Posted on 04/04/2003 1:30:46 PM PST by george wythe
American soldiers retreated warily from the Imam Ali mosque in Najaf yesterday after a furious crowd gathered around them to stop foreign soldiers from approaching one of the holiest shrines of Shia Islam.
"Everybody smile!" shouted the platoon commander as he told his baffled men to kneel down and point their weapons at the ground, in a surreal act of submission.
The mightiest army in the world is learning the hard way the awkward art of trying to "win the hearts and minds" of suspicious civilians.
In other cities civilians have largely been bystanders in the military drama, neither rising up to cheer nor uniting to resist.
But in Najaf, hundreds poured into the streets to block the way of American soldiers as they came within sight of the golden dome of the mosque. They waved the soldiers away as some explained in broken English: "In the city, OK. In the mosque, No!"
The mosque is the reputed burial place of Ali, the fourth Caliph of Islam and the first Imam of Shia Islam.
It was damaged by Iraqi forces during the Shi'ite uprising against Saddam Hussein at the end of the 1991 Gulf war. But despite any hatred Najaf's people may harbour for Saddam, they seem resolutely opposed to having "infidel" soldiers violating the holy ground.
Nevertheless, the city's religious authorities seem to be reaching an accommodation with the occupying forces.
According to a US commander in the Gulf, Brig-Gen Vincent Brooks, a prominent Shi'ite Muslim cleric in Najaf has issued a religious edict urging Iraqis to remain calm and not to hinder American forces.
Across Najaf, American forces searched buildings for Fedayeen paramilitary fighters loyal to Saddam.
US officers said most of the Fedayeen forces had simply dropped their equipment and fled, but some were still putting up a fight.
(Excerpt) Read more at portal.telegraph.co.uk ...
No, I missed the TV coverage. But from reading the descriptions on this thread, it sounds like the commanding officer did exactly the right thing.
Rose, it also says you shall have no other Gods before me, which I think takes precedence over cunning. I haven't seen the video myself, so I'm speaking hypothetically, but if the soldiers were in fact ordered to bow in a show of deference to Islam, then that's going too far. I wouldn't do it. Contrary to the popular cheerleader position in majority on this thread, not everything is subject to negotiation based on the situation.
MM
These places are holy and revered throughout the Islamic world, surpassed only by those in Medina and Mecca.
To appreciate the fact and to view the sheer architectural beauty of these places, do a google search for Karbela/ Karbala or the ali/Najah mosque. You will see the beauty and can develop an appreciation for what roused the populace to hit the streets.
What would be in your estimation those locations within the United States you would deem sacred?
"These places are holy and revered throughout the Islamic world, surpassed only by those in Medina and Mecca."
This is because Christians do not (or should not) worship places but God alone. Anything else would be the same as worshipping the "creation" instead of the "Creator".
God decreed that we shall not make for ourselves gods or images made of wood, stone or metals in so many words, more or less. Even in creating altars for sacrifice, the stones were to be untouched by tools.
The Kingodom of Good is within us and we can worship God anywhere. We don't have to revere places with "God slept here" or 'Jesus walked here" or "Jesus ate here" with reverence. I can't go to the "Holy Land", but I have as much of the "Triune God" right here as I would retracing Jesus steps.
There are lots of churches and places holy in America, but none have world wide importance or are sites for pilgramages.
Americans go on pilgramage to Israel, or perhaps Cantebury. we watched the Palestinian of a Christian Holy place in Bethlehem..... surely a place sacred to Christians.
Thank you, but my question was what Islamic sites do you deem sacred in the United States?
How brave these Shiite-faced idiots become around the US Army - the most humane fighting force in history. Well, I've got a better idea how we can put these little cowards in their place.
First, we tell the Ayatollah that Sunni Fedayeen shooting from the Shia mosque is an obvious abomination. Second, the US Army will supply all necessary small arms for Shia fighters to clear their sacred mosque of Fedayeen infidels, once the Ayatollah verifies their Shiite-nature. Then request that the Ayatollah issue another Fatwah demanding that all able-bodied Shiite-heads in the streets storm the mosque and rescue it from those evil Sunni's.
Then watch the cowardly scum suddenly hear their mommies calling for them, or remember that they have clothes in the dryer. If this is how they are treating us as their rescuers, I'm feeling less bad about what happened to them in '91.
Christian ministers leading tours to Jerusalem is a growth industry. The urge to go on pilgramages is very strong among American Christians.
Most of the images/idolatry dogma is as strong or even stronger among Muslims than among Christians. They don't permit any human or idolistic art or sculptures. The statues of the Virgin permitted by the Catholic church would be blasphemous to a Moslem.
Having said all that tho, the fact remains, the Iraqui Mosques are among the most beautiful places in the world and for American Christians to advocate that they should be defaced or destroyed is an absolute abomination.Crude Christians with no appreciation of history must not prevail. The American officer knew that and acted appropriately.
Peter Jennings liked it. ABC news showed it.
No comments on my choise of tv broadcasts, I don't have cable and can't get fox news. Thank goodness for FreeRepublic
I am not aware of any specific mosques or holy sites in America. There are lots of mosques but I don't know the specific locations of any.
Regarding sacred, none are sacred to me, but as places of worship, I would presume they are sacred and holy places for their congregations. None however comes within a thousand magnitudes of the mosques in Najaf and Karbela.
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.