BUSH HOSTED RAMADAN DINNER AAT WHITE HOUSE (Mired in controversy)

Yahoo ^ | 10/28/2003 | Staff

[aristeides]

I don't think any Shinto priests were in the White House 1941-45.

[NYC Republican]

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer

Sage advice.

[Howlin]

Please highlight which of those other White House traditions was implemented as direct result of members of those religions attacking and slaughtering innocent Americans?

Do you know that to be a fact? That there was no "celebration" planned at all in 2001 until the attacks on 9-11?

[Aquinasfan]

"America is a land of many faiths and we honor, and welcome and value the Muslim faith," Bush said in opening remarks before the meal.

He wasn't speaking for me.

[rintense]

Have there ever been Shinto priests?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

From the article, "He organized the first White House Iftar after bin Laden and al-Qaeda launched the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington."

(I'll research further, however, now that I'm out here on this limb.)

[JesseHousman]

Free The Hostages

And to which hostages might your handle refer?

Muslims invented the term hostage taking. They've siezed airliners, blew up airliners, killed 3,000 innocents rather quickly, siezed an embassy some years ago and held over 100 American citizens hostage. Before they learned to fly (not land or take off, of course as that is left up to the hostage pilots) they were satisfied with seizing American planes and just maiming and killing a few hostages. They derived enjoyment from shoving a cripple in a wheelchair off a ship. Now their imams have directed their attention to their koran that promises eternity in their doggie heaven with 72 virgins.

We come in peace and leave you in pieces.

These muslim dogs want nothing more than to do to America what they did to Spain all in the name of Allah and according to their (un)holy book.

[Aquinasfan]

They are both valid religions instituted by God.

I didn't know God was into contradictions.

[Mo1]

I do not advocate condemning all of Islam and never have, nor do I advocate commending all of Islam for accomplishments that haven't been proven.

So what's the big complaint??

As to why the president choose to do this, I really don't know .. me and the Prez aren't on a first name bases

However, if I was to take a guess .. it might have something to do with all the anger many americans felt about Islamic faith, especially after 9/11

And this was a way to show others in the Islamic faith that we realized that they aren't all evil people that wanted to kill americans .. that we needed to show them that they could trust us .. by respecting one of their holiest holidays .. and that maybe if they learned that they could trust us and President Bush .. that maybe they would help us out more on this war on terror??

Now have some mistakes happened with dealing with some in the Islamic faith .. yes .. but nothing is perfect and we learn from the mistake we made .. then there might be times, maybe they weren't mistakes, at it was better to stay friendly with some to keep a better eye on them.

[NormB]

Oh I forgot (SIC)
I was in a hurry! What am i a poliotician?

[Aquinasfan]

Aiesha is supposed to have been married at age 9 and it was consummated when she was 12

Make that 6 and 9.

[JesseHousman]

I'd say your handle describes you completely! Yours was the best on this thread.

[JesseHousman]

They are both valid religions instituted by God.

Good retort by you to this vapid sentence!

[Howlin]

Okay. I misread that; I was thinking it was the first one for HIS administration.

That gives me pause.

[Howlin]

BTW

(I'll research further, however, now that I'm out here on this limb.)

Very funny......but I was sincere; I just didn't know what the "traditions" of the White House had been in recent years.

[E Rocc]

Wait a minute, I thought America was a Christian country.

The government is religiously neutral, respect for all beliefs, preference for none. That's how we've kept peace for over 200 years.

-Eric

[FreeTheHostages]

the hostages my handle refers to the American air crew the Chinese held hostage in the spring of 2001

Again, I think it's great that the President is conveying a message that this war is not Christian v. Muslim: it's a pro-democracy thing. That's precisely the right message. God Bless the President.

[Howlin]

Big bump.

An excellent reply.

[E Rocc]

Those aren't Southern Baptists that are ambushing our soldiers.

They are former members of the Ba'ath Party. The Ba'athists were religious when it suited them, secular when not, just like most other totalitarians.

-Eric

[Mo1]

......but I was sincere; I just didn't know what the "traditions" of the White House had been in recent years.

I didn't know for sure either, but I do know that many different religious holidays and national holidays have been celebrated at the WH throughout the years