Posted on 07/10/2007 4:03:45 AM PDT by GFritsch
Recent comments about Islam by nationally syndicated columnist and commentator Cal Thomas have brought sharp criticism from a U.S.-based pro-Muslim lobbying group -- and praise from the head of a Minnesota-based pro-Israel ministry.
In a July 2 commentary aired on radio station WTOP in Washington, DC, Thomas discussed the recent car-bomb terror plots that were thwarted in Great Britain. Eight Muslims are in custody in connection with the attacks; most of them worked for Britain's health service and come from countries in the Middle East and India.
"How much longer should we allow people from certain lands, with certain beliefs to come to Britain and America and build their mosques, teach hate, and plot to kill us?" Thomas asked in his radio commentary. "Not all Muslims from the Middle East and southeast Asia want to kill us," he conceded, "but those who do blend in with those who don't. Would anyone tolerate a slow-spreading cancer because it wasn't fast-spreading? Probably not. You'd want it removed."
Two days later, the same radio station carried a response to Thomas's remarks from Ibrahim Hooper with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a group that exists to promote a positive image of Islam and Muslims in America through media relations, lobbying, education, and advocacy. Ibrahim Hooper, one of the founders of the group who now serves as national director for communications, spoke on behalf of CAIR.
"I would imagine that [Cal Thomas's] next step is the expulsion of the Muslim-American community," said Hooper. "We condemn extremism. We've condemned terrorism....We've issued dozens of condemnations on dozens of terrorism attacks. But guys like Thomas come along and want to say every Muslim should be suspect and should be treated in a certain way," the CAIR spokesman continued. "That's not just and that's not the American way."
Hooper also accused Thomas of spreading "misinformation," referring to him as an "Islamaphobe" -- and labeled Muslims who commit terrorist acts as "a tiny minority of people who are misusing the faith." More often than not, he added, "the people who do these types of things are going even to listen to me."
WTOP permitted Thomas to respond to CAIR's comments on July 4. The syndicated columnist took the opportunity to say that the U.S. has had its share of "disinformation people," implying that Hooper and CAIR are among them. Such groups, said Thomas, argue that "there's no real threat -- and the real threat are the people who are pointing it out, not the people who are plotting to destroy us."
He also noted that several "prominent liberal Democrat" leaders in the U.S. Senate have expressed their concerns about CAIR, pointing out the group's "extreme rhetoric" [Dick Durbin of Illinois] as well as "ties to terrorism" and "intimate links to Hamas" [New York's Charles Schumer].
"The truth hurts," Thomas concluded in his follow-up remarks on WTOP. "I'm not making this stuff up...we gotta connect the dots. It's a little late after things begin to explode."
Jan Markell is founder and director of Olive Tree Ministries, a pro-Israel ministry based in Maple Grove, Minnesota. She is praising Thomas for taking a firm stand on the issue of Muslim terrorism.
"I am just thankful that there are a few people out there like Cal Thomas who will tell it like it is," says Markell, "because I'm still waiting for some sort of a rally by Muslims, particularly in America, who are going to start demonstrating against the violence. I don't see it happening."
And she contends the far left in America has not made the connection, even after decades of debate. "I think that political correctness has America's highest leaders today, as we speak, saying once again 'a great religion has been hijacked.'" That is nonsense, says Markell. "I'm with Cal Thomas. Tell it like it is -- or in 20 years, we don't have a country."
Thomas also suggested that the United States needs to monitor Muslims more closely. Markell says she does not find it surprising that the Council on American-Islamic Relations views Thomas' aired comments as incitement against Muslims.
Too bad these koran readers can't be rounded up with the illegal aliens from South of the border and deported.
“Too bad these koran readers can’t be rounded up with the illegal aliens from South of the border and deported.”
One day.
LLS
This is nothing more than a coordinated Psychological Operations Campaign. This guy is only deceiving the PC crowd that wants to stick their collective heads in the sand and say, "Can't we all just get along?"
As we now know, CAIR’s membership has dropped by 90% over the past five years. They are now entirely dependent on big money donations from anonymous offshore sources (...cough...Saudis...) for their operating expenses.
They do what they are paid to do. Somebody is paying them to slap a Smiley Face on the Jihad. CAIR is a PR firm for whomever is paying the bill, and they will not tell us who that is.
If these mooselimbs are upset with what Cal Thomas has to say about them then they sure as hell would be upset with what I have to say about the murdering bunch of crazies.
Most of what passes for sane Americans don't believe a word of what any muzlim says. They're lying if their lips are moving.
The koran readers are in two classes: (1) Those who strap on the explosives and dash off to destroy innocent victims in order to meet girls and (2) Those who contribute to their support.
They are an abomination and should be rounded up and kicked the hell out of this country. All this PC crap, like having them over to the White House for a Ramadan evening feast where they can view the videos of the latest beheading is patently ridiculous.
It's called 'Take A Raghead out for a banana shake' (they're not supposed to drink adult beverages) and the most popular: 'Take A Raghead Home For Dinner (but keep him away from the little children, especially the females under 12 and his place setting should have no sharp knives.)
Muslim immigration to the US should be stopped. Mosques should be monitored by the FBI and those who trash talk the US and infidels should be summarily deported.
CAIR only has 1200 members, so who gives a crap what they say?
A neighbor was telling my husband that her daughter (16) had gotten a job at a local Quiznos. It is owned by a Muslim guy. Other than the guy and his family all of the workers are teenagers. Anyway, according to the daughter, they have a tip jar on the counter but the owner does not divide the tips amongst the workers, he keeps the tips and then donates the money to Muslim charities. How messed up is that? The family is on vacation and will be back this weekend and I will talk to the girl to find out exactly what is going on. I am so angry about it and I want to do something but I don’t know what. Any suggestions?
It is a cult.
Verify the story by talking directly with the kids. Make sure you have your facts right. Then publicize them however you can. Letters to the editor can be very effective, as long as it is a small community. In the big city, they can get drowned out.
Once enough people become aware of something like this, everybody becomes aware of it over time. You just have to get the ball rolling.
The MSM, Democrat Party and President Jorge Arbusto all care.
I plan on talking to the kids myself to make sure I have the story right. If it is true, I’ll tell you I am beside myself. I know it’s not necessary but 99% of the time I will tip. However, I tip believing it goes to the workers, I would be mad as heck if I found out I was getting the bait and switch. To me it is not only stealing from the kids but consumers are being lied to as well.
Something like a sandwich shop is almost entirely dependent on customer goodwill. If the owner is taking advantage like this, he will pay the price.
I appreciate that Cal Thomas did not back down when CAIR started it’s predictable whining. He shows a lot of courage, especially given the revenge the jihadis like to dish out.
Political correct b.s. so as to not alienate any voting group.
Also you don’t want to alienate any country so as to not be able to make a damn dollar either.
Too bad we can’t run Cal for president.
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