Posted on 04/28/2005 7:36:48 PM PDT by Cornpone
Washington, DC -- Political disputes and not religion, begat violence, says John Esposito, a widely respected American professor and author on the Islamic world, known for his moderate views on Islam. Esposito was awarded Pakistan's highest civilhonor, the Hilal-i-Quaid-i-Azam, at the Pakistani embassy in Washington. "Prof. Esposito has done more than any other individual in the last three or four decades to promote a better understanding between the Islamic and Western worlds," said Pakistan's ambassador Jehangir Karamat. Esposito used the award ceremony to urge people living in the two worlds to make a better effort towards understanding each other. He argued that: In the West, particularly the United States, when people talk about moderate Muslims, the underlying assumption is that the majority is not moderate. Some people even talk about moderating the religion itself, assuming that there's something in the religion that promotes violence and extremism.
Similarly, when some Americans ask 'why they hate us,' they assume that the majority in the Muslim world hates America. What they fail to see is that those who have disagreements with the U.S. foreign policy do not necessarily hate America. "If you had Palestines and Northern Irelands in other places, you would have violence in those places as well," said Esposito.
An old lawyer showed me that some 30 years ago.
It was a ruling by the NYSSC about 1892. (I don't have the case numbers right at hand) They essentially ruled that the word "religion" in the First Ammendment means Christianity and islam was one of "those impostors" which were "to be harassed." (Their terminology.)
If the ACLU ever became aware of it, they would be running to the humped-up liberals in the USSC to get it overturned, for sure.
What a tremendous amount of COMMON SENSE that ruling shows. Thanks for posting it. Couldn't we just get it on the books in all 50 states before anyone knew it?? That would be terrific.
We might have to do that.
Before we kill their leaders, though, we could start by not holding their hands.
I'd be surprised if there weren't a nice cash award that goes along with the plaque. Espisito and Karen Armstrong seem to wrack up a lot of these awards...
How do you think Salem became such an ugly little footnote in religious history, or Waco or Jonestown.......hang on, aren't all these places in AMERICA? Perhaps you should try a little research before you speak your mind that way you wouldn't look so foolish.
Research, you say.
Please try to calm down....the infamous Jonestown is now in America?
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.