Smith: America Doesn't Share the Left's Values

Robin Smith
Robin Smith

The Nov. 13 coordinated attacks by radical Islamic terrorists in Paris have taken the lives of 130 innocent civilians with another 367 injured (as of last week), according to TheAtlantic.com. A state of emergency was declared for three months by the French government. ISIS claimed "credit" for this evil.

In the hours following the terrorist attacks, President Barack Obama made this statement: "This is an attack not just on Paris, it's an attack not just on the people of France, but this is an attack on all of humanity and the values we share. We stand together with them in the fight against terror and extremism."

Every syllable the president spoke was to lend America's voice to our ally in its time of great national suffering.

At issue, however, is the question of "the values we share." There's a large chasm separating the values observed and honored in our nation.

First, there's an argument as to how to address the enemy. There are those who believe if we identify these attackers as radical Islamic terrorists, who by the way, self-identify as Islamic, it will embolden them and result in more terror. Yet in the same breath, Americans are told that Islam is a religion of peace.

Just as Judeo-Christians, leaders and adherents, condemn the Westboro Baptists, the logical response would be for the leadership of peaceful Muslims to harshly condemn the murderous attacks on civilians in the name of their god. Leadership of this global religion is silent.

Then there's division on whether America is a world leader. Without question, Obama and his Democrats want to be world leaders to open our borders to any and all who want taxpayer-funded health care, education and welfare but won't take a stand on the violence of tyrannical extremists. In simple terms, the Left says America is not the world's policeman, but we're certainly expected to be the world's welfare ticket.

Finally, exactly what is the greatest threat to the existence of America and her citizens? According to the words and deeds of the Democratic Party, it's global climate change and not a warring group of extremists who are motivated to establish an Islamic theocracy through the process of death to infidels.

The Saturday after the Paris attacks, not only did Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders maintain that the "greatest threat to our national security" is climate change, no leader of the Democratic Party stepped forward to offer any clarity. It seems that the position is in line with previous comments of both Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry.

Since the word "value" defines the worth, merit or importance of certain beliefs and standards in our collective culture and individual lives, it's clear the "values" held by those on the political left when addressing the priorities of law-abiding Americans are quite different.

With clear evidence mounting that the will of radical Islamists is resolute - "Death to America" - and its own publication, Dubiq, equates terrorists with "knights" who are "acting to defend Muslim honor," the values of our president and his ideological minions on the left are dangerous and should not be shared.

Robin Smith, a former chairwoman of the Tennessee Republican Party, is owner of Rivers Edge Alliance.

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