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Bush Marks End of Ramadan, Visits Mosque (Islam brings hope and comfort)
ap ^ | 12/5/2002 | SCOTT LINDLAW

Posted on 12/05/2002 3:37:52 PM PST by TLBSHOW

By SCOTT LINDLAW, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - With Muslims worldwide growing more suspicious of the United States, President Bush (news - web sites) marked the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan with a visit Thursday to a mosque.

"The spirit behind this holiday is a reminder that Islam brings hope and comfort to more than 1 billion people worldwide," Bush said. "Islam affirms God's justice and insists on man's moral responsibility."

Bush left his shoes at the door, in keeping with the practice of the Islamic Center of Washington, a national center for Muslim culture and prayer. He also had visited six days after the terrorist attacks last year.

Back then, with a surge in hate crimes against Muslims in the United States, Bush was trying to defuse Americans' anger against Islam. Today, he has a different problem — increased hostility by Muslims around the world against America.

In an international survey released Wednesday, the Pew Global Attitudes Project found the image of the United States is slipping worldwide, and particularly in Middle Eastern countries with large Muslim populations. Large percentages of Muslim respondents in several countries said they believe suicide bomb attacks are a justifiable defense of Islam.

On Wednesday, Bush blamed America's tarnished image among Muslims on "propaganda machines (that) are cranked up in the international community that paints our country in a bad light."

The growing animosity comes at a time when Bush is trying to rally the world against terrorism and gather allies for possible military action against Iraq.

Inside the ornate mosque, Bush offered an explanation of the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, and renewed his defense of Islam.

Bush's speech was directed to a national and international audience. There was virtually no one inside except journalists and his staff. A few mosque officials stood next to Bush as he spoke.

"Over the past month, Muslims have fasted, taking no food or water during daylight hours, in order to refocus their minds on faith and redirect their hearts to charity," Bush said.

"Muslims worldwide have stretched out a hand of mercy to those in need, charity tables at which the poor can break their fast line the streets of cities and towns, and gifts of food and clothing and money are distributed to ensure that all share in God's abundance," he said.

From the Muslim event, Bush officially opened the Christmas season at the White House by lighting a Christmas tree just outside the gates.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bush; islam; muslims; terrorist
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To: rintense
I suspect that even if every moderate Muslims condemned the radicals, it wouldn't be enough.

You seem to be indicating that Muslim radicals are the majority.

How then can you justify your support of the Bush kid's political maneuver in defining that group as peaceful?

121 posted on 12/05/2002 5:24:29 PM PST by eskimo
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To: sinkspur
SHOW, having seen a picture of you, I can understand how you would take the destruction of a McDonald's as a violation of the sacred!

That post of yours is the kind of posts I get from the likes of William Pitt.
122 posted on 12/05/2002 5:26:13 PM PST by TLBSHOW
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To: sinkspur
Is he lying? Islam, the way it is observed by 98% of Muslims in the world, IS peaceful.

Two percent of population being soldiers is more than sufficient. For example American army is less than 5 million.

123 posted on 12/05/2002 5:28:08 PM PST by A. Pole
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To: sinkspur
One of them told me that these statements are "Medina statements," which are meant for a specific place and time that has already passed.

Source?

124 posted on 12/05/2002 5:28:16 PM PST by Sir Gawain
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To: Sir Gawain

No, it's a valid point..

There are passages where the Jews are told to kill men, women and children.. even the animals of their enemy.

In the hands of a skilled propagandist that kind of thing can be used to incite hatred. That's why you see these guy's hitching their cart to Islam's horse.

Repeating the violent stuff only makes their point for them.

Their sermon is being delivered in absentia and credibility is being given to Osama's claim that all of Islam is being targeted by "the infidels" In short: You are carrying Osama's water on this.

125 posted on 12/05/2002 5:28:28 PM PST by Jhoffa_
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To: TLBSHOW
I love ya, SHOW. You know that.

Don't follow the herd in condemning every Muslim over the actions of a few.

126 posted on 12/05/2002 5:29:12 PM PST by sinkspur
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To: rovenstinez
And Bush also needs to go to meet the heirs of Anton Levay and take part in the various animal sacrifices the Satanists give. Bush after all, is a friend to all 'religions of peace' - especially ones that slaughter Americans and skin Christians alive.
127 posted on 12/05/2002 5:29:55 PM PST by fogarty
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To: All
Politically correct terrorism




© 2001 WorldNetDaily.com


America is in danger of losing this war.

But not because of any lack of military might or intelligence capability, nor even because of any unwillingness to sustain grievous human and financial losses.

No, America is in danger of losing this war because of political correctness.

Answer me this: If we can't identify who the enemy is – and, in fact, refuse to do so – haven't we lost already? http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=24704

128 posted on 12/05/2002 5:30:24 PM PST by TLBSHOW
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To: Jhoffa_
If that's the case, why did Christians not turn out the same for reading the Old Testament as these Muslims have for reading the Koran?
129 posted on 12/05/2002 5:31:35 PM PST by Sir Gawain
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To: Sir Gawain
I asked my Muslim friend about the exact versus you quote from the Koran. She said that the Muslims she knows understand that it was written long ago and applied to times back then- not now. She said in her Mosque, no one believes these passgaes apply to modern times.
130 posted on 12/05/2002 5:32:13 PM PST by rintense
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To: Sir Gawain
Source?

I gave you the source. It's my practicing Muslim neighbor.

It makes sense to me. That's why he ignores the bullshit about "killing infidels."

It's why Christians ignore the specific commands that God gave the Jews in the Old Testament.

They don't apply to us, any more.

131 posted on 12/05/2002 5:32:37 PM PST by sinkspur
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To: Sir Gawain

By the same token, why haven't all Muslims realized Osama is right and joined in his Jihad?

132 posted on 12/05/2002 5:33:48 PM PST by Jhoffa_
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To: eskimo
No, I am indicating that the radicals are in the majority, and that the majority of Muslim ARE peaceful people.

I don't have to justify what the President does. I know what I believe based on my own life experiences with Muslim friends, just as I know that all Christians aren't perfect either. He could believe as you do and I would disagree with him.

Just so happens that I agree with him on this issue.

133 posted on 12/05/2002 5:34:48 PM PST by rintense
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To: rintense
She said that the Muslims she knows understand that it was written long ago and applied to times back then- not now. She said in her Mosque, no one believes these passgaes apply to modern times.

Sounds like some Christians that pick and choose which passages to ignore.

134 posted on 12/05/2002 5:34:52 PM PST by Sir Gawain
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To: TLBSHOW
Shades of Neville Chamberlain!
135 posted on 12/05/2002 5:35:12 PM PST by Mortimer Snavely
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To: sinkspur
"If foreign Muslims try to take over America, you can bet that there will be LOTS of American Muslims right alongside you and me, fighting for the American way of life."

First of all, "foreign Muslims" ARE trying to take over from within. There are numerous reports of foreign and American Muslims, incuding leadership, of supporting radical Islam in some manner. The authorities are detaining them regularly. A number of Mosques are on the radar screen of late...and we know what some of the Mosques are teaching.

Secondly, it seems the Muslim religion is loyal first to other Muslims around the world and then to their home country. As evil, corrupt, and imperialistic as the Iraqui regime is, daily we see Muslims around the planet rail against our coming war with Saddam simply because it is an Islamic nation. What makes you think there is not a significant number of American Muslims who feel the same way.

Thirdly, at the very least, Islam is mysoginistic which I find abhorrent and savage. I love and respect women and HATE the way they're treated by the Islamic men. They are not lesser beings than men, as the Koran so often points out and the men practice.

Lastly, I agree with President Bush's actions. What a huge mistake it would be to further inflame resentment towards the Muslim population. It will build on its own, unfortunately.

136 posted on 12/05/2002 5:35:30 PM PST by A Navy Vet
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To: Jhoffa_
Well Said Right Here!!!!!

In the hands of a skilled propagandist that kind of thing can be used to incite hatred.

Nail, Head, and all that .......Well Done Jhoffa........
137 posted on 12/05/2002 5:35:31 PM PST by cmsgop
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To: TLBSHOW
You still have not quoted WORD FOR WORD what you accused Powell of saying.
138 posted on 12/05/2002 5:35:34 PM PST by rintense
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To: Sir Gawain

Well, WTF?

You want to kill the Jihadders and then condemn the rest for not helping them?

What the hell kinda logic is that?

139 posted on 12/05/2002 5:36:52 PM PST by Jhoffa_
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To: sinkspur
I gave you the source. It's my practicing Muslim neighbor.

It makes sense to me. That's why he ignores the bullshit about "killing infidels."

It's why Christians ignore the specific commands that God gave the Jews in the Old Testament.

They don't apply to us, any more.

No, how does this Muslim know these statements no longer apply? Anyone with any common sense can read the OT and see who and what God is talking about when He is giving commands. The statements in the Koran are in the general sense, so where are the context clues that show it was talking about a specific situation?

140 posted on 12/05/2002 5:37:23 PM PST by Sir Gawain
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