep remote tribes from leaving Islam and reverting to their preferred religion (the Ridda or 'Apostasy wars').  Then, within the closer community, early Meccan converts battled later ones.  Hostility developed between those immigrants who had traveled with Muhammad to Mecca and the Ansar at Medina who had helped them settle in.  Finally there was a violent struggle within Muhammad's own family between his favorite wife and favorite daughter - a jagged schism that has left Shias and Sunnis at each others' throats to this day.  The strangest and most untrue thing that can be said about Islam is that it is a Religion of Peace.  If every standard by which the West is judged and condemned (slavery, imperialism, intolerance, misogyny, sexual repression, warfare...) were applied equally to Islam, the verdict would be devastating.  Islam never gives up what it conquers, be it religion, culture, language or life.  Neither does it make apologies or any real effort at moral progress.  It is the least open to dialogue and the most self-absorbed.  It is convinced of its own perfection, yet brutally shuns self-examination and represses criticism. This is what makes the Quran's verses of violence so dangerous.  They are given the weight of divine command.  While Muslim terrorists take them as literally as anything else in their holy book, and understand that Islam is incomplete without Jihad, moderates offer little to contradict them - outside of opinion.  Indeed, what do they have?  Speaking of peace and love may win over the ignorant, but when every twelfth verse of Islam's holiest book either speaks to Allah's hatred for non-Muslims or calls for their death, forced conversion, or subjugation, it's little wonder that sympathy for terrorism runs as deeply as it does in the broader community - even if most Muslims personally prefer not to interpret their religion in this way. Although scholars like Ibn Khaldun, one of Islam's most respected philosophers, understood that"the holy war is a religious duty, because of the universalism of the Muslim mission and (the obligation to) convert everybody to Islam either by persuasion or by force", many other Muslims are either unaware or willfully ignorant of the Quran's near absence of verses that preach universal non-violence.  Their understanding of Islam comes from what they are taught by others.  In the West, it is typical for believers to think that their religion must be like Christianity - preaching the New Testament virtues of peace, love, and tolerance - because Muslims are taught that Islam is supposed to be superior in every way.  They are somewhat surprised and embarrassed to learn that the evidence of the Quran and the bloody history of Islam are very much in contradiction to this. Others simply accept the violence.  In 1991, a Palestinian couple in America was convicted of stabbing their daughter to death for being too Westernized.  A family friend came to their defense, excoriating the jury for not understanding the "culture", claiming that the father was merely following "the religion" and saying that the couple had to "discipline their daughter or lose respect." (source).  In 2011, unrepentant Palestinian terrorists, responsible for the brutal murders of civilians, women and children explicitly in the name of Allah were treated to a luxurious "holy pilgrimage" to Mecca by the Saudi king - without a single Muslim voice raised in protest. For their part, Western liberals would do well not to sacrifice critical thinking to the god of political correctness, or look for reasons to bring other religion down to the level of Islam merely to avoid the existential truth that this it is both different and dangerous. There are just too many Muslims who take the Quran literally... and too many others who couldn't care less about the violence done in the name of Islam.

TheReligionofPeace.com Home Page

Message for the Star Family Circus Leave OUR Roo's alone

Circus kangaroo's boxing bout scrapped

By Daniel Piotrowski 
Daily Telegraph
February 05, 2013 12:32PM

US kangaroo boxing bout dumped
Local police: 'There will be no match'
Hope future performances will be abandoned

A CIRCUS boxing match between a kangaroo and a human has been scrapped after global outcry.

Police in the US town of Oxford, Mississippi, told local newspaper The Clarion Ledger that a plan to stage a boxing match between Rocky the kangaroo and a human at a circus had been halted.

Oxford Police Department chief Joey East said the marsupial would not be donning boxing gloves when the Star Family Circus show was held in town on February 13.

"We have spoken with the owners and the managers (of the circus)," Mr East said. "There will be no kangaroo and boxing match of any kind."

Animal rights activists in the US and Australia were outraged after it was reported the circus was planning to once again force a captive marsupial into the ring.

The activists started an online petition to stop the bout on the website Change.org. The petition referred to YouTube footage of Rocky, in boxing gloves and shorts, being forced to box a clown at a previous circus.

"The kangaroo is repeatedly punched in the face by a human," the petition said. "This is blatant animal cruelty, cruelty is NOT entertainment, and we will not allow it in our community."

"Boxing matches are extremely stressful for kangaroos... They must be harassed and bullied into defending themselves (in) boxing matches."

Two other kangaroos that were forced to box for circus entertainment died of complications while on tour, the petition stated.

Mr East said police officers will be on hand next week to enforce any violations of Mississippi’s animal cruelty laws.

RSPCA spokesman Lukas Picton said it was pleased that "humane sense has prevailed" and that the boxing match had been cancelled.

"We would hope that any of Rocky’s subsequent performances are met with the same opposition and ultimately abandoned."

Petitions have been organised to stop the kangaroo boxing show from going ahead at circus events in other US states.

Beijings former highest ranking official in Australia,former Australian Prime Minister Lu Kewen aka. Kevin (07) Rudd, starts finessing the media again, after Madame Gillard's Comrades desert her sinking Labor/ Green Loon / "Independent" Minority "Co Party Government" ship.

Beijings former highest ranking official in Australia,former Australian Prime Minister Lu Kewen aka. Kevin (07) Rudd, starts finessing the media again, after Madame Gillard's Comrades desert her sinking Labor/ Green Loon / "Independent" Minority "Co Party Government" ship.

Kevin Rudd shows his soft side on Twitter as government insists it isn't in crisis mode

KEVIN Rudd is continuing his charm offensive as senior Gillard Government ministers insist the government is not in crisis.

The former PM, who earlier this week appeared on morning show Sunrise and with a chainsaw helping flood victims in Queensland with their clean-up, today tweeted about the joys of his new granddaughter.

It was accompanied with a picture of a relaxed Mr Rudd reclining on the lounge with his daughter Jessica's new baby, a rattle, and a soft toy.

Lu Kewens (Kevin (07) Rudd) Daughter Jessica and the Father of her baby Beijing "Banker" Albert Tse

He wrote: "Heaps of fun having baby Josephine home."

"She's already delightfully wicked, just like her mum at the same age."

Labor, HSU ,Thomson,Mcardle,Hawker

ICAC : Labor's favourite Family the Obeid's

Mine fix exposed in just 14 steps

VANDA CARSON 
The Daily Telegraph
February 01, 2013 12:00AM

ICAC says 14 key dates prove that Moses Obeid used the leaked information from disgraced former NSW resources minister Ian Macdonald to earn a $75 million profit.

Moses says it's coincidence he bought the neighbouring farms. The dates relate to 2008 when Macdonald reopened a tender process for mining exploration licences.

• May 14: Email shows Macdonald making inquiries within his department about Mount Penny.

• May 15: Macdonald went on an overseas excursion with coal mining people.

• June 3: Macdonald called out of the blue on his department for a briefing on the issue of coal exploration licences.

• June 6: Macdonald, contrary to department advice, created the Mount Penny tenement which includes the Obeid family farm.

• June 16: Macdonald calls for a specific briefing from the department about exploration licences in the Bylong Valley.

• June 16: Macdonald goes to Credo restaurant at Cammeray with Moses and racehorse trainer Anthony Cummings.

• June 23: Obeid brothers tell their lawyer they expect the value of their farms to increase up to four times.

• June 30: Notes taken by Obeid lawyer Chris Rumore at a meeting with Moses and two of his brothers show they knew there was a proposed mining licence and they were assuming it would be granted.

• July 2: Macdonald called for the creation of a list of the mining companies which were likely to be invited to participate in tenders.

• July 3: Moses Obeid meets with Gardner Brook at the Wentworth Hotel in Sydney to 
discuss the coal licences.
• July 4: Urgent meeting called by the Obeid family.
• July 7: Senior departmental officers met with Macdonald and gave him a list of companies to be invited to participate in the EOI.

• July 8: Moses Obeid meets Macdonald for lunch at the Courtyard Cafe Da Capo on Macquarie St - Obeid says he doesn't believe this happened.

• July 9: Macdonald phones Moses Obeid and tells him the list of mining companies in contention for the exploration licences and Obeid meets with Gardner Brook and gives it to him the list.

Australia:Labor Steve Price, Andrew Bolt, Ben Fordham,Michael Smith, Craig Thomson, Chris Mcardle, HSU

Thomson's bail ban from ex-sex partners  
EMBATTLED Craig Thomson has been bailed on condition he doesn't contact anyone he allegedly sought sexual services from.

Timeline of events involving Craig Thomson and the Health Services Union

Daily Telegraph
January 31, 2013 4:52PM

FROM political victory to arrest: a timeline of events involving the Health Services Union and suspended Labor backbencher Craig Thomson.

• November 2007 - Craig Thomson, national secretary of the Health Services Union since 2002, wins the seat of Dobell in Labor's federal election victory.
• January 2008 - Kathy Jackson takes over from Mr Thomson as general secretary of the HSU and finds accounts in the Melbourne office in disarray.
• May 2008 - An audit sent to Ms Jackson raises "concerns about possible misuse of union funds by Mr Thomson".
• July 2008 - Fair Work Australia asks the HSU what is happening with its 2007 financial return.
• December 2008 - Ms Jackson writes to lawyers Slater and Gordon instructing them to engage tax specialists BDO Kendall to "conduct an investigation".
• April 2009 - FWA commences an inquiry into the union.
• April 6 - Industrial registrar Doug Williams writes to Ms Jackson asking for the 2007 and 2008 accounts audited and signed.
• April 7 - Ms Jackson tells Mr Williams of "possible financial irregularities revealed by the exit audit and ongoing BDO Kendall investigation".
• April 8 - Fairfax Media alleges Mr Thomson used his union credit cards to help fund his election campaign and pay for a number of personal expenses, including escort services.
• April 9 - HSU Victorian secretary Jeff Jackson is accused by HSU state president Pauline Fegan of using his union credit card to pay more than $1400 over four months for escort services.
• September 2009 - FWA interviews Ms Jackson.
• March 2010 - FWA notifies the union's national office that the inquiry has become an investigation.
• August 20 - Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and NSW premier Barry O'Farrell call on Prime Minister Julia Gillard to explain the Thomson saga.
• August 24 - The HSU says it will fully cooperate with a NSW police investigation into Mr Thomson and calls on the Labor MP to publicly explain "financial irregularities" it has found.
• August 25 - Federal Labor denies claims the government interfered in FWA's ongoing investigation into the finances of the HSU.
• August 26 - Ms Jackson says she won't be intimidated after a shovel is placed on the doorstep of her Melbourne home. Ms Gillard denies she knew about allegations surrounding Mr Thomson and his former union before the public did.
• September 8, 2011 - NSW police drop their investigation into allegations Mr Thomson misused a union credit card, saying they had no evidence.
• September 22 - Mr Williamson is suspended on full pay as HSU national president following allegations he embezzled union funds. Chris Brown is appointed acting national president a few days later.
• November, 2011 - A motion of no confidence against Ms Jackson as HSU executive president is passed at the union's annual conference. Ms Jackson vows to stay as head of the union until end of 2014.
• March 14, 2012 - FWA's investigation into HSU Victoria No 1 branch is completed. Three former officials are said to face Federal Court action.
• April 3, 2012 - FWA says its investigations are complete. 
• April 5 - The ACTU suspends the HSU until the union can resolve its governance and financial management issues.
• April 8 - Pressure mounts for Mr Williamson to be sacked from Unions NSW.
• April 9 - Ms Jackson calls for the union's national executive to resign and let members elect a new leadership.
• April 10 - Divisions within the embattled HSU's top brass deepen, with branches of the union threatening to break away unless the leadership dispute is resolved.
• April 12 - Unions NSW votes to dump Mr Williamson as its vice-president and also moves to suspend the troubled union from its organisation.
• April 13 - Infighting within the HSU intensifies, with Ms Jackson charging Mr Williamson under the HSU's rules in a bid to have him removed.
• April 15 - The federal opposition calls on Ms Gillard to demand Mr Thomson co-operate with a NSW police investigation into the HSU.
• April 18 - Mr Brown calls for a report commissioned by the HSU's East branch into alleged financial mismanagement and credit card misuse to be released publicly.
• April 23 - Ms Jackson goes to the Federal Court claiming 17 members of the HSU East branch are not entitled to vote at union council meetings.
• April 26 - Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten applies to have the HSU East branch placed into administration. Unions NSW, ACTU and Mr Brown welcome the move, but Ms Jackson accuses Mr Shorten of "grandstanding".
• April 27 - A meeting of the HSU top brass in Sydney calls for Ms Jackson to resign but admits it cannot remove her forcibly. Former industrial relations commissioner Errol Hodder is appointed to deal with internal charges against Mr Williamson and Ms Jackson as the new union ombudsman.
• April 29 - Ms Gillard announces Mr Thomson will be quitting the Labor Party to sit on the crossbench as an independent.
• May 7 - Fair Work Australia delivers its report.
• May 9 - NSW Labor Party confirms it paid Mr Thomson's legal bill over the Fair Work Australia investigation into the misuse of union funds.
• May 21 - Craig Thomson gives 58-minute speech to parliament addressing allegations against him, claiming he was the victim of an elaborate identity theft. 
• June 6 - Former prostitute who claimed in an interview with A Current Affair to have slept with Mr Thomson recants and apologises, claiming a case of "complete mistaken identity".
• October 15 - Fair Work Australia takes Federal Court action alleging Mr Thomson misused hundreds of thousands of dollars in union funds.
• October 24 - Fraud squads from NSW and Victoria raid Craig Thomson's house, seizing computers and other items.
• December 4 - Mr Thomson formally denies spending union money on prostitutes and improperly using his position as Health Services Union national secretary in a 28-page defence lodged in the Federal Court.
• January 31 - Mr Thomson is arrested at his electorate office on the NSW Central Coast and is due to face court in Victoria on 150 counts of fraud, which his lawyer says he denies.
• November 2007 - Craig Thomson, national secretary of the Health Services Union since 2002, wins the seat of Dobell in Labor's federal election victory.
• January 2008 - Kathy Jackson takes over from Mr Thomson as general secretary of the HSU and finds accounts in the Melbourne office in disarray.
• May 2008 - An audit sent to Ms Jackson raises "concerns about possible misuse of union funds by Mr Thomson".
• July 2008 - Fair Work Australia asks the HSU what is happening with its 2007 financial return.
• December 2008 - Ms Jackson writes to lawyers Slater and Gordon instructing them to engage tax specialists BDO Kendall to "conduct an investigation".
• April 2009 - FWA commences an inquiry into the union.
• April 6 - Industrial registrar Doug Williams writes to Ms Jackson asking for the 2007 and 2008 accounts audited and signed.
• April 7 - Ms Jackson tells Mr Williams of "possible financial irregularities revealed by the exit audit and ongoing BDO Kendall investigation".
• April 8 - Fairfax Media alleges Mr Thomson used his union credit cards to help fund his election campaign and pay for a number of personal expenses, including escort services.
• April 9 - HSU Victorian secretary Jeff Jackson is accused by HSU state president Pauline Fegan of using his union credit card to pay more than $1400 over four months for escort services.
• September 2009 - FWA interviews Ms Jackson.
• March 2010 - FWA notifies the union's national office that the inquiry has become an investigation.
• August 20 - Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and NSW premier Barry O'Farrell call on Prime Minister Julia Gillard to explain the Thomson saga.
• August 24 - The HSU says it will fully cooperate with a NSW police investigation into Mr Thomson and calls on the Labor MP to publicly explain "financial irregularities" it has found.
• August 25 - Federal Labor denies claims the government interfered in FWA's ongoing investigation into the finances of the HSU.
• August 26 - Ms Jackson says she won't be intimidated after a shovel is placed on the doorstep of her Melbourne home. Ms Gillard denies she knew about allegations surrounding Mr Thomson and his former union before the public did.
• September 8, 2011 - NSW police drop their investigation into allegations Mr Thomson misused a union credit card, saying they had no evidence.
• September 22 - Mr Williamson is suspended on full pay as HSU national president following allegations he embezzled union funds. Chris Brown is appointed acting national president a few days later.
• November, 2011 - A motion of no confidence against Ms Jackson as HSU executive president is passed at the union's annual conference. Ms Jackson vows to stay as head of the union until end of 2014.
• March 14, 2012 - FWA's investigation into HSU Victoria No 1 branch is completed. Three former officials are said to face Federal Court action.
• April 3, 2012 - FWA says its investigations are complete. 
• April 5 - The ACTU suspends the HSU until the union can resolve its governance and financial management issues.
• April 8 - Pressure mounts for Mr Williamson to be sacked from Unions NSW.
• April 9 - Ms Jackson calls for the union's national executive to resign and let members elect a new leadership.
• April 10 - Divisions within the embattled HSU's top brass deepen, with branches of the union threatening to break away unless the leadership dispute is resolved.
• April 12 - Unions NSW votes to dump Mr Williamson as its vice-president and also moves to suspend the troubled union from its organisation.
• April 13 - Infighting within the HSU intensifies, with Ms Jackson charging Mr Williamson under the HSU's rules in a bid to have him removed.
• April 15 - The federal opposition calls on Ms Gillard to demand Mr Thomson co-operate with a NSW police investigation into the HSU.
• April 18 - Mr Brown calls for a report commissioned by the HSU's East branch into alleged financial mismanagement and credit card misuse to be released publicly.
• April 23 - Ms Jackson goes to the Federal Court claiming 17 members of the HSU East branch are not entitled to vote at union council meetings.
• April 26 - Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten applies to have the HSU East branch placed into administration. Unions NSW, ACTU and Mr Brown welcome the move, but Ms Jackson accuses Mr Shorten of "grandstanding".
• April 27 - A meeting of the HSU top brass in Sydney calls for Ms Jackson to resign but admits it cannot remove her forcibly. Former industrial relations commissioner Errol Hodder is appointed to deal with internal charges against Mr Williamson and Ms Jackson as the new union ombudsman.
• April 29 - Ms Gillard announces Mr Thomson will be quitting the Labor Party to sit on the crossbench as an independent.
• May 7 - Fair Work Australia delivers its report.
• May 9 - NSW Labor Party confirms it paid Mr Thomson's legal bill over the Fair Work Australia investigation into the misuse of union funds.
• May 21 - Craig Thomson gives 58-minute speech to parliament addressing allegations against him, claiming he was the victim of an elaborate identity theft. 
• June 6 - Former prostitute who claimed in an interview with A Current Affair to have slept with Mr Thomson recants and apologises, claiming a case of "complete mistaken identity".
• October 15 - Fair Work Australia takes Federal Court action alleging Mr Thomson misused hundreds of thousands of dollars in union funds.
• October 24 - Fraud squads from NSW and Victoria raid Craig Thomson's house, seizing computers and other items.
• December 4 - Mr Thomson formally denies spending union money on prostitutes and improperly using his position as Health Services Union national secretary in a 28-page defence lodged in the Federal Court.
• January 31, 2013 - Mr Thomson is arrested at his electorate office on the NSW Central Coast and is due to face court in Victoria on 150 counts of fraud, which his lawyer says he denies.

Uniting Church and Islamic Council of Victoria board member Nazeem Hussain at odds with Turkey's PM Erogdan

Victoria's peak Muslim body lashes out at 'hysterical' objections to mosques

John Masanauskas
Herald Sun
January 30, 201312:00AM

VICTORIA'S peak Muslim body has lashed out at "hysterical" objections whenever plans for mosques go before local councils.

Islamic Council of Victoria board member Nazeem Hussain said there was an underlying level of Islamophobia in society and Muslims had to do more to educate people about their religion and mosque proposals.

"Multicultural relations often entail very complex histories and interpretations,

Who is lieing here ?  "Moderate" Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan or

Islamic Council of Victoria board member Nazeem Hussain ?

"People are clearly fearful of Muslims and Islam, and it's easy to create that fear and hysteria in some ways," Mr Hussain said.

Several applications are in the spotlight, including a bid by an Afghan community group to build a mosque and community centre in Doveton, on the city's south-east fringe.

The mosque, which would be built next to the future headquarters of evangelical church Catch the Fire Ministries, has been hotly debated by residents and City of Casey councillors.

In Clayton, a Uniting Church congregation has apologised to Islamic groups for suggesting to Monash Council a new mosque could become a training ground for fanatics.

Last year, Whittlesea councillors rejected plans for an Islamic school in Mernda despite council planning officers recommending it.

Mr Hussain said Islamic community applications often were met with hysteria not faced by proposals by other religious groups.

"It speaks to an underlying level of Islamophobia in society and a fear of Muslims moving into neighbourhoods and disrupting locals," he said.

Mr Hussain accused Catch the Fire Ministries pastor Danny Nalliah of creating community divisions by spreading false information about Muslims and the Koran in his opposition to the Doveton mosque.

But Mr Nalliah, who had a long-running legal battle with the Islamic Council over a racial vilification matter, said he had no issue with individual Muslims but objected to violent passages in the Koran.

"I am concerned ... because of what is going to be taught in the mosque based on what is in the Koran," he said.

State Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Minister Nick Kotsiras said people had the right to object to building proposals on planning grounds.

"To base it on religious grounds is unfair," Mr Kotsiras said.

Last night, Monash Council was due to vote on a plan to build a Monash University-linked mosque in a Clayton residential area.

Monash Uniting Church apologises to Islamic groups over mosque claim
John Masanauskas
Herald Sun
January 29, 201312:33PM

A CHURCH has apologised to Islamic groups for suggesting that an outer-suburban mosque could become a training ground for religious fanatics.

Monash Uniting Church Congregation chairman Richard Farrell had written to Monash Council objecting to plans by an Islamic association to upgrade a house used for prayers to a mosque.

Mr Farrell, who said he was writing on behalf of his church, said the expansion would disturb residents with the call to prayer, and "in effect the mosque is a training ground for religious moderates at one end of the scale and religious fanatics at the other end''.

The site, in Beddoe Ave, Clayton, is owned by Monash University and used by the Islamic Association of Monash Mosque, which says the new building will accommodate a maximum of 185 people.

But the Monash church has apologised after the Uniting Church of Australia Victorian Synod intervened in the controversy.

Synod general secretary the Rev Dr Mark Lawrence said Mr Farrell's claim that the mosque could become a training ground for religious fanatics was outrageous and unacceptable.

"Multicultural relations often entail very complex histories and interpretations,

Who is lieing here ?  "Moderate" Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan or

Islamic Council of Victoria board member Nazeem Hussain or Synod general secretary the Rev Dr Mark Lawrence?

"It goes against the Uniting Church's strong desire to interact with all faiths in a respectful manner,'' he said.

"Multicultural relations often entail very complex histories and interpretations, and there are those in Monash Uniting Church who have experienced oppression and persecution in their countries of birth.

"While these people have understandably brought their concerns to Australia, this does not justify the position taken by the chairperson's statement.''

A synod spokeswoman said the Monash church had withdrawn its objection to the mosque and sent written apologies to the university's Islamic association and to the Islamic Council of Victoria.

"I don't think they really thought through what they were saying,'' she said.

A planning report before Monash Council has recommended approving the proposal, with councillors due to vote on the issue tonight.

There were nine other objections.

Plans for a new mosque in the nearby City of Casey have also generated community debate.

About 1600 people have signed a petition against the mosque, which would be built next to the  headquarters of  evangelical Christian church Catch the Fire Ministries.

Casey Council is expected to consider the application next month.

VCAT's and their Muslim staff,supporters and apologists most INFAMOUS and appallingly vindictive Star Chamber prosecution against Christians in Australia. 

Complaint against Catch the Fire Ministries and Pastors Daniel Scot and Danny Nalliah by the Islamic Council of Victoria.

Full History of what is possibly Australia's first Star Chamber prosecution of two Australians for thought crime, instigated by Muslims and their apologists available at Salt Shakers

Labor Inc. ICAC Obeid Family

Closing on the truth as Obeids take the stand

AMY DALE and VANDA CARSON 

The Daily Telegraph 

January 31, 2013 12:00AM

D-DAY has finally arrived for the Obeid family.

As the state's most explosive ICAC inquiry nears the finish line, today it zeroes in on its targets- with Eddie Obeid and his son Moses due to take the stand.

The hearing has been told of corruption at a level allegedly unseen since the days of the Rum Corps. This morning will see the start of the Obeid corps, with seven relatives to give evidence in coming days.

The former MP's wife Judith was announced as a last-minute addition to today's witness list but it is Moses, her eldest son, who is expected to step into the box first for a grilling over the family's involvement in a multi-million dollar mining venture.

Mr Obeid's four other sons- referred to at the inquiry as "the boys" - will give evidence tomorrow

WEALTHY businessman John McGuigan dropped his head in his hands. He faced up to one of the most embarrassing moments.
Former minister Ian Macdonald allegedly gave the Obeids inside information potentially worth $100 million and rigged the tender process for a coal mining exploration licence in the Bylong Valley.

Mr Macdonald will give evidence next month.

Yesterday, secretly taped phone calls between the major players in the successful bidder Cascade Coal revealed a belief "the shortest distance to a pot of money" was a proposed $500 million takeover to be made after the Obeid family were bought out of the venture. ICAC was played a colourful late night call between Greg Jones, a close friend of Mr Macdonald, and businessman John McGuigan.

The March 2011 call was peppered with expletives and insults directed at Graham Cubbin, a non-executive director at White Energy, the company on the verge of the takeover. Mr McGuigan is heard describing his "discussion with the [Obeid] boys" where he reassured them "this is not some ... Machiavellian play to ... f ... you guys around."

The inquiry heard Cascade Coal wanted the Obeids out of their 25 per cent venture because of the poor association the family's name carried in business, with Mr McGuigan describing their reputation as "an aroma".

Mr Cubbin was considered a thorn in their side by Cascade Coal because of his persistent questions about the Obeid role in the deal, ICAC heard.

"This prick Cubbin who is going ... to have his nuts on the f ..... quartermast," Mr McGuigan is heard to say.

"What I've been thinking is ... how do we get control, how do we manage reputation and what's the shortest distance to a pot of money."

Watching Mr McGuigan give evidence yesterday was a surprise court watcher - former Kings Cross underworld figure and convicted drug dealer Bill Bayeh.

Bayeh, still on parole for dealing in cocaine and heroin from a Double Bay cafe, would not tell The Daily Telegraph who he was there to support.

Australia:Labor's Green Loon nanny state can only rear socialism.

Why a nanny state can only rear socialism.

Ross Fitzgerald
19 January 2013  

Do Australians want to create wealth or simply redistribute what we already have, asks ROSS FITZGERALD

With a federal election to be held this year, Australians must give serious consideration to the impact of policies promoted by Labor and by the Coalition in terms of building greater resilience and self-reliance in our society.

Australia has largely avoided the path taken by some European nations of a massive welfare state funded through high levels of taxation.

 Madame Gillard and  US President Barack Hussein Obama

It is vital that as a nation we remain eternally vigilant against the false appeal of such systems.

This issue came to the fore in last year’s United States presidential election when Mitt Romney was secretly recorded at a fund-raising event telling supporters that “There are 47 per cent of the people who will vote for the president (Obama) no matter what … who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims. … These are people who pay no income tax. … and so my job is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.”

The comments were reported as a devastating gaffe that triggered a firestorm of criticism and dogged Romney for the remainder of his campaign.

While his remarks were politically damaging, it also meant that neither presidential contender was prepared to engage in a serious debate as to how the US planned to curtail rising levels of welfare dependency – particularly within the context of its ageing population.

Economist Nicholas Eberstadt’s book published last year titled ‘A Nation of Takers: America’s Entitlement Epidemic’ observed that “The United States is now on the verge of a symbolic threshold: the point at which more than half of all American households receive, and accept, transfer benefits from the government.”

Eberstadt also pointed out that welfare spending accounted for about 33 per cent of the US federal government budget in 1960, a figure that had doubled to about 66 per cent today.

In Australia the Howard government, partly through its focus on increasing employment opportunities, had some success in reversing the trend of increasing welfare payments.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that 28.5 per cent of households were reliant on government pensions and allowances in 1995 but that had fallen to 23.2 per cent in 2007.

This year’s federal government budget of around $376 billion includes $131.7 billion on social security and welfare, or about 35 per cent of the total budget.

Moreover, that percentage is likely to increase significantly in coming years.

Initiatives such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the increasing demand for the aged pension due to population ageing will inevitably drive up this expenditure.

Minister Jenny Macklin’s recent claim that she could live on the dole sparked such a backlash that it virtually obliterated the Government’s announcement on changes to single parenting payments aimed at encouraging single parents back into work.

While there always seem to be good arguments for increasing welfare payments, relatively modest increases to the dole during times of low unemployment can balloon rapidly during the inevitable economic downturns of the future.

Senior Fellowq at the Sydney-based Centre for Independent Studies, Robert Carling, pointed out last year that “In democratic welfare states, the proportion of the electorate that attracts more in social benefits from government than it pays in tax has become so large that candidates who promise to curb the welfare state have a hard time winning elections.”

Carling also drew on data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics that showed 60% of households in this country received more in direct social benefits than they paid in taxes. Moreover he argues cogently that, in Australia, the welfare state has gone far beyond the concept of a ‘safety net.’ There is, Carling says, “ a large constituency whose direct financial interests are best served by the preservation or enhancement of social benefits, whether or not that is in their broader self-interest or the national interest.”

The danger is that the growth in welfare spending can always seem to be justified on compassionate grounds and any reductions are often as regarded as heartless. But at some point the system becomes unsustainable as it enters a spiral of ever-higher payments funded through higher taxes.

If unchecked, this could lead to a significant economic and social crisis that would impact more severely on larger numbers of people.

To avoid this slippery slope, one of the priorities for our government must be to provide a policy framework that supports greater levels of self-sufficiency.

After all that is what most Australians strive to personally achieve over their life – working and earning enough income so that they can have a reasonable standard of living, pay off debts and save enough money for retirement.

For many Australians, one of the key milestones in that journey is when the mortgage on the family home is finally paid off. This frees up additional funds and means that there is greater certainty about future accommodation.

Individuals and couples who are mortgage free can obviously live on far lower and less reliable incomes than those encumbered by debt.

The Federal government provides a safety net for older Australians who for various reasons have not been able to save enough to support themselves.

The current maximum payment for the aged pension is $712 per fortnight for individuals or $1073.40 for couples.

For generations past this was often viewed as the only form of income available to older Australians and it was accepted that living on the pension meant a frugal existence in retirement.

Current and future generations have higher expectations for their retirement lifestyles.

For most Australians, the family home will be their largest investment, with superannuation the second largest.

Governments in Australia have played an important role in promoting superannuation, particularly since the Keating government’s visionary decision in 1992 to implement universal compulsory superannuation. The thinking behind this policy was to ensure that more Australians were able to provide for their own retirement – thereby reducing demand on the government for the aged pension.

The ageing of Australia’s population will place increasingly higher demands on government in coming decades as the percentage of older Australians increases as a proportion of the total population.

The Hawke, Keating and Howard Governments all sought to provide a policy environment that encouraged greater levels of self-reliance.

Although the Howard government had a mixed record on superannuation, in its latter years Treasurer Peter Costello introduced a number of reforms that provided significant taxation benefits to those who made additional contributions to their superannuation fund.

This was to encourage greater levels of saving among those approaching retirement age.

It should be safe to assume that Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been briefed on the implications of population ageing. Yet it is extremely disheartening to witness her government making decisions that actively discourage higher levels of saving.

The Gillard government’s record on numerous policy areas has been rightly criticized. Indeed it is hard to identify any area where her government has shone, either in policy design or implementation. From the chaos in its border policies to its ill-fated environmental policies, including the cash-for-clunkers scheme, to its erratic military procurement policies, the current federal government has failed on many fronts.

Sadly, one of its worst efforts has been in the changes to superannuation.

The Gillard government has reduced significantly the amount of money that can be invested in superannuation at lower rates of taxation and greatly increased the taxation penalties for exceeding its new low cap of $25,000 per year.

There have also been a number of policy changes to promote the role of Industry superannuation funds to the disadvantage of private sector funds.

Unions established industry super funds and union officials dominate their boards.

While this may strengthen the power and influence of the union movement, it reduces choice and competition and may lead to a significant number of Australians having lower retirement incomes than may otherwise be the case.

These changes to superannuation should attract far more scrutiny, not least because it is also an example of the PM’s policy instincts. The more the government seeks to intervene, regulate, restrict and interfere in people’s lives the less likely they are to take responsibility their actions. This government has re-embraced the Nanny State concept of taking away personal choice and decision-making.

While there has been considerable focus on Gillard’s less than stellar legal career at Slater and Gordon, we should not overlook the fact that the Prime Minister was once a leading member of the Socialist Forum, which at the time considered the Labor party as too right wing for its liking.

While a number of student politicians mature in their views, it is telling that Gillard’s university politics took her to the far left of the political spectrum.

Theoretically, the ultimate welfare state is a supposedly classless society where individuals do not own capital and the state provides equally for all its citizens.

The choice Australians must soon make is whether to embrace the creeping socialism in the form of Labor’s Nanny State or turn to the ideals of self-reliance and individual responsibility within a government framework that provides an appropriate safety net for those in genuine need.

This year Australians can expect Gillard to continue her campaign to divide the nation along class lines, with wealthier Australians demonized for not paying more tax. She will also seek to portray the Coalition as captives of corporate Australia and protectors of privilege.

This embodies the classic agenda of a primary commitment to redistribute rather than to create wealth. But it also represents a failed theory of a Nanny State that ultimately leads to social and economic collapse.

It is well and truly time to rebalance the national agenda away from such a discredited path.

Emeritus Professor of History and Politics at Griffith University, Ross Fitzgerald is the author of 35 books, most recently the political satire ‘Fools’ Paradise’.

The Daily Telegraph, January 19, 2013, pp106-107