 |
|
|
|
 U.S. Rep Keith Ellison in a Minnesota mosque last August.
February 16th, 2012
04:20 PM ET
My Take: NYPD’s use of anti-Islam film makes us less safeEditor's Note: Congressman Keith M. Ellison represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District and co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus. By Rep. Keith M. Ellison, Special to CNN Recent news that the New York Police Department presented the film “The Third Jihad” to nearly 1,500 officers is only the latest example of anti-Muslim training materials being used in ways that harm our national security. The film baselessly contends that “the true agenda of much of Islam in America” is to “infiltrate and dominate America,” smearing a religion that has been part of this country since its founding. Incidents like these sound the alarm on the need for greater transparency and oversight of counterterrorism training at all levels of government. The NYPD’s use of “The Third Jihad” is disturbing because it leaves officers with the impression that American Muslims are the enemy, not an ally against terrorism. This notion hurts the ability of law enforcement to do its job. No one knows this better than the brave officers who have stood up to such bigotry – it was NYPD officers who objected to the screening of the film, just as it was FBI agents who recently objected to using equally harmful training materials at the bureau. “The Third Jihad” was produced by the Clarion Fund, a group that lacks national security credentials but is flush with cash. Far-right wing donors gave the Clarion Fund $18 million between 2001 and 2009 to drive their political agenda through Islamophobic films. The group mailed its last film, “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West,” to 28 million swing state voters weeks before the 2008 election. The who’s who of the Islamophobic fringe leads the Clarion Fund. During the 2008 presidential campaign, one Clarion advisory board member advanced the conspiracy theory that then-Senator Barack Obama was secretly a Muslim (as if it should matter). Another Clarion board member has said that “Most mosques in the United States are actually engaged in – or at least supportive of – a totalitarian, seditious agenda they call Sharia.” Americans of all political stripes, including former Bush Administration officials, have dismissed these extreme statements New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that whoever approved the request for Commissioner Raymond Kelly to appear in the film “exercised some terrible judgment.” The mayor is right. Not since D.W. Griffiths’ racially charged “The Birth of a Nation” made in 1915 has a film sought to stoke so much fear about one group of American citizens. Now more than ever, it is critical that law enforcement build relationships with the Muslim community to better fight against terrorism. In my hometown of Minneapolis, the relationship between law enforcement and the Muslim community is so strong that international dignitaries have visited to learn about our model. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has said he was able to solve several high-profile crimes only because Muslim community members voluntarily came forward to share information with the police. The great majority of national security experts view American Muslims as partners – and for good reason. A study last year by the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security showed that most tips regarding domestic terrorism come from the American Muslim community (the American Muslim who tipped off police about the attempted car bombing of Times Square in 2010 is one such example. The Triangle Center reported last week that terrorism by American Muslims poses a “minuscule” threat – not a single one of last year’s almost 17,000 murders was a result of Islamic extremism. Ensuring the public trust is critical to fighting terrorism. As Attorney General Eric Holder said in 2010, “the cooperation of Muslim and Arab-American communities has been absolutely essential in identifying, and preventing, terrorist threats.” American Muslims are well positioned to identify potential terrorists, but it’s harder to win their trust when police departments partner with the CIA to conduct surveillance, train officers to view Muslims as terrorists, or spy on Muslims purely because of their religion. Trust can be restored only if law enforcement agencies hold individuals accountable for using prejudicial materials and create new mechanisms that ensure transparency and rigorous oversight. The result will be not only a more just society, but a safer one. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Rep. Keith M. Ellison.
« Previous entryExplainer: How and why do Mormons baptize the dead?
|
  About this blog
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.  |
|
|
|
Thank you Keith. I wish all of our congressman would stand for justice.
Ooooh, Keith... give us some more 'justice.'
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2011/08/keith-ellison-for-dummies.php
We just can't get enough....
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/261903/rep-keith-ellison-s-bigotry-matthew-shaffer#
... all this 'justice' is giving me gas.
http://www.investigativeproject.org/1533/rep-keith-ellison-the-islamists-man-on-capitol
CAIR was founded in June 1994 by three officers of the Islamic Association of Palestine (IAP)—Omar Ahmad (IAP President; became CAIR President), Nihad Awad (IAP PR Director; became CAIR Secretary & Treasurer), and Rafeeq Jaber (IAP Chicago Chapter President; became CAIR Vice President). Ibrahim Hooper, who assisted Awad’s media efforts, became CAIR’s communications director. Two of these “civil rights advocates” can be seen in the pictures of CAIR’s Executive Staff I provided with this writing.
Islamic Association of Palestine (IAP) was an Islamist organization that raised money in the United States for Hamas. It described itself as “a not-for-profit, public-awareness, educational, political, social, and civic, national grassroots organization dedicated to advancing a just, comprehensive, and eternal solution to the cause of Palestine and sufrages of the Palestinians.”
In December 2004, a federal judge in Chicago ruled that the IAP (along with the Holy Land Foundation) was liable for a $156 million dollar lawsuit for aiding and abetting the terror group Hamas in the death of 17-year-old David Boim, an American citizen. The suit was eventually overturned, but the stain persisted, and the ties to Hamas were never broken.
Senator Charles Schumer (D-New York) describes CAIR as an organization “which we know has ties to terrorism.” Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) observes that CAIR is “unusual in its extreme rhetoric and its associations with groups that are suspect.” Steven Pomerantz, the FBI’s former chief of counterterrorism, notes that “CAIR, its leaders, and its activities effectively give aid to international terrorist groups.” The family of John P. O’Neill, Sr., the former FBI counterterrorism chief who perished at the World Trade Center, named CAIR in a lawsuit as having “been part of the criminal conspiracy of radical Islamic terrorism” responsible for the 9/11 atrocities. Counterterrorism expert Steven Emerson calls it “a radical fundamentalist front group for Hamas.”
Read "Muslim Mafia" which lays out everything in great clarity and detail, including indisputable references and sources.
we do not send billions of $$ of our much needed tax money to Hamas. We send billions of our tax $$ to wealthy Israelis with their 5% unemployment rate to illegaly colonize Palestine and persecute its native people. There would be no Hamas if there was no Zionazi Israeli occupaying military dictatorship on their land. Hamas never attacked the US once, ever, but Israel attacked the US at least three known times (USS Liberty, Levon Affair, and Jonathan Pollard), let alone dozens of pro-Palestine American activists who were shot dead or critically wounded by Israel armed thieves....Also several Israeli Mossad agents were caught taping, cheering and celebrating the 911 attacks while happening.
So, the Mossad agents that brought down the two towers watched it all from the roof of the Met Life building while sipping Mogan David? Wow. You're a piece of work, Kat.
there is so much anti-muslims hate and war mongering and Islamphobia in the US mainstream; government, churches, politics....It is ironic because these same hate mongers claim that Muslims teach hate!!!
They teach hate. Are you blind?
AMEN.
Islam is evil, pure and simple. The only thing I want to EVER read about this bogus faith is a footnote in a dictionary some day that says something like: Islam – noun – iz-lahm – a stagnated religion rooted in falsehood and hatred of all other faiths, eradicated during the Great Purge along with all of its followers.
The only thing worse than Christians and Muslims is George. By far and away THE most ignorant person on this blog. (HeavenSent is a close, very close, second).
GEORGE GO TO SCHOOL!!! GET EDUCATED!!! Then surf the net.
that that the Sunday hate school dictionary, given to you after a hot one on one butt-fking session with your perverted priests?
Kat, are you retarded? If you are that's fine, but what on Earth are you trying to say???
We should remove our prejudice upon muslims.
They are just people whose religion is just islam like us who belive in god.
People who we think taliban or bad islams are radical islamic followers.
This kind of case is not surprising because we have a basic prejudice about them in our mind.
We have to change this.
Why? All you religious freaks disgust me.
It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you. I used to think it was just another religion as well, live and let live – then I learned a lot more. Islam is an evil ideology. Read what I wrote: ISLAM is an evil ideology. I did not say Muslims are evil. They are Islam's greatest victims. They need help in escaping that death cult.
Rich, seems like you're the one who needs help. You been brainwashed into hate and bigotry. Try to learn Islam from neutral sources, not bigots and war mongers.
Kat, you're right. I'm a hater. I hate intolerance. I hate ped0philes. I hate murderers and rap!sts. Islam stands for those by idolizing Mohommed, who did them all, as being the perfect Muslim.
And what about you? Do you support the crimes I mentioned?
So If Islam is so peaceful then why the need to worry about expressing freedom of speech... We should not have to watch what we say. They sure don't. Wake up you idiots. If they follow God, full of grace, they could forgive NYPD and accept us for who we are, but they dont. Forgiveness and grace is something from Jesus not muhammad...not Islam. They got off the peace train about the time Christians got on it. Christ is the answer. Not America. Not Islam.
Christianity is just as bad as Islam. Give me a bucket.
Do they even know about Grace and an All Loving God? They worship in fear.
There is no God. You are just as deluded as they are.
@ The Central Scrutinizer: Not really. See, I wouldn't kill you for saying God doesn't exist. Very few Christians would. But it would be easy to find a Muslim who would do you in for saying that. They're NOT the same.
Rich, yes you would. You would love to. But we have laws preventing you freaks form killing normal people.
@ The Central Scrutinizer: I'm sorry you think so, because you're wrong.
So you don't believe what Muslims believe? So what your saying is you don't believe in God, Jesus,Moses,etc? Guess you are lost.
" After all the inks (in the Koran) could give your butts some cancer in life.."
Muneef, truer words were never spoken ! 😆
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ellison is no more than another stealth jihadist with a history of pandering to the interests and agenda of his muslim consti tuency. [creepingsharia & atlasshrugs]
BG you are joking right?
"After all the inks (in the Koran) could give your butts some cancer in life.."
What does that even mean?
Well, Zappa, if you think in figurative rather than literal terms it makes perfect sense....
BG
He justs keep fillin' up all that bag fulla....Illinois Enema Bandit Juice!
BG.
Meant any inks of any books...and you know that well so do not twist my words of comment...
Man still as known you for two years now your heart is still darkened isn't it about time now to do some thing about that and cleanse your heart with some faith...?
"dark heart?" No, Muneef.
I just want America to stay American.
BG.
Am not sure I understand what you mean by you want America to stay American? The whole world is changing against our will although we loved the past but the present and future are heading far away from the peaceful past..
In the past life was simple and people were honest,truthfultrustable,loving and full of integrity...but now all seems to go towards the opposite...
Your America is not a simple country to remain as it is... Your country is going globally ruling most of the world if not all of it right now...and that oblige it to change into a global capital whether we like it or not... And although she is becoming a multinational capital of the world,she will always be known as America... We all have our fears from the changes taking place globally but what ever GOD intended to happen will take course and no one can stop the global floods of changes...
Remember once your people feared the changes of blacks becoming equal to whites in America and tried to stop the floods but could not stop it and changes took place... That did not reduce America but rather she grew stronger...so you never know...these changes might as well make it even more stronger to face the challenges of the Dragan and the White Bear...!!
@ Muneef
It's been a while since you and I have tried to have a serious conversation, so here goes ...
" In the past life was simple and people were honest,truthfultrustable,loving and full of integrity...but now all seems to go towards the opposite..."
I think that this is a illusion.
"Your America is not a simple country to remain as it is... "
You right on this count. America has always been an a state of evolution, mostly in response to world influences and pressures. Certainly not always for the better. Much of our manufacturing base has been moved to China to the detriment of our middle-class. World economies bought up our bogus 'mortgage-backed securities.' Were they aware of the risk? Probably, but they were all just as greedy as our American banks were guilty of offering a fraudulent financial product. Conversely, America has offered the military strength necessary to thwart dictators and despots. Witness the outcomes of WW I and II.
"Your country is going globally ruling most of the world if not all of it right now...and that oblige it to change into a global capital whether we like it or not..."
Well, until another country can offer the stability (imagined or not) that America offers, major markets will continue to trade in the dollar.
"And although she is becoming a multinational capital of the world,she will always be known as America... "
The U.S. is simply the world's most influential major market, and the 'power' that comes with that is given to us by international decree. This, however, may soon change.
Dear BG.
Am not sure what to answer you with as am not sure what exactly you want things to be... What ever goes on we hope for the best of things to become for the whole globe and not only few countries...
I'm still waiting to hear what facts were in the film that were inaccurate. Is it safe to say that, had there been an inaccuracies in the movie, this article would have pointed them out?
Maybe I should read the article.
yea because the 1% Americans who are Muslim really own the white house, congress, the feds, media, banks, wall st, the pentago, military industry and are conspiring secretley to use their massive power in politics, economy and military to brainwash Americans into Islam...hahaha....The people who have America by the balls are the ZIonazi Islamphobes who are itching for WW3, Armgeddon, racial supremacist Messiah and $$ making temples.
READING COMPREHENSION NOT YOUR STRONG SUIT!?! Article says outright: "The film baselessly contends that “the true agenda of much of Islam in America” is to “infiltrate and dominate America,”"
"baselessly contends" means it is not accurate, einstein...
@ 7 Pillars: "Baselessly contends" isn't a rebuttal. WHAT IS WRONG in the film? Specifically, where is it "baseless"? The film makes assertions. NONE of those assertions were refuted. Not one. It should be easy to point out innaccuracies, but it's impossible when the assertions are true – best to just dismiss the entire thing as "baseless", yes?
OK... So the film portrays Islam as wanting to infiltrate and take over America. Where is the proof that this accusation is "baseless". The word "baseless" is an assumption by the author and the people who are trying to rebut my argument. The film makes quite a few accusations which is backs up with DEMONSTRABLE EVIDENCE. If the the evidence is accurate, the accusations aren't exactly "baseless", are they?
Way to go NYPD. This was a responsible anti crime training film made with the assistance of some sane muslims that don't like running around blowing people up. And Ellison, you can go to hell, you brainless piece of crap.
Muneef, look away.
Pete Hoekstra hates minorities and would approve of anti-muslim films
Alll law enforcement hats minorities. Was that to general? Ok, most law enforcement hates minorities.
وفاة إلى الإسلام
Well sure you can go with the وفاة إلى الإسلام
BUT what you can you say about Lin's stats?
Those words do not reflect what you want to say...poor translation of your English words into Arabic... Any way GOD is great and you never know what could happen after all GOD is in control of things happening and not men....therefore what ever GOD wants to happen it will happen...
I don't know Arabic you idiot.
God must want Iran to have the holy crap bombed out of it.
Good for God. He's smarter than I give him credit for.
C.
My post here was for Prez and not for you...
BG.
You never know but GOD does not like evil doings so if Iran is evilish it might be for her end but if not then it will be the end for the evil that surround her or attack her... After all there is evil within every religion or non religious one's but only the clean hearted and GOD faithful would win.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0A3WMOLOKo&feature=related
12-Step program: From the KKK to Islam.
Islam is just plain sick
Islam is full of prayers to GOD but as it seems your calls are prayers to the devil and not GOD...
allah is an idol allah is not God
Addressing Muneef's child-like mind:
There is no God. There is no Devil. And if there were, they would be the same enti.ty since God made everything. 1 + 1 = 2
P.
We have no Idols in Islam we worship GOD who is unseen and is every where and above... Our Arabic word for saying GOD is to say Allah which means GOD in English.. Our Islamic religion is maybe the only religion that has no idols to worship beside GOD (Allah).
C.
You nearly a human being what do you know about what exists or does not exist ? Who is childish now pretending to know all about universe ? Who told you there aren't GOD or Devil...were they another humans like you talking about their assumptions with out no prove...! We worship the GOD of Abraham and not the sun or fire or idols...!
C.
GOD has created every thing including the Devil but the Devil rebelled only when GOD had created mankind (Adam&Eve) only then he had sworn to mislead mankind from worshiping GOD to drag them to Hell out of jealousy...
Maybe reading the stories of the Quran will guide you to know what we are talking about rather than sipping your .... with it's pages..
The intent of my remarks is that the god of Islam is not God. Islam in itself is idolatrous and the phony god that was created
'allah 'is a false god therefor an idol.
Muneef,
Just tell me where I can find heaven and hell and we can settle this. If you can't, then shut up. I read Grimms Fairy Tales. They are for children. CHILDREN
P.
The GOd of Islam is the GOD of Abraham the father of Judism,Christianity & Islam...It is only the religions that have became some how different from each other due to the inference and manipulation of man..
C.
Isn't the universe or earth enough for having it to become heaven or hell...? Isn't GOD who created the whole universe capable to make within it heaven or hell...?
Leave it to Keith Ellison to raise up strawmen to attack.
Regardless of the blathering, the film was narrated by DEVOUT MUSLIM Dr. Zudhi M. Jasser, whose views are far less disingenuous than those of the utterly sleazy Ellison.
Sleazy I can handle. "Utterly" sleazy is just unacceptable.
Saving Khader Adnan's Life Is Saving Our Own Soul
By Richard Falk
The world watches as tragedy unfolds beneath its gaze. Khader Asnan is entering his 61st day as a hunger striker in an Israeli prison, being held under an administrative detention order without trial, charges, or any indication of the evidence against him. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30550.htm
He should eat. Maybe some Carnitas with flour Tortillas and salsa. Wash that down with one or two Silver Patron Margaritas!
CNN, personally I am getting really tired of Islam, Catholics and Mormons day in and day out on this so called Belief Blog. How about some equal time for:
◦Bahai
◦Buddhism
◦Candomble
◦Hinduism
◦Jainism
◦Jehovah's Witnesses
◦Judaism
◦Paganism
◦Rastafari
◦Santeria
◦Shinto
◦Sikhism
◦Taoism
◦Unitarianism
◦Zoroastrianism
And don't forget Solipsism! I would like to see one of your "writers" tackle something meaningful in that area.
I agree, let's branch out for once. Or, we'll just have to do it ourselves on the next muslim/mormon/catholic article.
Well as it seems they want to start with one religion to follow up on the rest of them one by one...!! They cannot fight them all at once but has to take them one by one...they started with Islam and not only in America but had gone to it's own countries as well...
So those watching and sheering up now have to know they will be next in a row towards breaking and subjugating them.
Muneef shut your hole and go throw acid on someone teenage girls you dithering idiot.
Hmmm seems from your post that I triggered some thing intended in your agenda... Well sheer up all of you because you will be next in the list...
Sheer up? Muneef you are.....I have no words.
What more words can you say...? You already told your words in that list you made... Proving you are a devil worshiper aiming to destroy all religious beliefs one by one...!
Muneef, I would have to believe in the devil for your comments to make sense. I do not. So go throw some acid on some innocent teenage girls' faces and admit to us all that YOU are pretending to be the devil. YOU worship your fake diety.
The atheists seem to read this blog a lot. I would even put in a plug for the flying spaghetti monster.
C.
It is from the Devils acts that you do not beleive in GOD or in him... After all he sworn to lead all mankind to Hell and not believing and not worshipping GOD will only lead to that...
Why even the Devil would not want you to believe in his existence, it is because that will only lead you to believe in the existence of GOD... So who ever telling you that non does exist are only mislead people who act as the Devil force with out their knowledge...
Thanks for the chat I got to pray the dawn (Fajer) prayers... May GOD have mercy upon me...bye.
Muneef, your mind (if you can call it that) thinks in terms of child fairy tales. The universe is FAR more interesting than you give it credit for. The Devil?? HA! What a dork you are. I pity you and those like you who were most likely never given a chance by their parents and/or community to think for themselves. You live in a world of baby books.
C.
You never know therefore it will be hard for you when in the late end when you find out the reality...while for me it will make no difference and nothing to regret...
furthermore id wipe my butt with the pages of the koran if it wasnt already full of crap.
Well if you aren't going to use it, can I have it? I have already used up all the pages in my bible and nature is calling.
Shame on you.. After all the inks could give your butts some cancer in life... But wonder what would be your punishment in hell for such disrespectful acts whether were actully done or just spoken of as you did...!
Muneef, where is hell again? And why would wiping my ass with paper send me there? Shut your stupid hole you moron.
C.
Got to read words through your eyes and not through your ...... Might you benefit some thing... Haha 😉
Muneef, you are so clever. I have eyes in my butt ha ha. Good Lord dude.
C.
I am a Muslim but I wouldn't dare to do what you say you would do to any Holy Book of any religion what ever it might be knowing the it is delegated to GOD and having the names of GOD within it... We would treat it with respect even if we disbelieved in the religion within it... And that only in respect and fear of GOD and nothing else...
Mytake tlcs use of promuslim film makes us less safe. i side with lowes,im not buying your propoganda.until i see public and pritate denouncing of radical muslims by the so called moderate muslims you wont convince me there is such a thing as an all american muslims.mosques the koran hijabs camels sharia law and islam as a whole have no place in america.if thats your perogative move to afghanistan.islam and its terrorist way is not welcome in america.
Why do you believe that all muslims are bad? Oh, but i'm guessing that Christianity is A-OK right? Or is it that other religions and races should just be left out of America? Why do you hate? It seems that you condemn what you do not understand, and while you may think muslims are a danger to our society, it's people like you that are ripping this world apart! Maybe if you people would pull the giant dick out of your asses, maybe America would actually have some intelligence and credibility with the rest of the world!
Ellison's take on The Third Jihad is bull. But why take Ellison's word or mine? See it and make up your own mind.
http://www.thethirdjihad.com/
Prayer changes things
Proven (just thought I would save you the time. You are welcome)
You're no better than them if you can't see past the bible that you so desperately bring into every situation in life. I hate how stupid people are. BTW, who are you voting for? Santorum? Romney? Do you just vote because of their religion? You know stupid people are the body of this country. And, "Atheism is not healthy for children or other living things?" What do you know? Maybe you need to actually get a brain instead of relying on a holy book to guide your life.
Atheism is not healthy for children and other living things .
Does it change things like not being able to tell the difference between your Name and the Message?
Do you REALLY think the NYPD is more bigoted to the diaper heads than any other minority?
The hatred bigotry and rage in that organization makes the even the Gestapo uncomfortable.
Anyone who WANTS to be a cop, should NEVER be allowed to be a cop.
You got that right. I have had two cops marry in to my family (a brother-in-law and a nephew-in-law) and both are pompous-ass bigots that I wouldn't trust with a pea-shooter.