Category Archives: Islam

Want to Understand Islam?

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Jim Wheeler

What with all the hysteria over terrorism in this political season, I found it satisfying to find this straightforward explanation published in the Washington Post by professor of religions at Georgetown University  John L. Esposito onSunday, July 22, 2007. Nearly half … Continue reading →

Posted in Islam, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Ban That Movie!!

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Jim Wheeler

A podcast piqued my curiosity while I was at the gym this morning. It was the latest in a unique on-going NPR series entitled “Stuff You Should Know”.  I was a little put off by the format when I first … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Islam | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

What Would George Say About Egypt?

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Jim Wheeler

How should America behave as the Arab world erupts in apparent chaos?  Al Qaeda, a.k.a. Islamic fundamentalism, is our enemy, and countering it and its ideas is the challenge we face. Anson Burlingame, my fellow Joplin blogger, in a recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreign Policy / War, Islam, Politics, Religion, Terrorism | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

OCCAM’S RAZOR vs. Jehad

Posted on November 12, 2010 by Jim Wheeler

Today’s Joplin Globe editorial (11/12/10) on “National Security” opines that in combating Islamic jihad, military power in the form of a “war on terror” has “. . . not worked to the degree necessary.”  Instead, the editorialist suggests that, “If … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy / War, Islam, Politics, Religion, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Face Of The Enemy

Posted on September 12, 2010 by Jim Wheeler

Has the nature of “war” changed?  Is “war” different now from what it was in WWII?  Is patriotism always “good”?  When a nation goes to war with selfish intent, to what extent are its citizens complicit?  These are important questions … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics / Morality, Foreign Policy / War, Islam, Nuclear weapons, Religion, Terrorism, War | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

Honor Bound?

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Jim Wheeler

A recent posting by Anson Burlingame, Captain, USN (Ret.) about an honor issue at the U. S. Naval Academy prompts me to discuss it, but in a broader context.  Anson’s post, “Another Senior Officer in Trouble” is HERE. It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics / Morality, Foreign Policy / War, Government size, Islam, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s In A Word?

Posted on June 20, 2010 by Jim Wheeler

This appeared in the June 15 edition of USA Today: STATE DEPT. SAYS IT NEEDS OWN COMBAT FORCE IN IRAQ – the Associated Press WASHINGTON — “The State Department says its diplomatic staff will not be safe after the American … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics / Morality, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy / War, Government waste, Islam | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment