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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the writer or the rest of the staff at Metal Mayhem UK. Metal Mayhem UK will not be held responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements contained within the article.

With the latest CD, "Axis Of Evil," BMO mastermind Sidney Allen Johnson has turned his vision toward the triumvirate of treachery and wickedness that seeks to impose its freedom suppressing will over the entire world: Islam, Socialism and the Illuminati. A future foretold centuries ago is happening before your eyes, beckoning for you to participate in your own damnation!

Metal Mayhem: Please begin by telling us a bit about your background...
Sidney Allen Johnson: There isn't much that needs to be told. I am from Alabama in the United States. That is pretty much all some people will need to know to hold everything I put forth in my records in contempt. I am likewise an unapologetic Christian who finds it amusing how so many "wise" people have turned their back on their God and their culture in revulsion, only to embrace every evil they claim to despise in its place. I stand in complete defiance of the accepted prevailing viewpoint of liberal, socialist, anti-American, anti-Christian musicians and the industry that supports them.

Sidney Allen Johnson MM: Was there a specific event in your life which triggered you current views?
SAJ: How many peoples views of the world are triggered by just one event? It would be unfair to suggest any one event had much of an impact. A lot of people would like to think the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Centre was somehow "inspirational" to me and this record but it really wasn't. I would say I was more moved by the Iranian hostage crisis of 1980 than I was by the 9/11 attacks. I was younger then and considerably more offended by the Iranian brazenness. That was a 444 day humiliation where an inept President embarrassed us by weakly responding to the attack and, worse, negotiating with the terrorists. Had he responded more appropriately, we might have lost the hostages, but we would have staved off a lot more violence later. My views on everything are an ongoing process.

MM: At what age do you think your views had fully formed?
SAJ: Like I said, My views are an ongoing process. Although I certainly wasn't as politically motivated as a younger man. I probably didn't fully consider myself a stalwart conservative until I was 30. Although that was really just the age I stopped tolerating listening to stupid people whine about things they obviously knew nothing about. Sooner or later you have to see the world as it is and quit trying to be your own god and live in a fantasy world.

MM: Alabama has a long history of ‘racism’; do you think this has influenced your outlook on life?
SAJ: Now that has a very accusational tone to it. The question itself harbours its own ill prejudices. Let me tell you about the Alabama I know and this so-called "racism." I moved here in 1972 and began going to public school in the 4th grade. I never saw a whites only bathroom or water fountain. I have never seen anyone refused service for any reason at any stores or restaurants. I have never seen a demonstration in the streets let alone the fire-hosing or beating of any demonstrators. Most importantly I have never seen a Ku Klux Klansman or even so much as the costume! Racism plays no part in influencing my outlook on life. There is no race that I either dislike or despise but, just as equally important, there is also no race I particularly envy either. I also do not feel any guilt or responsibility for the actions of other people, past or present.

MM: Do your parents share your views?
SAJ: I can say that to a large extent my views are derived from them. I have seen nothing from them to ever indicate they were anything less than fair when dealing with anyone. My mother, when she was alive, was as puritanical an example of a Southern Baptist woman as I likely will ever see. Christianity is not a newfound concept to me. As far as political views go I can't be as sure, as neither one of them is really in a position to have any current political views. I do, however, have a lot of confidence that we would vote the same. They weren't fans of Heavy Metal music though. I didn't get that from them. Although my mother did see Elvis live when she was younger. She saw him when he was in his prime.

Sidney Allen Johnson MM: Can you possibly give a brief summary of your musical history?
SAJ: I have always liked Heavy Metal music since I first bought Kiss Alive back in 1975. I still haven't bought a better record...and I have tried. Like a lot of us back then I used that as a springboard to discover all the various forms and splendour that heavy music has to offer. When I was younger I did, for awhile, take guitar lessons but was not being taught how to play any songs I liked, so I lost interest pretty quickly. I played in a few bands off and on in the eighties but nothing that mattered. I even made the pilgrimage to Hollywood California in 1987! When I saw the way things were done there I pretty much decided I didn't want any part of being in a band anymore...nor did I really want to ever associate with musicians either! It was a very eye-opening experience to say the least. However when the Kiss reunion came about in the mid 90's I resumed my collecting of Kiss memorabilia, which included buying one of the Paul Stanley PS-10 LTD guitars. Things just sort of built from there. I started looking into recording gear and, seeing that it was feasible to acquire quality equipment, I just built up everything I needed. I decided that I would make music that invests myself and my beliefs into the presentation, as a true artist should, without concerning myself with trying to fit into a metal scene that is drunk on the concept of "extremeness." The result is Babylon Mystery Orchestra. A somewhat unique hybrid of weirdness that has one virtue: it carves its own path. A path to nowhere? Maybe! But who cares.

MM: Probably the most simple yet provocative question, simply, why do you have such a negative view on a religion, much like your own, which has brought to the world much more than it has detracted from it?
SAJ: Whoah Hoss!! Here is where I have to stop you cold. I must address that blatantly false statement that Islam is a religion "much like my own." Anyone who believes that is ignorant of at least one, and probably both, of them. There is no comparison and no relation. A lot of people believe the myth that Islam is an "Abrahamic" religion and therefore is related to Judaism and Christianity. There is no more truth to this than there is for a thief to claim ownership of that which he stole! Muhammad went out of his way to claim he was a prophet in the tradition of Judaism and Christianity. He even claimed it was the angel Gabriel that brought him his "revelation." Islam was a collection of stolen pieces of Christianity, Judaism and other assorted religions as well as a "make it up as you go along" project. He incorporated (stole!) many Jewish traditions into his new religion and even went as far as to have the daily prayers done facing in the direction of Jerusalem. However, the Jews of Medina had an annoying habit of not only telling him he was no prophet sent by their god, but they had the audacity to explain to him the errors in his teachings. This of course didn't sit well with Muhammad so he killed all the men and sold all the women and children. From that point on, all prayers were to be done facing Mecca. When you learn the truth behind these things, the mysticism goes away and is replaced by an easy to comprehend simple, human anger. An anger and an intolerance to being offended and rejected that lasts to this day because it was installed in the religion from its beginning. How does this compare to the son of God taking all the insults and rejection of the world without raising a hand against his accusers even to defend himself? Islam is not much like my own religion.

Lets look at some more facts. You say "Islam has brought much more into the world than it has detracted from it?" In Muhammad's lifetime he fought 78 wars. Only 2 of them were not started by him. Religion of peace? Following his death, his successors spread Islam to even greater territory that resulted in a huge Islamic kingdom from North Africa, through the Middle East and into Persia. However all conquerors are not created equal. "Pagan" conquerors such as Alexander IMPROVED the lot of their new subjects by establishing good government and a fair judicial system. Alexander treated conquered people as intelligent and deserving respect. He realized that differences in race actually caused a lot of internal strife so he encouraged things like interracial marriages. He promoted cross cultural exchanges and, in fact, could lay claim to being a multi-culturalist before it became vogue as it is today. That resulted in preserving those cultures even as they were absorbed into the greater empire. By contrast, Islam destroyed the cultures it conquered and subdued its victims. Their new Muslim rulers imposed various discriminatory measures in order to force them to convert to Islam. In Islamic kingdoms, non-Muslim have to pay Jizya, a special tax, entirely designed to force the non-Muslims into accepting Islam. It must also be pointed out that an Islamic tradition set by Muhammad himself, was that the conquering Muslim army had every right to take the subdued males as slaves and their women as sex-slaves. One bad example of this occurred while transporting 100,000 Hindu slaves to Persia. They all died in a mountain area in Afghanistan because of sudden and severe winter. This mountain is now known as the "Hindu Kush", which means "Hindu death." This tragedy, which has never happened in any history of conquest, was of such great enormity that this mountain was so named to recognize the victims. Add that to the 50 million Hindu's and other indigenous people killed under Islamic rule in India and you can see what Islam has truly brought into the world. Death! What would you say Islam has created that is worth all those lives? That is only the beginning of your education into Islam...it doesn't end there!

Sidney Allen Johnson During Islam's "Golden Age" there were many Muslim poets, philosophers and scientists that contributed greatly to the human condition. Unfortunately they were all branded as apostates and heretics by Islamic clerics. During what Europe considered the "Dark Ages," Islam did appear to advance certain technologies...but that too is misleading. Taking possession of and advancing knowledge captured in their wars of conquest is not quite the same as inventing it yourself, now is it? When Europe came out of its "darkness" it is obvious the Islamic world failed to keep up with Western social and technological advances. That is what you get when you oppress your population. Technological stagnation!

Lest you think things are any different today, consider this recent contribution: In March of THIS YEAR Iranian authorities closed down nine magazines for publishing photos of "immoral Western celebrities." The Culture Ministry accused them of publishing stories about "immoral and corrupt" Hollywood stars and promoting "superstitions." So there is another great contribution of Islam...the Culture Ministry. Would you like to have one of those in England to regulate your artistic and entertainment industries? What do you think will happen to Heavy Metal if it had to adhere the standards of a "Culture Ministry?" How can any artist or musician defend or tolerate such a freedom suppressing system?

You and I live in societies that have increased the human potential exponentially by bestowing upon its citizens freedoms and dignity that no societies ever have before. This was done with the considerable influence of Christianity and its demand for both a personal knowledge of God as well as a separation of Church and state. It is Jesus who is the true author of the original separation of church and state principle! (LUKE 20:25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.) Islam, a destroyer of cultures, is diametrically opposed to that. Islam is the state and subservience to God, as Islam defines it, is demanded from all of its citizens. That is important so I will repeat it. Islam is the state! There is no such thing as a separation of church and state under Islam! Islam claims its authority supersedes national borders. Muhammad had no government but the one he created! An Islamic government!

Women and children are viewed as property and enjoy few if any rights before the law. There is no freedom of religion without the imposition of intolerable taxes, and worse: there is no freedom to reject Islam. The only Muslim countries where this isn't true are ruled by the heavy hand of dictators. Not much of an improvement. It is also your best explanation why Islam and democracy cannot coincide.

There is no way...no way, that Islam bears any resemblance to my religion or any Christian Western tradition! I see a system of oppressive rule that is given its authority by the false prophet of a false god. Islam consumes, it does not create! What did those destroyed cultures have to offer the world that we will never know? How did Islam improve the quality of life in the lands of its conquests? In spite of recent oil wealth, they are still among the most undeveloped and repressive countries on earth.

Christianity originated from the sinless son of God whose example its followers fail to live up to. Islam originates from the anger of an offended, violent predator bent on revenge, and his followers excel at living down to his example. You say Islam has brought more into the world than it has taken out...where is it? Are you willing to be a Muslim? If not why such unfounded admiration? I am not out to sell Christianity to anyone, but I am insisting that Islam is due its fair share of criticism.

Sidney Allen Johnson MM: Are you not just unfairly generalizing an entire population based on the actions of a few?
SAJ: First of all, how much does it take before a few qualifies as many or, more importantly, enough? There have been 11,053 Islamic terrorist attacks since 9/11! All of these resulted in deaths. Most of them, multiple deaths. At what point is your sense of morality and respect for the lives of others offended? I am not generalizing an entire population, they are! There is one constant that runs through all of these attacks: the terrorists who committed them claimed Islam as their authority and motivation. What other institution, religious or otherwise, would you allow to have so much violence committed in its name and still wish to regard it as peaceful? It is all well and good to be careful not to cast judgement on the whole for the actions of a few, but what has the whole done to separate itself from these few? In this case the transgressors are well supplied with money, munitions, weapons, food and hiding places. When one of them successfully kills Jews, infidels, or "crusaders" their supporters run out in the streets and celebrate. When someone dares to exercise their freedom of speech to fairly criticize them, or their religion, they claim they have been offended. They riot and use this "offense" as justification for still more violence. Then in furtherance of their support for the behaviour of these few, they send their ambassadors to the United Nations to petition for anti-blasphemy laws to be enforced on the populations of countries that are not Muslim dominated. Always excusing and justifying the criminal violence of these "few" as being a response to some outside entities' actions as though the murderer is in fact, the victim.

When you say I am unfairly generalizing I have to ask? Are you not unfairly apologizing and justifying the behaviour of those few, and by so doing it, absolving those "many" of their rightful responsibility and complicity in these actions? Who is supposed to police Islam if not the Muslims? The fact that most Muslims may be peaceful and do not participate in the violence of the Jihad does not alter the fact that those Muslims have not, will not, and can not stop the terrorists. They have not tamed the violence in Islam in 1400 years. Where is the evidence they are going to do it now? Therefore we are left to either surrender to their demands, as the "peaceful" Muslims already have, or we fight them. Count me on the fighting side.

When will you hold Islam accountable for the actions of its patrons? When will it be enough? I will answer that for you. It will be enough when the violence reaches someone you know and love. But then it will be too late, for you will have failed to act.

MM: Have you ever met, in person, a Muslim who had listened to your music? What happened?
SAJ: I am sure if you expose one to it he or she will either claim to have been offended or simply say the same things you say in your questions and excuse the violence as being the work of extremists. If they were an "enlightened" Muslim they would react as I do to all the Black Metal I encounter. With complete indifference. But what difference would that make anyway? I live in a free country. I have the right to criticize their religion whether they like it or not. I neither desire, nor seek their approval for it. Let me be the first to tell you, Glenn Benton doesn't call me to ask if its OK to make his records. I never got a call from a Norwegian Black Metal band either. Do you care what Christians think about the Black and Death Metal that berates their faith? To even suggest that Islam is entitled to some type of deferential treatment is an admission of the weakness and pathological sensitivity of this religion and its patrons. If Islam were "enlightened," and had contributed so much of value to the world, as you suggested, it would have the strength of its own character to either ignore, or refute, the accusations that I and others make against it within the public sphere of open debate. When Jesus images are dumped in a jar of piss and put on display as "art" it does not bother me in the least. That's the price of a free society, and I can live with such silliness. That is the superiority of the West, and its Christian heritage, over Islam. It is truly a shame that so many of our own citizens would defend a hateful institution that is actively trying to diminish all of our freedoms just to further their own delusions of "tolerance." A tolerance that is not shared by Islam. Islam needs to grow up. It is Islam that is intolerant and full of hate.

MM: In one particular song, you make reference to the Muslims crossing into our lands and generally invading the land that we have worked for years to keep our own. While it is true that many Muslims have come to the West seeking sanctuary and shelter from problems far worse than you can believe, how is this so different from the Christian missionaries who set have set up churches all over Africa with a view of converting tribes-people and changing their lives forever?"
SAJ: First of all, not all Muslims come to the west "seeking sanctuary from problems far worse than I can believe." Also from the "Axis Of Evil" booklet:

“One day, millions of men will leave the Southern Hemisphere to go to the Northern Hemisphere. And they will not go there as friends. Because they will go there to conquer it. And they will conquer it with their sons. The wombs of our women will give us victory.” -Algerian president Houari Boumedienne at the UN in 1974

“Islam will return to Europe as a conqueror and victor,” and that “the conquest this time will not be by the sword but by preaching and ideology.” -Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradhawi

How do you excuse and ignore these statements when coming from an institution that survives only through predation? "Conquest" is their choice of words. Not mine! These are not soldiers...they are immigrants. I am not particularly against immigration anywhere but we cannot allow invaders, whose stated intention is conquest, to immigrate now can we? Or are we that foolish?

Therefore there is a lot of difference between the way this is being done verses Christian missionary work. Missionaries carried the word of God, not a desire to conquer. Africa, India and the Americas did not have their lives changed forever because of missionaries. They had their lives changed because of Kings' desires for empire and treasure. It would be incredibly naive to believe that as civilizations advanced that they were not going to encounter one another. Armies and commercial interests changed their lives forever. The missionaries that followed, what often were violent initial encounters, brought with them medicines and schools as well as their Bibles. Remember when I earlier pointed out that all conquerors were not created equal? Well here it is. The West did make the lives of their colonies better. It may have been initiated by commercial or military exploitation, but keep in mind Islam had already proven its point in India, Persia and elsewhere. I am still waiting for the Islamic missionaries to show up with their medicines and schools for their conquered populations. Once again I ask...Where is it? Islam too would have been going into the main part of Africa if they could have. The proof is occurring now. Since the Europeans acquired a guilty conscience and abandoned their colonies, Islam has spread quite rapidly to fill the void. Likewise China has taken an interest in Africa. You see, leaving these parts of the world alone is not really an option. Someone else with a far more nefarious intent, will always fill the void.

In the case of missionaries who go into cultures like Africa without any ties to the colonization aspect of world history, you will have to show me where such people ever altered a civilization. There are missionaries who risk their lives to go to various dangerous parts of the world. Mostly all they accomplish is getting themselves killed. Alone, they can only minister to a few. They change the lives of the people who receive their message, but any cultural change would take decades...if it happened at all. Christianity is not authorized to be spread by force as is Islam. The truth is, Christianity has the best story to tell. Even if it weren't true, it is a magnificently brilliant story. Islam can't compete with it. Therefore it must bludgeon its way through history. What vision of God would you rather believe? One that loved you enough to sacrifice a part of himself for his creation, or one that wants you to extract revenge from anyone that offends his prophets? What we need is a world where everyone can express their faith as they wish, and all of them can be accepted or rejected on their merits. Islam fears that, Christianity embraces it.

Sidney Allen Johnson MM: When you started writing the album, you obviously must have realised that it would be controversial, what are your long-term aims for the album’s effect?
SAJ: There are several objectives. This record is about more than Islam. It is a deeply involved record about Biblical end-times prophecy and all the elements that are being brought together to fulfil it. Islam is but a portion of the presentation. The fact that everyone has fixated on the criticisms of Islam only reveals the silly sensitivities of certain people to having the illusions of their world-view challenged. As far as Islam goes, I want people to be as fair to Islam as they have been to Christianity. This record is reaching primarily a metal audience. An audience that has slowly evolved to be very tolerant of anti-Christian rants from a plethora of bands. Christianity took all those shots, but it is not alone in the religious world. Islamic leaders are actively petitioning the United Nations for anti-blasphemy laws. If passed, they will destroy Heavy Metal as those laws will apply to anti-Christian blasphemy as well as anti-Islamic blasphemy. Its time to man up. Stand and fight! There is so much Metal out there about violence and fighting. Now Metal has a fight. A fight for its own existence. Where are the warriors? Suddenly I detect in the metal community, a "sensitivity" for the "feelings" of their enemies. And yes, they are your enemies. I expect "Vagina Monologue" pacifism from the likes of Dave Matthews or Bruce Springsteen. Their like will fight for nothing. Unfortunately even metal musicians feel the need to "conform" to their brand of trendy pacifism, and the pathetic socialist political ethos of mainstream musicians. I had hoped for better from Heavy Metal. Monkey sees, monkey does! So one definite objective of this record is to draw the Metal crowd out in defence of our freedoms or, failing that, to expose the Metal world for the foolish cowards that they are for silently enabling this culture destroyer to go unopposed. That's right, I am calling out Heavy Metal itself, to either stand up for freedom, or sit in the corner and be a sensitive cry-baby. You will change your lyrics when the forthcoming, Islamically demanded, "Culture Ministry" tells you to!

Also I want people to take this CD as a starting point to educating themselves about Islam. Get Qu'rans and read them. Learn the history of this religion. The truth is out there. Quit sacrificing your own heritage in favour of a self-inflating illusion of moral superiority through tolerance. The devil has outsmarted you. You are tolerating your own death and destruction! And just as with Mein Kampf...you are being told to your face what will happen to you and you foolishly are not listening.

As far as any real long term objectives...If people surrender to this appeasement doctrine of excusing Islam while holding their own countries to blame...there won't be any long term objective to have. Iran + nuclear weapons = Death.

Sidney Allen Johnson MM: What do you say to the claim that the way you publicise your views rivals the extreme actions of some of those you hate so much?
SAJ: You throw that word hate around like a baseball. I know you mean to discredit me and my arguments when you use it. How is my presenting THEIR own words and actions in any way revealing a hatred originating within me? Just as importantly, when you use this issue as a platform to show your elevated sense of "tolerance"...what are you tolerating? I do not say "Israel is rotten, dried tree that will be annihilated in one storm." That was Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, infamous seeker of nuclear weapons. I stand opposed to his hatred. I did not say "Death is better than living with the unbelievers amongst us." That was Osama bin Laden. I stand opposed to his hatred. I did not say "Whoever offends our prophet Muhammad should be killed on the spot by the nearest Muslim" That was Sheik Abubukar Hassan Malin. I stand opposed to his hatred. But I damn sure called Muhammad a false prophet, or as I call him on the record, a DevilSpawn.

I also did not say this: "We will put terror into the hearts of the unbelievers. They serve other deities besides God for whom he has revealed no sanction. The fire shall be their home; evil indeed is the dwelling of the evil-doers." That comes from the Qu'ran, 3:150. It is one of many verses cited by Muslims to justify there terrorism and excuse their hatred. And from their perspective, they have no choice. "Fighting is obligatory for you, much as you dislike it. But you may hate a thing although it is good for you, and love a thing although it is bad for you. God (Allah) knows, but you know not." QUR'AN 2:217

How is my pointing out that Islam is a religion that MANDATES war on unbelievers indicative of MY hate? How does that imply that I even dislike Muslims? I happen to love cats. I think tigers are gorgeous animals, but they are dangerous! No matter how many tigers you know, or think you know, they should not be left to roam freely and unattended within our cities. Does that mean I hate tigers too? How many people have to be eaten by tigers before we act to stop them? When the tiger comes after you, do you want to talk to it and try to reason with it, or would you rather have a gun? These are reasonable questions as the Islamic tiger feasts on someone every day. Is there another religion that you can name whose doctrines and traditions MANDATE war on unbelievers? I fail to see where I am being either hateful or unfair!

Not knowing, or failing to acknowledge these things does not make them go away! I have considerable issues with anyone who would dare accuse me of propagating hatred just because I INSIST on addressing these statements and taking seriously both the statements themselves, and the hateful people who made them.

Sidney Allen Johnson MM: Where do you plan to take your music from here?
SAJ: In many ways I think Babylon Mystery Orchestra may have fulfilled any purpose it had with the completion of this record. Certainly I don't think it would be possible to make a more detailed, thought provoking or controversial record than this one. In fact, I am still impressed that anything in Heavy Metal could be called controversial considering everything that has been said, and done, in Metal's past. I guess it makes sense though. In an era where false rebellion is the new conformity in the music world, someone who stood up for his culture and his God, and against "tolerating" the alternative lifestyle of "death," would, in fact, be controversial.

I have some more ideas for big concept records but I don't think they would top this one for controversy in the eyes of most people. It is my intention that the next record be the first Babylon Mystery Orchestra record that isn't a concept record. I have a lot of subjects I want to write a song about, but not a whole story about, so I am going to do that and then maybe come back to the next "theme" record. I have always envisioned Babylon Mystery Orchestra as doing a minimum of four records and I have now reached that objective. I thought that would be enough records to truly have worked out a sound and approach that would be recognizable as its own. That part has been achieved so if I never made another one I feel as though I gave this its fair chance. The Doors did six (only counting those with Morrison) studio records and I always felt like their career was about exactly right in the number of releases. I am not saying I will stop at six records but I am already looking to cut back on the amount of time I dedicate to this enterprise.

Having said that I have two songs recorded and mixed for the next record. A third is just needing the vocals. So far the subject material is varied between Che Guevara (no hero worship of this killer from me) the Twelfth Imam prophecy that so inspires Iran's president and...the Apollo space program! I also have plans to write a song about abortion, and to write a very unusual sounding (I hope) song about the old feudist Anderson Hatfield. How is that for a wide variety of ideas?

MM: Axis of Evil was your most extreme album thus far; do you plan to continue in the same vein?
SAJ: I view music from an artist's perspective and not from a craftsman's. Therefore all Babylon Mystery Orchestra records are going to have to have some interesting lyrics and subject matter and not be a repository of masturbatory musicianship. As I indicated, there is a song about the Islamic Twelfth Imam prophecy already recorded for the next record but I don't know that there will be any more about Islam. There may be, I just will not commit to that as of yet. There were songs about Socialism on "Axis Of Evil" and I have recorded a song about Che Guevara. He was a communist...so I think there is always going to be a certain tendency to be controversial. However, I am not controversial to me. This is all very normal to me. I don't understand all the atheistic-satanic insanity that has seduced so much of the music world. So yes, I am going to continue to be myself, and as such, I will always be in this same vein.

MM: Many of even the most devout Christians find it difficult to ignore the avoidable slaughter of The Crusades, what are your views on the bloody series of battles?
SAJ: My views on "The Crusades" are those of a man who is grateful for their wisdom and their courage, and proud of the enterprise as whole. I can't endorse a few incidents such as the sacking of the then Christian city of Constantinople on the 4th Crusade. But overall I have no problem with them at all. The battles were no more bloody than the Muslim conquests of North Africa, the Middle East, Persia, India and Europe. Islam is a predator religion, as such it needs prey...And Islam "preyed" proficiently. Islam had 400 years on the offensive before the first Crusade was initiated as a counter-attack.

Sidney Allen Johnson All conflicts are avoidable to a coward. But back in those times there was no honour in being a coward. Now you can get your own TV show for it! In our world peace activists are called "courageous" while soldiers are branded as "criminals." The Crusades have been totally maligned and misrepresented by a "politically correct" world that has gone insane. One must remember just what a miracle the entire enterprise was. An army entirely consisting of volunteers from many nations. Financed by wealthy knights who themselves participated. When else in history have you heard of the rich not only paying for a war, but leading it! A multi-national and multi-ethic army and lest everyone forget: The Byzantine emperor (Alexius I) asked the Christian West for help against these aggressive Muslims who had virtually taken the whole of their territory. That is a fact that keeps getting left out. Help was requested!

The Crusaders fought according to the rules of warfare at the time. There were massacres at Antioch and Jerusalem on that glorious first crusade. All justified. Too many people view the past through their own eyes. That's why they keep calling the Iraq war a bloody war here in the United States, even though American casualties are too small to even qualify as a small battle by historical standards. When a battle was fought in Crusader times, one army won and the other army ceased to exist. When a city chose to resist an attack, the entire city was seen as a combatant. Its as simple as that. Several cities the Crusaders encountered surrendered and no harm came to them. That was the tradition of battle. However if you want to assess blame to someone for the Jerusalem massacre, the blame falls to an Egyptian named Iftikhar al-Daula. He was in charge of the defence of Jerusalem. He chose to fight. Why? Because he had sent word to Cairo to send reinforcements. Both he and the Crusaders were aware they were coming. True, the Crusaders could have left and not tried to take the city. However, they swore an oath to worship in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre AFTER they had taken Jerusalem. They could not be expected to back away with their objective within their reach. Jerusalem was the entire objective of the Crusade in the first place. Iftikhar al-Daula had a strong defence and an army coming to relieve him. He chose to fight for those reasons. He also expelled all the Christians from Jerusalem as well as anyone else he thought was disloyal to the defence of the city. So how can we fault the Crusaders for considering everyone in the city an enemy combatant.

No, the affair may have been bloody...but it was entirely justified. If, as you say, "many of the most devout Christians find it difficult to ignore the avoidable slaughter," it is because they are ignorant. I am not apologizing for the Crusaders...I am celebrating them. For the 200 years that Crusaders held territory in the Middle East, Islams expansion was halted. When the Crusader outposts were abandoned, the Jihad resumed and resulted in the conquest of Gallipoli, Adrianople, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, and Macedonia. Eventually they took, and sacked, the city of Constantinople. It was as you say "an avoidable slaughter" that they chose not to avoid. Where is your criticism of them? Islam armies even got as far as laying siege to Vienna...twice! Were it not for the Crusaders, and the 200 years they held Islam in check, we would be Muslims now. We owe them better that the self-righteous scorn of the politically correct. Like any collection of soldiers, they had some that failed to live up to the higher calling of the enterprise as a whole, but they hold up very well to fair scrutiny.

Anyone who wants a quick but detailed run through of the first Crusade should read my essay at the main website. Its called "Crusader The Truth About Islam part 3." It's a nice introduction and I have a list of other books about the Crusades listed afterward.

Sidney Allen Johnson MM: Does that explain the Knights of Templar logo on your website along with pictures of you in crusader armour!?
SAJ: If you are referring to the Babylon Mystery Orchestra logo with the triskelion design, that is not a Templar logo. It looks like a pinwheel to me although certain people out to assail my character have even called it a form of swastika. The truth about the design is, unfortunately, nowhere near so ominous. Since the name "Babylon Mystery Orchestra" is such a long one I felt it unlikely that I would be able to design a really cool logo for the band. I like really good ones. For example Kiss, AC/DC, Starz (one of the best ever) and Angel all have really good and recognizable designs. I decided to go with the Blue Oyster Cult way of thinking. They too had a long name but they had this funny looking question mark cross that they used as a symbol. So I too set out to create a symbol for BMO. The pinwheel looking design is a derivative of a logo you will find on the planetary seal of the planet Triskelion. This comes from the episode called "The Gamesters of Triskelion" in the original Star Trek series. (Am I a Trekkie? Guilty. I have a Next Generation costume too.) The original design from the series had the triskelion designed to fit inside a triangle. I designed this one myself so that it would fit in a circle. The result is that it looks more like a pinwheel than anything else. But that's the story.

Also that is not a Templar Crusader Knights outfit that I am wearing in the pictures. It is the outfit of the King of Jerusalem's personal army. I do have a Templar Knights outfit. Those are white with a red cross on it. There are some pictures out there of me in it. Myspace I think? But only a couple. I have several different Crusader outfits though.

MM: Just to throw it in there and end on a light note, what 3 items would you take on a desert island with you?!
SAJ: I must have a supply of Coca Cola Classic. I can't live without it. Maybe a CD player and a copy of Kiss Alive! Although maybe I ought to trade them for a fishing rod. On a desert Island I could get a lot of fishing in. Although if we are counting animals, I would have to have my cat Felix with me. He is the best cat ever. Anita Tail, who is credited in all BMO CD's is a great cat to be sure...but alone on a desert island? She is not an easy cat to get along with. I'll take Felix.

Lewis Klein

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