Archive for the ‘Islam-a-phobia’ Category
We reported last week about how Clergy Beyond Borders (CBB) has taken the country by storm – visiting over 13 cities in the last two weeks.
The rousing Reconciliation Tour were greeted by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley at their final stop. USDemocrazy was a at St. Katherine Drexel Church in Frederick, MD to bring you the scoop:
Sunday’s program began with scriptures, music, and prayer from all of the three Abrahamic faiths.
O’Malley offered a short address and proclamation for the organization and praised how the tours promotion of
Deeper understandings of one another, of the dignity of every individual, of the religious traditions of our neighbors, and of the essential unity that we all share.
The keynote address was given by President and Founder of CBB Imam Yahya Hendi, who started out by recounting that
A year ago, cynical voices told us this caravan will not take place.
But after two weeks on the road, Imam Hendi and his traveling band of Rabbis and Reverend had proved the naysayers wrong. The group had spoken with over 6,000 people and covered over 3,000 miles. Hendi reported an “overall positive” reception from the public during the tour, explaining that
people came with warm hearts…[they] are looking for hope, for people to tell them that there’s something good out there.
United Methodist Minister Steve Martin told USDemocrazy that the tour was
a spectacular success! It has gone beyond what a lot of us expected.
Martin recounted a specific moment in Chattanooga, Tennessee, when the group had stopped to deliver their message to a mega-church, not known for its inclusion or tolerance.
However, after Hendi’s message, the crowd leapt to their feet and gave him a standing ovation. The Imam’s message of religious pluralism and harmony echoed with them.
Image Courtesy of Clergy Beyond Borders
A rabbi, an imam, and a reverend walk into a room. Sounds like the opening to a cliche joke.
But this is no joke. This is the mission of Clergy Beyond Borders, a group formed with the goal of promoting religious and cultural pluralism.
In this era of increasing Islam-o-phobia, the group has decided to take their message of tolerance on the road in the USA.
The Reconciliation Ride is a national tour organized to engage communities that have faced religious conflict.
The adventure began on September 11th of this year, and since the kick-off the traveling group has been to 10 different states, 14 cities, and spoken with over 5,000 people in mosques, synagogues, churches, and universities. The audiences have included a mix of Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and Baha’i.
One of the tour’s most notable stops took place in Murfressboro, Tennessee. The town had been a focus of Islam-o-phobia over the past year.
When members of the local Muslim community planned to construct a mosque, other locals objected. The proposed property became the target of vandals, arsonists and obstructionist lawyers.
Tour participant Rich Eisendorf explained
“This resistance and discrimination isn’t uncommon in many of the places the tour is stopping”
But even in the face of these attitudes, the tour has received warm welcome in cities from Nashville and Chattanooga to Toledo and Cleveland.
In Chattanooga, an Imam’s message of religious tolerance in these difficult times brought 500 people to their feet for a rousing 0vation.
In South Carolina, the clergy team engaged citizens in a discussion about the big question of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict: Is it possible to reconcile the differences between the two warring factions?
The conversation continued for over an hour and half after the clergy’s talk. The public found that the less they shied away from important dialogue, the more likely healthy discussions would ensue and bring communities together.
Now, the Reconciliation Ride will come to Frederick for its last stop at St. Katherine Drexel Church and will feature an introduction by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.
USDemocrazy will be there covering the event.
Check back on Monday to read more! In the meantime, leave us your questions for the rabbis, imams, and reverends in the comments below. What do you think of this plan to fight religious extremism and bring communities together?
Image courtesy of NPR
Whole Foods, the infamous grocery store of choice for President Obama to buy his arugula and for many other progressive shoppers, recently announced the launch of a Halal line of food products.
The Halal products meet Muslim dietary standards. This promotion was launched in recognition of the holy month of Ramadan in August .
Sounds like a pretty good marketing plan. Like the aisles of Easter-themed candy, matzah for Passover.
But one branch of the store did not buy into the program.
The Houston Press discovered this curious internal email. It seems some were nervous about ‘Celebrating or promoting’ Ramadan.”
With the introduction of this line company wide, and the beginning of Ramadan last week, we posted a product giveaway on the Whole Story blog (on July 31) to generate awareness and interest in the products. Some people have misinterpreted the blog post to mean we are celebrating or promoting Ramadan in our stores. The misinterpretation has generated some negative feedback from a small segment of vocal and angry consumers and bloggers.
The “vocal and angry consumers” had been calling the promotion evidence of Whole Foods’ “anti-Israel” stance and “jihadist interests.”
When it looked like Whole Foods was caving into the criticism, another group of consumers became vocal. Another customer wrote that she was
…disappointed to hear that Whole Foods has capitulated to a vocal minority that does not believe in the freedom to observe non-Christian religious practices in America
After the new controversy about the controversy began to pick up, Whole Foods announced that the email did NOT reflect the policy of the national Whole Foods chain.
According to a spokesperson for Whole Foods, the email was generated and sent by the leadership in the Southwest region branch. The spokesperson went on to say that
The main thing that we want our customers to know is that this is a misunderstanding that stemmed from a couple of individuals. We have talked to these people, we have corrected it … and hopefully this won’t happen again.
And the national chain went on to tweet
We’re extremely excited about offering halal products for our shoppers and we stand behind them AND our promotion of them.
Check out The Atlantic’s coverage for even more of the story.
12
Unveiling the Ban
by dizzycypher 
Featured, Islam-a-phobia, News, Text for Thought, View from Abroad
Thanks to Miss France
They’ve done it folks! After years of deliberation, the French government has finally banned the public use of the Burka,a traditional muslim veil, effective Monday April 11.
Anyone wearing the burka or niqab in public will be “fined up to $216 and a citizenship course.” And to enforce this law, men who are caught forcing women to wear a veil will face a much steeper punishment of up to $43,400 in fines and prosecution.
To complicate matters, immigration minister and architect of the ban, Eric Besson (who once described a burqua as a “walking coffin”) is reported to have a Muslim Tunisian girlfriend who is more than half his age. Besson is allegedly considering suing a news website that speculated about his possible conversion to Islam.
Muslims in France are less than certain about the the burqa ban …. ok, they are outraged!
If the protests on Saturday and the peaceful demonstrations on Monday are any indication, this is going to be a long difficult battle.
On Saturday, 61 people were arrested in Paris, 19 of which were women. And attempting to join the party was Anjem Choudary, a member of the outlawed Islam4UK. He was arrested along with two other Muslim radicals.
On the first day of the ban, two women wore their burqas in defiance of the new law and were arrested NOT for veiling their face BUT for an unauthorized protest! It seems the French government is still confused about its own law.
“I’m not here to provoke, but to defend my civil liberties as a French citizen,” said Drider, one of the veiled protesters on Monday.
Taking creativity to a new level, some Muslim women in France are planning on wearing medical masks in order to get around the law. Others have simply left France, which is the 1st country to “bring a ban on face-covering veils.” Although nearly a year ago Belgium passed a similar ban, it has failed to enforce it.
Even more alarming are Al-Qaeda’s massive threats to attack France following the introduction of the ban. Like many Muslim communities abroad, they are not buying Sarkozy’s fight against the “debasement of women” so passionately stated in his state of the nation address last year.
It is curious, odd, and some would say a little incriminating that Sarkozy would support this ban just a year before a national election. 60% do not support Mr Sarkozy according to a recent Paris-based poll. But France’s current political atmosphere seems to be anti-immigration. So it appears Sarkozy may be using the ban as a good political opportunity to boost his popularity.
Just something to think about. Could the ban spread to the UK, Italy, and even the US?
This kind of sounds like a joke:
What do you get when you mix a bad moustache, a Koran, some matches and The Internet?
You get riots and death…and this is no joke.
The moustache belongs to The crazy Pastor Terry Jones of Florida. Some months ago his congregation threatened to burn a Koran as a protest against the violent nature of the religion (see our previous coverage of it here).
His inflammatory flaming stunt was halted when outcry and pleas from many ( includingThe Pope) helped to change his limited mind.
Then, recently it was learned his equally kooky kongregation decided to burn a Koran in a less public ceremony.
When the word of the incident was revealed, Muslims worldwide were outraged.
Then, a group of unfriendly religious radicals in Afghanistan started trouble. The Taliban used the Koran-burning as a rallying cry for anti-west protests.
For the past 3 days angry mobs have protested the burning resulting in deadly riots. On Friday 9 people were killed and 80 injured in Afghanistan when rioters stormed a UN compound.
Now the protests and violence has continued.
So here’s our question… who is to blame?
Do you blame Terry Jones and his followers for this irresponsible behavior? Or maybe it’s the Taliban who are inciting the citizens in Afghanistan to blame the west as a whole for the actions of a few? Or are the rioters to blame for the results of their action? Or a combination of them all?
Please share your thoughts!
Going green! The St. Patrick’s update to Angry Birds Seasons is available today!
No surprises…fighting in Libya continues as Gaddafi’s forces intensify.
Another one bites the dust: NPR’s top exec resigns amidst most recent controversy.
Is the GOP attacking Islam? The House starts its hearings on “Muslim radicalization.”
And, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark loses its director…but not in a freak accident.
Here we go again… the ugly face of islamophobia has reappeared… this time in Orange County, California.
On March 3, 2011, hundreds of impassioned protesters stood outside the Yoruba Linda Community Center shouting at Muslim families and children “Go Home, Go Home, Go Home.”
Ironically enough, for these Muslims America is home. Many of the Muslims present were native born.
The occasion was a fund-raising dinner for the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) to aid impoverished Americans of ALL religions, race, or ethnicity. Event attendee Adel Syed said,
“As an American citizen, it is hurtful. I’m being told to go back home. I’m actually from Fullerton.”
The protest which was captured on tape has become the latest viral video that has inflamed cyberspace. Social mediums like Facebook, Twitter, and even YouTube are littered with angry condemnation of the protest while some have excitedly and blatantly voiced their deprecating hatred of Muslims across the globe.
One particular highlight of the protest that had viewers shocked was from a prominent Tea Party Councilwoman Deborah Pauly, also known as Crazy Pauly.
In her unforgettable speech to the crowd, she refers to the organizers of the ICNA as “enemies of America” and “terrorist instigators” who have planned an event (a benefit dinner) that is “pure, unadulterated evil.” But wait, she doesn’t stop there! She goes on to say,
“I have a wonderful 19-year-old son who’s a United States Marine. As a matter of fact I know quite a few Marines who would be very happy to help these terrorists to an early meeting in paradise.”
The detestation is clear from the crowd as hundreds clap, chant, and laugh in unison to an apparently funny and not-so-veiled death threat made by an American civil servant.
The protesters claimed the ICNA had terrorist connections. To other’s the ICNA is better know as a charitable organisation giving money to across the US providing disaster relief, mobile soup kitchens and women’s shelters
From the Muslim community, the response to the protest was one of self contained dignity and tolerance. ICNA spokesman, Waqas Syed states,
“we at ICNA fully affirm the right of protesters to free speech.”
Free speech is something that is constitutionally guaranteed by the first amendment but what else is guaranteed?
How about freedom of religion? It seems some have forgotten this is also a civil liberty all US citizen’s enjoy.
16
Islam: A “Retarded Culture”
by dizzycypher Featured, Islam-a-phobia, News, View from Abroad
Earlier we covered the highly charged story of Dutch politician Geert Wilders’ personal battle with Islam. Not only does he suggest Islam is a “retarded culture” but the Quran is comparable to “Hitler’s Mein Kampf.” Ouch!
Wilders’ faces a possible one year sentence in jail and a fine for his comments but his case, now in trial, is taking a curious turn.
Initially, prosecutors had “declined to take up the case against Wilders, but were compelled to do so by the high court after anti-racism activists protested.”
Now prosecutors argue that his politician status awards him the right to make statements “about perceived problems in society,”( i.e. immigration of Muslims)
Some think Wilders is the problem.
If he is jailed or freed there is bound to be an outcry… stay tuned.
We at US Democrazy have been keeping an eye on Islam-A-phobia in the United States, from Koran burning to mosque opposition. However, the European country of Netherlands has a politician whose anti-Islam stance puts American ‘phobes to shame (This is one competition where the USA does not want to be #1).
Geert Wilders, a man with policy views far less funny than his name, has become the center of attention in Netherlands for his STRONG anti-Islamic views.
He’s most notable in the US for speaking in New York City against a proposed Islamic facility near Ground Zero. His views in that speech sound down right reasonable compared to earlier comments he has made:
Islam is not a religion, it’s an ideology, the ideology of a retarded culture. I have a problem with Islamic tradition, culture, ideology.
In the US you are free to say just about anything (thanks to our handy First Amendment). The Dutch, on the other hand, have slightly different rules.
Wilders is currently under trial for inciting hatred against Muslims, a charge that carries up to a year in jail.
The folks over at the NY Times blog, the Lede, are doing a great job keeping up with the unfolding trial.
If you think Wilders is annoying people with his ideas now, just imagine what would happen should he run the Dutch government. In order to form a coalition government capable of ruling, prominent Dutch political parties have bonded with the Party for Freedom (PVV), lead by Wilders.
As expected this has angered some people; Ferry Biedermann of Foreign Policy reports:
“I’m not just upset with Wilders; I’m much more upset with the established parties,” says Brahim Bourzik, a Muslim politician who is the former city councilor of Rotterdam. And [Mariko] Peters [MP for the Green Left] calls on Arab and Muslim countries to raise the issue of Wilders’s role in government with Dutch representatives to “shake them awake.
Not only are those outside of the political coalition are angry. Three members of parliament from within the coalition have resigned in protest to Wilder’s presence.
So this just goes to show you that Islam-a-phobia can appear in any country, even one as traditionally permissive as The Netherlands.
Wilders remarks and resulting trial are a good review of free speech across the globe. In the United States the right to speak is second to none; what are our readers’ thoughts on whether hateful comments should be protected?
We at USDemocrazy have been closely watching two current news trends in the United States: the recent upswing in Islam-a-phobia and the proliferation of crazy Political election Ads.
Today candidate Renee Ellmers of North Carolina has done us a great favor for by combining the two in a neat little news item! She has launched the ad above in a naked attempt ( no relation to our coverage of naked voting) to paint her opponent as “Pro-terrorist”.
Renee is using the same flawed reasoning that Glenn Beck has used on his radio program to explain why this 9-11″mosque,” (or more accurately, Islamic Community Center) is actually just a “victory” mosque for terrorists who caused the 9/11 attacks.
Which leaves us confused (editor: not uncommon). What is the difference between an mosque and a “Victory” mosque? Should all mosques be banned in the country? Or perhaps there should be a new zoning code allowing special designated areas for “Victory Mosques”.
A flustered Ellmers on Anderson Cooper’s program, when questioned about her ad and her interchangeable use of the words “Muslim” and “terrorist,” explained that “Do you know that [those constructing the center aren't terrorists], sir? We don’t even know who are the donors to that.”
Is this ad in poor taste? Or are you “Pro-terrorist” like Ellmers’ opponent? Sounds like Islam-a-phobia to us.
http://online.wsj.com
In our ongoing coverage of Islam-a-phobia we have bumped into such topics as Pastor Terry Jones’ threats to burn the Koran, the “Ground Zero Mosque.” This week’s installment: Sharia Law.
Sharia Law is basically the merger of the state and Islam, where the commandments in the Koran are institutionalized as laws of the state. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich recently called for a federal ban on Sharia Law at the Values Voter Summit.
He wants to ban judges from embracing or even sympathizing with, Sharia Law.
But wait… maybe we have it wrong but… isn’t Sharia Law more or less prohibited in the USA already? Is it really necessary to suggest that Sharia Law is somehow threatening the US legal system?
The First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting (relating to) an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
This means the government allows freedom of religions to practice and individuals to worship. We have a secular government, not a religious one like in Iran.
But when an individual does something illegal in the name of religion… US law kicks in BIG TIME. The Seige of the Branch Davidian Cult or dismantling of polygamist sects are good examples.
This also applies to Sharia Law. When a man invoked Sharia Law when accused of raping his wife an Appellate Court threw out his defense. US law trumps Religious Law.
Oliver Wendel Holmes Wrote “The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins.” In America, Muslims are free to practice their religion, they are not free to stone adulterous women.
So what’s the point of proposing the ban? Is it really necessary to outlaw Sharia, or is this just another way to stir the pot? Sounds like another case of Islam-a-phobia to us.
Just days before the planned Koran burning on the anniversary of September 11, the world braced for angry reaction and counter reation. Not far from Ground Zero, a welcome voice of reason was heard from a major religious leader.
Imam Shamsi Ali is a renowned religious head of New York City’s largest Muslim Center. He has become by default the leading figure for the Muslim community in the city.
“I support the project,” he states, “The project is a blow to the extremists and terrorists.” He goes on to explain that the radical Muslims “don’t want [Muslims] to be a part of the American Society.”
And, he suggests, the American media is not helping the matter. Massive coverage of Pastor Terry Jones, the microscopic reverend at the heart of the Koran Burning controversy has further agitated an already inflamed situation. Imam Shamsi Ali aptly put it, “the media poisoned the minds of the people.”
Just the threat of Koran burning started waves of demonstrations and violent riots in Muslim nations like Afghanistan. Clearly the media is playing a role in the current surge of Islam-a-phobia in America.
To combat this, Imam Shamsi Ali stresses the need to change the mindset of people by
- Educating the Muslim community and its neighbor s
- “Enhancing cooperation and interfaith engagement”
- Communicating with the media
Despite the many challenges, he is hopeful and optimistic for the future of Muslims in America.
The Daily Dish
Been thinking a lot about Islam and the ground zero mosque? This chart is just some more food for thought.
Fox News would like to make it very clear; they DO NOT support political candidates (if they are Democrats)
November elections will mean DEATH for Democrats... or maybe not.
13
5 Things Concerning the “Ground Zero Mosque” You Might Not Know:
by Ambiturner Featured, Islam-a-phobia, News
1. It’s not a mosque. It will be a community center, with a “theater, educational programs, a swimming pool, a restaurant, a mosque and a 9/11 memorial”- more of a YMCA.
2. It’s not on Ground Zero. The proposed community center is on the site of an old Burlington Coat Factory two blocks away.
3. While they aren’t building a mosque on Ground Zero, there used to be one there- the World Trade Center had a mosque on the 17th floor.
4. Muslim personnel at the Pentagon have been praying at the Pentagon 9/11 site without a fuss. “400 worshipers, including Muslims, attend prayer services every week in the chapel, a non-denominational facility built over the rubble left behind when American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the Pentagon.”
5. Muslim-Americans were victims of the attacks, too. It is estimated that as many as 60 Muslims died in the Twin Towers when they collapsed. Also, there are thousands of active-duty Muslims in our military who work to protect America.
After getting some of the facts, how do you feel about the proposed “Ground Zero Mosque”? For it? Against it? Not sure? How do you feel about Islam in America in general? Discuss it in the comments!
