We started this great nation with values that did not exist anywhere else in the world. We have stumbled, we have made mistakes and we have faltered along the way, however we live another day with the hopes of perfecting our union. Yet here we are once again, at a defining moment that will test the strength of our freedoms and our commitment to our founding principles.
It is said in the yogic scripture that in or order to really change the mind of another person, you must first learn to love them. However, I must admit for me it can be a very frustrating process. There are many members of the more conservative sector of our society who are incredibly intelligent, compassionate and loving, but like some of my liberal friends, they suffer from delusion once someone challenges them with an opposing position.
What journalists like Michelle Malkin, Andrew Breitbert and countless other conservatives have made their money on, is the ability to distract their audiences from the real issue, by focusing on the most insignificant portion of the opposing argument. This is exactly what they did when I spoke on Larry King last week about the Muslim community center in Lower Manhattan, Park51, as they harped on a ten-second mistake I made from a twenty minute interview that was designed to promote love, compassion and the respect for our very First Amendment of the American Constitution. Michelle Malkin wants to give me, as she referred to it, a "Def History Lesson," on the subject of the hole that has existed directly across the street, outside my window since September 11, 2001. Well Ms. Malkin, here is a Def History Lesson, Part II, for all of the people who seem to be somewhat blinded by the deep hole inside their hearts, which many of my friends would call hatred.
After all of our previous mistakes caused by some Christians that were perceived by some Muslims as the cause of the 9/11 attacks, when the smoked cleared, we were in the greatest position this nation has been in since World War II to promote world peace. However, to my dismay as well as countless others, the exact opposite occurred. George W. Bush, our 43rd President, supposedly had a vision from God (I would assume his Christian God) to go on a "crusade," which history has now proven was laden with countless mistakes which helped create a cycle of negativity that erased all of the outpouring of love and sympathy that the world had showered upon our nation.
There was no question we needed a change, and in 2008 we got one. Our next Christian president, Barack Obama, vowed to make friends with like minded people around the world, despite their color or religion. The world applauded us and was willing to give us a second chance. He took advantage of that opportunity by reaching out to the Muslim world, beginning with his beautiful speech in Cairo, Egypt. As a leader he tried to represent the collective, which said we are after terrorists and not the beautiful faith of Islam.
President Obama was taking this country on the right path; back to one that respected the First Amendment, and most recently made a clear statement that the American ideal of religious freedom cannot be questioned. But when the bombs came from the Right Wing media and public opinion turned, I saw many Democrats, including Sen. Reid, former Gov. Dean and even Gov. Paterson turn political and become sheep to the growing American trend of Islamophobia. There is absolutely no reason to support negotiating a move for the community center located in Lower Manhattan, except for a FEAR OF MUSLIMS. If you really know the victims and their families were not attacked by Muslims then why (except for Islamophobia) support the misguided anger towards them? This country is masking its fear of Muslims with this groundless debate over a religious community center. They have prayed closer to Ground Zero, in a smaller mosque for forty years, before the twin towers were even erected and not one person in this country took notice. It seems that it might be easier for Ms. Malkin and her friends to just kick all of the Muslims out of the country. And why not follow it up with the Jews and then maybe they can send black people back to the Africa, too?
Even though the American White supremacy movement was founded in Christian fundamentalism, and even though George W. Bush claimed to have "visions" from his Christian God to go to Iraq and kill over 100,000 innocent Iraqis, even though Timothy McVeigh was born into the Christian faith, we would never think for a millisecond that Jesus Christ or any verses of the bible were the cause of these horrendous, stupid acts of men. Therefore it is un-American and against everything that we believe in as a country to associate the 1.6 billion Muslims or 23% of the world's population with the acts of a few, very evil men. I pray that all of the Muslims who might hate Christians because of George Bush's actions, or the blacks or Jews or non-Whites who might hate Christians because of the historical genocide of their people, or the Christians who might hate Muslims for the acts of Osama bin Laden and his culprits, I hope they know that the overriding theme of Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Abraham and Lord Buddha was to love all people of all races and all religions.
I conclude with this story. Recently the organization of which I am the Chairman of, The Foundation For Ethnic Understanding, held a twinning program where we had European Imams and Rabbis visit the United States and hold meetings at the White House, New York City Hall and the United Nations. At the UN in my speech, I mentioned a passage from the Bhagavad Gita, when Krishna tells Arjuna whether he knows him by the name Krishna or not, it is unimportant, as all he needs to do is follow certain principles and he will come to him. When I got off the stage the Imam from Geneva gave me his prayer beads, told me that he loved the verse from the yogic scripture and reminded me that the same sentiment about God loving all people, from all faiths, exists in the Quran.
Now that we have politicized Park51 and the world is watching, there can be no wavering of our support of the First Amendment and, in turn, the proposed community center. Build it.
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Eboo Patel: America's Promise Is Meant For Everyone
Unfortunately, most artisans are left-brained, which works well in creating something beautiful or inspirational, but seldom is well-suited to apply sound logic or common sense.
I think you would find that there is a larger number of artists who are left wing in attitude. You would also find that this probably goes for scientists, and more educated people in general.
One of the major psychological divides that occurs between the conservatives and the liberals is:
- Conservatives tend to fear uncertainty and tend to be more authoritarian,
- Liberals tend to be more open minded, concerned for equality and compassionate.
See:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100609111312.htm
So you'd expect liberals to be more creative - whether in the arts, in science or in government or law.
I think your suggestions that liberal leaders are in the arts is about as right as saying the same thing about the conservatives.
In any case - what is disrespectful about wanting to build a place to practice your religion?
Its when we let the religious or ideological differences make us forget that underneath all peoples are alike, that we get into trouble with prejudice.
An article (originally in Arabic) published by Iraqi-American Khudhayr Taher on 18 May, in which Taher explains the following:
"We must note that a hostile and provocative name has been chosen for this mosque. Choosing the name 'Cordoba House' for the mosque to be constructed in New York was not coincidental or random and innocent. It bears within it significance and dreams of expansion and invasion [into the territory] of the other, [while] striving to change his religion and to subjugate him."
No temple, mosque or church belongs on or within close close proximity of a national memorial.
The constant finger pointing of wrong doing is not going to fix anything in this world. I see here on these posts people pointing out how harsh Islam is as a religion. What I see many people failing to point out is that extremism exists in all religions and cultures. Hatred for the opposing side is what drives these extremists to do what they do. If Buddha is right, hatred toward them will only perpetuate their hate toward us. That is why we as a nation need to stand together and show these hate filled people that we can overcome any obstacle they put in our way by allowing the building of this center. We need to show them that we are still a country built on tolerance to all people. At the same time, the builders of this center also need to show their tolerance and allow all faiths to come and use this center. Let Christians, Muslims, Jews, Pagans and Hindus have a place to come together as one and commune. Show the world that we are not a country of hate.
However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them? Buddha
"Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef denounced upcoming peace talks with the Palestinians, which are set to start September 2 in Washington, and called for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to "perish from this world," Army Radio reported overnight Saturday.
"Abu Mazen and all these evil people should perish from this world," Rabbi Ovadia was quoted as saying during his weekly sermon at a synagogue near his Jerusalem home. "God should strike them with a plague, them and these Palestinians."
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/shas-spiritual-leader-abbas-and-palestinians-should-perish-1.310800
Luke 6:27-36
[27] "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. [29] If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. [30] Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. [31] Do to others as you would have them do to you.
[32] "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. [33] And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. [34] And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. [35] But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. [36] Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
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Set himself up as a prophet at that rally, I'd say.
http://hoodhollywood.com/blog/2010/08/21/history-fail-russell-simmons-wrongly-accuses-christians-of-1993-world-trade-center-bombing-during-cnn-interview/
The first attack on the Constitution I saw was in the 1980s when drunk driving roadblocks came into being, stopping motorists without probable cause or reasonable suspicion, in violation of the 4th. Prior to that time, a motorist could only be stopped on a traffic infraction.
Prohibition II (the war on Drugs) has been an excuse to wage a war against both the 2nd and 4th amendment. Since there are no complainants in a drug transaction, the government has to get very creative to juxtapose themselves into the transaction.
http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2000/12/40532
The violence of prohibition is used as justification for eroding 2nd amendment rights, where the answer is to enact policies that minimize black market cash flow, so there's no money to fight over.
Now, we see the opponents of the Mosque openly advocating for the 1st amendment to be ignored. The enemies of the Constitution are always going to use an emotional issue to undermine it.
Different people see things though a different lens. I see terrorism as the number 2 threat, and a tilt towards fascism in this country as the number 1 threat.
Don't oppose the constitution.
zero credibility!!!
you need to READ
GET EDUMICATED
“We tend to forget, in the West, that the United States has more Muslim blood on its hands than al-Qaeda has on its hands of innocent non Muslims,”
Now that's understanding and bridge-building.
And to be honest, what he's said in both of those statements is 100% correct.