generalspeaking

What's a loyalty oath worth? People lie all the time. Why not when faced with a loyalty issue to swear fealty toward on the surface, to allay suspicions of lack of patriotism, when in truth the object is to appear to be a good citizen. While in fact plotting to destroy the very country to which he has been trustingly and under the law inducted into all the entitlements of citizenship.

"I sweared, but I didn't mean it", was the response of Faizal Shahzad, when asked by the judge presiding at his terrorism trail whether or not his citizenship pledge was meaningful to him. Born in Pakistan, educated in the United States, Mr. Shahzad succumbed to Islamist radicalization after attending a terror camp in Pakistan. Returning to the country that had given him and his family shelter, he dedicated himself to instilling terror within the U.S.

Unfortunately for him, despite the grandiose theatrical gestures and declamations in his martyrdom video, his bomb-making skills leftmuch to be desired. The bombs were detected, fizzling in his vehicle parked at Times Square where he was certain its explosive impact would create the most havoc, kill countless people.

He has proudly admitted to his vicious intentions, warning the court and the United States that "the war with the Muslims has just begun."

In Israel, there are Arab-Muslim citizens of Palestinian extraction who are fully entitled citizens of the country. They may, and have, elected from among themselves Members of the Knesset, who become Israeli lawmakers. Some of whom are dedicated to slandering the country, to allying themselves with the state's avowed enemies.

So much for citizenship and patriotism.

Avigdor Lieberman, considered a right-wing, Russian-born Israeli troublemaker (see former U.S. President Bill Clinton's declaration) is incensed at the lack of loyalty of too many Israeli-Palestinians. Content to live under Israeli rule, and to have all the advantages of citizenship, yet critical in the extreme of the country - some to the extent that they engage in violent assaults against Jews.

Mr. Lieberman has raised yet another storm of controversy by suggesting it is high time Israel put into place an oath of loyalty to accompany citizenship. Racist! scream headlines from the Arab world. That same Islamic world of states which do not recognize the legitimacy of other religions, and whose countries are solely dedicated to Arab populations; who declares them apartheid states?

The recommendation that Israel institute a loyalty oath for new citizens is long overdue, under the circumstances of everyday life in the country, where violent attacks are so commonplace, where elected members of the Knesset scream their dissatisfaction with the Jewish government, and feel that Hezbollah and Hamas are legitimate and respectable entities.

If the bill does become law much the better. So what's the fuss all about? Many other countries have an oath of loyalty.

Is it not the height of hypocrisy for the current president of the United States, Barack Obama, to distance himself from the proposed Israeli self-protective initiative? Even if, under some Koranic instructions, Muslims are excused from telling the truth when it is to their advantage to prevaricate and to eschew veracity to put off the scent of suspicion?

Doesn't the United States exercise an oath of loyalty? Certainly not that the U.S., as in Israel, is a decidedly Jewish state, but inherent in the Constitution and its ceremonial proceedings is the recognition of the reality that the United States is a Christian state.

Big difference?