“Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House, is the most recent prominent opponent to cast this debate in a way that demonizes all Muslims and exploits fear to divide Americans,” the pro-mosque religionists angrily complained. Noting that Gingrich is a Roman Catholic, they also swiped at another Religious Left bête noire, Sarah Palin, who, the statement darkly observed, is “an evangelical Christian who frequently references her faith as an inspiration for her political beliefs.” Finally, the pro-mosque religionists targeted Fox News for spewing forth a “steady stream of irresponsible commentary and biased coverage that reduces what should be a civil debate into starkly combative terms.” Evidently, calling mosque skeptics bigots and xenophobes is not “combative.”
The Religious Left mosque apologists tut-tutted about a “a small minority of violent extremists manipulates religious language for political gain and falsely claims to represent one of the world’s great religions.” But groups like the NCC almost never say anything directly critical of radical Islamists except when absolutely politically obliged. “Extreme” Christians who warn against Islamist influence are typically more distressing to most of the Religious Left than most Islamists. They lamented the “sinful corruption of religion across faith traditions throughout history,” which of course fits with the Religious Left view that radical Islam is not a unique threat. Of greater concern to this crowd are the “ugly stereotypes about Islam” that demean the “vast majority of Muslims committed to peace.”
This NCC-led coalition reassuringly described the Cordoba House Islamic Center that will be “open to all Americans that will provide Islamic, interfaith and secular programs” in support of “integration, tolerance of difference and community cohesion through arts and culture.” Highly impressed with these goals, the pro-mosque religionists excitedly pronounced: “These are exactly the kind of efforts that foster dialogue, break down barriers and begin to build a world where religiously inspired violent extremism is less likely.” No doubt. In contrast with the lovefest envisioned at the new mosque, Gingrich and Palin must stop “issuing inflammatory statements” and desist from “fear-mongering and hateful rhetoric.”
Lest anyone miss the point, NCC President Peg Chemberlin, a Moravian minister from Minnesota, apparently issued her own enhancing statement, making the umpteenth banal comparison of radical Islamists no more speaking for Islam than does Timothy McVeigh speak for Christians. Of course, unlike the 9-11 Islamists, the largely agnostic McVeigh never professed any religious purposes behind his terrorism. But never mind, the NCC official needed some violent example of uncontrolled Christianity, and McVeigh was as close as she could reach evidently.
Finding prominent Christians who would sign this blast in defense of the Ground Zero mosque and against Gingrich and Palin apparently was also a reach. Besides Chemberln and the NCC’s General Secretary Michael Kinnamon, the Christian signators are mostly academics or left-wing Catholic groups like Pax Christi and the Maryknollers. J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami is the most prominent Jewish signer. Of course, the Muslim Public Affairs Council and Islamic Society of North America gladly signed. But why none of the usual suspects from among the NCC’s constituency, like the United Methodists or Episcopalians? Could even they be wary of endorsing what is opposed by groups like the Anti-Defamation League, which has said: “Building an Islamic center in the shadow of the World Trade Center will cause some victims more pain – unnecessarily – and that is not right.”
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When Hitler came to power, lots of religious dodos said, "How bad can it be?"
Yeah, don't worry …just forgeddaboudit…….put your head in the sand .
Let me see if i understand this: the koran dictates a msque to be built on sites of victory:
They attack us, and admit it..them they want to celebrate the site of their victory, the imam is anti semitic and anti israel and refuses to condemn terrorism, the idiotic self-loathing Bloombeg says its about religious freedom, ignoring terror support of the imam, Obama sends the imam on a diplomatic mission, no doubt to raise funds and slap the face of anti terror people being a muslim himself, AND we see nothing wrong. A supreme court appointee espouses sharia, and we sit like suicidal lemmings…the handwriting is on the wall!
Thanks for summarizing the FACTS so succinctly. You hit every nail SMACK ON the head!
!FEISAL RAUF'S SUFISM
In his book "What's Right With Islam" Rauf reveals himself to be a Sufi in the tradition of Al Ghazali, the radical militant 10th century Moselm jurist who extolled Holy War (JIHAD): using violence and deception in the Moslem conquest of mankind. "Cordoba Initiative" are code words for Moslem imperial conquest, not religious freedom and equality (of which there was none in Moslem ruled Cordoba). Sharia ruled Cordoba is Rauf's political model for America and the West.
continued
Rauf is a Moslem first an American last and is anything but an integrationist. In his lecture "Lose Your Ego Find Your Compassion (found on the internet)" Rauf claims that the Prophet Mohammed-an intolerant, mass murdering theiving terrorist thug (a virtual killing machine for Allah)-is the supreme example for humanity of compassion, goodness, enlightenment and morality.
With good reason 68% of the American people (80% Republicans, 54% Dems), empathetically siding with the victims of 9/11 and their familes, see Rauf's mosque as offensive and insensitive and oppose its construction anywhere close to Ground Zero.
Google ApolloSpeaks (one word) and read my controversial piece: Islam, Sufism and the Ground Zero Mosque
rauf and his wife are professional liars exploiting an incredibly naive American government. Both are supporters of hamas and other islamic terrorist organizations. The record is clear and instructive. What is remarkable is the lack of desire of the obama administration to seek legitimate moderate muslims (the ones whose names are on death liss).
I am quite convinced that only the naive actually believe that the current US administration is naive about Islam. Those more in touch are rather busy uncovering the links, extent and degree of Islamist influence in the WH and the personal views of the POTUS and his high-maintenance Marie Antoinette (Michelle Obama).
I want to see that dopey women from the NCC go to Afghanistan and make peace with the Taliban and AQ. If she so strongly believes that Islam and jihadists are misread and that loving them will end war, then she should go prove it. If she feels so strongly that this monument to radical Islam is worthy she should go to Mecca and sermonize about her love of Islam and how interfaith can solve the world's problems.
It is the same story all over: The left gets to say and do anything it wants even if it causes pain, suffering and death to Americans because they cannot and will not be held accountable or responsible.
I don't know if he is a signatory, but that sure is a picture of Jim Wallis with this article, and he sure has come out for the GZ mosque: http://blog.sojo.net/2010/08/05/who-wins-when-the…. He's a self-proclaimed evangelical with a long history of getting it wrong.
Funny how the left wanted NO prayer in the public schools, NO Ten Commandments in the courtrooms, no crosses, no Chanukah menorahs, no mention of the Bible in classes….but watch them fall all over themselves to approve a mosque at Ground Zero….these people are hypocrits, liars and most of all, fools. There is not one church, temple,synagogue or anything permitted in Saudi Arabia, but these leftist twits want the Saudis to finance a mosque where 3000 people were slaughtered by Saudi terrorists.
Un effing believable.
Yes, the left's stance regarding this issue, and public prayer has further baffled me. I thought most on the left claim to be logical?
Few critics of the $100 million proposed Cordoba House Islamic Community Center near the World Trade Center site dispute the right of any religious group to construct a house of worship in America.
I do and on top of it I’m not a bigot or a xenophobe, because Islam besides being a religion is also a very radical form of totalitarianism that seeks to dominate the world as its main goal. Thus, unlike what is widely assumed, especially by Leftists and even some clueless conservatives, because Islam is a totalitarian theo-political ideology that seeks to subjugate the world as its main goal, it is not protected by the first amendment of the constitution. Hence, not only should the Ground Zero supremacist mega mosque and Islamic center be stopped, especially since it is a part of the stealth global jihad, but all mosque building in the USA should be stopped as well.
And if anyone believes I am a bigot or a Xenophobe, then let them prove me wrong.
You forgot to mention that all existing mosques (except Amaddiya mosques) should be closed. The practice of Wahabbi'ism, Sunni and Shi'ite Islam (and probably others) should be declared unAmerican and illegal. Oh – and we should offer free one way plane rides to all current Muslims in the USA to the Islamic hellhole of their choice.
Calm, collected conservatism is not the answer anymore. We must be well-versed in our arguments and radical in our delivery of it. We must be just as vocal and just as determined as the Leftists in this country to counter their claims of 'progressive enlightenment' on every issue. We must inform the idiots and persuade with facts, logic and patience. We must continue to beat the drum just as the leftis media does for their cause. …when possible, use simpler words so the Obamaites can understand. Never, never, never give up the fight. If we lose the next two elections….the country is lost along with our children's future. Convince by facts and repetition. We have a small window…we must try to repair the assault on our country.
Good coment from Mr Pottoroff. Radical simply means returning to the core of our radias. Which is all islam is trying to do. Their radias simply means doing evil destructive and cruel things to others. So the "radical" islamist is simply being a GOOD islamist. We must also be come radical for what we believe in.
The problem is to define a "moderate" Islamist. The question is "Do you believe in the inerrancy of the Koran?" Can the answer possibly be "No"? What happens then? Is such a Moslem an apostate? If he is then what does the Koran prescribe for him?
We are at war–do the necessary.
I think the best thing that couldhappen is for the contruction of this war mongering abomination to be allowed, and for it to NEVER be completed due to delays, accidents, missing materials, failed inspections… milk the creeps who are paying for the construction into bankruptcy.
I'm all in favor of the unions on this one.
They just do not get it. The reason we despise the Ground Zero Mosque is the very same reason we despise groups like the NCC and Progressive politics, it is called Ideology.
We will have to deliver ourselves from the evil that is enveloping us like a malignant fog.
Let us pray that those of us who are rational, patriotic citizens will maintain their courage and resolve that will be needed to stand up to the forces of darkness from within and without the borders of this still great nation.
I am SHOCKED to see some of the comments on this site that condemn the building of this important monument to peace and the Islamic faith. Your own president has approved this structure as have leading Left/Liberal and Church groups. Surely you trust your own President ! I would have thought that this was reason enough for all those who oppose this attempt to build bridges with the Islamic world to STOP opposing it. You must by now realise that Islam is a Religion of Peace and that wherever it goes it spreads harmony, love and justice. Much is made of the fact that this fantastic structure may upset some people whose relatives and friends were incinerated on 9/11 but this is just a side issue, is it not ? Its a well known fact that everyone who opposes this creative attempt to spread the love of Allah are bigots.
Just like me in fact.
This article comes with an unmistakable aroma of bribe money. If 100M$ is involved in building the mosque, I bet a minimum of 5M$ softened the obvious opposition and probably much more than that given before and will still be given after. I wonder if Tom Clansy gets inspired by this scheme to write a new book.
Let's imagine, for a moment, what Muslims might think if the tables were turned: suppose some American, extremist radicals had blown up Muhammad's tomb in 2001, and now some Christians are proposing to build a big cathedral-like church building next to the hole in the ground where Muhammad's tomb once stood. All the Muslims (and these useful idiots from the NCC) would defend and support the idea in the interest of peace, dialogue and tolerance, right?
I still like the idea proposed by other patriots that some enterprising souls should pull up to the site with a truckload of dogs or hogs and take them for a little run around the grounds. Of course, they would have to bring security personnel with them to protect them from the "compassionate" Progressives who are running interference for our sworn enemies.
We've got 2 more years of destruction with Obama the Muslim. Who's available to supplant him in 2012? We shouldn't be surprised that he as well as the amnesic left are ready to kiss,make up & grovel over a mosque at the site of 3000 of our fellow countrymens' murder.
J street is not a Jewish organization. Although some of its leaders are descended (partly) from Jews, their theology is either Buddhist, agnostic of far left secular humanism. None of them perform the commandments expect of a G-d fearing Jew, such as keeping the Sabbath holy, maintaining a kosher diet and daily prayer.
What a great article, I found this to be quite an enjoyable read.
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It has long ago abandoned any pretense of peace. Aren't Shiites and Sunnis killing each other? Aren't smaller sects despised and persecuted by both?!?!? Following Mohammed's death, didn't his siccessor – Abu Bakr – barbarically kill over 80,000 who had been forced to convert under Mohammed?!?!?
Let's face it, it is no more than a political ideology, combining the worst traits of Fascism, Communism, in favor of certain elites. Albeit, it is dresed in the trappings of religion, to somehow make it acceptable.
Read at least two different translations of the Qur'an, read the Hadith and you will see the hatred, the incitement to violence, against everything and everyone that stands in Islam's way. ISLAM is derived from "i-silm," its literal meaning is not "the religion of peace" it is "the religion of submission!"