The impetus for today's argument is two-fold: first the horrific actions of Alton Nolen who beheaded Colleen Hufford, and also attacked and attempted to behead Traci Johnson, a co-worker who had filed harassment charges against Nolen, prompting Nolen's suspension from Vaughan Foods. The second event that occurred that made me consider what was going on in Oklahoma happened that same day, though I did not see reports about it until 2 days ago.
Last Friday, Jacob Mugambi Muriithi was arrested for threatening to behead a former co-worker. According to the the accuser, Murithi claimed to be working on behalf of ISIS, and responded to her question of why do ISIS members kill Christians by stating "this is just what we do."
If that doesn't send chills down the spine of any non-ISIS citizen, I'll just assume you're Chuck Norris, or maybe Raylan Givens.
The D.A. in Alton Nolen's case apparently is facing huge political pressure from people up above, because he claims that Alton's heinous crime was simply a byproduct of the fact he had lost his job at Vaughan Foods. When people make statements like that, I often wonder how it is that they are able to go so long without breathing. I also contemplate if it's the lack of oxygen that leads to such statements being made.
In Muriithi's case, Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater had the good sense to make this statement: “We take these threats very seriously." One can only hope that he makes good on that thought.
Part of the reason I didn't have as visceral of a reaction to the beheading of Colleen Hufford was in part due to intentional avoidance. I didn't want to consider the thought that beheadings were here, in America. I also didn't want to become someone who would be considered intolerant of others.
That was a mistake on my part. I fell in to the trap that many of our politicians have, trying to see the good in everyone, while assuming that there are no evil groups looking to destroy, maim, and kill Americans simply because they are Americans. I'm here now to see that I have seen the error of my ways.
An attack in Oklahoma, of all places, sends the message that there is no safety to be found. Constant vigilance is needed in every corner of our lands, because that is the reach of global terrorist groups, regardless of what they call themselves.
Perhaps we as Americans need to look to others for leadership on this isue. In Australia, where credible threats were received of ISIS agents being ordered to carry out a random beheading. In response, the Aussies marshaled 800 federal and state police officers and gathered up 15 persons (9 of whom were released, at least temporarily), and were able to identify the man that they believe to be the chief terrorist in their nation, Mohammed Ali Baryalei.
On the other hand, the American government struggles to decide what to do with ISIS fighters with American passports who are going back and forth to the Middle East. I'm not sure at what specific moment in time we lost our place as a world leader, but I do know we are no better than middle-of-the-pack in the moment.
Perhaps that is why terrorists feel so comfortable making their home within the confines of our borders- they're well aware that most times, we are all talk, and no action. Even our current strategy of 'bombing' ISIS agents in their strongholds is proving to be a flop, despite the fact that the U.S. military has the strength to obliterate every last member, wherever they may lie.
The time has come to recognize the fact that by whatever name we choose to call it, we are in a war for our civilization, for our culture, for our way of life. Those who would impose their will on us have made their desires known. It is past time for our governmental leaders to do the same.
