Criticizing the Dark Side of Radical Islam Doesn't Make One Pro-Israel

I criticize and equally applaud all religions; what sets one apart from the next is always simply how they are applied.

(SALEM) - I write about the realities of resistance fighters and movements deemed 'terrorist' because I understand the struggle that leads to such falsely used nomenclature. I stand against all forms of state terrorism first and foremost and believe that all hope is lost when totalitarian governments rule and are simultaneously allowed to illegally occupy the land of other nations.

Today I was told by a friend that Sudan; the largest Muslim nation in Africa, should be backed politically at all costs. I say no way when you are talking about such a violent and immoral manifestation of Mohammad's message to mankind.

And it doesn't mean I endorse Israeli apartheid or the way the so-called Jewish state constantly lays waste to its political opponents... the ethnic cleansing of Arabs, nor does it mean that I back the terrible policies of my own country. People need to get that through their heads. We don't decide where we begin, we just do. We don't ask to have families and schools that program us with false data, but we do.

What sets those willing to criticize Israel apart from others, is truth. The answer lies in media and politics and education.

I have fond feelings for all of the people of this earth and their varied belief systems. I like people regardless of what church, mosque, synagogue or temple they attend of visit.

The first thing to understand and keep in mind is that people do not choose where they are born, they do not ask for the culture they are born into.

I criticize and equally applaud all religions; what sets one apart from the next is always simply how they are applied. If and when government becomes a religious entity, then we are lost. The only possible hope is that these countries maintain strict laws that call for and regulate religious freedom. In fact they need to be forced to honor freedom of religion; every nation should be the same, and then this mindless slaughter of human beings could possibly end.

Today I was told that supporting the freedom of a persecuted Sudanese/American in Sudan is wrong because Sudan should be able to do what it wants, when it wants to; with regard to stripping people of their human rights.

I call foul with a loud voice and will go to my grave never believing such things. Indeed, radical Islam has its bidders but then so do Zionists, false Christians, murderous Buddhists and the devil. I see few parallels between the aforementioned groups, and Muslims, Jews, Christians and Buddhists. The only group that I do not know of having committed Genocide are the Hindus, though I'm sure if one studied the books they could find that too. Life isn't about being the 'correct' or 'acceptable' religion, it is about humanity, damn it.

Sudanese live under the totalitarian, bloody fist of Lieutenant General Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir. He's wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo brought the allegation of 'Genocide' to the list of charges facing al-Bashir. While the war crime and crimes against humanity charges stuck, there was not enough evidence at first to press the case of Genocide. This is the same issue facing Sri Lankan Tamils, who were massacred en mass three years ago during an extended period of state terrorism that left up to 160k people dead and missing. The allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity have weight, but not the Genocide charge.

But then on 12 July 2010, after a lengthy appeal by the prosecution, the ICC held that there was indeed sufficient evidence for charges of genocide to be brought and issued a second warrant containing three separate counts. To reach this conclusion, requires a lot of evidence. In Sri Lanka there are thousands of photos of the murders, but not enough evidence to bring the grand charge, the 'G' word. Sudan is a dangerous place with terrible political leadership.

I am an American, I didn't ask to be, I just ended up that way. My life is spent rallying for people; the majority of whom I have never met or even seen. Yet their lives are important to me, their political futures the same. I rally for people of all faiths and I have my own and I do not let my personal faith pose or present a conflict.

It isn't easy to rally for members of resistance groups, we take a lot of flack and we aren't always wearing Kevlar. In fact maintaining this position is far more difficult than, say for example, voting down a party line. People who do that are brainless servants and their religious counterparts are no different.

Tim King has more than twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. Tim is Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. His background includes covering the war in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007, and reporting from the Iraq war in 2008. Tim is a former U.S. Marine who follows stories of Marines and Marine Veterans; he's covered British Royal Marines and in Iraq, Tim embedded with the same unit he served with in the 1980's.

He holds awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing from traditional mainstream news agencies like The Associated Press and Electronic Media Association; he also holds awards from the National Coalition of Motorcyclists, the Oregon Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs; and was presented with a 'Good Neighbor Award' for his reporting, by the The Red Cross.

Tim's years as a Human Rights reporter have taken on many dimensions; he has rallied for a long list of cultures and populations and continues to every day, with a strong and direct concentration on the 2009 Genocide of Tamil Hindus and Christians in Sri Lanka. As a result of his long list of reports exposing war crimes against Tamil people, Tim was invited to be the keynote speaker at the FeTNA (Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America) Conference in Baltimore, in July 2012. This is the largest annual gathering of North American Tamils; Tim addressed more than 3000 people and was presented with a traditional Sri Lanka ‘blessed garland’ and a shawl as per the tradition and custom of Tamil Nadu, India.

The notorious list comprising Tim's ancestors includes Pedro de Alvarado, the lieutenant of Hernando Cortez of Spain; King Phillip IV, Eleanor of Aquitaine and William the Conqueror. Perhaps most interestingly, King John; the dark force in the story Robin Hood, and also the last Spanish governor of California, a real person fictionalized as the arch rival of the character in Zorro, are in reality both Tim's multiple-great grandfathers.

Others include a Confederate officer in the U.S. Civil War and a decorated 'hero' of the Mexican-American War and the so-called 'Indian Wars'. In fact on the east coast, Tim's lineage with the Slaughter and King families, pre-dates the Mayflower and several members of his family were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. He says his family's past; some of which is very dark; some quite chivalrous, presents a certain responsibility, and that in part drives his desire to see that people in today's world are not exploited or allowed to suffer in silence as victims of Human Rights violations, as people of previous times were.

In a personal capacity, Tim has written 2,026 articles as of March 2012 for Salem-News.com since the new format designed by Matt Lintz was launched in December, 2005. Serving readers with news from all over the globe, Tim's life is literally encircled by the endless news flow published by Salem-News.com, where more than 100 writers contribute stories from 23+ countries and regions.

Tim specializes in writing about political and military developments worldwide; and maintains that the label 'terrorist' is ill placed in many cases; specifically with the LTTE Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, where it was used as an excuse to slaughter people by the tens of thousands; and in Gaza, where a trapped population lives at the mercy of Israel's destructive military war crime grinder. At the center of all of this, Tim pays extremely close attention to the safety and welfare of journalists worldwide. You can write to Tim at this address: tim@salem-news.com. Visit Tim's Facebook page (facebook.com/TimKing.Reporter)

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Max August 21, 2012 10:41 am (Pacific time)

Most people are simply unaware that Islam is NOT just another religion but a totalitarian political cult-like ideology, which compels its followers into blind obedience, teaches intolerance, brutality and locks all Muslims and non-Muslims in a struggle deriving directly from the 7th century nomadic, predatory, Bedouin culture.Islam means “submission” to the will of Allah and the teachings as depicted in the Qur’an which include jihad – the genocidal slaughter of infidels by the sword, killing by beheading, intolerance of other religions, as well as forcing submission to Islam. The ultimate goal of jihad is the domination of Islam over the entire world.Look at the photos, watch the videos, most of which come right out of the Muslim world, a world that glorifies death and destruction of all that is not Islamic.

Editor: I know, and you should get the real story on the Christians too; some say they're worse than anything because their spiritual leader, this guy named Jesus, actually told people not to fight and to turn the other cheek and instead they bring us things like 1.5 million dead in Iraq., and the Jews, man oh man... they have this little apartheid government called 'Israel' that is just swinging, where hate for these Muslims you talk about is cultivated from the youngest age, many there make sure their kids don't have to deal with that 'racial tolerance' baloney! How about those Buddhists? Nothing like a little Genocide with your 'oneness' I always say...

Coral Anika Theill August 3, 2012 6:29 pm (Pacific time)

Thank you, Tim, for your positive insights. I BELIEVE in the generally positive influence that most religions have had on their followers and on society and that the systems of truth in the field of morals, ethics, and religious beliefs are not absolute: they vary by culture, by religion, and over time. I BELIEVE in the importance of individual believers determining evil influences and policies within their chosen faith group, and advocate for their correction. If the beliefs people have adopted prevent them from feeling love, equality and inner connecteness with all mankind, then I believe that they must challenge their beliefs and integrity. I BELIEVE in the importance of education - that people are not truly educated unless they have studied at least the world's major religions and ethical systems. They need to learn of the good and bad impacts they have had on society. People need to understand the religious sources that inspired Gandhi, Albert Schweitzer, and Mother Teresa to commit their life to the alleviation of human suffering. But they also need to learn the shadow side of religion: how religious beliefs have contributed to hatred, intolerance, oppression, discrimination, as well as mass murders and genocides in such places as Nazi Germany, Bosnia, East Timor, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, the Middle East, Sudan and countless other countries. (Read “The Dark Side of Christian History” by Helen Ellerbe, "Women, Church and State" by Matilda Joslyn Gage) I believe in respecting another’s religion, but if their religious beliefs cause harm or are being used to abuse another, then I must speak out against the abuse.

Tim King: Coral, you are so wonderful! Thank you so much, keeping this alive takes everything we've got and more apparently, but we are really determined to keep it going. It was a pleasure to see you in Baltimore recently!

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