This is Bud Day.

He served this country in three different branches of the United States military (Marines, Army, Air Force) in three different wars (WWII, Korea, Vietnam).

See that medal hanging around his neck?

Yeah, the one on the blue ribbon.

Here's a close-up of it.

It is the Air Force version of Medal of Honor. And here's an explanation of what he did to receive our nation's highest military honor.

So why am I pointing all this stuff out? So that what I say next has its full context.

BUD DAY HAS EARNED THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO SAY WHATEVER HE WANTS ABOUT WHATEVER HE BELIEVES -- and those who disagree with him, while free to do so, have an obligation to do so with deep respect for his military service which defended and vindicated their right to do so.

So what did Bud Day say that has so many people's panties in a twist?

The Muslims have said either we kneel or they're going to kill us. ... I don't intend to kneel and I don't advocate to anybody that we kneel, and John doesn't advocate to anybody that we kneel. (.wav file)

Now that is a very stark, striking statement about the reality of the current battle against terrorism that we are fighting. And sadly, it is accurate -- though I would be inclined to suggest that dropping the first word of the statement would make it more accurate -- and it appears that Bud Day may agree with me.

Here's the reality. For at least the last 15 years, America has been subject to a series of terrorist attacks by those acting in the name of Islam. They have been Sunni and Shi'a, from many different countries. What they have shared is an ideology of Islamic supremacy that would require that those of us who reject Islam convert, submit, or die.

Such individuals were responsible for the first World Trade Center attack in 1993. They were responsible for attacks on American Embassies in Africa, the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, and the USS Cole. They were responsible for the September 11 attacks, and they have been our opponents in Iraq and Afghanistan for the last seven years. Their leaders explicitly state that the imposition of some form of Islamic domination over us is their goal. These facts about violent jihad against America cannot be denied, however inconvenient some may find them.

Not only that, we have seen multiple attempts to use "soft jihad" tactics here and abroad to limit the rights of others to speak critically of Islam. Need I remind anyone of the Muhammad Cartoon controversy, and the Islamic response? You do remember that some of those involved in publishing them are under the threat of criminal prosecution by "moderate" Jordan, don't you? Salman Rushdie still finds it difficult to go out in public, two decades after publishing his (really awful) book, The Satanic Verses. In Canada, so-called Human Rights Tribunals are being used by Muslims to silence those who speak words that call Islam into ill-repute -- under rules which hold that the objective truth of those words is no defense. In Australia, Christian ministers were convicted of inciting hatred against Muslims after outcries from Muslim groups there -- for quoting the Qu'ran accurately. Muslim nations are currently seeking to make it a violation of international law to speak in a manner that Muslims view as denigrating of Islam. I yesterday pointed out what the Saudis are teaching their own kids -- and kids in this country and around the world. And I won't even get into the efforts a couple of years back to silence me for daring to speak negatively about Islam.

So yes, Bud Day is essentially correct. There are Muslims out there who insist upon submission or death. Indeed, there are a lot of them -- if only 10% of Muslims hold to such beliefs we are talking about over 100,000,000 who want us dead or enslaved. And some polls show that the number is well above 10%.

But I'll be the first to agree with those who say there are many decent, peaceful Muslims who are not out to destroy or subjugate the rest of us. There are many Muslims I know who are not -- from my wife's many doctors to the Muslim students I have taught to dear Ruth who is finally able to open her Islamic bookstore nearby. Most Muslims in America are patriots, and most Muslims around the world ARE decent peace loving people -- but that does not negate that there are too many who are not. Those are the folks to whom Bud Day refers, and to whom we as a nation (regardless of race, or religion) must never, ever submit!

So to those who take offense at the words of Col. Day, I ask you this -- are you merely offended at the inartful phrasing of his words? Or do you truly believe that we should submit to those who are out to destroy American liberty? Answer carefully -- for your answer determines which side you are really on.

OPEN TRACKBACKING AT The Virtuous Republic, Perri Nelson's Website, Rosemary's Thoughts, Right Truth, DragonLady's World, Shadowscope, Leaning Straight Up, Cao's Blog, The Amboy Times, , Democrat=Socialist, Conservative Cat, Allie is Wired, Faultline USA, third world county, McCain Blogs, Woman Honor Thyself, The World According to Carl, , Pirate's Cove, , The Pink Flamingo, Gulf Coast Hurricane Tracker, , CORSARI D'ITALIA, Dumb Ox Daily News, Right Voices, and Gone Hollywood, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.