Dallas billboard asks: 'Why Islam?'

WFAA ^ | 3/11/2005 | Ron Harris

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

The way to religious tolerance is through a billboard - or at least that's the idea behind a display for tens of thousands of commuters in North Dallas each day.

It's not a question a lot of people ask themselves on the way to work. But there it is, hanging above westbound LBJ Freeway near Webb Chapel: "Why Islam?"

The sign also offers a Web site address and a toll-free phone number in New Jersey.

"When the call comes in, it transfers to the team of volunteers," said Adnan Fyed of the Islamic Circle of North America. "And those volunteers they will call you back and they pick up the phone at the same time."

"Why Islam?" is a program run by the Islamic Circle of North America to educate anyone who wants to know about the religion. The website offers information on Allah, pilgramages and even audio lectures.

Visitors can also watch a slide show on Ramadan, and are invited to visit a mosque. There's even a chatroom.

"If you go and become a member of the forum, you can go and ask whatever questions you have," Fyed said.

The chat room addresses such topics as suicide bombings, and hating Christians.

With so many hostile ideas out there, the effort aims to help provide the truth about the religion.

The packed parking lot for Friday services at the Islamic Center of Irving shows how much the faith is growing in North Texas. Now with the hotline and the website, members of the community hope to get out the word concerning what Islam is all about.

[SheLion]

Post 103...and the black sheep reflects on and tarnishes the reputation of the family. Does the family condone, pardon, or in anyway facilitate the 'black sheep?' I'm very much of the opinion that the Muslim community within our borders does just that.

Well, I can't say with any authority but with thousands of them coming across our border, where better place to run to then a Mosque to be with your 'people.'

[Smartaleck]

"On the one hand, you apollogize for Islam"

Excuse me? And from where do you get this "straight story?"

"The principles are not compatible."

How would you characterize Turkey?

[William Terrell]

Get your beliefs straight, then get back to me, but wait until you can answer the following question.

Is a Muslim that doesn't follow the commands of his holy book a Muslim or an infidel, Islam granting only the two states of being?

[D-Generation X]

How would you characterize Turkey?

Turkey is a country that purged itself (with the help of the British) of Islamists in the 1920's to modernize. Of course that is now being rolled back as the Islamists gain power again!

[Smartaleck]

"That is at the heart of the debate you started."

See if you can follow.

Muslims are people of faith, Christians are people faith.
Both follow a text of their faith. Some more literally than others; some more fanatically than others.

I never said there was an equivilence of the two relgions but it may be inferred that they do have some common behaviors.....praying for example.

There are plenty of stories around where religious Christian zealots kill their children to drive the "devil out." Is this a behavior condoned by all Christians? No. Similarly, is it not fathomable that there are Muslims who don't believe in killing all non-Muslims?

Bush thinks so and I happen to agree with him. I should think that a "good Christian" would try to win them over rahter than partake in a practice of hate.

Just a couple of thoughts.

But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-28).

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34).

[Smartaleck]

"Is a Muslim that doesn't follow the commands of his holy book a Muslim or Infidel?"

As I am not a Muslim I have no idea. If a woman takes birth control is she no longer Catholic?

[Smartaleck]

"Turkey is a country that purged itself (with the help of the British) of Islamists in the 1920's to modernize."

99% of the Turkish population is Moslem.
http://www.enjoyturkey.com/info/facts/Religion.htm

"Although most of the population is Moslem, Turkey is a secular country and everyone has freedom of religion and beliefs. No one can be forced to participate in religious ceremonies or rites against their will and no blame can be attached to anyone because of their beliefs."

Point is, this is a country that doesn't fit the stereotype. 1) democracy and muslims can't coexist 2) the non-Muslims aren't being slaughtered.

http://www.enjoyturkey.com/info/facts/Religion1.htm

I guess they're all infidels?

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

Why do you think Turkey is 99% Muslim?

Ever hear of the Armenian Massacre?

[Boazo]

[William Terrell]

You best have some idea. You are counting on the notion that a Muslim can ignore the plain words of his holy book and be peaceful toward you and your family when the Imam speaks.

[William Terrell]

But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-28).

Do you seriously think that Jesus was talking about petting a cobra? Hate you, but not kill you and your family; curse you, but not kill you and your family; mistreat you, but not kill you and your family.

When they try to kill you and your family, you can love them to death.

[PigRigger]

"Both follow a text of their faith...."

But there is a major problem when the text of their faith commands them to kill those who will not submit.

You can gloss over this all you want...but that is the problem.

I do pray for those in bondage to those beliefs; I will support those who are trying to change it; but I will not look the other way and avoid identifying the root cause of the problem at hand. As history has taught us, appeasing those who wish to kill us will only kill more of us. I will not stand by and watch as the storm clouds gather. I will shine the light on the hypocrisy when I see it.

I will live in peace with any man that respects my right of self determination and individual freedoms. I am not prepared to give up my freedoms for the sake of appeasing those that wish to kill me.

The problems associated with Islam are issues that reformists minded Muslims better solve quickly. If they don't many will die in actions to stop its spread...Europe is a tinder box waiting to catch fire...and it will if the Jihdists continue their march through the Middle East into Southern Europe.

Learn from the appeasement that occurred before WWII, how many might still be alive if Hitler and his fascists were confronted earlier. We are facing even uglier times today; especially when educated men and women are afraid to call evil evil fearing the upsetting of sentimentalities..... That is the reality we face today.

[PigRigger]

"No. Similarly, is it not fathomable that there are Muslims who don't believe in killing all non-Muslims?.."

Just to let you know that I don't believe we are that far apart...I too believe we must support those who are looking to change the culture that pervades in the Middle East.

Lord knows, that those who are truthful in their effort to promote change, are putting their lives at risk on a daily basis.

I pray God is with them....

[D-Generation X]

Anyway yea 99% of Turkey is Muslim because they kicked out most Jews and Christians but the point I was making about it being a democracy was that in the 1920's Islamists were kicked out. Islamists as is clerics that adovacted stricts teachings from the Koran. The country's backwards Islamic lifestlye was turned around.

- Turkey was de-Islamized (modernized/Westernized) following the break-up of the Ottoman Empire, by the mandate of Ataturk, and as imposed by the European powers who won WWI. It is exceptional, yet the military junta ensures Islamic parties remain banned! Until recently now that is changing as Islamists gain power once again!

ATATURK'S REFORMS

Seriously do your RESEARCH before you make statements!

[Bennett46]

"Although most of the population is Moslem, Turkey is a secular country and everyone has freedom of religion and beliefs. No one can be forced to participate in religious ceremonies or rites against their will and no blame can be attached to anyone because of their beliefs." Point is, this is a country that doesn't fit the stereotype. 1) democracy and muslims can't coexist 2) the non-Muslims aren't being slaughtered. http://www.enjoyturkey.com/info/facts/Religion1.htm _____________________________________________________________ This is a country that doesn't fit the srereotype? Hmmmmmm. _____________________________________________________________ An Untold Love Story - (horrors of Islamic Sharia law; story from Turkey) FAITH FREEDOM.ORG ^ | MARCH 13, 2005 | YAGMUR DURSIN Posted on 03/13/2005 11:07:35 PM EST by CHARLITE My name is Yagmur (it means "rain"). I was born in rural Turkey, in a village. Generally Turkish women enjoy many freedoms, which our Arab sisters can?t even think of. Rural Turkey is a different story. Honour killings take place every day, women don?t have much say (if any) in household matters and female employment is out of question. However, much hard work is done by women because men don?t want to strain themselves; women are like cattle or slaves. If husband tells you to do something, you have to obey. My mother was a fairly-educated woman, she taught me at home and I even went to school. My hobby was reading books; through them I learnt different languages and acquired a lot of knowledge. I was a disciplined and obedient girl, unlike my sister who was somewhat uppity. When she was 18, she fell in love with a young man. They both loved each other but he was meant for another girl, thus his parents had decided. Dating is utterly forbidden in Islam, marriages are arranged and often young people meet on their wedding day. My sister was rebellious. She ?dated? that young man. Every night she would go to see him. They even kissed and actually their relationship went too far. She got pregnant. At first they planned to run away to a big city where they would be safe. They knew in villages, religion rules and they could be in trouble. In fact, authorities don?t care what?s going on in rural Turkey. Sometimes imams, mullahs and elders who try to practice Sharia and break the secular state law are punished but usually authorities are more interested in big cities full of tourists and turn a blind eye to what happens in villages. I remember their young faces. I didn?t understand the whole situation; I was a little girl. But when I looked at them I could see they were happy. Their happiness made me happy too and I wanted to smile. Instead of eloping, they decided to speak to my father. Pregnancy is a very good reason to get permission for marriage, or so they thought. Alas, she had miscalculated my father?s love for her and his obsession with his ?honour?. He became furious. Instead of letting the two young lovers marry and build their nest of love, he took her to the religious elders and they ruled that she had committed adultery. She was sentenced to death by stoning. They showed no mercy even for her unborn child. She had stained the ?honour? of the family and the only way to remove that stain was to nip her budding life. Her unborn baby was a stain too and that little creature had to be destroyed as well so my family could live honorably. In the evening before her execution, she came to my room and told me that she would miss me. She was crying and hugged me to her bosom. Then she smiled and said that soon she would see her unborn baby; she didn?t need to wait until the birth day. I was blissfully unaware of her fate, but I felt that something bad was about to happen. I was so scared! I still remember her eyes; they were blank; she stared at the sky while she was dug into the ground. She was wrapped in white sheets and her hands were tide to her body. She was buried up to her waist. The rabid mob circled her with stones in their hands and started throwing them at her while the roars of Allah-u-Akbar Allah-u-Akbar added to their frenzy. She twitched with pain as the stones hit her tender body and smashed her head. Blood gushed out from her face, cheeks, mouth, nose and eyes. All she could do was to bend to the left and to the right. Gradually the movements slowed down and finally she stopped moving. Her head fell on her chest. Her bloodied face remained serene. All the pain had gone. The hysteric mob relented and the chant of Allah-u?Akbar stopped. Someone approached and with a big boulder in his hand smashed the scull of my sister to finish her off. There was no need for that; she was already dead. Her bright black eyes that beamed with life were shut. Her jovial laughter that filled the house was silenced. Her heart that beat with such a heavenly love for only a short time had stopped. Her unborn baby was not given a chance to breathe one breath of air. He or she accompanied her young mother in her solitary and cold tomb, or who know, may be to a better place where love reigns and pain and ignorance are not known. These two budding lives had to be nipped so my father could keep his honour. Woman being prepared for stoning-Iran She wanted to marry a man whom she loved. She dreamt wearing a white wedding dress, that there would be a big ceremony, lots of people would be invited and they all would congratulate her, chant merry songs and throw flowers and confetti at her. Yes there was a ceremony, but it was not her wedding. She was not united with the man whom she loved but was wed to death. She was dressed in white but that was not her wedding gown. Lots of people came to the party but they came to curse her and to throw stones at her. No music was played and no merry songs were sang; only screams of Allah-u-Akbar filled the air. The only hug she got was from the cold earth in which she was half buried. The only kisses that she received were from the rocks thrown at her that tore her flesh and broke her bones. They were the kisses of death. This was a tragedy for my sister?s young lover. His life lost its meaning. He got lashes but nothing more. He could well forget about the whole affair and get along with his life, but he didn't. I recall seeing him standing in front of our house every day, as if waiting for my sister to come out and meet him. I could see him crying. One day he could no more bear his pains and hanged himself. His death was hushed and no one talked about it. Maybe no one cared. He was reunited with his love and his baby. No one can hurt them anymore. No one can separate them from one another again. It is a sad story. But unlike the story of Romeo and Juliet it is a story that is never told. No one talks about those young lovers. No one sheds tears for them. Not only they were buried, their memories were also buried as if they never existed - their tender love was a shame to others - a shame that had to be washed with blood. But the saddest part is that according to Islam my sister deserved that death. The elders were sure she would be burning in Hell for eternity. No, I can't imagine that God can send someone to Hell for loving and for being happy. I can't accept a cruel God.

[lainde]

bttt

[Smartaleck]

"especially when educated men and women are afraid to call evil evil fearing the upsetting of sentimentalities"

What does the Bible say to do when faced with evil/Satan?

[Smartaleck]

"Just to let you know that I don't believe we are that far apart..."

I don't either. Trust but verify as per Reagan is still prudent advice.

While the nutbars must be sought out and eradicated, as Christians or any believer in GOD, as a champion of people's freedoms and liberties we must not do away with the innocent. IMO

[Smartaleck]

"Seriously do your RESEARCH before you make statements!"

They have a Constitutional gov't that separates gov't from religion as does the US. What's to say?

[Smartaleck]

Paragraphs are our friend.