Posted on 03/04/2003 2:34:57 AM PST by sarcasm
OLYMPIA -- He prayed for the politicians, the state's prosperity and peace for all ethnicities and religions.
But when a Muslim cleric offered the opening prayer before the state House of Representatives yesterday, at least two lawmakers stepped off the chamber floor.
"It's an issue of patriotism," Rep. Lois McMahan, a conservative Republican from Gig Harbor, said of her decision to stand in the back of the room.
"The Islamic religion is so . . . part and parcel with the attack on America. I just didn't want to be there, be a part of that," she said. "Even though the mainstream Islamic religion doesn't profess to hate America, nonetheless it spawns the groups that hate America."
Rep. Cary Condotta, a Republican from East Wenatchee, also left the floor. He said the timing was not a coincidence, but he declined to comment further on why he left, except to say he was talking to another lawmaker and "let's just say I wasn't particularly interested."
A prayer is given at the beginning of each Senate and House session, and attendance is hit or miss, particularly on Mondays.
The interfaith organization Associated Ministries of Thurston County schedules the daily chaplain, said Cynthia Zehnder, clerk of the 98-member chamber. They have selected clerics representing a broad range of faiths, she said.
Imam Mohamad Joban, of the Islamic Center of Olympia, presented yesterday's brief opening prayer.
In part, he said: "We open this session of House of Representatives in the name of Allah the one God Abraham, God of Moses, God of Jesus, and God of Mohammed, peace be upon them all. . . . We ask Allah or God to bless the state of Washington so it may continue to prosper and become a symbol of peace and tranquility for people of all ethnic and religious backgrounds. We pray that Allah may guide this House in making good decisions for the people of Washington.
"At this time, we also pray that America may succeed in the war against terrorism. We pray to God that the war may end with world peace and tranquility."
Joban said the walkout was not hurtful, but ignorant.
"They're unable to distinguish between Islam as religion and way of life, and bad Muslims," said Joban, who has also given the opening prayer to the Senate. "They are easily able to distinguish between Christianity and bad Christians.
"They need to understand that like (President) Bush said . . . Islam is a peaceful religion."
Kathy Erlandson, director of Associated Ministries of Thurston County, found the small walkout disappointing, but not surprising.
"It makes me embarrassed to know that some of our legislators can't even treat someone with that common respect," she said. "He's an American citizen and he's praying for their work, then how can it be an act of patriotism to walk away?"
McMahan said she does not oppose having a Muslim cleric deliver the prayer.
Her departure was not a protest, but a personal decision not to participate because "the religion is the focal point of the hate-America sentiment in the world."
"My god is not Mohammed," McMahan added.
Joban said that if he were invited to give the opening prayer, he would do it again.
"Even if half of them leave it's OK for me," Joban said. "As a Muslim we have to respect what people believe and . . . we have to forgive something because of ignorance.
"The Holy Quran says that (one should) always respond to bad action with good and those who used to be enemies become friends."
So walking out and not participating in a group prayer is a personal expression of religion? And choosing to stay and bowing one's head in prayer isn't an expression of religion?
Of course they have a right to walk out. Whether they stay or they leave, they are expressing themselves, they are making a statement.
I'll have to remember to cite this doctrine next time the boss calls a boring staff meeting.
First off whom people put into office in an individual state is none of anybody else's concern. The people who were involved are there to serve their constituents not some conservative or christian appeaser from another state.
Secondly, what needs to be impressed upon here is that there are certain elements amongest us who want christians and conservatives punished for their beliefs and no amount of goverment force or whining on a message board is going to make christians or conservatives like myself hold hands or sing Kumbya with these enormously harmful elements if we don't want to.
This grandiose idea of chrisitans and conservatives singing Kumbya and holding hands with people of other political ideologies and religions is just not going to happen no matter how much someone on this message board wants it to happen.
And I can tell you that had I lived in one of those districts in Washington I would say to the freeper condamning those reps. "Screw you. You're not going to tell me who my representative is. You mind your own business in your own state.
Who these people put in office in their own state legislatures is their own decision and as far as I'm concerned is none of our freakin' business.
Regards.
The part where you assume that legislators don't attend the opening session of the legislature because of bigotry. That's just a spurious argument.
Contrast it with the STAGED walkout by these to legislators. That WAS bigoted, and inappropriate. If they wanted to be appropriate, they would have stayed away altogether. That way their bigotry could have remained unnoticed.
You don't have the "freedom" to be insulting to others when you are a legislator. You represent all your constituents, not just those with whose religious tenets you agree.
No. It's a personal expression of contempt for the practitioners of a specific religion, some of whom may well be their constituents.
That is highly inappropriate.
Well, there is a significant number of U.S. Congresspersons--the Socialist Caucus--that advocates the same thing. What do you do about that?Ummmmm.....socialists don't have a militant wing???Thank goodness they don't have a militant wing as Islam does.
-Eric
You are, when you state that an elected representative does not have the right to "protest" by not attending a prayer which he does not want to hear.
If the constituents don't like his / her actions, they will remove him / her.
Re: Spurious: it was you who claimed bigotry, I simply stated that, as an extension, any others who remained away, or left during a prayer, must be, according to your logic, bigots and must be called upon to resign!
You don't have the "freedom" to be insulting to others when you are a legislator. ROFLMFAO
You represent all your constituents, not just those with whose religious tenets you agree.
True, but the "protestors" did not say they would not reperent thier constituents who where Muslims, they protested a Muslim prayer being offered in thier presence.
Why not? It's an officially recognized religion... or are YOU the ultimate determiner of what religion is acceptable and what is not?
Here are a few passages from the KoranYou might want to hold onto those stones until you take a good look at Leviticus.
-Eric
Illbay : Neither does the Jewish.
far sider : Ooh. Good one.
Not so fast. They are the same God; the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the Father of Jesus Christ (Messiah).
Thus, the "Jewish" God has a Son.
The Jews are in denial that He's already been here once. According to Romans 11, that's only temporary; true Israel will be saved.
Myass.
To "represent" does not mean to "condone" or "approve".
This one is easy. Bad moslems live in peace with their neighbors and leave people alone. They don't kill their children for converting to another religion. Good moslems fly airplanes loaded with innocent people into skyscrapers loaded with innocent people. Good moslems also suicide bomb innocent people. Good moslems even go so far as killing their children who want to change religions.
It is always correct to show disrespect for the enemy of your country.
Islam is the enemy and the war on terrorism will only end when there are no more good moslems. (We can live with the bad moslems) Islam must be crushed or it will enslave all free people.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.