Many might say that the word “Islam” should not be depicted in the same
picture that shows the horror of the burning of the World Trade Center on
9/11. It seems to paint a broad picture that perhaps unfairly,
microscopically narrows a religion practiced by millions of people to a
relatively small group of extremely radicalized zealots whose aim is not to
worship, but to destroy.
Perhaps it was only coincidence that the accompanying email with this
picture’s sentiment arrived in my mailbox on the day President Obama raised
the national debate of the building of a Mosque and Islamic Civic Center
near the 9/11 ground zero site to the level of the Oval Office.
Nevertheless, the President moved it from a “local” debate to a national
one. The news story reported the following:
“WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama forcefully endorsed allowing a mosque
near ground zero, saying the country's founding principles demanded no less.
‘As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right
to practice their religion as everyone else in this country.’
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Obama made the comments at an annual dinner in the White House State Dining
Room celebrating the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.”
“It was already much more than that [a local issue just at New York City],
sparking debate around the country as top Republicans including Sarah Palin
and Newt Gingrich announced their opposition. So did the Anti-Defamation
League, a Jewish civil rights group.”
The President’s statements in support included,
"As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right
to practice their religion as everyone else in this country."
"That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center
on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and
ordinances," he said. "This is America, and our commitment to religious
freedom must be unshakable." And finally, "Our capacity to show not merely
tolerance, but respect towards those who are different from us – and that
way of life, that quintessentially American creed, stands in stark contrast
to the nihilism of those who attacked us on that September morning, and who
continue to plot against us today."
“President Obama elevated it to a presidential issue without equivocation.”
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2014/Oct/08/images/ads/current/tourism-lda_generic.png)
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![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2012/Sep/18/images/ads/current/demay_inv-lda081412.png) It seems like our President knows a lot more about Islam than
that guy who painted this truck. I just wonder if in other world
capitals where Islam is the national religion if they are willing to
be as tolerant toward Christians.
Let's take the President's words and see if the Muslim world leaders
would repeat them about Christianity. Let's pretend the leader of
ISIL is standing in the General Assembly at the United Nations and
uses the President's words to address the world:
"As a citizen, and as a leader of Islam, I believe that
Christians have the same right to practice their religion as
everyone else in the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), or any
other Islamic country," And again,
"That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community
center on private property in Mecca, in accordance with local laws
and ordinances," the Islam leader said. "This is ISIS [or Saudi
Arabia], and our commitment to religious freedom must be
unshakable." And finally,
"Our capacity to show not merely tolerance, but respect towards
those who are different from us – and that way of life, that
quintessentially ISIS or Saudi Arabian creed, stands in stark
contrast to the nihilism of those who attacked the United States on
that September morning, and who continue to plot against them
today."
If the President had actually believed that those Islamic capitals
and leaders would have followed suit by his example, then perhaps
that debate could have turned into a victory for Christianity. But
this is 2014 and nothing could be further from the truth.
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We understand things like children being raised in a family taking
on the values of that family as they grow up.
We understand that prejudice is overcome when a prejudice person
becomes personally involved with the targeted group and becomes
close friends with others in that group.
We understand that ideology taught to children at an early age will
be embraced as a life-style for the majority of those children as
they grow to adulthood.
With all that foundational belief, it never ceases to amaze me that
so many Americans continue to believe even in the face of the
jihadist activities from the radicalized Islamic ideology, that
Islam somehow is a religion of "peace."
[By JIM KILLEBREW]
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