Question for the Islamophobes...

Other than the amount of body showing: what is the difference between these Amish women and Muslim women wearing their religious dress?

And the Mormons don't drink--gotta problem with that?

BTW, who the eff used the tag "Pennsylvania Dutch"?  It's Pennsylvania German!

Hypocrisy?

www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-29388150

FYI

Got it?

Quote of the Day

"Both house and ground were vested and in trustees, expressly for the use of any preacher of any religious persuasion who might desire to say something to the people at Philadelphia; the design in building not being to accommodate any particular sect, but the inhabitants in general; so that even if the Mufti of Constantinople were to send a missionary to preach Mohammedanism to us, he would find a pulpit at his service."
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/autobiography/page49.htm

Yeah, it might be like beating a dead horse, or shouting "Benghazi", BUT...

It is an accurate assessment, no matter how much the right wing want to deny it:

And they only show their dishonesty when they do try to deny it.

Quote of the day (or "Hey, Holly, betcha didn't know you had so much in common with a Mooselim")

I became Republican because I felt that my Islamic values – pro-life, pro-traditional family, pro-business, pro-trade – aligned best with the Republican party platform. I identified as a Democrat for several years when I was younger, but found it hard to defend liberal values as they were so often in conflict with my deeply-held beliefs.--Saba Ahmed

Of course, we know the right wing people who denied that there was more similarities than differences in this picture will have "their heads explode" at the above quote:

Sorry, you can hem and haw all you want about Holly somehow being different, but the only difference is that she isn't modestly dressed (1 Timothy 2:9–10).

Holly, the only thing about you which makes my head explode is that you are so ignorant and proud of that fact.

You have so much in common with the people you claim to hate.

Although, One could claim that there has been a huge misunderstanding here. One of these is a picture depicts a good woman and the other, by contrast, must be a picture of a bad woman, right?

Surely, you see that one of these pictures shows a patriotic and faithful citizen, a woman whom many see as representing goodness, possessing characteristics which a sympathetic audience would interpret as truly wholesome. She’s simply holding the common and natural token of her faith in one hand. This is a book, I don’t need to tell anyone here, that we all know of and which many of us have read. And her faith, incidentally, is something which she sees as foundational to the existence of her country and to the very idea of morality; her other hand is locked to the hand grip of the symbol and substance (as she and many like her see it) of freedom and power. I’m sure she regards this as an unquestionable right! With a gun, she seems to say with her smile, “You may think I’m a soft woman, but go ahead and mess with me”. Behind her, the banner of not just her nation or people, but of her own identity.

Of course, the other picture is of an American. I can understand why her followers would be upset.

More on modest dress and Christianity.

Change it to Muslim and see what their reaction is...

Funny, but if you changed the word "Christian" to "Muslim" in some right wing screeds, that you would see people going apoplectic.  Strange, but they just don't quite get what that means.

Anywaly, I'd prefer to live in Europe where this shit isn't tolerated than in someplace that fancies itself as Iran or Afghanistan or some other Islamic terror land only rebranded "Christian".

Sorry, but the only difference is that the one on the left isn't as modestly dressed.

We’re curious what, if any, difference there is between these two pictures? Both women worship the same god. Both of them are holding a book that heavily mentions Jesus, and both are unnecessarily heavily armed–and then there’s the intolerance demonstrated by extremists of either of these very similar religions.

Thank you, Holly, for proving me correct:

Sinclair Lewis on Fascism updated, or my Ambrose Bierce moment

This is a reference to Ambrose Bierce’s entry on Patriotism in the Devil’s Dictionary where he says:

In Dr. Johnson’s famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit that it is the first.

Likewise, Sinclair Lewis’s rather famous quote on fascism that:

“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”

With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior writer I beg to submit that when fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag, carrying a cross and a gun, while claiming it is all being done in the name of the Constitution.

Betcha didn't know he was an Arab!

Danny Thomas was an Arab (Lebanese, to be precise) from Detroit.

But how many people know that Casey Kasem was as well? Another Arab from Detroit (at one time, Detroit had the largest population of Arabs in the US).

Kemal Amin "Casey" Kasem is known for his being a DJ who presented America's top 40. In addition to his radio shows, Kasem provided the voice of many commercials; had done many voices for Sesame Street; provided the character voice of Peter Cottontail in the Rankin/Bass production of Here Comes Peter Cottontail; was the voice of NBC; helped out with the annual Jerry Lewis telethon; and provided the cartoon voices of Robin in Super Friends, Mark on Battle of the Planets, and a number of characters for the Transformers cartoon series of the 1980s. In 2008, he was the voice of Out of Sight Retro Night which aired on WGN America, but was replaced by rival Rick Dees. After 40 years, Kasem retired from his role of voicing Shaggy in 2009, although he did voice Shaggy's father in the 2010 TV series, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated.

Like Danny Thomas, Casey was an American icon.

It makes me sick to think that white, right wing assholes get a pass while Arabs are fingered as terrorists.

Especially when you think of the Arabs and Muslims who have contributed to US culture.

What do Ray LaHood, Tony Shalhoub, and Selma Hayek have in common? They’re each Arab American. As are Sen. George Mitchell, Diane Rehm, Doug Flutie, and Frank Zappa. And the CEO of Del Monte Produce, the founder of Farouk Systems hair products, and the inventor of the heart pump.

Arab Americans' accomplishments are as diverse as our community itself. Arab Americans have distinguished themselves in science and medicine, academia and sports, the arts and politics—in every aspect of American life.

I am sorry to hear of Casey's passing.  We really need more people like Casey and Danny these days to fight the hate and ignorance.

See also:  Famous Arab Americans

You have a problem if Barack Obama is a Muslim.

Not a question, but a statement since the Constitution that some people claim to respect and all that says (Article VI):

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.

Repeat that last part just to make it clear to you who don't get that the US is a SECULAR Society (like it or not):

no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.

That means it doesn't matter what religion Barack Obama (or Mitt Romney or anybody else for that matter) happens to be.

You might have missed that bit since that paragraph comes right after:

This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.

And if you don't think the founders would support this: guess again:

"Both House and Ground were vested in Trustees, expressly for the Use of any Preacher of any religious Persuasion who might desire to say something to the People of Philadelphia, the Design [purpose] in building not being to accommodate any particular Sect, but the Inhabitants in general, so that even if the Mufti of Constantinople were to send a Missionary to preach Mahometanism [Islam] to us, he would find a Pulpit at his Service. "

As I said, you have a problem because the Constitution isn't on your side if you are trying to make someone's religion an issue in US politics.  In fact, religion would not intrude in US politics given the US's being a secular state--I only wish more people would be disgusted by this trend.

But, maybe some of you aren't  the strong supporters of the Constitution that you claim to be.

Or, maybe you just need to brush up on what exactly it is that you are supposed to be defending.

The US is a secular nation: understand that fact.

Wild Bill on the Muslim Protests and Other Things

Cenk Uygur on the Muslim Protests

Ann Barnhardt Goes off the Deep End

Posted one minute apart on April 7th, this:

and this:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

I love that little cross at the end of the prayer, and the rosary beads are a nice touch too, don't you think.

Ann posted two videos, seen here and here, which she claims have created a world-wide sensation. I wondered if she's trying to piggy-back on the fame of Pastor Terry. Although Ann's not really attractive, she does have a certain gift-o-the-gab and she does that tough-talking thing that certain types of men find appealing. Apparently she's received some death threats along with the "overwhelming" support. Here's her response.

There are a LOT of emails of concern for my safety. Yes, I knew EXACTLY what I was doing going in to this, and I am HONORED to lead you into this battle. But if you REALLY want to help me, here is what you can do. Go out, buy a koran, video yourself burning it and post that on YouTube. Do it NOW. Show the muslims how utterly futile it would be to kill me. I am delighted to lead from the front, but the only way this works is if you wonderful patriots BACK ME UP. One man storming the beach at Normandy would have been meaningless machine gun fodder. But the First Army U.S. and the Second Army U.K. storming the beach constituted a decisively victorious force. Oooh-Rah! 

What's your opinion? Is she making a mistake to consider all of Islam the enemy? Her premise seems to be built on that. Does she, and the other Islam-haters, not see that there are good and bad people in every group, including the hundreds of millions of Muslims?

What about her tough talk. I think Breda and Tam could pick up a few pointers from this gal, what do you think?

Please leave a comment.

The First Ground Zero Mosque

Laci put together a very informative post containing details that must have been all but censored up till now.

But the real kicker is that the Real ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ Was on the 17th Floor of the World Trade Center’s South Tower!

Did you know that? How is it possible that in all the discussions about the so-called Islamic Cultural Center near Ground Zero, this is never mentioned?

Please leave a comment.

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf

Media Matters published a fascinating article about the reaction to this interview by the conservative media. To support their idea that Fox News and the others distorted the intentions of the Imam's words, they provided several examples of laughably hysterical quotes and headlines.

I thought the remarks by Imam Feisal were thoughtful and reasonable. I didn't sense any dissembling or deceit in him.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Jon Stewart on the Mosque

Municipal Land-Use Hearing Update

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
www.thedailyshow.com
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George Washington on the Ground Zero Mosque

Think Progress draws upon the founding fathers just like the pro-gun crowd.

The debate over the Ground Zero Mosque is, in fact, a debate over American values. Newt Gingrich has been trying to claim that the construction of the mosque is “explicitly at odds with core American and Western values,” while Mayor Bloomberg correctly noted yesterday that “we would betray our values if we were to treat Muslims differently than anyone else.” If the conservatives who have been attacking the mosque think that George Washington was wrong about American tolerance and religious freedom, let them say so explicitly.

It's funny that the same guys who cite the founders to support gun rights are largely against the mosque. Yet, it's the biggest "father" of them all who proves them wrong.

Please leave a comment.

Detroit Imam Shot 20 Times

Zorro provided the link for this incredible story of police brutality. The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

A Muslim prayer leader accused of encouraging his followers to commit violence against the U.S. government was shot 20 times during an FBI raid at a suburban warehouse last fall, according to an autopsy report released Monday.

The autopsy was completed a month after Luqman Ameen Abdullah's death, but Dearborn police were granted a delay in releasing the results while they investigate the Oct. 28 shooting, said Dr. Carl Schmidt, Wayne County's chief medical examiner.

Abdullah, 53, died instantly, he said. The FBI says agents were trying to arrest Abdullah at a Dearborn warehouse when he resisted and fired a gun.

Schmidt said Abdullah's body was handcuffed and on the floor of a semitrailer when his investigator arrived at the shooting scene.

As Zorro mentioned, the man was handcuffed when this took place. I wonder why it's taking so long for the investigation to determine if indeed there had been excessive force?

Abdullah, also known as Christopher Thomas, was the imam of a small mosque in Detroit that served mostly black Muslims.

What do you think about these black guys who convert to Islam? Back during the Black-Panther days of the 60s, I used to think of them as "fake muslims." This idea was reinforced when some years later I read the famous autobiography of Malcolm X in which he describes his pilgrimage to Mecca. He said it came as a surprise to him that there were Muslims of all colors. It caused him to rethink his anti-white position, blaming the white man no longer worked for him.

More recently I've come to personally know Muslim people from Muslim countries, ones who practice their religion. All this has combined to make me think that the so-called black muslims in America are more often than not just poor people rebelling against the oppression of being black in America, which makes sense, but it's as far away from true Islam as the suicide bomber who thinks he's religions.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.