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The Taliban -- Coming to Your Town Soon 
Remember the Taliban? Here's a little refresher just in case you forgot some of the details.
Information about Taliban gleaned from InfoPlease.com
The Taliban: Who are they and where did they come from?
In Afghanistan, groups of Taliban ("religious students") were loosely organized on a regional basis during the Soviet occupation (1979-89). During the occupation a civil war which broke out. The Taliban grew in power, especially after the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan. And although the Taliban represented a potentially huge force, the group didn't emerge as a united entity until 1994. At that time, they went on to take over the city of Kandahar, beginning a surprising advance that ended with the capture of Kabul in September 1996.
Thus the Taliban, aka the "Students of Islamic Knowledge Movement," fully took over Afghanistan in 1996. The Taliban remained in power until it was ousted in December 2001 by the U.S. military and Afghan opposition forces in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the U.S.. The group was not eradicated, however, it simply moved underground, where it continues to wage war on it’s enemies -- the Shite Muslims and the US to this day.
What was life like under the Taliban regime?
Afghans, weary of conflict and anarchy, were relieved to see corrupt and often brutal warlords replaced by the devout Taliban, who had some initial success in eliminating corruption, restoring peace, and allowing commerce to resume.
Under the direction of Mullah Muhammad Omar, the Taliban brought about order through the institution of a very strict interpretation of Sharia, or Islamic law. Public executions and punishments (such as floggings) became regular events at Afghan soccer stadiums. Frivolous activities, like kite-flying, were outlawed. In order to root out "non-Islamic" influence, television, music, and the Internet were banned. Men were required to wear beards, and subjected to beatings if they didn't.
Most shocking was the Taliban's treatment of women. When the Taliban took Kabul, they immediately forbade girls to go to school. Moreover, women were barred from working outside the home, precipitating a crisis in health care and education. Women were also prohibited from leaving their home without a male relative—those that did so risked being beaten, even shot, by officers of the "ministry for the protection of virtue and prevention of vice." A woman caught wearing fingernail polish may have had her fingertips chopped off. All this, according to the Taliban, was to safeguard women and their honor.
On the Internet and in history books, much more information can be found about the horrific life the Taliban imposed on the people of Afghanistan. It was a nightmare, a too real nightmare which Afghans will not soon forget.
What is the warning in this story?
It is the example of what can happen when there is a meshing of Church and State. This is exactly the type of situation the original signers of our constitution were trying to protect our country from when they wrote the first amendment to the US Constitution:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
This amendment established the separation of Church from State.
Today, in the US, we have the Church and State joining forces to administer a Federal program, titled Fugitive Safe Surrender. This program is ran by the US Marshall's Office. It has been implemented in several states. They are now trying to bring it to Austin, Texas as well as many other cities and states.
You can read about this program on:
US Marshall's Safe Surrender Program
Austin American Statesman Newspaper
In the Safe Surrender program, the Church works with and for the police and courts to set up pseudo court rooms and booking stations. These Federal and State run operations are set up AT THE CHURCH. Citizens with outstanding warrants are instructed to come to these sites, these churches, to surrender themselves. Church members actually meet the “offenders” at the door and walk them into the mock court room or booking station where they receive resolution to their pending case or are arrested. The article on the US Marshall’s website paints a glowing picture of this program. Many people will think it is a wonderful idea also. But let’s not forget, initially the Afghans thought the Taliban was the solution to their problems too.
The Fugitive Safe Surrender program is the melding of church and state. It is an undoing of our the First Amendment and a danger to our constitution and our country.
If we allow this program to continue, what is next? What other functions will our government let the Church take over? Will we have church members riding in police cars, punishing, arresting and castigating sinners as the Taliban did to Afghan citizens? Will the Church BE the police?
Information about Taliban gleaned from InfoPlease.com
The Taliban: Who are they and where did they come from?
In Afghanistan, groups of Taliban ("religious students") were loosely organized on a regional basis during the Soviet occupation (1979-89). During the occupation a civil war which broke out. The Taliban grew in power, especially after the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan. And although the Taliban represented a potentially huge force, the group didn't emerge as a united entity until 1994. At that time, they went on to take over the city of Kandahar, beginning a surprising advance that ended with the capture of Kabul in September 1996.
Thus the Taliban, aka the "Students of Islamic Knowledge Movement," fully took over Afghanistan in 1996. The Taliban remained in power until it was ousted in December 2001 by the U.S. military and Afghan opposition forces in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the U.S.. The group was not eradicated, however, it simply moved underground, where it continues to wage war on it’s enemies -- the Shite Muslims and the US to this day.
What was life like under the Taliban regime?
Afghans, weary of conflict and anarchy, were relieved to see corrupt and often brutal warlords replaced by the devout Taliban, who had some initial success in eliminating corruption, restoring peace, and allowing commerce to resume.
Under the direction of Mullah Muhammad Omar, the Taliban brought about order through the institution of a very strict interpretation of Sharia, or Islamic law. Public executions and punishments (such as floggings) became regular events at Afghan soccer stadiums. Frivolous activities, like kite-flying, were outlawed. In order to root out "non-Islamic" influence, television, music, and the Internet were banned. Men were required to wear beards, and subjected to beatings if they didn't.
Most shocking was the Taliban's treatment of women. When the Taliban took Kabul, they immediately forbade girls to go to school. Moreover, women were barred from working outside the home, precipitating a crisis in health care and education. Women were also prohibited from leaving their home without a male relative—those that did so risked being beaten, even shot, by officers of the "ministry for the protection of virtue and prevention of vice." A woman caught wearing fingernail polish may have had her fingertips chopped off. All this, according to the Taliban, was to safeguard women and their honor.
On the Internet and in history books, much more information can be found about the horrific life the Taliban imposed on the people of Afghanistan. It was a nightmare, a too real nightmare which Afghans will not soon forget.
What is the warning in this story?
It is the example of what can happen when there is a meshing of Church and State. This is exactly the type of situation the original signers of our constitution were trying to protect our country from when they wrote the first amendment to the US Constitution:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
This amendment established the separation of Church from State.
Today, in the US, we have the Church and State joining forces to administer a Federal program, titled Fugitive Safe Surrender. This program is ran by the US Marshall's Office. It has been implemented in several states. They are now trying to bring it to Austin, Texas as well as many other cities and states.
You can read about this program on:
US Marshall's Safe Surrender Program
Austin American Statesman Newspaper
In the Safe Surrender program, the Church works with and for the police and courts to set up pseudo court rooms and booking stations. These Federal and State run operations are set up AT THE CHURCH. Citizens with outstanding warrants are instructed to come to these sites, these churches, to surrender themselves. Church members actually meet the “offenders” at the door and walk them into the mock court room or booking station where they receive resolution to their pending case or are arrested. The article on the US Marshall’s website paints a glowing picture of this program. Many people will think it is a wonderful idea also. But let’s not forget, initially the Afghans thought the Taliban was the solution to their problems too.
The Fugitive Safe Surrender program is the melding of church and state. It is an undoing of our the First Amendment and a danger to our constitution and our country.
If we allow this program to continue, what is next? What other functions will our government let the Church take over? Will we have church members riding in police cars, punishing, arresting and castigating sinners as the Taliban did to Afghan citizens? Will the Church BE the police?
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