HEMET, Calif., May 15 /U.S. Newswire - The following is a statement released today by Courageous Christians United:Is Islam Really a Religion of Peace?
Despite ever-growing evidence to the contrary, CAIR continues to repeat that Islam is a Religion of Peace. Yet as we follow the activities of terrorists around the globe, we at CCU find one common thread among virtually all of them: Islam.
Therefore, we are now offering CAIR an opportunity to debate world renowned experts on Islam (including Father Zakaria Botros and Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch). The topic? This most urgent question: Is Islam a religion of peace?
We have already sent a formal letter to CAIR to participate with us in this debate. (Copies are available.)
As part of this promotion, CCU will conduct a peaceful First Amendment educational seminar at the Harbor Boulevard main gate of Disneyland, Anaheim, Calif. CCU will be there to expose the truth about "Islam: A Religion of Peace" on Saturday, May 15, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
CCU will provide an American civics lesson for both CAIR and the thousands of families whom under our First Amendment liberty will be offered free literature about Islam -- a right found in no Islamic controlled nation anywhere in the world.
For more information contact Steve Klein.
Go Steve .
I know what you do is fun but hard work but then fun if you approach it right. Still you are in the trenches. Why we allow CAIR to operate in the United States is beyond me. Please add Dr. Anis Shorrosh to your list as he defeated Deedat in front of 12,000 in Europe not too long ago.
Again GO STEVE and CCU.
God Bless,
Regards,
Rice
The Muslim Youth Camp in Iowa--it's back in 2004!
We're sending a 2004 update on the issue that surfaced last summer. Just like a bad check, it's returned. For those who participated in last summer's protests to Congress, we'll bring you up to date on the latest developments. If you're new to the story, we have a brief summary to "bring you up to speed."
After the Hamtramck (MI) City Council recently granted 7 mosques in their city permission to broadcast the Islamic prayer on loudspeakers 5 times daily, 7 days weekly, 365 days yearly, it doesn't seem a coincidence that the MYCA group (Muslim Youth Camps of America) chose this particular time to begin negotiating the terms of their lease with the Army Corps of Engineers.
Anyone want to bet that the MYCA group will want the Army Corps of Engineers to approve their use of loudspeakers to broadcast their Muslim prayer, with or without the approval of neighbors living in the Coralville Lake area? And that they'll be bringing Muslim young men here from American-hating countries all over the world?
I. The Muslim Youth Camp in Iowa--the Latest Report
2. Summary Fact Sheet
3. How Did This Happen?
4. Why Haven't We Heard This Before?
5. "The Devil's in the Details"--the more we learned, the less we liked
6. Why are Muslims allowed to practice religion on government land when others can't?
7. Are there groups that will help us?
8. What can Americans do?
9. Listing and Texts of Now Inactive News Articles
I. The Muslim Youth Camp in Iowa--the Latest Report
This story is from last Saturday's Iowa City Press-Citizen. Unlike 2003, the MYCA spokesman is now Bill Aossey of Cedar Rapids, mentioned in Joe Kaufman's article in Front Page Magazine, "Camp Terror"
http://www.frontpagemagazine.com/articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=8670. Notice the final sentence: it will be displayed for public view AFTER the lease is negotiated, not before. And the "50% scaleback" hasn't changed the 75-foot tall prayer tower (8 stories high)--this photo is identical to last year's design.
http://www.press-citizen.com/news/050804myca.htm Saturday, May 8, 2004
Corps reviews Muslim camp
Negotiations on lease are next step for backers
By Deidre Bello
Iowa City Press-Citizen
After a year of controversy about designs for a proposed Muslim youth camp, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Real Estate Division is in the midst of reviewing the revised draft plan.
The Coralville Reservoir looks serene at sunset from the site where the Muslim Youth Camp will be built.
Press-Citizen file photo
Members of Muslim Youth Camp of America, a Cedar Rapids-based organization, are pursuing a lease for about 106 acres two miles northeast of North Liberty, adjacent to the Coralville Reservoir. The group wants to build an overnight camp to attract a cross-section of youth to learn and play in an open environment.
"They've given us a revised plan that we're reviewing now to see if it meets their needs," Corps spokesman Ron Fournier said of the draft, which was submitted to officials March 29. "We will do that until it works out to be satisfactory, then we will agree to a lease negotiation."
The revised draft, which will change during the course of negotiations, shows a 2,400-square-foot central lodge, five cabins, five tent-camping platform, a common bath facility and canoe storage room. Additional details were not available.
The original preferred design included construction of a 17,500-square-foot central lodge, 12 tent camping platforms and 10 cabins, a 75-foot-tall prayer tower and plans to construct a beach.
"It should be something that anybody that is objective would not have a problem with as far as the size and scope of the camp," MYCA organizer Bill Aossey said of the revision.
Details
• For information, visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District Web site at www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/Daybreak/.
Col. William J. Bayles, the Corps' former Rock Island, Ill., district commander, gave MYCA the nod to pursue a scaled-down version, or 50 percent reduction in use and size of the initial camp design plans. The decision came amid debate over environmental impacts and distrust of Islam after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Critics also argued original plans would destroy the peaceful landscape surrounding the Coralville Reservoir and stress area roads, water systems and emergency resources.
"I do not know what the public sentiment will be toward the revised plan," Fournier said. "Hopefully it won't be bad, but it's hard to tell."
MYCA members have never been remorseful or discouraged by critics, Aossey said. In fact, the group has received several pledges of support from the community, organizations and local businesses, he said. All are interested in youth development and were appalled at the adversity the group received, he said.
This is the prayer tower that would be built at the Muslim Youth Camp. Special to the Press-Citizen
"Whatever adversity there was, was tremendously offset by tremendous community support right across the gamut from community organizations and religious groups to corporate business, literally nationwide," he said.
The Corps collected 107 responses to an environmental assessment done by Zambrana Engineering Inc. of St. Louis, which found the plan would have no impact on the property, during a 45-day public comment period. The comment period started Nov. 19, 2002, and ended Jan. 2, 2003.
"We will work on revising and make sure its done right and properly presented," Aossey said. "Things are going along well."
No dates have been set for construction and no major fund-raising efforts have taken place, Aossey said.
After the lease is negotiated, the Corps plans to place the approved MYCA plan on the Corps' Web site. varUsername = "online";varDomain = "press-citizen.com";document.write("
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2. Summary Fact Sheet
- IN JULY 2003, THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS APPROVED PLANS BY M.Y.C.A (MUSLIM YOUTH CAMPS of AMERICA) TO BUILD THEIR FIRST “YOUTH CAMP” ON FEDERAL PARK LAND IN IOWA.
- “YOUTH CAMP” WILL INCLUDE ISLAMIC DOME-TOPPED MOSQUE & PRAYER TOWER.
- THIS CAMP IS THE FIRST OF MANY MORE CAMPS THAT M.Y.C.A. PLANS TO BUILD ON FEDERAL LAND ACROSS THE COUNTRY (Chicago Tribune, 4/03/03).
- THE CAMP’S STATED PURPOSE . . . TO PROMOTE ISLAM (MYCA Articles of Incorporation, 12/09/98)
- IN 1999, THE ARMY CORPS FLATLY REJECTED A PROPOSAL FOR AN AUTHENTIC SUMMER CAMP FROM IO-DIS-E-CA DESPITE THEIR DEMONSTRATED EXPERIENCE IN CAMP OPERATIONS AND SUPERIOR QUALIFICATIONS. INSTEAD, THE ARMY CORPS GAVE THE LEASE TO A CLEARLY UNQUALIFIED GROUP--MYCA (See "Letter to the Editor," July 8 2003, Iowa City Press Citizen below).
- FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS WILL DIRECTLY SUPPORT & MAINTAIN THE CAMP
- SEVERAL THOUSAND VISITORS TO THE CAMP EACH YEAR WILL COME FROM SAUDI ARABIA, EGYPT, INDONESIA, LEBANON AND OTHER ARAB COUNTRIES.
- AGE OF “YOUTH CAMP” ATTENDEES IS “18 and OVER.” (Iowa City Press-Citizen 1/18/2002)
- SOURCE OF CONSTRUCTION FUNDING (Early 2003): SAUDI ARABIA (Washington Post 3/23/03; Chicago Tribune 4/07/03)
- SOURCE OF CONSTRUCTION FUNDING (July 2003): UNKNOWN (Iowa City Press Citizen, July 25, 2003 and May 08, 2004)
- DISREGARDING THE OPPOSITION OF LOCAL CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS, AS WELL AS THAT OF 93% OF CITIZENS WHO SUBMITTED WRITTEN LETTERS, THE ARMY CORPS MADE A UNILATERAL DECISION TO FORCE THIS CAMP ON US.
- RON FOURNIER of Army Corps’ Public Affairs says “A LOT OF IGNORANT AMERICANS BELIEVE ALL MUSLIMS ARE TERRORISTS … THE DECISION IS MADE, IT’S DONE AND THAT CAMP IS GETTING LEASED.” (Arab News 7/04/03, Saudi government-controlled newspaper).
- CONCERNED CITIZENS OF JOHNSON COUNTY OPPOSES THIS CAMP AND IS EXPANDING AWARENESS NATIONWIDE, URGING AMERICANS TO PROTEST THIS CAMP PROJECT TO THEIR CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS.
- JOHNSON COUNTY OFFICIALS STATE THAT PUBLIC FUNDS WILL BE NEEDED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES TO SUPPORT THE CAMP.
- THE ABOVE ISSUES WERE SENT TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS DURING JULY/AUGUST 2003, AND CONGRESS DID NOTHING. NO INQUIRY OF SECURITY OR IMPROPRIETY HAVE BEGUN. WHY?
3. How Did This Happen?
It actually began in 1999 when the former tenants (Girl Scouts) decided not to renew their lease. The Army Corps of Engineers wanted to find a new tenant, but apparently didn't openly advertise its availability. The only competitor besides MYCA disclosed that ACE included them only because they contacted the Army Corps, not the other way around. They also commented their need for persistence in learning details: due-dates, meeting places, etc.
http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/daybreak/index.cfm The Army Corps' website for the Coralville Lake site contains the project description, written public comments, and project documents submitted by MYCA.
The lease-option was awarded to MYCA early in 1999 by Colonel Mudd, the commander of the Rock Island Division of the ACE. Very little of note happened until the project was opened for public comment on November 19, 2002 just before the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays, closing on January 2, 2003. The local citizens were stunned, but didn't remain quiet. They began sharing the story across the country. Although the liberal media portrayed them as bigots and Muslim-bashers, they persisted.
“Plans for Muslim Camp Reveal Iowa Town's Fears,” Washington Post, March 23, 2003
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A12067-2003Mar22¬Found=true “Muslim Camp on Iowa Federal Land sparks terror fears,” World Net Daily, June 4, 2003
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=32907 "Proposed Muslim Youth Camp Stirs Debate," FOX News, June 4, 2003,
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,88569,00.html
4. Why Haven't We Heard About This Before?
After two local Iowa City men, Greg Evans and Matt Powers founded Concerned Citizens of Johnson County, the story spread. Not just to US newspapers, but those in places like Scotland, London, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan carried the story.
Matt and Greg appeared on several regional radio talk shows, but only Mike Gallagher was willing to provide balanced coverage on a national show. His radio talk-show website still carries the Iowa City Muslim Youth Camp as an issue of concern (
http://www.mikeonline.com/events/index.html and scroll down to "Iowa City"). Although many letters and e-mails were sent to Bill O'Reilly, Hannity & Colmes, Paul Harvey, Rush Limbaugh, and George Putnam, none responded. To this day, Mike Gallagher remains the only talk show host courageious with the courage to tackle the issue openly.
" Talk show attracts critics of new camp," The Daily Iowan, July 3 2003
http://www.dailyiowan.com/main.cfm?include=detail&storyid=446113 The unexpected national coverage and protest from Americans all over the country was clearly dismaying to the Army Corps of Engineers. ACE Press Officer Ron Fournier seemed to forget that the land administered by ACE is public land, belonging to the people, and his rudeness to callers prompted several written complaints to the Army Corps Headquarters in Washington. But no one was prepared to read about his frustration with the situation on the pages of paper owned by the Saudi government! Many participants who read his comments in a Saudi newspaper said it removed any doubts on who and what were behind the Muslim Youth Camp, both past, present and future.
"Muslim Camp Gets 'Go-Ahead" by US Army Corps," (Saudi) Arab News, 5 July 2003,
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=28391&d=5&m=7&y=2003 After Fournier's inflammatory public statements, 7 different participants sent written complaints to both Washington DC as well as to the Commanding General of the Mississippi River Valey, Brig. General Don Riley. We received his hand-written note of apology and assurance that in future Mr. Fournier's public statements would be limited to "facts."
5. "The Devil's in the Details"--the more we learned, the less we liked
(a) The original lease award was rigged.
This was made public in the July 8 2003 Iowa City Press Citizen by a "Letter to the Editor" from a Coralville Lake resident who attended the "lease award" meeting. Mrs. Leo naively thought that the ACE's last-minute change in project specifications meant that the lease award would generate a fair and open award process that didn't occur the first time. IO-DIS-E-CA contacted the Rock Island ACE office for reconsideration under the new "50% scale-back" plan, only to be rejected a second time by the Army Corps.