Powell attacks Christian right

Guardian ^ | Friday November 15, 2002 | Oliver Burkeman

[nickcarraway]

Colin Powell, the US secretary of state, condemned America's Christian right yesterday for propagating hatred against Muslims, in what appeared to be a coordinated White House campaign to confront anti-Islamic rhetoric from a constituency that includes some of the Bush administration's staunchest supporters. Days after the televangelist Pat Robertson said on his Christian Broadcasting Network that "what the Muslims want to do to the Jews is worse" than the Holocaust, Mr Powell told a gathering in Washington: "This kind of hatred must be rejected."

The escalation in anti-Muslim comments from conservative Christians includes a recent claim by Jerry Falwell, the country's leading rightwing Baptist, that the prophet Mohammed was "a terrorist".

Veteran evangelist Jimmy Swaggart followed that this week by calling Mohammed a "sex deviant" and a pervert and demanding that Muslim students in the US be expelled. "We ought to tell every other Muslim living in this nation that if you say one word, you're gone," he said.

As the likelihood grows of a war in Iraq there are strategic benefits for the White House in convincing Muslims that it would not be a war against their religion.

The administration's increased willingness to confront the Christian right reflects the Republicans' sweeping victories in last week's mid-term elections, reducing Mr Bush's reliance on the extreme fringes of his supporter base.

[Uncle Miltie]

A dispassionate review of actions by Arabs against Jews over the last 60 years indicates that expulsion is their minimum objective, and extermination is their maximum objective. In that way, they are merely ineffectively Hitlerian.

Sorry Colin.

[PhiKapMom]

I consider myself a Christian and Conservative Republican but I sure don't appreciate Robertson, Falwell, and Swaggart and their rhetoric that doesn't quit against all Muslims.

We have Muslims in my community that are as supportive of the United States as anyone else here. You don't tar and feather a whole religious group for the actions of some rogue people who use the religion as a shield for what they are doing.

This reminds me of the Clinton's attack on white males because a very, very small portion of them were militia members. They tarred and feathered a whole group of white males with their comments. Or how about their comments about conservative talk radio as hate radio and all conservatives as members of the vast right wing conspiracy.

[2timothy3.16]

I would like to remind secretary powell and President Bush that it was not muslims that put him over the top on Nov. 5th, it was the Christian Right!

[Dialup Llama]

>We have Muslims in my community that are as supportive of the United States as anyone else here.

Hmmm. Not really. If you press them on it, they have devotion to a theoretical United Islamic States (under Sharia) but wish to destroy the society you and I live in (literally).

[Uncle Miltie]

"We have Muslims in my community that are as supportive of the United States as anyone else here."

PLEASE have them appear in public saying they oppose terrorism. I constantly sift news reports looking for any muslim willing to unequivocally condemn terrorism, and I've found about three since 9/11/01.

I don't doubt your veracity (I respect your regular posts), but the muslim community is virtually silent in opposing terror, allowing terror supporters to define the religion.

[ChadsDad]

"what the Muslims want to do to the Jews is worse" than the Holocaust, Mr Powell told a gathering in Washington: "This kind of hatred must be rejected."

Mr. Powell is right, the kind of hatred these muslims retain must be rejected.

[clintonh8r]

Which muslim leaders have unconditionally, publicly and consistently condemned militant islam and its adherants; have called for secular regimes to replace islamic governments; have supported Israel's right to statehood and have endorsed the possible war against Iraq? Until that happens I consider islam to be the enemy. I guess you still believe it's the "religion of peace."

[thinktwice]

You can read about the muslim group behind terrorism -- the Wahhabi-Saudi conspiracy -- at click here.

But hatred for Israel is more widespread amongst muslims, and that insidious disease -- hatred -- needs to be recognized for what it is.

[PhiKapMom]

You are wrong! I see these people day in and day out here and they are just as American as I am. They were not born here but so a lot of people were not born here and are American.

You cannot tell me what I know to be true! They are not out to change my way of life and I resent your statement when you don't even know these people!

That's the problem which I stated -- you cannot say an entire group of people are to blame for most bad things that happen -- blame the people that are guilty but don't condemn everyone.

Were all Germans to blame when it came to Hitler? How about the Germans in this Country?

Are all white conservative Southern guys KKK supporters? Of course not!

See how ludicrous it is blame an entire group of people because of the actions of some members that use the religion or anything else like a hood as a shield!

[litehaus]

RIGHT! What makes Christians think THEY are deserving of the same rights as others! ;^)

[steve50]

Swaggert calls someone a sexual deviant?

[joesnuffy]

To speak the truth is not hate...regardless of who starts whinning about it or how much money they have to spread to politicans who will do their bidding..

[aimhigh]

Muslims are usually nice when they are the minority. Show me any majority Islamic country that doesn't persecute minority religions. Explain why Hitler's Mein Kampf is the #1 best selling book in Arab countries. Explain why zero Muslims side with Israel's right to exist.

When they say, "Islam is Peace", they are defining peace, not Islam.

[Angelus Errare]

"I constantly sift news reports looking for any muslim willing to unequivocally condemn terrorism, and I've found about three since 9/11/01."

Here's some more:

Mufti of Chechnya refutes "pseudo-mujahideen" (compilation of articles)

Refute Against the "Wahhabi Cult"

Refute of the Wahhabi Jihad in Chechnya

Fatwa against the Nation of Islam

Further Repudiation of Wahhabism

Enjoy

[PhiKapMom]

Someone told me recently that I probably don't belong on this forum and I am beginning to think they may be right.

The hatred I see on here against others that is reflected by these religious leaders goes beyond my comprehension.

Timoty McVeigh was a white milita member that helped blow up the Murrah Building in a city north of where I live. He was a Vietnam Vet who had hate because of Waco (I guess), so he used Waco as an excuse to kill innocent people including children. I found that ludicrous and was disgusted when clinton blamed white male conservatives and talk radio.

Now we have members of a religious faith using that faith as a shield to go out and terrorize the Israeli's and right here in this Country fly into buildings and kill people. Does that make every members of the Islamic faith responsible? Where in the Koran does it say to commit acts of terrorism on people that did absolutely nothing to you.

These people that are terrorists use their religion. I cannot speak for the leaders because I think they are dead wrong in not condemning members of their religion that are terrorists, but I can also say that I am disappointed in Christian religious leaders giving such hate filled speech and what does it gain. Come out and condemn the terrorists not the entire religion. Not to mention Swaggart has the credibility of a knat!

[PhiKapMom]

My sentiments exactly on Swaggart!

[meandog]

Veteran evangelist Jimmy Swaggart followed that this week by calling Mohammed a "sex deviant" and a pervert and demanding that Muslim students in the US be expelled. "We ought to tell every other Muslim living in this nation that if you say one word, you're gone," he said.

Jerry, Pat and Jimmy three peas in a pod! (MATT 15:5 "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees")

[sonofron]

i venture to say that the least amount of muslims in the US the better the christians and jews are off here(better for even atheists). who knows which ones are good or bad? the fact is, with the good come the bad, and well, i'd rather not have the good if i have to have the bad too. I must also add, that muslims in the US have it pretty good, better than any christian in a country where islam is dominant. colin, don't bite the hand that feeds you.

"Jerry Falwell, the country's leading rightwing Baptist, that the prophet Mohammed was "a terrorist".

muhammud and his follower conquered the middle east with the sword, making christians and jews second class citizens. sounds like a terrorist to me.

"Pat Robertson said on his Christian Broadcasting Network that "what the Muslims want to do to the Jews is worse" than the Holocaust, "

hmm, which muslim country in the middle east has not tried to exterminate isreal in the past? still computing...

"Veteran evangelist Jimmy Swaggart followed that this week by calling Mohammed a "sex deviant" and a pervert and demanding that Muslim students in the US be expelled. "We ought to tell every other Muslim living in this nation that if you say one word, you're gone," he said"

I don't know much about mohammed's personal life. i personally favor a reduction of muslim students (remember how many so called "students" helped in 9/11), but i disagree with him on the muslims who are citizens, can't go kicking people out like that.

Seems to me like the majortiy of the comments quoted by this article are stretching the "hate speech" criteria.

[Minutemen]

I posted this very comment about President Bushs'view on this matter the other day. I shall now edit it and direct it to Colin Powell:

"This issue is where Dubya (Tex?) BushCOLIN POWELL and I part ways. The Christian Right has the right to believe what they want (and I wholly agree with them) Come on Mr. PresidentPOWELL, quit coddling the Islamo-fascists, wake up and smell the camel dung!!