Preface to a Series of Future Posts


I am capable of writing about Islam in cogent manner. Having networked within the community and communicated within the edges of operational and political support groups for terror, my depth of understanding regarding challenges for the West is robust.

Mentorship and a close and loving friendship with a legal Mufti and his family brought tremendous benefit to my life.  I remain indebted to this remarkable man.  Copious correspondence with a man who met with Osama bin Laden a few weeks prior to 9/11 remind me of the dangers faced by the West with migration of Islam to our shores; and introduced me to the terrain of the mind.  Movement into the Shi'a house with a tutorial offered regarding the House of Ali and the Grand Ayatollah chain of command allow me to reflect regarding why our engagement with Iran is not going as planned.

Muslims have prayed in my home.  Visited for a Christmas Eve come-and-go party. Reciprocated with invitations to Eid (al Fitr and al Adha) celebrations.  I have entered a Hookah lounge late at night.  Found myself seated across from an intellectually-hardened man at an inter-faith dinner in the Dallas area. Discussed bombs and interfaced with discussions all the way from simple devices-to-nuclear devices. It is quite a leap!  smile I held in my hand a hoax device shortly after it was returned to the owner. This incident brought distress to my city and celebrity to a young man. He morphed into a carefully curated political construct in less than 24 hours. He has gone on to mature, attend a university, and remains a friend.  The last time I visited with him,  he was welcome into my home.

What I am seeing on X is like the migration of flamingos over Lake Nakura, a nomadic response to ecological conditions.  But in this case, the response is related to political and policy conditions.  There are millions of "feathers" in full view each day. From pink flush of anger to tinged with the blood-red rage because of Stephen Ogilvie.  

I have commented on some sites (focusing on sites with intense emotional pulse).  But for Jeremy Corbin, and an additional member of British Parliament a specific request: 

Visit the bedside of Stephen Ogilvie.  Touch the wounds on his face. Of course, the closed eyelids remain symmetrical in spite of the removal of not only the eye, but the eye socket by his Muslim assailant.  A prosthetic device will support the collapsed hole in his head. I secretly hope that God will take him.  It is the only merciful outcome.

We will touch the face of Stephen Ogilvie.  And in touching his face, we will touch the face of Islam: 

In measured manner and without rage. But with the distinct sadness which Islam hoisted upon me on 27 February 2025 we need to consider Islam.  Not through the lens of the ubiquitous images of refugees.  But through the lens of their belief.  Truth is a disinfectant.  Light will penetrate the darkness.

My scars are not visible.  They remain on my heart.

Tammy Swofford

swoffordwrites@gmail.com


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