Sunday, January 30, 2011

Roger Stockham Arrested for Attempting to Blow Up Dearborn Mosque

***UPDATE*** This story turned out to be even stranger than I had anticipated. Click here for more details.

Sixty-Three-Year-Old Roger Stockham is off his rocker on two levels. First, he apparently wanted to blow up the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan. This makes him a terrorist, and if reports turn out to be true, he should be sent to prison for a long, long time. Second, it seems Stockham believed that he could do serious damage to America's largest mosque using fireworks (M-80s make quite a loud bang, but they're not going to make much of a dent in a building). Hence, Stockham is even more inept than the many failed terrorist plotters we've heard so much about over the past few years (shoe bomber, underwear bomber, etc.). We can only hope that terrorists continue to make such blunders.

FOXNEWS—A 63-year-old Southern California man who had explosives in his vehicle was arrested outside one of the nation's largest mosques in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, authorities in Michigan said.

Dearborn police said Roger Stockham was arraigned Wednesday on one count of making a false report or threat of terrorism and one count of possessing explosives with an unlawful intent. Stockham had a large but undisclosed quantity of class-C fireworks including M-80s, which are outlawed in Michigan, Chief Ronald Haddad said.

"I was comfortable with the fact that we had taken him off the street -- he isn't going anywhere," Haddad told The Associated Press Sunday afternoon. "I think the society he wanted to impact is safe." (Read more.)



On a different note, it's good to know that Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad will get a break from harassing Christians, and will be able to go after a real criminal. Similarly, Judge Mark Somers and the Prosecuting Attorney's office will be able to spend taxpayers' money dealing with people who are actually a threat to public safety. (Click here for a complete summary of our experience in Dearborn.)

I confess that I am confused by the comments in the above video. The Muslim condemned all acts of hatred, and said that he believes in tolerance, peace, etc. I wonder how he interprets the following teachings of Muhammad:

Qur’an 5:51—O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.

Qur’an 9:29—Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth, from among the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

Qur’an 9:73—O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination.

Qur’an 9:111—Surely Allah has bought of the believers their persons and their property for this, that they shall have the garden; they fight in Allah's way, so they slay and are slain; a promise which is binding on Him in the Taurat and the Injeel and the Quran; and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? Rejoice therefore in the pledge which you have made; and that is the mighty achievement.

Qur’an 9:123—O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil).

Qur’an 47:35—Be not weary and fainthearted, crying for peace, when ye should be uppermost: for Allah is with you, and will never put you in loss for your (good) deeds.

Qur’an 48:29—Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves.

Qur’an 98:6—Verily, those who disbelieve (in the religion of Islam, the Qur'an and Prophet Muhammad) from among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and Al-Mushrikun will abide in the Fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures.

Sahih Muslim 33—It has been narrated on the authority of Abdullah b. Umar that the Messenger of Allah said: I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, and they establish prayer, and pay Zakat and if they do it, their blood and property are guaranteed protection on my behalf except when justified by law, and their affairs rest with Allah.

Sahih Muslim 4366—It has been narrated by ‘Umar b. al-Khattab that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say: I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslim.

Al-Bukhari, Al-Adab al-Mufrad 1103—Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Do not give the People of the Book the greeting first. Force them to the narrowest part of the road.”

*****UPDATE***** When I said Stockham is off his rocker, it turns out I was absolutely correct. Here's what the media have uncovered about him:

1. Vietnam veteran, "typical surfer"

Stockham was a Vietnam veteran who reportedly flew more than 600 combat helicopter missions in Vietnam. According to an online VFW profile he apparently updated, Stockham described himself "a typical surfer" who went to Vietnam in 1968 "and flew Huey slicks with an assault helicopter company, saw a lot of action, got a lot of air medals, but not much else."

2. Served time for threatening President Bush, veterans clinic

Stockham served time in federal custody after threatening to kill President George W. Bush and bomb a Vermont veterans clinic in 2002, according to The Detroit News. He reportedly threatened Bush because of something the president said in a speech about Iraq. Separately, he told a local newspaper he was going to explode bombs in a neighborhood near a Veterans Affairs Department complex. In one call to the newspaper, he identified himself as "Hem Ahadin" and described himself as "a local Muslim terrorist on a roll."

3. Pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity

Stockham pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in 2004 and served time in the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners, where he was released in late 2005. A psych examination prior to his incarceration indicated he suffered from bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and personality disorder with anti-social features.

4. Local authorities tipped off by bar employee

Before parking his car outside the mosque, the Dearborn Press & Guide reports Stockham spent time at a local bar. It's not clear what Stockham said there, but apparently it was suggestive enough to lead an employee to call the police, expressing concern Stockham might carry out an attack on local Muslims or Arabs. That call led police to search the area, where they found Stockham.

5. Trouble at California VFW

California VFW post 5477 was in the process of revoking Stockham's membership after a series of troubling incidents, according to The News. Stockham had been caught smoking pot, referred to a post commander with a racial slur and rarely socialized with other members. "He's a nut,' co-chair Richard Schmitz told the newspaper. "He flipped out lately." (Read more.)

*ADDENDUM FROM NABEEL*: I think this is the perfect opportunity for me and David to lay out our official policy on terrorism. Regardless of the creed of the victim or terrorist, Acts 17 categorically denounces terrorism. We condemn Roger Stockham's actions and we urge all people everywhere to treat Muslims as our neighbors. We wholeheartedly follow and promote the words of Jesus: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven." We follow Paul's example in pointing to Jesus, for when he said, "With humility of mind, regard one another as more important than yourselves," he intimated that we should be willing to die for others, even if they sin against us, as the Lord did for us while we were still sinners. That is why Paul says "have this attitude in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus."

In sum, we promote love for Muslims. This is our whole purpose for doing what we do, i.e. we discuss Jesus and share the Gospel with Muslims to tell about them the gift of Truth (Jn 14:6), Life (Jn 17:3) and Love (1 Jn 4:16). We unreservedly condemn hatred and violence towards Muslims.

9 comments:

Radical Moderate said...

Wow this guy is a nut. Could you imagine how many churches would of been burned if he had succeeded?

On another note, looks like Pakistan failed to reform the Blasphemy law, as tens of thousands came out to protest against any changes to this barbarity.

"Qari Ahsaan, from the banned group Jamaat ud Dawa, addressed the crowd from a stage, saying: "We can't compromise on the blasphemy law. It's a divine law and nobody can change it."

"Our belief in the sanctity of our prophet is firm and uncompromising and we cannot tolerate anyone who blasphemes. Whoever blasphemes will face the same fate as Salman Taseer."

Source

"Sunday's protesters held banners in support of the police commando who shot dead Taseer. "Mumtaz Qadri is not a murderer, he is a hero," said one banner in the national Urdu language.

"We salute the courage of Qadri," said another."

Source

Yup Islam is a religion of peace.

M.C. said...

Like the new website. Any terrorism is bad terrorism.

Fernando said...

I totally condemn his atempt... this is juste a thing one never should do...

Callie Scott Grady said...

After being in Vietnam does it seem strange. That war messed up alot of people I know. I believe people are going to take this built up anger out on others. The mind is a battle feild, you either take it to the lord or it will take you out and others with you. ??? Just my opinion

GreekAsianPanda said...

First the drunk guy who stabbed that one Muslim cab driver, now this nutcase. Anyone notice that all the crazies go after Muslims?

Moral of the story: Keep crazy people away from mosques!
=O

Someone said...

May Allah guide us to the Truth.

Actually, sites like this are directly responsible for anti-Muslim feelings and Islamophobia rising in America and elsewhere; so, please, claim credit where credit is due, Mr. David Wood and bloggers and readers for yourselves for giving rise to terrorism against Muslims.

However, I am glad that the site decided to cover this story. My two cents is that people should concentrate on their similarities rather than their differences; but this site of course concentrates on the differences to polarize humanity.

But I am already aware people on the blog do not share my feelings nor do its avid readers. But I know for a fact that God is on the side of people who speak with love and humility, and I know also that in our times the people who possess such hearts are the majority of Muslims who do, despite the strong dramatizing of Muslim violence on this site, live peaceful lives and want peace for themselves and the world. Quoting Quran out of context and hadiths out of context will not stem the growth of Islam because distortions are like (weak) legs that can only go so far to walk before they give away from under the (sincere) people searching for the Truth; and Islam asks people to try the Revelation before accepting its validity.

I am also glad that such a site exists because I know that God is All-Aware and knows the intentions of the people blogging and for what purpose. And in the hereafter, the people will be held responsible for their actions, and faith alone will not save as your brothers in faith from Catholic denominations know and accept and whom we as our brothers in humanity find the closest to living the message of Jesus (peace be upon him) in terms of their prayers and emphasized behaviors.

This is a ponderable point from the Quran (5:82-83) which I witness is the truth (of the Christians whose piety and actions denote humility and sincerity which I do believe surely rules out the many soot-covered hearts that may read my words with arrogance and finger-pointing and mockery) who find themselves on the path to Guidance with their open hearts:

Verily, you will find the strongest among men in enmity to the Muslims the Jews and those who are polytheists, and you will find the nearest in love to the Muslims those who say: "We are Christians." That is because amongst them are priests and monks, and they are not proud. And when they (who call themselves Christians) listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger (Muhammad SAW), you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they have recognised. They say: "Our Lord! We believe; so write us down among the witnesses."

And Allah knows best.

hugh watt said...

I'd say the reason there are incidents like this is due to Muslims who believe they have a decree from Allah to kill and be killed in Allah's name. Had they not been carrying out such Koranic orders, there'd be no backlash against Muslims. Of course, there are those who say that's taking the texts out of context. What they do not do is to give the supposed right context. If you tell a lie often enough someone will buy it.

"My two cents is that people should concentrate on their similarities rather than their differences; but this site of course concentrates on the differences to polarize humanity."

S.5:73 They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the third of three; when there is no God save the One God. If they desist not from so saying a painful doom will fall on those of them who disbelieve.

S.5:82,83 Verily, you will find the strongest among men in enmity to the Muslims the Jews and those who are polytheists, and you will find the nearest in love to the Muslims those who say: "We are Christians." That is because amongst them are priests and monks, and they are not proud. And when they (who call themselves Christians) listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger (Muhammad SAW), you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they have recognised. They say: "Our Lord! We believe; so write us down among the witnesses."

"But I am already aware people on the blog do not share my feelings nor do its avid readers. But I know for a fact that God is on the side of people who speak with love and humility, and I know also that in our times the people who possess such hearts are the majority of Muslims who do.."

S.98:6 Lo! those who disbelieve, among the People of the Scripture and the idolaters, will abide in fire of hell. They are the worst of created beings.

Polarizing humanity? Concentrating on differences? False interpretation of the Trinity?

minoria said...

Hello Someone:

I feel skeptical.The great problem is NOT that most Muslims in the West act peacefully.Where do they come from?From Muslim countries in general.

You say MOST Muslims are peaceful,they why don't the great majority of Muslims in Pakistan,Sudan,Somalia,Saudi Arabia,Afghanistan,Egypt rise and force their governements to treat non-Muslims (and almost all non-Muslims in those lands are CHRISTIAN) with equal rights,abolish the blasphemy laws,abolish restrictions on missionary work,on building churches,on Muslims converting,etc.

Because they are NOT peaceful.Their way of thinking is closed,narrow,intolerant.

That is what the data tells us,there have a closed,intolerant mentality,living in a closed,intolerant culture and country.

JUST LIKE THE US SOUTH IN SEGREGATION TIMES

The white population had a closed,intolerant mentality.Certainly many were charming,educated people who never did anybody any harm but they were intolerant and THAT is why the RACIST LAWS lasted so long.THEY were the PROBLEM.

The same for the Muslims in their Muslims countries,THEY are the PROBLEM,they are the reason for the anti-human rights acts against Christians.

goethechosemercy said...

Quote:
Actually, sites like this are directly responsible for anti-Muslim feelings and Islamophobia rising in America and elsewhere; so, please, claim credit where credit is due, Mr. David Wood and bloggers and readers for yourselves for giving rise to terrorism against Muslims.
end quote.

To critique Islam in Christian and Western terms is not to hate Muslims.
You are a non-Westerner, and are unused to the reliance on reason.