No, Mr. President. "Islam" Does Not Mean "Peace"

Sometimes people say things, not because they're true, but because they wish them to be true. Broadly speaking, that's a problem. But it's a particularly dangerous problem when a world leader says things that are patently false in a public setting. Such was the case this week when President Obama visited a mosque in Baltimore and said in his remarks that the word "Islam" means "peace." 

To be sure, Obama is not the only president to have said this. In the dark and terrible hours after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, former president George W. Bush said basically the same thing. I get it. It sounds good. We want it to be true. These are beautiful words, and many Muslims, in America and around the world, are no doubt wonderful, peace-loving, people. 

Nevertheless, wishful thinking should not form the basis for a president's public remarks, let alone his foreign policy. The word "Islam" does not mean "peace." It means "submit." This is not a fine distinction nor a matter of semantics or culture. It's a core tenet of the religion's doctrine and history. 

A few examples: 

• What Makes Islam So Different? addresses the myth that "Muslim apologists sometimes claim that the root word of Islam is 'al-Salaam,' which is 'peace' in Arabic:

 "An Arabic word has only one root.  The root word for Islam is “al-Silm,” which means “submission” or “surrender.”  There is no disagreement about this among Arabic or Islamic scholars. al-Silm (submission) does not mean the same thing as al-Salaam (peace), otherwise they would be the same word.     

"Submission and peace can be very different concepts, even if a form of peace can be brought about by forcing others into submission.  As the modern-day Islamic scholar, Ibrahim Sulaiman, puts it, 'Jihad is not inhumane, despite its necessary violence and bloodshed, its ultimate desire is peace which is protected and enhanced by the rule of law.' 

"In truth, the Quran not only calls Muslims to submit to Allah, it also orders them to  subdue people of other religions until they are in a full state of submission to Islamic rule.  This has inspired the aggressive history of Islam and its military and demographic success in conquering other cultures."

• The Noble Quran, in a section called "The Repentance" directs its adherents to "fight against those who (1) believe not in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."

• A (female) Islamic scholar at Al-Azhar University in Egypt, who is considered moderate by other Muslims, explains that Islam sanctions rape of non-Muslim female prisoners.

• Pew Research data reveals that a large majority of Muslims across the globe accept the Islamic practice of forced conversions and the implementation of Sharia law for all citizens, not just Muslims.

• The documentary, "By the Numbers: The Untold Story of Muslim Opinions and Demographics," narrated by Raheel Raza, reiterates these data. Raza, a Canadian Muslim feminist and activist who dares to speak out against radical Islam, is also president of Muslims Facing Tomorrow. Watch the (short) documentary here. 

• Ayaan Hirsi Ali, seen here among the panelists in an Intelligence Squared debate, and here in this conversation with Bill Kristol, has been speaking out about the radical nature of Islam for years. 

Eighteenth century philosopher Thomas Paine said something that, in my view, has profound ramifications in this current climate of political correctness as it relates to multi-culturalism and diversity: "He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself." 

President Obama appears to be listening to people who are either ignorant or deceptive, more likely, the latter. He's certainly not listening to people like Raheel Raza or Ayaan Hirsi Ali. America needs a leader who will face reality with open-eyed clarity and not wishful thinking. I pray we get it right this time around, and that it's not too late to repair the damage of this naive president's foreign policy malfeasance.