Republican pandering to their base has unleashed some of the most hateful outbursts I have seen, targeted at Muslims.
About a dozen right-wing Christians, carrying placards and yelling “Islam is a lie,” angrily confronted worshippers outside a Fairfield Avenue mosque Friday.
“Jesus hates Muslims,” they screamed at worshippers arriving at the Masjid An-Noor mosque to prepare for the holy week of Ramadan. One protester shoved a placard at a group of young children leaving the mosque. “Murderers,” he shouted.
Police arrived on the scene to separate the groups, but said no arrests were made.
Flip Benham, of Dallas, Texas, organizer of the protest, was yelling at the worshipers with a bullhorn.
“This is a war in America and we are taking it to the mosques around the country,” he said… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Connecticut Post>
As an American, I consider such behavior at odds with everything this nation represents. This Republican jihad violated the right of Muslims to worship in this country free from harassment. From the standpoint of rights, all religions are equal. Muslims have as much right to worship as Christians, or as any other faith.
As a Christian, I personally believe that God honors the faith of an authentic Muslim, who lives in peace, tolerance and goodwill, far more than he honors the hatred and bigotry of these modern day Pharisees and Sadducees. The Republican Taliban gives authentic Christians a bad name.
28 Responses to “Republican Jihad”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
But but — don’t you understand they are they and you/we are not so instant credibility and who cares about rights where none are needed cuz of who they are.
If media had balls instead of just leaving it they need to point out adamately how wrong these people are whether it’s a topic like this or some other.
That’s what the media used to do. I remember the statement from LBJ to the effect that, if they have lost Cronkite, they have lost the war.
The thing is, I’m pretty sure most of the world laughs at people like that. Only in America is it given any weight, hence the bad name issue. But, what can you do but speak up, given that this extremism is so rampant there. It’s the exact same thing as Islamic extremism. It’d be laughable if it wasn’t so dangerous, and most Muslims cringe at it and have to choose whether to ignore it or speak out against it.
Benji, I don’t know that the world would laugh at them, because they are so dangerous, but they certainly would not consider them believeable.
We for the most part ignore these goofballs, or so many of us just nod our heads and hope they keep bugging Muslims and leave the rest of us alone.
They won’t stop. If kooks like these bigoted assholes think they’re hatred is effective they will transfer it to Jews, agnostics, Christians that don’t belong to their denomination.
I find it difficult to believe The Prince of Peace is looking down approvingly at thes ewack jobs.
I find it impossible to believe that they have divine approval.
It’s amazing the hate speech (on many issues) the Republicans will accept (publicly or not). Good leaders do not pander to the dark side, unless Darth Vader (Cheney) is part of that leadership.
On the positive side, Tom, that denotes the desperation the GOP exhibits in their attempt to evade extinction.
I read an article with one Tea Party organizer claiming Islam was not a religion but an evil political organization aimed to take over the constitution and destroy America. Where do these people get this stuff from??? Fox News for starters!
Of course that’s where they get it, along with Reich wing radio and the pulpits of far too many churches.
My entire life, some 53 years, has been spent working as an organist-choir director for various protestant denominations. About 5 years ago I realized that I could simply no longer buy into the crap that passes as religion.
Interesting (barely) that most so called Christians jump up and down thumping and promoting the teachings of hatred and bigotry from the Old Testament while completely ignoring the teachings about love and acceptance from Jesus in the New Testament. They cherry pick and choose obscure passages of scripture that reinforce their message of hate while ignoring the rest of it. Case in point; how often is scripture quoted to condemn homosexuality, yet I have not not heard anyone speak of the OT’s teaching that anyone committing adultery should be stoned to death.
Charles, I agree. I like the one about taking slaves from neighboring nations. I’ve always wanted to own a Canadian. 😉
I had a similar experience with religion. Fortunately my faith remains, although I am a denomination of one.
They do the same thing outside abortion clinics. These people need their heads examined.
Lisa, before one can examine their heads, they will each need a rectal craniectomy.
I’m not saying this because I want your pity…:-)
My brother told my mom the tea partyers are the TRUE Christians. He said he wants to have a bible study with me and mom…..he has fallen off the deep end and I can not save him at this point… so sad. Part of me laughs and part of me cries…
Sue, I’m not giving pity, but I hope you will accept a little empathy. {{{hug}}}
You just GOTTA love the irony that the logo for the Teapublican 2012 convention in Tampa Bay features a MINARET … I kid you not!
The logo features the Tampa Bay skyline which prominently displays an outline of the old Tampa Bay Hotel which was based on Moorish Revival architecture and has SIX minarets and three domes.
Full details at TPM:
http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/does-the-2012-gop-convention-logo-include-a-minaret-or-is-it-a-cupola.php?ref=fpb
And background WRT the hotel at Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Hotel
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
I saw that yesterday morning, Nameless, and I LMAO!
Damn, TC. We’ve got to quit meeting like this. I really can’t add anything to all these excellent comments, but Charles’s stand out like a red thumb (or middle finger?). Very good post, Mr. TC.
Shhhh, Leslie. It’s our secret! 😉
I liked that comment as well, and thank you.
Claiming God “hates” anyone is so anti-Christian. At least Christianity as I was raised to believe in. Due not in small part to running into schmucks like these folks, I no longer frequent churches. In fact, I don’t go to church at all. In their fervor to convince everyone that they are right and everyone else is going to hell, the folks like these push on-the-fence Christians like me right over the edge into being agnostic.
Sky, I’m with you on the churches. I do not attend. Hopever the experience did not make me agnostic, because I found it irrational for me to fault God for their misrepresentations.
As the atheist here, let me say I have studied Religion and from what I learned hate has no room with any God.
These people are dangerous because of it’s incitement to weak minded people.
Tim, sadly some atheists are among the most Christian acting people I know.
Tom, you want to own a Canadian? Did you have anyone in mind? 🙂
I detest all religion. Without religion, we would not have these divisions between people. People are people are people are people. Period.
I was raised in the Anglican Church, and since I was a little girl, I was not able to buy into all the fantasy and malarky.
Unfortunately, Americans have been the target of Muslims, and like it or not, there are a huge percentage of Muslims who side with the terrorists. They attempted to blow up the World Trade Center in 1993 and six people were killed. They succeeded in 2001 and almost 3,000 people were killed, with the WTC and the Pentagon combined. And then they said Americans “deserved” it. Of course not all Muslims are bad. I have colleagues that are Muslims, and they’re wonderful people.
However, like it or not, you folks are at war. You are in an ideological war. You didn’t start the war, but you are in it. Even as recently as a couple of months ago a Muslim terrorist tried to blow up Time’s Square in New York City, on a Saturday night when it was filled with families taking their children to see the “The Lion King”. My family had been in that very spot two years earlier on a Saturday night on their way to see “The Lion King”. There but for the grace of God…? It was not the first attempt, and it won’t be the last.
I think organized religion is completely useless. As long as there are Christians and Jews and Muslims and … whatever … there is going to be suspicion and hatred. And for what…!? For something that may turn out to just be a fairy tale. The Koran, the Bible, the Torah … what they really teach is suspicion of other religions. Each one is the “only true religion”. Each of the religions can’t even agree amonst themselves. Freedom of religion doesn’t exist.
Americans can pat themselvesselves on the back, and say how wonderfully diverse and “equal” they are, but unfortunately not everyone agrees with them. When all of us really do believe that we are all the same, then we can take a deep breath and relax. But, as long as there are even a few people of one idealogy or religion who want to kill people of another idealogy or religion, folks should never become too complacent. It’s sad, but true.
Now, ask me what I really think. *heh* You still want to own a Canadian…?
Of course, Josie. How about a hot blonde Vancouver resident? 😛
I would draw a distinction between religion and faith here. You have known me too many years not to know that my faith and rational thought are not at odds with each other. Just some Muslims hate America and act out that hatred does not make it fair to blame all, just as it is not fair to blame all Christians for the hate that the Republican religious right expresses. Extremeism is the cause, not faith.
Of course I do. When may I take delivery? 😀
I’m with Jo….. a person’s faith is one thing, and organized religion is an entire other thing. I also despise organized religion of all stripes, because far too often those who participate are doing so to feel better about their despicable ways. Preachers know this, and assure them it’s all OK.
JR, that position sounds closer to mine than Josie’s.