Pat Robertson:No Muslim judges

World Net Daily ^ | May 3, 2005 | World Net Daily

[26lemoncharlie]

Islamic leaders demand apology for 'hate-filled remarks'

© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

Evangelist Pat Robertson is in trouble with U.S. Islamic organizations for saying Muslims should not serve in the president's Cabinet or as judges.

Pat Robertson

In an appearance on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" Sunday, Robertson, who ran for president in 1988, said if were elected he would not appoint Muslims to his Cabinet and that he was not in favor of Muslims serving as judges.

"They have said in the Quran there's a war against all the infidels," Robertson said. "Do you want somebody like that sitting as a judge? I wouldn't."

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations yesterday called on "mainstream political and religious leaders" to repudiate the "hate-filled remarks."

"This type of hate-filled rhetoric deserves repudiation from all who respect America's long-standing tradition of pluralism," said Rabiah Ahmed, CAIR's communication coordinator.

Ahmed said many Muslims already serve with distinction in many levels of government, including judgeships at the state and local level.

Arsalan Iftikhar, CAIR's national legal director, said Robertson "has taken his far-right-wing rhetoric to absurd levels."

"He is trying to perpetuate this notion that Islam is a monolithic entity inherently at odds with modernity and democracy," Iftikhar said. "That is absolutely false. ... American Muslims have long been contributing members of American society.

Iftikhar added: "And I guarantee to Mr. Robertson that Muslims will one day become part of the federal bench -- whether or not he likes it."

Muslims were particularly outraged by a 2002 appearance on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes" program in which Robertson said about Islam's prophet, Muhammad: "This man was an absolute wild-eyed fanatic. He was a robber and a brigand. And to say that these terrorists distort Islam, they're carrying out Islam. ... I mean, this man (Muhammad) was a killer. And to think that this is a peaceful religion is fraudulent."

Robertson also called Islam "a monumental scam" and claimed the Quran "is strictly a theft of Jewish theology."

[dpwiener]

If we as a nation fail to recognize that Islam is not merely a religion, but rather a sociopolitical ideology then it will only be to our own peril. Islam is the antithesis of Democracy and despite our nation's valiant attempt to introduce Democracy to countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq, it will never be able to take root.

The same charge could just as easily been made against Christianity in previous centuries. It was a proselytizing, conquering religion which was ruled by a rigid, undemocratic hierarchy headed by the Pope and which imposed its beliefs on others through such institutions as the Holy Inquisition. But it moderated and adapted itself to modern, pluralistic society and emerging views about religious tolerance.

The same charge could just as easily been made against the Japanese Emperor-worshipping society. Many people thought that was the antithesis of democracy, and that democracy would never be able to take root in Japan. That view also turned out to be wrong.

I think freedom and democracy will indeed take root in Iraq and Afghanistan and other Muslim countries. The number of Islamofacists will decline and their ideas will be discredited. Islam will again begin to moderate, as it was doing earlier in the last century (e.g., in Turkey) before Saudi Wahabi fanaticism and Palestinian anti-Semitism and the more virulent strands of Shiite and Sunni fundamentalism began kicking up anti-Western hatred and terrorism.

[RS]

"If Islam is so incompatible with democracy then how do you explain the success of democratic reforms in Iraq and Afghanistan?"

Or in Turkey...


http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/Religion/Islam.html

[Jorge]

This is no different than the libs blocking anti-abortion "Christians" from being Judges.

I thought this was a country where ALL people had FREEDOM of religion and the opportunity to serve in any Gov't post as anyone else?

I can't believe there are so many idiots here praising Robertson on being such a blow-hard bigot. AGAIN.

[Jorge]

Look, the tenets of Islam are fundamentally antithetical to the American concepts of freedom,

This sounds JUST like the Dems who are blocking Bush's "Christian" anti-abortion nominations for Judges.

[dpwiener]

My point was that if CAIR and other organiations achieve their goals of converting many, if not all, Americans to Islam, will they not then begin the process of instituting Shari'a law.

Well, you could (for example) make exactly the same point about Christian Reconstructionists, who would also like to convert many if not all Americans to their version of Christianity and then begin the process of instituting their strict "Christian" law.

Just because a group or religion has a goal doesn't mean they're likely to achieve it. I'm not the least bit worried that the majority of Americans will voluntarily convert to Islam and then amend the laws and Constitution to impose Sharia. Maybe it will happen in other countries, but not here. If I want to worry about things, I've got lots and lots of items higher on the priority list. Like earthquakes here in California. Or high taxes. Or the Star Trek: Enterprise series ending. Or finding a nice Mother's Day card.

But not Sharia in the United States.

[expatguy]

Your question can best be answered in the link that you provided.

"According to the constitution, the Turkish armed forces are charged with preserving democracy and secularism."

[RS]

""According to the constitution, the Turkish armed forces are charged with preserving democracy and secularism."

Yep, a Constitution that was voted in by a majority of Muslim voters.

[cloud8]

> OMG!!! No they are not, many Muslims are fighting the same terrorists we are in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Many more are suffering under the oppressive boot of these terrorists and thug theocracies...

I hope you are right but...

Three years ago I believed that we Americans should be tolerant of all religions because religious freedom was a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution. Fool that I was.

A billion Moslems are crushed under the boot of a hundred thousand fanatics. Fanatics who won't allow their slaves out of the eighth century, fanatics who are determined to rule the world, and who will kill any slave turned to apostacy.

Moslems throwing off their chains? Kissing off the mullahs? I'd like to see that.

[Ksnavely]

All your experience and you still have no refuted what I said.

[Ksnavely]

"BZZZZZZTTTTTT"

Actually he is right, the Christian Church during the dark ages and early Renaissance did some horrific things. In fact, during the first Crusades, the "Christian" armies slaughtered the entire city of Jerusalem. Or what about the inquisitions when they would torture people in attempts to convert them? I may be young, but I at least know not to white wash history.

[expatguy]

You will find all of your answers here.

http://www.faithfreedom.org/

[Ksnavely]

It is important to distinguish between the fanatics and the mainstream. There are elements within Islam that are dangerous, those need weeded out and eliminated. However, it is simply preposterous to say that everyone practicing Islam is a fanatic who is 10 seconds away from bombing your local coffee house or theater.

[dannyboy72]

Well, you could (for example) make exactly the same point about Christian Reconstructionists, who would also like to convert many if not all Americans to their version of Christianity and then begin the process of instituting their strict "Christian" law.

The difference is that Christianity is not at odds with Democracy. Islamic practices are at odds with democracy. The country has been judeo-christian since it's inception and we've moved farther away from their practices not toward them. With a muslim majority, they would push the country toward religion and ultimately into Shari'a

I do not doubt that there are man fine americans who are also of the islamic faith. My problem is their ability to protect our country's democracy over the teachings of their faith, as Christians must do each day. Can or will they separate the two? That question needs to be answered.

[Ksnavely]

"You will find all of your answers here."

So you suggest that everything I need to know about Islam, I can learn from a "Christian" site? I think that statement is quite revealing about the extent to which you have investigated this issue.

[Ksnavely]

"With a Muslim majority, they would push the country toward religion and ultimately into Shari'a"

If a country whose majority is comprised of Muslims would inevitably become a theocracy, then how do you explain secular Turkey? Or the democratic progress in Iraq and Afghanistan? I have asked this 2 or 3 times and have not gotten a direct answer. If democratic ideals cannot coexist with democracy then why the f$#@ are our boys over there dying to provide them that freedom?

[Boazo]

No worries,there are no muslims in the future

[Boazo]

[expatguy]

All your experience and you still have no refuted what I said.

With all due respect, every few months I end up going through this same exercise with newer FReepers.

It normally starts off as an arguement or a debate on Islam as in this thread. Most of my responses concerning the subject can be found using Google and a few key words including expatguy.

At this stage, I would like to suggest that you visit FaithFreedom.org - spend some time looking through the forums and talking to Muslims themselves from around the world.

You might learn a few things and after that I will be more than happy to discuss in greater detail things that you still might have questions on.

How does that sound?

[William Terrell]

. . . but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

How many Muslims do you think were participating in the founding of America? When these words were written, they were intended to mean the various denominations of the Christian religion.

If you do not parse the phrases in our founding documents according to the intent of the framers and conditions of the time, you can make those phrases means anything you want.