Posts Tagged ‘Islam’
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.
We at USDemocrazy are alarmed by the continued spread of Islam-o-phobia in many parts of the west today.
Recent stories concerning Islam-0-phobia include the burning of a Koran by the wacko-moustachioed “Preacher” in Florida Terry Jones and the banning of mosque minerets in Switzerland.
This week saw the ban of Muslim veil in France (see our coverage of the story) as viewed in the cartoon above featuring French Prime Minister Sarkozy.
We are on the look out for more examples of this alarming trend. Let us know of other stories you discover on the subject. (cartoon by KAL)
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.
Thanks to Wikicommons
Give peace a chance. Egyptian army will not open fire on protesters.
Islam, a target of terrorism. Bombing of Detroit mosque prevented.
Seeking profits where there is not air. Businesses look to enter space race with NASA’s help.
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.
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.
Thanks to Wikicommons
Unsurprising criticism for Switzerland. The Swiss ban on building Minarets finds opposition from neighbors and around the globe.
The plan for Afghanistan is… President Obama issues new orders for the military in Afghanistan with an official announcement at 4pm today.
Record energy after record delays. The Large Hadron Collider has a smashingly good time.
