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Religious leaders Combat 'fear and intolerance' over Islamic center

Jucon

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I hope you all take the time to watch this video.

Video:
C-SPAN Video Player - Religious leaders Combat 'fear and intolerance' over Islamic center

Top faith leaders will meet today in Washington to discuss the country’s reaction to the proposed Islamic Cultural Center near Ground Zero. The Islamic Society of North America will examine the interfaith response of the controversy and lay out a plan of action for interfaith collaboration moving forward.

Leaders from the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths will discuss how their religions can work together to combat what they call “an atmosphere of fear and intolerance” toward Islam. The National Press Club meeting aims to discuss the state of interfaith solidarity and propose solutions to the anti-Muslim discrimination that has emerged in recent weeks.

With the continuing suspicious and sometimes blatant physical and vocal harassment of the Muslim community it is absolutely necessary for religious leaders all over the United States to condemn any religious intolerance, not only toward Muslim but toward any other religion.

These actions against Islam not only harm the image of tolerance that America tries to project around the world but also puts American's safety, both at home and abroad, at risk.

Protests, Rhetoric Feed Jihadists' Fire - WSJ.com

Islamic radicals are seizing on protests against a planned Islamic community center near Manhattan's Ground Zero and anti-Muslim rhetoric elsewhere as a propaganda opportunity and are stepping up anti-U.S. chatter and threats on their websites.

One jihadist site vowed to conduct suicide bombings in Florida to avenge a threatened Koran burning, while others predicted an increase in terrorist recruits as a result of such actions.

Though there are honest concerns against the planned Park 51 Islamic Center in Manhattan, there is growing evidence that anti-Muslim hatred and rhetoric is spreading across this nation and is tainting the core values of America.

CAIR: Texas Mosque Targeted by Arson, Hate Graffiti, Slurs | Reuters
CAIR-TX said a Sunday fire at the playground of Dar El-Eman Islamic Center in Arlington, Texas, followed an incident two days earlier in which obscene anti-Muslim graffiti was discovered in the mosque's parking lot. A third incident involved racial slurs being shouted at worshippers on Sunday.

CAIR: Calif. Tea Party to Use Dogs to Harass Muslim Worshippers | Reuters
The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today denounced a planned anti-mosque protest by California Tea Party supporters who are being told to bring dogs to harass Muslim worshippers during a Friday congregational prayer, or "Jummah."

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/us/08mosque.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=mosque protest&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/04/us/politics/04build.html?scp=1&sq=mosque protest&st=cse

Think Progress » California Mosque Targeted With Anti-Muslim Sign:
But in addition to acts of bodily harm against Muslims, the ugly and emotional Ground Zero debate has generated hate crimes against a mosque in California. The Fresno Bee reports that a brick was thrown through a window of the Madera Islamic center last Friday. There have been repeated instances of hate directed against this particular mosque. Signs have been left at the Islamic center carrying inflammatory messages, like this one:
hatecrimesign.standalone.prod_affiliate.8.jpg

CAIR-CT Seeks Protection for Muslim Worshippers | Reuters
The Connecticut Post reported that right-wing protesters carrying signs and shouting "Islam is a lie" angrily confronted worshippers outside a Bridgeport mosque on Friday. Worshippers arriving at the Masjid An-Noor mosque were harassed by protesters shouting "Jesus hates Muslims." One protester reportedly shoved a hate sign at a group of young children leaving the mosque.

CAIR: FBI Asked to Probe Arson at Georgia Mosque | Reuters
"Given the recent wave of incidents targeting American mosques, a possible bias motive for this apparent arson attack must be considered," said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. "Unfortunately, there is a vocal minority in our society promoting anti-Muslim bigotry, and that minority is experiencing little or no pushback from mainstream religious and political leaders."

Though I firmly believe in the first amendment protecting people's rights to free speech, I also strongly believe in the first amendment protecting people's right to practice their religion freely. This anti-Muslim rhetoric needs to be quelled before it gets out of hand.

FOXNews.com - Pastor Says Church Not Deterred by Petraeus Warning on Koran Burning
"Images of the burning of a Koran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan -- and around the world -- to inflame public opinion and incite violence," Petraeus said. "Were the actual burning to take place, the safety of our soldiers and civilians would be put in jeopardy and accomplishment of the mission would be made more difficult."


I am very pleased to see these religious leaders come together and say to the world that these actions against Islam do not represent American people. It is my hope that people around the world realize that these acts of hatred are not condoned by the majority of freedom loving Americans.



One quotes that stood out for me was from Reverend Richard Cizik (watch the CSPAN video from 16 minutes on):
"Watch out for so casually trampling on the religious liberty of others. You may be able to do that when you are the majority, but if you undermine liberty for other people's children today, your own children may one day see their religious liberties deprived from them. And the principles that protect Muslims today here in this country will protect Christians, Jews and others tomorrow. And that's what makes this a great, great country."

:peace
 
Yes. Let's piss on the feelings of the victim's families of 9.11 and New Yorkers in defense of political correctness.

Bottom line. If the Muslims who really want this Mosque built moved the location it would build far more bridges and prove they are actually interested in tolerance for all.
 
With the continuing suspicious and sometimes blatant physical and vocal harassment of the Muslim community it is absolutely necessary for religious leaders all over the United States to condemn any religious intolerance, not only toward Muslim but toward any other religion.

Would you say that continued violence spurred by Islamic extremists makes it absolutely necessary for muslim leaders to condemn any terrorism, not only toward Muslims but toward any other religion?

I don't expect every Muslim leader to apologize for every islamic extremist, nor do I expect every christian/jewish leader to apologize for everyone who unfairly criticizes Islam.
 
Yes. Let's piss on the feelings of the victim's families of 9.11 and New Yorkers in defense of political correctness.

Bottom line. If the Muslims who really want this Mosque built moved the location it would build far more bridges and prove they are actually interested in tolerance for all.

Maybe you should try reading through the entire post? This is about more that just about the Islamic Center in Manhattan. I hope you take the time to watch the video.
 
Would you say that continued violence spurred by Islamic extremists makes it absolutely necessary for muslim leaders to condemn any terrorism, not only toward Muslims but toward any other religion?

Absolutely. Muslim leaders are probably the most important part of avoiding future Muslim extremists. Preaching peace and tolerance is a message all religious leaders should spread.
 
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I think most muslims would find that offensive.

The point I'm trying to make is religious leaders have a very important role to play in their religious communities. Look at the pope. Or priests. Or rabbis. They are there for guidence. And my hope is that they are all teaching peace and tollerance. They don't have to spend every sermon condeming terrorism, but peace, love and tolerance are messages most religions share.
 
Yes. Let's piss on the feelings of the victim's families of 9.11 and New Yorkers in defense of political correctness.

Bottom line. If the Muslims who really want this Mosque built moved the location it would build far more bridges and prove they are actually interested in tolerance for all.

Political correctness has nothing to do with this. Those building the mosque had nothing to do with 9-11 just like our Catholics posters had nothing to do with pedophiles molesting little boys and our resident white christians posters had nothing to do with terrorist in white sheets terrorizing and murdering blacks,republicans anyone else the kkk hated. So those building the mosque are not pissing on the feelings of the victims families. If anyone is trying to push political correctness it is the people trying to pin 9-11 on all muslims by pissing and moaning over a mosque. This is like when stupid libs wanted the Gun show in Columbine delayed or moved to another location after the columbine shooting.
 
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Why would they?

You don't find it offensive when someone says "as a muslim, why haven't you denounced [random terrorist attack]? By not denouncing it, you're effectively condoning it"?

I could swear I've heard you (among others) making that exact criticism of some posters on this forum before.
 
You don't find it offensive when someone says "as a muslim, why haven't you denounced [random terrorist attack]? By not denouncing it, you're effectively condoning it"?

I could swear I've heard you (among others) making that exact criticism of some posters on this forum before.

I think you're mistaking me with a Fox News talk show host.
 
I think you're mistaking me with a Fox News talk show host.

The OP:

it is absolutely necessary for religious leaders all over the United States to condemn any religious intolerance, not only toward Muslim but toward any other religion.

These actions against Islam not only harm the image of tolerance that America tries to project around the world but also puts American's safety, both at home and abroad, at risk.

I think it's a pretty apt comparison re: the collective blaming and the fearmongering.
 
Yes. Let's piss on the feelings of the victim's families of 9.11 and New Yorkers in defense of political correctness.

Yeah, and let's flush the promise of American values and principles down the toilet and let's terrorize every American muslim in every community until they all go back to where they came from... even if their parents were born here.:roll::roll:

Because the salem witch burnings, internment camps, mccarthyism, red scare, that's what it means to be an American--scared of your own shadow and creating a new boogeyman at every turn.

Bottom line. If the Muslims who really want this Mosque built moved the location it would build far more bridges and prove they are actually interested in tolerance for all.

No, text, the bottom line is embracing the Islamic Cultural Center so close to ground zero would undermine the fringe elements, shut them down, weaken their arguments about us. Instead, through our own fear and ignorance, we give them more power. They are beating us.

If we celebrated the building of a mosque in the spirit of love and forgiveness... Osama bin Laden would be sitting alone in cave before long. His own men would turn him in.
 
The OP:



I think it's a pretty apt comparison re: the collective blaming and the fearmongering.

I don't understand where you're getting all this from... never did I say anything close to, "as a muslim, why haven't you denounced [random terrorist attack]? By not denouncing it, you're effectively condoning it".

By promoting peace and love you are condemning terrorism, hatred and acts of violence. You don't have to preach "don't kill innocent people" or "don't go setting fire to the local Mosque"... the same overall message can be sent by preaching "love your neighbor" and "treat others the way you would like to be treated".
 
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If we celebrated the building of a mosque in the spirit of love and forgiveness... Osama bin Laden would be sitting alone in cave before long. His own men would turn him in.

:rofl :rofl

:lamo :lamo

Yeeeeeeaaaaaaah. That's all it would take to get al Qaeda to quit.

:2funny:
 
If we celebrated the building of a mosque in the spirit of love and forgiveness... Osama bin Laden would be sitting alone in cave before long. His own men would turn him in.

This is probably the most absurd thing I've ever read on this forum.

Just......wow.
 
I think i'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and believe that he was attempting to be funny. Taken in that context, it becomes the funniest comment i've ever read on the internet. period. Eh, who am I kidding? Even if he was being serious, it's effing hilarious.
 
You don't find it offensive when someone says "as a muslim, why haven't you denounced [random terrorist attack]? By not denouncing it, you're effectively condoning it"?

I could swear I've heard you (among others) making that exact criticism of some posters on this forum before.

Oh no that is true.

I thought he was referring to Muslim leaders importance. My bad.

I would be pissed off if someone constantly said to me why I don't personally denounce every single terrorist attack just because I am a Muslim and that it now means I condone/support it
I don't have no special obligation to do so, I make my position clear once and that should be enough.
 
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If we celebrated the building of a mosque in the spirit of love and forgiveness... Osama bin Laden would be sitting alone in cave before long. His own men would turn him in.

Not sure if your serious ... o_O
 
I don't understand where you're getting all this from... never did I say anything close to, "as a muslim, why haven't you denounced [random terrorist attack]? By not denouncing it, you're effectively condoning it".

By promoting peace and love you are condemning terrorism, hatred and acts of violence. You don't have to preach "don't kill innocent people" or "don't go setting fire to the local Mosque"... the same overall message can be sent by preaching "love your neighbor" and "treat others the way you would like to be treated".

My point is that it's not some random parish leader's job to denounce the arson at the TN mosque, just like it's not a random mosque leader's job to denounce every terrorist attack in the ME. To argue that it's "necessary" for moderate religious leaders to denounce extremists is to imply that there are ties between the two. It's certainly nice when people speak out on these issues, but there is no affirmative obligation on either party.

Oh no that is true.

I thought he was referring to Muslim leaders importance. My bad.

I would be pissed off if someone constantly said to me why I don't personally denounce every single terrorist attack just because I am a Muslim and that it now means I condone/support it
I don't have no special obligation to do so, I make my position clear once and that should be enough.

I just realized that my post erroneously quoted his statement about the importance of muslim leaders - when I first read it, all it said was "absolutely," which was what I was thinking of.
 
Political correctness has nothing to do with this. Those building the mosque had nothing to do with 9-11 just like our Catholics posters had nothing to do with pedophiles molesting little boys and our resident white christians posters had nothing to do with terrorist in white sheets terrorizing and murdering blacks,republicans anyone else the kkk hated. So those building the mosque are not pissing on the feelings of the victims families. If anyone is trying to push political correctness it is the people trying to pin 9-11 on all muslims by pissing and moaning over a mosque. This is like when stupid libs wanted the Gun show in Columbine delayed or moved to another location after the columbine shooting.

Of course it does. No one is arguing if they can legally doing it and this has NOTHING to do with the civil rights movement.
 
Maybe you should try reading through the entire post? This is about more that just about the Islamic Center in Manhattan. I hope you take the time to watch the video.

When you have actual proof about the other sites being committed by Christians, let us know. Until then you are basing your beliefs off nothing more than suspicion.

And CAIR is a terrorist supporting group. It would be wise if you did not use them to support your argument in the future.
 
I just realized that my post erroneously quoted his statement about the importance of muslim leaders - when I first read it, all it said was "absolutely," which was what I was thinking of.

Oh I see. I was getting confused.
 
Of course it does. No one is arguing if they can legally doing it....

O RLY?




It only takes one to break an absolute claim, I have two - many more exist more likely than not.
 

Yeah, Really.

It only takes one to break an absolute claim, I have two - many more exist more likely than not.

It sure would be nice if you actually watched the videos you posted. Neither one says they do not have the legal right to build it.

Enjoy your fail.
 
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