Forcing the Issue

There are a lot of very strong emotions on either side of the current Executive Order.

When I heard of it, I was dismayed.   My first reaction was, "here we go . . ."  But really, this is exactly what candidate Trump talked about during his campaign and no one really paid attention because they thought he had an ice cube's chance in Hades of winning.  But he won.  And you can't blame him, he is just now he is attempting to do what he talked about.

And if polls are any indicator, half to almost two-thirds of Americans support the ban.  

I disagree with the majority and think it goes against the very fabric of who we are as Americans ("give me your tired, your poor Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.")  

Not to mention who I am as a Christ-follower:

The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God. (Lev 19:34)

But the entire debacle brings up (and in many ways forces) the issue:

What do we do with Islam?

I know, I know - it is not a ban on Muslims, but let's get real - the Executive Order lists the very things that are central to Islam's Sharia Law.  This is a topic that Europe has been wrestling with for the last couple of decades.  What do we do with a religion that still practices honor killings, stoning of adulterers and oppression of homosexuals?

The actual text of the Executive Order strikes at the heart of this issue: 

 In addition, the United States should not admit those who engage in acts of bigotry or hatred (including "honor" killings, other forms of violence against women, or the persecution of those who practice religions different from their own) or those who would oppress Americans of any race, gender, or sexual orientation.

You may object saying most Muslims don't think Shariah Law applies to non-Muslims.

Most Western Muslims . . .

This has been a difficult issue in many municipalities in the U.K. were refugees have exerted influence over local laws causing problems for local non-Muslims.  Non-Western Muslims (those coming from Africa, Asia and the Middle East) exhibit a readiness to impose Sharia Law on the West.

So this is an issue much bigger than we think.  I think the right thing to do right now is to pressure our government to allow properly vetted refugees to come to America.  The eventual question will be whether we can support both people's religious and human rights.