Rising Hegemon
Now that Mr. Bush is no longer in the White House, nativists are back on the warpath. Some opponents of President Obama are circulating bald-faced lies about him that are also scurrilous attacks on Islam itself. One e-mail bouncing around falsely accuses Mr. Obama of lying and adds, “His Muslim faith says it’s okay to lie.”
Or there’s the e-mail I received the other day from a relative, declaring: “President Obama has directed the United States Postal Service to remember and honor the Eid Muslim holiday season with a new commemorative 44 cent first class holiday postage stamp.” In fact, it was President Bush’s administration that first issued the Eid stamp in 2001 and that issued new versions after that.
Astonishingly, a Newsweek poll finds that 52 percent of Republicans believe that it is “definitely true” or “probably true” that “Barack Obama sympathizes with the goals of Islamic fundamentalists who want to impose Islamic law around the world.” So a majority of Republicans think that our president wants to impose Islamic law worldwide.
That kind of extremism undermines our democracy, risks violence and empowers jihadis.
Yep.
7 comments:
“Shame on you,” the Rev. Richard Cizik, a leading evangelical Christian, said to those castigating Islam. “You bring dishonor to the name of Jesus Christ. You directly disobey his commandment to love your neighbor.”
Reverend Cizik, if you think you're such a decent guy, why the hell are you an Talibangelical, anyway? News flash, guy -- His redemptive power doesn't extend that far.
Wouldn't it be weird if U.S. evangelicals bonded with the Muslims over religious freedom? After all, they bonded with the Jews over Israel because it was expedient to have somebody in the Middle East holding the line against, um ... the Muslims.
They aren't very bright, are they?
the civil war taint over and neither are the crusades.
we have birthers, deathers, etc.
what's shorthand for somebody who thinks obama is a secret muslim?
speaking of civil war, check out this bit of ugliness.
restoration = the south shall rise again.
one of the counter terrorism experts argues don't call al qaeda terrorists "jihadis." doing so suggests their violence is sanctioned by islam - when it isn't. it's also needlessly elevates people who are nothing more than thugs. they take it as a compliment when you call them jihadis. we shouldn't confuse political aims with religious ones.
juan cole also points this out:
top ways 9/11 broke islamic law
we shouldn't confuse political aims with religious ones.
Whether or not we call terrorists jihadis won't make a lick of difference if they view themselves as attempting to achieve both political and religious aims. Of course, that doesn't apply exclusively to Islam, all the religions are political, at least to some degree.
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