Posted on 09/01/2006 6:04:17 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
(AP) ROSEMONT, Ill -- The newly elected head of the largest Muslim group in North America called President Bush's recasting of the war on terror as a "war against Islamic fascism" inaccurate and not helpful to people of her faith.
Ingrid Mattson, the first woman president of the Islamic Society of North America, said Friday that labeling terrorism as "Islamic" only adds to a misunderstanding of the religion.
Mattson acknowledged that terrorist groups "do misuse and use Islamic concepts and terms to justify their violence."
"But I think that when we then bestow that term upon them we only make the situation worse and somehow give validity to their claims which we need to deny and reject," she said at the opening of the group's 43rd annual convention.
Bush and other Republicans have been using the wording in recent speeches. White House aides and outside Republican strategists have said the new term is an attempt to more clearly identify the ideology that motivates many organized terrorist groups.
"I'm convinced that it is not only inaccurate, but unhelpful," she said. "If our major concern is security, security of this country, this is a term that has very bad resonance in the Muslim majority world and makes us feel uncomfortable here."
Mattson said her group would argue to eliminate the use of the phrase. U.S. officials, including Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, are attending the meeting.
"We're hoping that there can be some adjustment to this language and we're trying to voice that opinion to those who have been using this, circulating this term," she said.
England did not address the issue during a Friday afternoon panel, but said American Muslims will play an important role as the Pentagon improves its training of the military on Islamic culture.
"They understand their culture, obviously, much better than we do," England said. "We have not done a very good job in the past and we need to do better."
He also called on Muslim Americans to spread to the world the word about freedom, citing the success of Muslim businesspeople and professionals in the United States.
The Islamic Society drew its own fire for inviting former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, who is expected to address the convention Saturday.
"Khatami ... behaved as an enemy of America and our most cherished values," said Jay Tcath, vice president of the Chicago Jewish Federation in a statement. "It is disturbing that any American organization would honor him by providing such an important platform."
Tcath said American Jews remember "the egregious 1999 imprisonment and circus trial of 13 Iranian Jews on trumped-up charges of espionage for Israel," which happened under Khatami's presidency.
Mattson said the group hopes to show Khatami "how the American Muslim community has dealt with issues of religious freedom and tolerance and perhaps he can carry some of that message back."
Khatami, whose receipt of a visa was announced this week by the State Department, also plans to attend a U.N. conference in New York and to speak on religion's role in promoting peace at the Washington National Cathedral during his trip to the United States.
The Islamic Society's four-day meeting is expected to draw more than 30,000 Muslims from Canada and around the United States for mostly nonpolitical sessions on subjects including retirement planning, Internet marketing, home schooling and dating.
No. I've been 'locked & loaded' since 9-11-01, BTW. better to do so for your and yours' protection, IMO. You're in good company, here, MD.
I wish could italicize all of your comments. Atheists, IMO, are notoriously intelligent and informed.
But on to my point, your use of "imposition" is correct. Christians desire certain things for others and the government..they do not Impose!
Imposition is Gods territory, prayer belongs to the Christian. Dubya, right or wrong in human eyes..seeks the will of God.
When an atheist understands the difference between the Christian will and the Islamic will..I see hope for this Country!
It matters not if we believe in the Christian God or the god of Islam..what matters is which belief and resultant PRACTICES will prevail. This is a Religious war, no matter if we have "religion" or not.
She's a trojan horse used to give Islam a moderate face, while the males continue the violent take over of the west by Islam. This is what we are going to see from now on. White women with non muslim names who have converted and were born in the west will be made the spokesman for islamic organizations to make it appear more moderate. All part of the plan. Put a soft face on the murder cult of death.
Sorry bitch, but if using the term Islamic facists are wrong, how come the Hezbollah army goose-steps and uses the nazi salute? How come muslims always scream "allah akbar" before they kill?
Me neither, R!
Wow, I'm impressed. Not much to add to that.
But that's what I wrote--the whole POINT of my post was that Christians DON'T impose these things.
Just agreeing Darkwolf! I did not want to..but I did.
I was double-amazed that an atheists saw that, Really.
I know you don't need my approval but, Dang! You are one smart cookie!
I'm in a "mood." LOL
Does the Koran teach peace and love toward infidels?
You're alright by me.
Sorry for the mix-up. Going to get my contacts...
Hey, if it still bugs you to agree with me, look at it this way--from your point of view, even if I don't believe in God, He still made me, so I can't be all bad, right? ;)
You are so right, Proud_USA. And just wait til the first Hollywood type converts and starts spreading the word...
I feel like it's coming, I really do.
BTW-If you haven't read PRAYERS FOR THE ASSASSIN by Robert Ferrigno. It envisions what America would be like should we continue down this appeasement/head in the sand approach. (This would be a good weekend to do so, what with Ernesto and all. It's a good beach/plane read too. ;^)
Cheers - Dinah
And the guilt-ridden Arabists at Foggy Bottom send a flunky with sincere apologies. It may take a couple of generations, folks, before the ruling elites of the West admit or realize, take your pick, that we're being conquered by Islam, just like we were 500 years ago, only semi-peacefully this time and without resistance from our side. By then, it'll be too late.
I don't know that your agreement bugs me, I am just confused by your agreement. I did not know atheists could see the value in belief of God
I believe that God did make you. I believe that God knows us all beginning to end, before we are even born. Every decision, every problem..every outcome.
Like I said, most atheists are extremely intelligent. LOGICAL. And logic has its place.
Of course God made you! (IMO) bad or good. My personal opinion is that you are good..if not, wouldn't my God tell me?
"'I'm convinced that it is not only inaccurate, but unhelpful,' she said. 'If our major concern is security, security of this country, this is a term that has very bad resonance in the Muslim majority world and makes us feel uncomfortable here.'
Mattson said her group would argue to eliminate the use of the phrase. U.S. officials, including Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, are attending the meeting."
Oh cry me a river. If you don't like the term, do something about it like reading the Koran in a bit more detail. Islamofascists are just interpreting their book correctly. If the "moderate" don't like the term, let them get alternative sources of funding for their mosques and start weeding out the "few extremists" corrupting the "religion of peace." I can't stand it anymore.
She's just the whiter than white happy face the Muhammad cult can present to gullible Westerners. See we are European too, not all pissed off wogs
They are wrong. evil. They are a scourge in this country.
they can pound sand for all I care..or eat sheet.
I will NOT trust the enemy, Even if the enemy puts a benign, womanly, face on its evil
This woman is a ploy, a subterfuge. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Was she speaking through that little peek-a-boo window in her blanket?
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