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 The site of the proposed Islamic center near ground zero in Lower Manhattan.
September 19th, 2011
10:28 AM ET
Islamic center near ground zero touts first big event as center’s grand openingBy Heather M. Higgins,CNN New York (CNN) - Earlier this month, signs of life returned to what was once a gaping pit, frozen in sadness and rife with emotion, as part of the memorial at the World Trade Center opened on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. This week, another grand opening – this one steeped in controversy – is scheduled for just a few blocks away from the site where the Twin Towers once stood. The first part of Park51, the planned Lower Manhattan Islamic community center that sparked an international controversy last year, is set to open Wednesday with an art exhibit that features photographs of children. “It is a huge step forward,” said Katerina Lucas, Park51’s chief of staff. “I hope it shows we are about inclusion, not exclusion.” The photography exhibit, Park51’s first big public event, comprises portraits of children from 169 countries who now live in New York City. The opening coincides with the United Nations’ International Day of Peace. When plans to construct the high-rise Islamic institution were unveiled last year, a heated debate erupted over whether it was insensitive to build it so close to the site attacked by Islamic extremists. Though the interfaith center’s leaders said the project was rooted in a spirit of cooperation and coexistence, it provoked vocal opposition from some families of 9/11 victims, politicians and others. The driving force behind much of this opposition was Pamela Geller, editor and publisher of a blog called Atlas Shrugs. Geller organized a protest of Park51 on the tenth anniversary of Sept. 11 and says she is appalled at the organization’s decision to highlight the photographs of children. “It is an obvious and cynical attempt to manipulate public opinion and divert attention away from the Islamic supremacist ties, shady financial dealings, and contradictory statements of the mosque organizers,” Geller said in an e-mail. But Park 51’s photography exhibit is a reminder that the project is quietly moving forward, despite rumors that it had been put on hold. With $70,000 raised in under two months via KickStarter.com, a funding platform for creative projects, the remodeled space at 51 Park Place will serve as a temporary community center until groundbreaking for the rest of the building. The project’s developers, led by Park51 Chairman Sharif El-Gamal, have hired a staff of six and continue to hold Muslim prayers at the space, just north of ground zero. But they are not speculating about a timeline for construction. In June, El-Gamal parted ways with Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the cleric who had been the public face of Park51, over a difference in vision. At a recent interfaith event honoring 9/11 families, Rauf said his vision to build an American-Muslim identity and enhance multi-faith dialogue hasn’t changed in 20 years. Even though Rauf isn’t associated with Park51 any longer, he continues to focus his energy on establishing a Muslim center in Chautauqua, New York, with the hope it can be replicated in the United States and around the world. Park51’s planners say they are committed to their original Lower Manhattan location. They are now seeking to raise $7 to $10 million in financing. “We have broken some ground, but there are still many hurdles,” Lucas said, pointing to fundraising as the biggest one. Lucas, who graduated from Harvard Divinity School in 2009, said the upcoming photography exhibition is about showcasing the diversity of New York City, which includes Muslims. “Islam is not about extremism,” she said. “We can have a meaningful dialogue across religions.” It’s a message shared by Danny Goldfield, the Brooklyn artist behind the exhibit. He got the idea for his children-focused series while driving from Los Angeles to New York in 2003, right after the war in Iraq started. “I met Danny Goldfield when Park51 was still a new idea. Danny told me about NYChildren and I said his photographs should be the first event at Park51," El-Gamal said in a statement. "I am proud to say the idea has been realized. Opening this incarnation of the community center is a fantastic accomplishment." Goldfield photographed children living in New York City’s five boroughs from countries as different as Japan and Zimbabwe and as far apart as Afghanistan and Argentina. While his pictures have been on display before, this is the first time he has shown them all at once. The exhibit will be open for approximately three months. Over 700 people have been invited to the opening and Lucas said that others are welcome, too. “I bring photos together on a wall the same way a space brings people together,” Goldfield said.
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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I hope this center helps bridge the differences between the two cultures.
The only bridge that needs to be built is the one taking you back to your own country.
How do you know he isn't an American. People tell me to go home and I just laugh and tell them I am home, I was born here.
That's a nice thought. But apparently, if one of the differences is that it's ok to kill non-innocents and that's still called peace, then there isn't a difference to bridge. Radical Islam terrorists came to America and carried out attacks against this country and 10 years later I still hear excuses being made for them. Until you can come to the realization that your silence empowers them, there is no common ground that we can bridge to. They commit violence in your name and you stand by and allow it to happen.
And so – I come back to the same point as before – you either are afraid to stand up for your beliefs because you're afraid of what will happen to you OR you endorse what they're doing. Either way, until I hear compelling and pervasive condemnation from the Islamic community, I will doubt the sincerity of the words here.
“It is a huge step forward,” said Katerina Lucas, Park51’s chief of staff. “I hope it shows we are about inclusion, not exclusion.”
Step forward? Inclusion?
Where are the other religions in this inclusion here? How is this anything but pandering to a tiny fraction of the population and insultingly excluding all the others? Why do we see one muslim woman CONSTANTLY paraded in the media about how her life was turned upside down by this event, about how her teenage children's dreams of going to an ivy league college were dashed, and so on. Why do we take the ONE religion that is REPRESENTED by the PERPETRATORS of this hateful crime and hold THAT religion up to get special attention at every event associated with this? Why do we EXCLUDE all the other religions that were NOT associated with the perpetrators? How do we now call this a STEP FORWARD?!?
Looks like we can now turn night into day by just calling it light outside – and stumble around with our eyes shut!
So, you are saying that Muslims do not deserve a place to worship? Why do you hate peaceful and innocent people so much? Christians, Jews and Muslims all believe in the same god, and are Abrahamic religions. Your blind hatred makes Americans look ignorant. You sound like you're doing an interview to date Glen Beck
It's ok let it open so we can fly a plane it to it like they did us!!!!!!!!
You want to fly a plane into a building in New York to get back at someone for flying a plane into a building in New York?
An Islamic Center isn't an Embassy, you know. It's a church.
Jesus is shaking his head in disbelief.
Really you can see Jesus? Wow! Now what is he doing?
don't bring Jesus to your hateful insinuating remark
Jesus is a myth.
If some of you who are so against Islam would sit down, read the Holy Qu'ran , study the actions of the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH), his sayings would see that Islam is not a dangerous religion. I am a 33 year old woman who converted to Islam when I was 21. I studied Islam for over 2 years and found no oppression in it, in fact I found the opposite. Those who make woman wear the burka, keep them inside ect are acting under cultural not religious actions. Perhaps if some of you read more and had an open mind you would not follow the GOP and those who attack Islam. Not to mention those who claim to act in Islam ie the 9-11 attacks acted against Islam in killing innocents and committing suicide. Should I judge all Christians by the actions of the nutter in Norway or all Jews by the actions of settlers who kill? If not, then why do you generalize all Muslims by the actions of a few.
The concern with the entirety of Islam comes about because the majority of Muslims who want peace will not condemn the violence done in their name. If you want us to believe it is a peaceful religion, then I must conclude that it is also cowardly religion because you will not comdemn those who practice the violence for the purpose of awakening Islam. Or I will doubt your sincerity in embracing peace.
Actions speak louder than words!
How are you taught to deal with an Infidel?
Why do you not allow religious freedom in Saudi Arabia?
Why is it you want to spread your religion worldwide but deny freedom of religion to others?
@ncwriter – I do condem any killing of innocents by Muslims whether they be Muslims or non-Muslims. Killing innocents is forbidden in the Holy Qu'ran and anyone who does it goes against it. I am an American and was angered by 9-11 and those murderers who acted in the name of the religion I profess.
@ Steve, I deal with the infidel just fine, I am married to one and have infidel in-laws. I have no issue with others of another faith. If they ask about Islam I tell them, if they don't I do not make an issue with it. In the Holy Qu'ran it says there shall be no compulsion in region (2:256). Since I do not live in Saudi Arabia I can not speak for them as they can not speak for me as an American. I have no issue with freedom of religion. Why are you making me responsible for the actions of other countries, this is something I can not control.
Ok....
Qur'an 8:12 – Remember your lord inspired the angels with the message: I am with you; give firmness to the believers; I will INSTILL TERROR into the hearts of the unbelievers; smite you above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them.
Discuss: Ok, I am an unbeliever, and I am not happy about this one. How many more unbelievers are concerned?
Qur'an 8:67 – It is NOT FITTING for a prophet that he should HAVE PRISONERS OF WAR UNTIL HE HAS THOROUGHLY CRUSHED THE ENEMY in the battlefield.
Discuss: For all those against Guantanamo, I ask, How many AMERICANS are in custody of the Taliban, or whatever other group is in Iraq or Afghanistan? HINT: Reread Qur'an 8:67 above...
Qur'an 4:34 – Husbands are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has given the one more strength than the other....therefore, the righteous women are devoutly obedient and guard in the husband's absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part you fear disloyalty and ill conduct, admonish them first; next refuse to share their beds; and last BEAT THEM lightly, but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means of annoyance...
Discuss: Always keep that "beating" thing open as an option because you own her...great marriage counseling.
Now here is a surprise... There is a lot of good in the Qur'an. Unfortunately, it is constantly linked to threats of eternal punishment for disobeying, while also linked to promises of rewards for obeying. So, with all the submissive requirements, the memorization requirements, repeating out loud of the passages, and the constant threat/reward – it adds up to classic brainwashing techniques.
Anyone who embraces the so called religion in adulthood is a fool.
You will never convince me. Save your breath and just GO AWAY.
That is a sham and your actions speak louder than words!!!
How carefully worded that was – It is not enough to condemn the killing of innocents. If you do not kill innocents, but make war on "non-innocents", then is there peace? You must condemn all violence and you must condemn those who practice that violence in your name. I do not hear that from the islamic community and I see you parsing your response, so I doubt the sincerity.
@Shak- You say you would not condone harming innocents, but what you don't disclose is that you do not consider infidels as "innocents". Save your tricky language and your breath. Just take your nasty "religion" and go away.
MAY ALLAH (GOD) BLESS YOU. YOU LIKE MANY OTHERS SEE THE TRUTH ABOUT ISLAM. IT MAKES ME CRY WITH LAUGHTER WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE IN AMERICA ( THE LEADER OF ILLITERACY AMONG ALL 1ST WORLD NATIONS ) CRITISIZE SOMETHING THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT EXCEPT WHATEVER FOXNEWS SAYS.
BUT DESPITE ALL THE FALSEHOODS ABOUT ISLAM IT IS STILL THE MOST CONVERTED TO RELIGION IN AMERICA EVEN AFTER 9/11.
BY THE WAY WHAT DOES THAT MAKE GEORGE BUSH ( A CHRISTIAN) THAT INVADES A COUNTRY THAT HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH 9/11 AND LEADS TO THE DEATHS OF 350,000 INOOCENT IRAQIS???
All religions are dangerous. Read a history book.
So how many Christians did you see dancing in the street to celebrate the nutter in Norway? And how many Muslims danced in the street to celebrate 9/11?
@Shak: You do muslim double speak very well. How many muslins think Americans are not innocent simply because they are Americans?
So, Did you study the part where Islam's $profit$ yanked off onto his 6 year old "bride" & had s3x with her when the child was only 9? Did you read what happens to non Muslims who refuse to convert.... or to Muslims who DO convert? Did you study the plans about Islamic world domination? Lying to non Muslims? What was so attractive about all these things to you?
Know your history.
The site of this center is out there – all the facts I'm going to give are available via the internet, look them up for yourself.
We know that prior to the Islam center, the site was a factory and store. If you go back further, eventually you can find out that this site was the
original location of Columbia University; it's marked on maps of New York from the 1800s. Columbia received the land as a grant from Trinity Church; this
is the church that George Washington attended when he was in New York as president. When Trinity had the land, it was part of what was called “Queen’s
Farm”. The farm was charged with providing 65 bushels of wheat annually to support the church. Queen’s farm was established by the original Dutch farmers
when the area was known as New Amsterdam.
I’m going to roll forward again briefly to something my grandmother once told me about New York. It’s about wild pigs living in the city. As recently as
the 1960s there are almost monthly newspaper accounts of children being attacked in Central Park. It seems the pigs were brought by the original Dutch
settlers as their livestock of choice and some of them got loose. The escaped pigs eventually became feral and were a danger to citizens until relatively
recently.
The other piece of information that we need to know is the discovery of fertilizer. The exact date is difficult to pin down, but we do know that sometime
in the mid to late 1800’s, the nature of fertilizer was discovered and eventually the difference between European soil and the soil in America. The Dutch
farmers and the English after them, being European, brought European farming methods with them, but it didn't work on American soil because the soil in
America was acidic vs alkaline. It was in the mid 1800s that they discovered American soil needed different treatment than what they had always done in
Europe. What did they do in Europe? Why, they covered their fields with animal manure, whatever they had available to them. In the case of New York /
New Amsterdam, the livestock of choice was the swine. Which means that the manure they had to fertilize, the manure that they used with was pig manure.
What this means is that for decades since the founding of New Amsterdam, the ground at the site of the new Islamic center was covered in pig feces.
And with that, I cease to be angry about this place.
That didn't paste well...please take the time to piece it back together and to read it. It probably takes 5 minutes, you'll enjoy the story...unless you're Muslim.
Know your history.
The site of this center is out there – all the facts I'm going to give are available via the internet, look them up for yourself.
We know that prior to the Islam center, the site was a factory and store. If you go back further, eventually you can find out that this site was the original location of Columbia University; it's marked on maps of New York from the 1800s. Columbia received the land as a grant from Trinity Church; this is the church that George Washington attended when he was in New York as president. When Trinity had the land, it was part of what was called “Queen’s Farm”. The farm was charged with providing 65 bushels of wheat annually to support the church. Queen’s farm was established by the original Dutch farmers when the area was known as New Amsterdam.
I’m going to roll forward again briefly to something my grandmother once told me about New York. It’s about wild pigs living in the city. As recently as the 1960s there are almost monthly newspaper accounts of children being attacked in Central Park. It seems the pigs were brought by the original Dutch settlers as their livestock of choice and some of them got loose. The escaped pigs eventually became feral and were a danger to citizens until relatively recently.
The other piece of information that we need to know is the discovery of fertilizer. The exact date is difficult to pin down, but we do know that sometime in the mid to late 1800’s, the nature of fertilizer was discovered and eventually the difference between European soil and the soil in America. The Dutch farmers and the English after them, being European, brought European farming methods with them, but it didn't work on American soil because the soil in America was acidic vs alkaline. It was in the mid 1800s that they discovered American soil needed different treatment than what they had always done in Europe. What did they do in Europe? Why, they covered their fields with animal manure, whatever they had available to them. In the case of New York / New Amsterdam, the livestock of choice was the swine. Which means that the manure they had to fertilize, the manure that they used with was pig manure.
What this means is that for decades since the founding of New Amsterdam, the ground at the site of the new Islamic center was covered in pig feces.
And with that, I cease to be angry about this place.
NCwriter – you need to return to your trailer park- the world doesn't need another redneck commenting on CNN.
hi, I'm ncwriter a racist & bigot who loves to pork pigs...dededede thats all folks...
You are aware that Muslims aren't afraid of pigs like they're some sort of demon or something, right?
Muslims don't eat pork. Neither do observant Jewish people. Neither do most Hindus or Buddhists.
It's not because they're terrified of them or wouldn't live where a pig might have sat 150 years ago. You can't make a Muslim run screaming in fear by throwing bacon at them. It doesn't work like that.
Hey, I thought it was funny – if you're offended by the fact that the site was formerly covered in pig manure, don't take it out on me. If you think it means that I'm "racist", I'll remind you that Islam is not a race, it's a religion. Neither am I a bigot, but you don't care. It's humor and a reminder that it isn't a holy site. Period. Go attack someone who cares.
I love Bacon!
Poetic justice indeed!!! 🙂
The events of 9/11 made me read the Qur'an and the Haddith. I highlighted, underlined, and flagged passages from both. Then I read the Christian Bible as well so I could make a direct comparison.
What I have learned is that Islam is a minipulative, mind controlling, convoluted bunch of ramblings mostly taken from the Bible and claimed as revelations from God by a murdering phsycopath who went around converting people to his religion by cutting off the heads of anyone who opposed him.
At it's best, Islam is a cult. A dangerous cult. It cannot coexist with a republic or a democracy. It is full of people with 4th century logic, with access to 21st centurey weapons, and that is as bad as it can get.
A "cult" that is the second largest religion in the world with 1.6 billion adherents. Islam is here to stay. Get over it.
Humam...If I described an organization that had it's roots in extortion, kidnapping, and the requirement that anyone who attempted to leave the orgainzation would be killed, many would instantly think of the Mafia. Yet, it is the same with Islam.
You can speak all day long about how it has grown, but part of it is because of members not being able to leave. I am certain it also includes family members too young to make a decision about religion.
So, get over it.
That's was exactly the reason Thomas Jefferson kept a Koran, absically to understand what drove West African Muslim pirates to commit horrible atrocities in the name of Islam.
Unfortunately, President Bush (who moved ito the Presidential Library), Obama and Rep. Keith Allison have portrayed that as a testimony for America's acceptance of Islam. While President Obama in his by name INFAMOUS speech at the Cairo university (scripted by his Pakistani American Muslim Brotherhood supporter Rashad Hassan, who's US Amabassador to the OIC) used to proclaim America as one of the BIGGEST MUSLIM NATIONS in the world when rep. Keith Ellsion used for his oath, and caleld the Azaan (The Muslim call for prayer) the sweetest sound he had ever heard!!!!!!
Lies, deciet is part of Islamic concept of TAQIYYA. Nobody knows taht better than Mr. FAREED ZAKARIA!
Instead of women having to hide under burkas, how about we just have Muslim men walk with their eyes on the ground and their hands tied behind their backs, because obviously their faith is so fragile that at the smallest glance of a woman's lips or ankle can turn them into mindless rapists.
As long as we don't hear 5 times a day loud prayer on our street, any burkas/islamic clothing and signs – I don't care!
We need more huge and beautiful churches – NO more other non-Christian religions please. This is a Christian country
It is a Christian country, says who. Our founding fathers were not Christians, in fact many were against Christianity. I guess Freedom of Religion means nothing these days.
This is not a "christian" country. This is a courntry of religious freedom. As an athiest I'd prefer not to have to see any religious buildings...
Not one native American was a Christian untill........ Well, some were killed for being heathen.
Please post your source for this being a Christian country.
Atheist.
***** Sweethaert, you better get of your "happy, hippie" lifestyle kick real ....
A Woodstock child here,
These people believed in peace and love, treat each other good,
get back to nature and enjoy the earth, it may have disapeared and thats a shame
what do we have now ?
Your kind of intolerence and hatred.
I will take the "Hippies" any day.
Get a job
How can there be any dialogue with a religion that treats women like cattle, follows a child molester, and foments hatred and violence against infidels?
Dialogue? r u kidding? once they gain the majority they will use force to convert the infidel. There is no dialogue. Why are there so may terrorist muslim groups otherwise if they are capable of a dialogue?
There can be no dialog with an ignorant, malignant, bigot like you. I have numerous Muslim friends, many are quite devout and you could not be further from the truth. You are not speaking from any conceivable knowledge or experience. You are simply quoting racist propaganda. Go learn.
islam is my religion and i follow what koran teaches about infidels.
like you are doing?
Well, that's a start!
Reply to Geoffrey...
I love this "revelation" to Mohammad from "Allah"....
"Surah 33:50...O Prophet, we have made lawful to you your wives {many as you want} to whom you have paid their dowers; and those whom your right hand possesses out of the prisoners of war {slaves} whom Allah has assigned to you; AND DAUGHTERS OF YOUR PATERNAL UNCLES AND AUNTS, and DAUGHTERS OF YOU MATERNAL UNCLES AND AUNTS, who migrated with you {lots of inbreeding here}; AND ANY BELIEVING WOMAN WHO DEDICATES HER SOUL TO THE PROPHET IF THE PROPHET WISHES TO WED HER; THIS IS ONLY FOR YOU, AND NOT FOR THE BELIEVERS AT LARGE {who I guess were stuck with one wife}...."
Man, Allah sure made certain Mo was taken care of in the wife department!
All of this drama because a small group of muslims made the rest of them look bad. I sure am glad there are no Christians groups out there making us all look like idiots. Well love to stay and chat, but I have a military funeral to protest.
Ha fuzk that crazy azz church and that insane woman the hell with all religion
Islam is so tacky. It's anathema to anything civilised, like free thought, reason, free speech, freedom of religion, rule of law, non-violence, dialogue, honesty, equal rights, women's rights, social progress in general, child protection, etc, etc...
You make it sound almost as bad evangelical Christianity!
If you are going to insult one of the worlds great religions, Islam – don't plagiarize Gellers book. Learn something on your own because you could not be more wrong or disgusting in your slur.
MarkinFL: Well, I haven't seen too many evangelicals flying fully fueled jumbo jets into tall buildings full of thousands of innocent people and then gloating about it...
Geoffrey: There's no slur here, it's a fact, read the Koran yourself dolt, then burn it. Ha!
Watch out Ted or someone will fly a plane into your trailer park.
This so-called dialog should be no where near 'groung zer0'.
Its too late! it is already there.
Zero is the amount of tolerance Islam has for other religions. So "ground zero" pretty much says it all.
Geoffrey I think he did mention Iraq and Afghanistan – you must have stopped reading to get mad.
What he says is not true for either country. He has not visited either of those places. He is just plagiarizing Robert Spencers ill and poorly written, lying book. That is my core point – HE IS LYING. Neither of those countries have such a law on their books, none do.
If you are against any form of free worship you need to get back on the Mayflower and sail back to the Anglican church.
Who will be there for the TAPE CUTTING CEREMONY – Mr. Fareed Zakaria, Ethan Casey, Dean Obeidallah, Mr. Rashad Hassan, ofcourse Imam Rauf may be some leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, Hezbollah whom Mr. ZAKARIA has termed moderates on many ocassions!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS TO IMAM RAUF and his faithful supporters for RE-PACKAGING the GROUND ZERO CARDOBA VICTORY MOSQUE as PARK51 INTERFAITH CENTER!
I will, a Jewish person and numerous Rabbis, Priests and Ministers from the entire religious community of New York City. You should not be maligning and slandering people from nothing but utter hatred and ignorance. It is you and followers of Ms. Geller who are the hateful and violent ones and not those who are building the Islamic center. You shame me as an American.
I am a muslim and an infidel bigot!
Why isn't CNN covering the Day of Rage Protest? 50,000 people flooded into New York to take part, and CNN won't cover the story that is taking place right under their nose. Sorry, CNN, you don't get to decide what is news.
U mean selective reporting? ofcourse, if it is not benefcial to singing glories of islam why would they report???
NYPD put it at 5,000, but you can say 50,000 if you want to. In addition, most Americans, over 8 out of 10 of us, own stock in our Roth IRA's, Traditional IRA's, SEP's, SIMPLE's and 401k's and therefore want the market to do well. They don't hate Wall Street or want to kill all traders on the floor. They don't hate capitalism, but feel the system needs to be upgraded and regulated in order to protect individual investors – not just the big guys. Seeing the Abolish Captalism signs and the communist crescent signs probably turned off a lot of people too, hence the lack of coverage.
Because in fact – only 200 showed up.
Terrorist training camp and flight school. Also, shoe bomb manufacturing facility.
Ignorant Bigot! It is none of those things, you have no right, basis or fact one which to make such an ignorant slur against one of the worlds great religions.
Don't hate based on religion! Hate based on Merit!
There is no such thing as a "great religion" any more than there is such a thing as a "great disease".
and you forgot basketball court and snack bar..
Tom,
I’m sorry, but I have been to Middle East. Through I’m not a Christian, I have seen in these countries where it is still a crime punishable by death or prison for ANYONE caught proselyte any religion other than Islam. Furthermore these countries that have (so called) Christian Cultural centers, they limit the access to westerner only and any local citizen trying to gain entrance is either beaten or arrested. I saw this first hand in Iraq and had to personal intervene to prevent the women form being killed.. Wonderful religion Islam. No Islam need to be removed from the face of the earth and Forever. There is NO such person as a American-Muslim. Either you’re an American or a Muslim not both. Dude I was very tolerate of people and religion until I did 3 combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Other than want the world only knows about the horrors of the Taliban, you should try seeing want the religious whack-jobs are doing with our money and these are supposedly the good-guys. People read the writing on the wall, they have NO respect what-so-ever for your religion and it is a mandate for them (Islam) to convert you, the KORAN so dictates.
I'm sorry but you are flat out lying. Interesting that you never once mentioned what country you are referring to. I don't think you ever visited the Middle East or even read about it in a reasonable book.
Geoffrey...gotta love it when the Trailer park manager let morons like you use his/her computer.
Geoffrey I think he did mention Iraq and Afghanistan – you must have stopped reading to get mad.
OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU DID YOUR TOURS YOU FAILED TO KNOW THAT FIRST OFF YOU ARE IN THEIR COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!
IF THEY INVADED US WHAT WOULD YOU FAT Azz BE DOING RICHUNIX????? HAVING A BUD LIGHT??
SECOND, WE CREATED THE TALIBAN...DID YOUR COMMANDER TEACH YOU THAT???
THIRD, WE CREATED OSAMA??
FOURTH, WE INVADED IRAQ...WHY????????
CASE CLOSED.. ANOTHER FAILED U.S. MISSION. NO WONDER WHY WE ARE HATED.
The Koran does not make women stay inside....wear total covering, allow beating of women, or child brides or even arranged marriages, etc. All these crazy rules/regulations are made up by MEN not god and what is worse by backward, uneductaed tribal men, too keep power and control. Any History buff can tell you that.
Their agenda is 'Conversion' and not by will but by force.
The trojan horse is what they are!!!!
Steve – you have no knowledge of Islam at all. There are specific Quranic edicts against converting by force. What you say is a complete diseased, dishonest, hateful and bigoted Lie based on absolutely nothing that is real.
@Geoffrey- You are the one who is lying. Islam is the most disgusting "religion" I've ever seen. Vile. Please stop these
places from being built here in my country. Take your vile "religion" and get out of here.
I respect and thank you for your service to our country, however, that does not mean you are not a racist bigot. You CAN be Muslim and American, and they should be able to practice their faith without hearing slanderous racism from people like you. The whole point to this debate is not about Muslims in the middle east, but Muslims here in America...and they are being persecuted by ignorant hate-mongers such as yourself.
Geffrey-Because you are a muslim you are oblivious to the facts, be informed on what is really happening in Saudi and Malaysia in terms of religious freedom.
Stop spreading your religion and your hate for Infidels.