Author: Staff Editorial
Publication: The Collegiate Times
Date: November 1, 2001
Blacksburg, Va., Nov 1, 2001 - Since
the Sept. 11 attacks, the United States has launched a campaign to fight
terrorist activity. America's fight has never been about Christianity versus
Islam, or religion for the United States.
This war has always been about terrorism
and the effect it is having, and has had, on the American people.
So why, if our war is not against
Muslims, should we stop the bombing of Afghanistan to respect the holy
month of Ramadan? Ramadan begins Nov. 17 this year and will be observed
for the entire month, in accordance with the Koran.
Ramadan is a holy month that involves
fasting from dusk until dawn and abstaining from immoral behavior and anger.
In the Koran, the holy book of the
Muslims, fasting is prescribed by Allah, the God Almighty, to his people,
in an attempt to make them God-conscious and help them acquire self-control
while heightening their sense of social responsibility.
Ramadan also allows Muslims to improve
their health by reducing the impurities in their body and focusing on the
plight of the sick and poor people of the world.
A debate has been going on in Capitol
Hill concerning whether the United States should halt their bombing of
terrorists in Afghanistan during Ramadan in respect of the Muslim people
of the country.
However, if the United States were
to stop bombing Afghanistan in observance of Ramadan, the war would then
become about religion, contradictory to everything the United States has
said thus far.
This war, as President Bush has
said in the past, is not a war against the Muslim people of Afghanistan.
This is a war on the terrorists who cower in the treacherous terrain of
their country.
The Northern Alliance, an Afghan
military group aiding the United States has even spoken out against ending
the bombing for Ramadan.
"The Taliban has always violated
Ramadan. This is a month for fasting, not a month where you stop combating
terrorism ... we certainly plan to engage (the Taliban) during the month
of Ramadan," said Haron Amin, a spokesperson for the Northern Alliance
(CNN.com, October 31, 2001).
Certain Muslim and Arab groups have
been putting pressure on the government to stop the bombing, but officials
said Tuesday that President Bush's national security team wants to continue
the war during Ramadan.
This would keep with the purpose
of the war -- to fight terrorism.
Continuing the bombing is not in
any way an attempt to disrespect the religion of the Afghan people, it
is a continuation of the war that is currently going on.
The war on terrorism cannot be put
on hold for a month, it must continue until the Taliban and Osama bin Laden
have been brought to justice.
