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“It was very wrong, very wrong. Very sad. His behavior was not at all Islam. He hurt all Muslims.” — Syed Ahmed Ali, an Imam at the mosque where killer Nidal Malik Hasan regularly prayed. (source)
“I don’t know his intentions. I don’t know what he was thinking. I won’t condemn another Muslim.” — Duane Reasoner, 18, someone that viewed Hasan as a religous mentor.
We need MORE muslims like the imam that actually publicly stated that Hasan’s actions were wrong. Conversley, we need to closely watch all muslims like this idiot that cannot find it in his heart to condemn a man that just killed 13 people and injured 20 more.
I’ve been reading president Obama’s speech delivered in Cairo earlier today. While many conservatives and talking heads will be sure to go through it with a fine tooth comb, I feel compelled to point out some of the positive tidbits that were delivered. Obama addressed the following specific issues:
- The first issue that we have to confront is violent extremism in all of its forms.
- The second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world.
- The third source of tension is our shared interest in the rights and responsibilities of nations on nuclear weapons.
- The fourth issue that I will address is democracy.
- The fifth issue that we must address together is religious freedom.
- The sixth issue that I want to address is women’s rights.
- Finally, I want to discuss economic development and opportunity.
This analysis offers excellent counterpoint and factual clarifications, here are the firm words that stood out to me:
- “I made clear that America is not – and never will be – at war with Islam. We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security. Because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject: the killing of innocent men, women, and children. And it is my first duty as President to protect the American people.”
- “Over seven years ago, the United States pursued al Qaeda and the Taliban with broad international support. We did not go by choice, we went because of necessity. I am aware that some question or justify the events of 9/11. But let us be clear: al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet Al Qaeda chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. These are not opinions to be debated; these are facts to be dealt with.”
- “We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case.”
- “America’s strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable.”
- “Six million Jews were killed – more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless, ignorant, and hateful. Threatening Israel with destruction – or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews – is deeply wrong”
- “America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments – provided they govern with respect for all their people. This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others.”
- “I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality. And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well-educated are far more likely to be prosperous.”
These are very powerful statements. I hope that they will be said again, and acted upon.
The recent Pace University Hate Crime story should be a non-story. Placing a Koran in a toilet is not a hate crime. In fact, calling it such is a slap in the face to victims of true hate crimes. Being lynched because of the color of your skin; having your head smashed with a cinder block because of the color of your skin; being killed because you are gay… THESE are hate crimes.
Placing a Koran in a toilet is an emotional statement; an act of frustration. It is not a hate crime. Offensive? Perhaps. Funny? Perhaps. A statement? Absolutely. A felony? Hell no. Let’s make a quick comparison:
1) Allah Ak Boom: The printing of this cartoon led to violence by radical Muslims and death threats. An editorial cartoon. In the world of radical Islam you aren’t allowed to editorialize. You are not allowed to think. You are not allowed the luxury of free speech. You live to pray to Allah four times a day and to beat your women if you feel like it. Nobody was sued, nobody went to jail over this, but a few cartoonists went into hiding. Religion of peace? I don’t think so.
2) Holy ‘Water’: This beautiful display was actually a winner of the 1989 Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art’s “Awards in the Visual Arts” competition. The award was partially sponsored by the NEA (a.k.a. taxpayer-funded), which led to many protests. Liberals jumped to the defense of this as a blatant expression of free speech. I agree that this is offensive, but I also agree that this is free speech. The ‘artist’ knew exactly what he was doing. (IMHO most modern art has more to do with gimmicks and marketing that it does creativity or skill)
3) Pace University – Koran in Toilet: A student placed two Korans in university toilets and is being brought up on hate crime charges. Perhaps this student is frustrated at the psychotic level of Political Correctness afforded to all things Muslim. Perhaps he is frustrated that the press only reports bad news from Iraq and refuses to use the term Muslim when covering news stories about violence caused by Muslims. Is this intimidation? Only if you are a pansy. Intimidation is an attempt to change behavior. What possible action could this student be trying to change?
Now if a student grabbed a Muslim peer and rammed his face into the stall I could see the justification of hate crime charges. If someone took the Koran and beat up a Muslim student with it while shouting derogatory anti-Muslim nastiness at the victim, I could see it. The actual charges just don’t make any sense.
I find it absurd that some Americans will go to such great lengths to defend a group of people hell bent on forcing their way of life on the rest of the world. Especially when these mental midgets are exercising their own barbaric take on free speech while living in America, a country that gives all citizens rights that are capital offenses in the Middle East. For whatever reason we don’t hear in the press about Muslim family honor killings (fathers, brothers or uncles that kill female family members for not being Muslim enough); we don’t hear about the daily horrors that Muslim women suffer at the hand of their Dark Age-minded oppressors. All we seem to hear is some anger management needing Muslim man telling us that Americans are the bad guys, Americans are the oppressors, Americans are the ones that need to change. CAIR, like the ACLU, jumps to the defense of anyone Muslim as long as that person is saying nice things about Allah. Where are the ACLU and CAIR when honest, peace-loving Muslims suffer at the hand of radical Muslims?
Bottom line: Until moderate Muslims stand up and defend themselves and their religion, their lives and ours will be subject to the rantings and violence carried out by the immature man-children known as radical Islamists.
