Assaults on Islam come fast and furious - by Raja Petra Kamarudin
Salam sejahtera.
..pasted from here
It’s becoming hard to keep up with the steady stream of attacks on Islamic or its traditions coming out of the mouths of Western political and religious leaders. It’s almost as though hunting season has been declared on a quarter of the world’s population, with the most unlikely individuals queuing to take pot shots.
Within just one year we’ve witnessed Danish cartoons denigrating the Prophet (peace be upon him), the self-styled leader of the so-called free world declaring war on “Islamic Fascistsâ€, his subservient buddy across the pond promising to combat “an evil ideologyâ€, and Pope Benedict getting in a dig against Islam by quoting an obscure 14th century Byzantine emperor.
Then last week, there was once again something rotten in the state of Denmark when the youth wing of the Danish People’s Party organized a competition for “the most demeaning depictions of the Prophetâ€, shown on state-run television.
British politicians have also jumped into the fray with both feet. Last month, Home Secretary John Reid lectured British Muslims on how to teach their children not to hate.
Then last week, the former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw admitted he has asked female Muslim constituents to remove their niqabs — a covering that exposes only the eyes — while visiting his constituency office. He described it as a bar to effective personal communication as well as an obstacle to inter-community relations.
Many moderate British Muslims were sympathetic at first, but that soon changed when Straw later disclosed his desire to see Muslim women abandoning the head scarf or hijab. What was he thinking? This is a man known to carefully weigh his words and who has had close contact with Muslims for many years.
He must have been aware of the sensitivities surrounding this subject and could hardly have forgotten the outcry when France banned female students from covering their heads. In fairness, Straw stressed there should be no compulsion and he was merely expressing his personal viewpoint, but others have latched on to his words to suit their own bigoted agendas.
The racist British National Party said it has been calling for a change in Muslim dress code for some time and accused Straw of diminishing their political capital. A group of young thugs threw a newspaper at a terrified young Muslim girl, saying Jack wants you to take off your veil, while a 45-year-old woman suffered the indignity of having hers grabbed from her head.
Even worse, a Tory MP is advocating a change in the law to ban the wearing of the veil so as to preserve Britain’s “Christian heritageâ€.
When Muslims reacted strongly to George W. Bush’s use of the word “Crusade†post-Sept. 11, they were generally accused of being oversensitive but five years on it looks as though their worst fears might be materializing.
Indeed, this anti-Islamic momentum is being embraced by right-wing parties throughout Europe.
In the run-up to Austria’s parliamentary poll in October, Jorg Haider’s Freedom Party has taken to scaremongering. Depicting Islam as a threat to Austria’s Christian identity it has produced an advertisement showing an Islamic crescent above an ancient church with this words: “This is the true hidden desire of Muslimsâ€.
This comes on the heels of the country’s interior minister calling for the banning of hijab-clad teachers and asserting that 45 percent of Muslims within Austria defy assimilation.
In Belgium, the right-wing party Vlaama Belang has put aside its anti-Semitism in favor of attacking Islam and in doing so has gained an increasingly large Jewish vote, especially among Antwerp’s Hassidic Jewish community. The editor of Het Volk insulted the local Muslim community by referring to it as “a breeding ground for thousands of Jihad candidatesâ€.
Germany’s Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries admitted earlier this year that many Germans wrongly associate Islam with terrorism, saying, “Many Muslims are faced with discrimination because of their faith as some people link the Muslim faith automatically with Al-Qaeda and terrorism.â€
Results of a poll jointly conducted earlier this year by the Washington Post and ABC News were shocking. Apparently 46 percent of Americans think poorly of Islam with 40 percent admitting to feeling prejudice against Muslims. Some 22 percent would not want Muslims as neighbours.
Where did all this hatred come from and how can the tide be turned?
I believe it has its roots in America’s reaction to 9-11. The 19 who committed that heinous crime weren’t called criminals. They weren’t even called terrorists but rather “Islamic terrorists†whereas members of, say, the IRA or the Basque separatist group ETA was never referred to as “Christian terroristsâ€. Thus the words “Islamic†and “terrorist†became enjoined in the minds of the ill informed.
As to the cure, Muslims are divided. Moderates call for inter-religious dialogue.
They believe the xenophobic masses could benefit from understanding the essence of Islam. Other Muslims believe their leaders should get tough with such Western counterparts who aren’t doing enough to quench the flames. Fundamentalists burn flags or turn to violence, playing right into the hands of those orchestrating an anti-Islamic agenda.
Personally, I believe there needs to be a shift change both on Pennsylvania Avenue and on Downing Street. Hopefully the next shift won’t be in the business of manufacturing enemies and invading nations on false pretexts. Until then, Muslims in the West should brace themselves. Sadly, in the short term, there may be worse to come.
———-@@@@@@————-
Brown-Waite defends a supporter’s anti-Muslim comment
Last Edited: Thursday, 09 Nov 2006, 10:18 PM EST
Created: Thursday, 09 Nov 2006, 10:18 PM EST
Ginny Brown-Waite is defending a supporter’s comments. We’ve got you covered
BROOKSVILLE - When Governor-elect Charlie Crist heard one of his
supporters call Islam a “hateful and frightening” religion, he kicked
her off his election team.
Governor Bush also condemned Hernando Commissioner Tom Hogan’s and
his wife for the remark.
Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite didn’t respond until after the
election, then she rushed to the couple’s defense.
“Ms. Hogan is entitled to her views, and her husband stood by her
side as a good husband should,” stated Brown-Waite.
The congresswoman also attacked the Governor and the Governor-elect
for condemning the comment.
“Not every Muslim is a terrorist, but every terrorist is a Muslim
except for Tim McVeigh,” offered Brown-Waite.
“What about Eric Rudolph?” FOX 13 asked.
“Well except him too,” said Brown-Waite.
“What about the Klan?” we asked.
“They’re not doing terrorist activities right now. We’re talking
about a group that wants to do away with our way of life. With all
due respect, I don’t think there’s any comparison,” said Brown-Waite.
We can find many non-Muslim terrorists, but Islamic groups say that’s
not the point.
“She’s actually standing up on the wrong side of the aisle, defending
bigotry and hatred,” stated Ahmed Bedier with the Council on American
Islamic Relations.
The Congresswoman says she defends anti-Muslim remarks on grounds of
free speech.
She wrote a scorching three-page defense claiming those who call
Islam ‘hateful and frightening’ just reflect her community.
“If this does reflect the views of your community, what will you do
to educate the community?” FOX 13 asked.
“I think it’s up to the moderate Muslims,” Brown-Waite responded.
Opened up your mind and heart not your emotional hatred!
Comments
Leave a Reply
Welcome visitors from
Thank you for visiting. May you find something useful here. After enjoying your session here, please leave a comment or two about my Blog. I shall appreciate it very much. Enjoy your stay and have fun. I hope you come back again soon. Cherio!
Affiliate
Blogroll
Links
-
Personal Status
My blog is worth $76,777.44.
How much is your blog worth?
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons 2.5 License. PLEASE NOTE: All trademarks are owned by their respective owners.
