Opposition to building an Islamic cultural center near the site of the former World Trade Center springs from those “who feel threatened by what they do not understand and by what they have not had time to process,” according to the Rt. Rev. John B. Chane, Bishop of Washington.
“In many ways, our psyche as a nation was attacked,” Chane said during “Park51 Islamic Center Near Ground Zero: Issues in Conflict,” a panel discussion held Sept. 7 at Georgetown University.
“We have never been able to grieve” collectively as a nation, he said. “The current fear should not surprise any of us.”
Oh, puhleez.
“What was God thinking when he sent the angel Gabriel to Muhammad?”
– Bishop Chane’s Christmas sermon a few years back.
God was thinking, “Muhammad, bubyeh, go be a Trappist.”
Alas, so much gets lost in translation.
Although I agree with the general sentiment, what is also true is that there are a lot of very angry people throughout the world. Anger fuels Anger, alas.
This won’t fit Chane’s predictable filter and bias, but let’s put it out there for those who just don’t get it. Pastor Jones in Florida threatened to burn copies of the Koran. Never did. Just threatened to. Christians get threatened all the time around the world, as well as maligned and discriminated against. Now, let’s stop to remember the difference of what happens around the world of Islam when a slight or insult happens – or merely MAY happen; exactly what Pastor Jones noted: he and his church received over 100 death threats for just thinking and talking about an insult to Islam. Demonstrations in Afghanistan, riots, 100s of death threats just for thinking about and talking about what never ended up happening. Jones noted on TV today that he has proven his point: that Islam is infected with a major strain of touchiness and lives by the feud in far too many instances. Now, compare what responses most Christians have when equally maligned, insulted, threatened, etc. No riots in the streets. No sawed-off heads. No jihad to rid the world of adverse thoughts. This will not be recognized by Chane. Of course, Chane is barely recognized by his cathedral community anymore, either.
[blockquote] Dr. John Esposito, a Georgetown University professor and founder of the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, said . . .a significant number of Americans have continued, year after year, to show both [b]no admiration for[/b], and no knowledge of, Islam.[/blockquote]
Gee, we’re bigots if we show no admiration for Islam? Saudi Arabia and the Wahabis are getting their money’s worth with this guy.
[blockquote] This conversation would not play well in Defiance, Ohio,†Chane said.[/blockquote]
And democracy is endangered by free speech? What a horse’s butt.
Well, we [i]should[/i] be angry — after being subject to an unprovoked attack on a civilian place of business. Only a moron would not be angry.
We have a right to be angry! We didn’t attack them, remember? THEY attacked US! Yes, I’m angry…..VERY angry, but what’s more important is that I won’t forget……nor will I forgive, because, you see, I lost several close friends that day.
Agree with 7 and 8 about the appropriateness of anger. But against whom? Who is the “THEY” in No. 8. It is at least 19 impressionable fanatics and the people who planned, directed, and supported their actions. But I’m not sure my concept of THEY goes much beyond that. I suspect that, for others, it is far, far broader.
It is far broader. That’s the entire point. Those few are, as the solid evidence shows, but the tip of the iceberg. But aren’t there a lot of moderate Moslems? Sure. And they are sitting on their hands. NONE act, none declare that all Moslem terrorists are outlaw and will receive nothing but criminal law as their reward, that they are willing to join the fight. Larry
What predictable drivel.
No. 10: I’ve heard a number of Muslims say that the fanatics are outside the bounds of Islam and that they should be punished according to secular law. This is not an uncommon sentiment, particularly in the American Muslim community, which has contributed invaluable assistance to law enforcement and the military. “NONE” whether in capital letters or not, is a very large word. Surely you don’t mean that.