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by Daniel Mallock

Horror

Recent disturbing events in Naples that have shocked Europe and sent shockwaves around the world from the United States to Australia, and an Indian immigrant’s congressional candidacy in the state of Tennessee are two polar opposites of the same coin.

Over the weekend just past two young Gypsy girls went for a quick swim at a crowded beach in Naples, Italy. They were caught up apparently in rough surf and both were drowned. Their bodies were recovered and placed under towels on the sand. Beachgoers continued to relax, drink their drinks, chat their chat, and enjoy their day at the beach only feet away from the bodies of the two unfortunate children. “Indifference is not an emotion for human beings,” said the Archbishop of Naples cardinal Crescenzio Sepe in horrified response to learning of the events and seeing the photos showing people relaxing nearby the two bodies.

English newspaper “The Independent” describes a now ubiquitous photo of the two girls under towels and beach goers relaxing in the background in “The picture that shames Italy”. The majority of media coverage on this horrible story places it in the context of Italian racism against the Roma (Gypsies).

While there is an ongoing conflict between Italians and Roma placement of this event in that context alone misses the point entirely.

This failure of human compassion and respect shown so appallingly at the beach in Naples is an illustrative moment not only of indifference by Europeans towards Gypsy children who have died in a tragedy it is also indicative of a much larger failure across western society. Not only in Italy have there been such cases where passers-by stand mute to a tragedy; where a lack of interest in others’ pain lead to inaction and further tragedy; where individuals are denied aid and comfort because bystanders are indifferent and lack compassion.

Italian newspaper “La Repubblica”, as quoted in USA Today, reported that “While the lifeless bodies of the girls were still on the sand, there were those who carried on sunbathing or having lunch just a few meters away.” According to the press in Europe and around the world this event and the photo showing people completely unaffected by the tragedy have caused a “furor” and “shock” - which it should. But, it should also bring with it a great deal of soul searching for us all.

Those callous people at the beach relaxing near the bodies of the two girls have been described as disinterested and “unmoved”. This is a lack of compassion, and a complete ignorance as to what is considered civilized behavior around tragedy, death, and loss.

This loss of perspective is closer to nihilism than it is to what we in the United States understand European culture, in its best forms, to represent. The events on the beach, the passivity of the beachgoers and their complete lack of concern or empathy for the two drowned girls and their families is illustrative of a deep cultural break that is not limited to Italy alone - it is rife across the West.

A society without compassion is a broken society; a culture that does not respect death, or have a care for the deep loss and tragedy of others is deeply troubled; the west is at a moral and ethical crossroads illustrated by the horribly thoughtless and cruel events at the Naples beach in which the majority appear to have no understanding that they are in the wrong. This moral confusion is the foundation upon which Islam makes such large inroads into western societies. Typified in the United States by leftist’s moral relativism and confusion that, in its more dangerous and absurd embodiments, identifies climate changes as the greatest threat to Americans and ignores the clear and present dangers of terrorism, radicalism, and cultural indifference to standards and morality - the culture of the west is the perfect place for philosophies of absolutism like Islamism to gain ground.

Islam is considered the fastest growing religion in the world, but why should be this be so? In a society where previous norms have been over-turned, and previously understood and universally accepted fundamental concepts of culture and how we relate to others are in doubt, absolutist philosophies can take root at a much faster rate. We are seeing it daily.

The rise of Islamism and radicalism, terrorism, and leftist subversion of cultural and political institutions and norms have put the United States and Europe at grave risk. When people aren’t sure anymore what to believe in because the old institutions and foundations of society have been deconstructed and undermined, absolutist philosophies and religions can appear attractive - mainly on account of their complete surety on every issue. New adherents no longer are required to think, as all decisions have already been made.

This rise of absolutist thinking and in particular religions with violence and misogyny at their core is a grave threat to our culture and country. There are few who seem to understand this, and fewer still who will take a stand and speak out. In Nashville, there is one man who is speaking out, speaking truth and even more importantly he is running for Congress in the 5th Tennessee Congressional District, ironically Al Gore’s home district. Mr. Vijay Kumar’s candidacy gives me a sense of pride in my city and gives me hope that the American people will have a voice in Congress on the most critically important issues of our time.

Hope in Nashville

kumarforcongress.com

Mr. Kumar is the only person in American politics who I am aware of running for national office on a solid Reagan Conservative foundation but with a great twist. Mr. Kumar is entirely anti-Sharia. In fact, his stand against the encroachment of Sharia into our culture and institutions is the premier platform of his campaign.

Sharia is the brutal “legal system” of Islam that the Islamic extremists want to implement in this country and every country in the world. The American people need to hear Mr. Kumar’s voice, fully knowledgeable on this issue and dedicated to defending American institutions and sovereignty. We face a very determined enemy whose goal is nothing less than the complete undermining of our institutions, system of government and justice, and accepted cultural norms. The horizon of the Islamists is a long one, much longer than most Americans, used to quick solutions and unaware in the main of history and political contexts that explain these tactics, can conceive.

Mr. Kumar is an immigrant to these shores. How fitting that an immigrant, as we all Americans were at one time, should be the clearest voice for defense against the cultural and society-wide onslaught that we face from the Islamist extremists. Must we have another 9/11 before the majority of our people will awaken to this cataclysm that is encroaching upon us? Even today in New York, the Islamists want to advertise their special brand of religion, on the public subways! We must stand against this invading philosophy and political movement whose goal is the destruction of our country. Nothing less than our existence as a people and a nation is at stake. Do our people on their way to work in the New York subway system, in the very city of 9/11 need to see advertising for the religion that was behind that horror? When do we stand up and say to those who want our destruction, No! We will not allow it! The time is now, and we are late in doing it. Mr. Kumar is prepared to be the standard bearer in saying, No! to Sharia and no to Islamic radicalism and their projects of propaganda and incitement.

Mr. Kumar’s positions are classic Conservative. He supports the War in Iraq, the “War on Terror”, is Pro-Life, Pro-Gun rights, etc. You can see his positions all explained in detail here: http://www.kumarforcongress.com/Issues/

Mr. Kumar is for secure borders, free trade, English as the official language of the land, and more. Can there be a more attractive list of issue positions such as this coming from an American politician at this time in our history? Mr. Kumar supports Israel and positive relations with the largest democracy in the world, India. But it is his position on Sharia that makes him most exciting and so very important. There are no American politicians currently serving at the national level who speak cogently, clearly, and as bravely as Mr. Kumar does on this existential issue that effects all Americans.

His anti-Sharia platform begins:

“Sharia (Islamic) Law is slowly permeating America. We are focused on the global ‘War on Terror’ and are ignoring a more dangerous threat developing within our country.

Muslims are beginning to insist that they do not have to follow our laws and customs. Some of their activists are making demands requiring that Muslims’ religious rights be put above our Constitution. This ploy is particularly pernicious, because the United States Constitution is based in Judeo-Christian principles. These principles conflict fundamentally with Islamic principles”

This identification of a fundamental cultural conflict is the essential truth of our times. Mr. Kumar has identified the issue, and will speak out to educate the people and our leaders at the Capitol. We need Mr. Kumar’s voice to ring in the halls of Congress and the parlors and meeting rooms of the White House.

Please visit kumarforcongress.com