Franklin Graham defends comments on Islam(He would not call Islam a "wonderful, peaceful religion,")

startribune ^ | 11/24/2001 | Martha Sawyer Allen

[KQQL]

The Rev. Franklin Graham said in Minneapolis this week that he is concerned with the way Islamic law is enforced in several countries, and not with the people or the faith itself.

He spoke at a news conference in Minneapolis, where he had come to talk with Billy Graham Evangelistic Association employees about the headquarters' move to North Carolina. He also answered questions about his recent comments that have angered Muslims.

[RLK]

Islam is a corrupt neurotic abomination that temporarily preaches tolerance when it is forced to for tactical reasons, but imposes itself ruthlessly when it has the upper hand.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Go Franklin, Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dialup Llama]

>The Council on American-Islamic Relations wants a face-to-face meeting with Graham to teach him about the faith

Sort of sounds like a 'veiled' threat?

>We have found that negative impressions of Islam are most often based on a lack of accurate and objective information

Many negative impressions about Islam were formed by two planes flying into buildings in NYC.

[Dakota gal in Seattle]

Peace comes from God; from believing in Him. We know it. They try.

[pollywog]

YES.....here is a MAN WITH GUTS!!! GOD BLESS YOU FRANKLIN !!

[Republic of Texas]

Thank GOD for Franklin Graham.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Many negative impressions about Islam were formed by two planes flying into buildings in NYC.

I had negative impressions of Islam prior to that incident, dating back several years. What made a bigger negative impression was the almost complete silence from the Moslem leadership both Stateside and abroad regarding the situation. Most of what I heard sounded like "yes, it was a bad thing, but..." Followed by tripe about American foreign policy, Zionism and the like. Never a full condemnation, merely an excuse.

[The Bard]

I pray Rev. Franklin Graham keeps getting the message out. Too many others have "changed their story" after taking a similair stand....

[KQQL]

In 1971 a church was built with private donations, and on July 17, 1973, the king ordered the destruction of that church. They bulldozed it. There is no church in all of Afghanistan.

What did he get out of destroying the only Church in Afgan?
NADA!

No wonder these Afgan morons haven't had peace since 1973 and now are straving.

Allah gives you nothing , but 72 goats .

[KQQL]

In 1971 a church was built with private donations, and on July 17, 1973, the king ordered the destruction of that church. They bulldozed it. There is no church in all of Afghanistan.

What did he get out of destroying the only Church in Afgan?
NADA!

No wonder these Afgan morons haven't had peace since 1973 and now are straving.

Allah gives you nothing , but 72 goats .

[maranatha]

A true man of God; I knew he would not back down. He'll speak the truth. If they keep badgering him they may get a lot more from him than he has already said, straight from the Word of God.

[cookcounty]

"The Council on American-Islamic Relations wants a face-to-face meeting with Graham to teach him about the faith."

Has the Council sat down Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hizbollah, Laskar Islam etc. to teach THEM about "the faith? WHY NOT?

[mathurine]

But virgin goats, perhaps.

[mathurine]

After you die uselessly and stupidly enough, of course.

[maranatha]

Excellent question. Maybe the council should get a lot of mail asking them to explain why they haven't.

[VeganFreeper]

I would suggest to you that Graham is changing his story. Instead of defending his initial statements about Islam he changes the subject by critisizing the living conditions that exist wherever Islamic law is the "law of the land".

Why? His initial position was political suicide. His secondary position is more acceptable. He's back-pedalling as fast as he can, in my opinion.

[EternalVigilance]

Most of what I heard sounded like "yes, it was a bad thing, but..."

Yeah. I learned a long time ago that generally if people use the word 'but', it cancels out everything that went before that word.

[Ymani Cricket]

Has the Council sat down Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hizbollah, Laskar Islam etc. to teach THEM about "the faith? WHY NOT?

Yes, good point. Why doesn't the Islamic Council sit down and teach those groups about "peaceful" Islam?

[calmseas]

Nothing wrong with either being honest or speaking the truth.