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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
Powell is losing support from the Christian right over his words not mine.
161 posted on 12/05/2002 5:57:46 PM PST by TLBSHOW
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To: Sir Gawain
No, how does this Muslim know these statements no longer apply?

That's a good point ---I don't think he should forget what happens to Muslims who try to have their own opinions about the ideology. Salmon Rushdie is one example, they aren't allowed to think for themselves or it's the death penalty.

162 posted on 12/05/2002 5:58:59 PM PST by FITZ
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To: FITZ
Why do we condemn every Nazi for what only some Nazis did? All Nazis didn't murder Jews but we didn't praise their ideology during WWII or even still.

All Germans weren't Nazis, were they? Especially those who were American citizens.

I'm sure some skinheads are the nicest people you could meet but they believe in a certain ideology for a reason so I don't trust any.

Actually, some skinheads are nice, but you're right not to condemn all white people for the actions of a few skinheads.

163 posted on 12/05/2002 6:00:18 PM PST by sinkspur
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Comment #164 Removed by Moderator

To: IronJack
Could you elaborate on the tenets of "mainstream" Islam that separate it from the more murderous factions?

Mainstream Muslims don't murder.

165 posted on 12/05/2002 6:01:44 PM PST by sinkspur
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To: rintense
Sinkspur, your neighbor sounds a LOT like my Muslim friend. And you're right. The Old Testament is filled with passages that are almost identical to the Koran.

This what makes Christianity special is not Old Testament but the New! New Testament replaced or revelealed the hidden intention of the Old.

166 posted on 12/05/2002 6:01:48 PM PST by A. Pole
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To: FreeReign
"My judgement says that he makes nice because is is the commander in chief of a military that is in the process or reorganizing the Muslim world and he is trying to do it in the most bloodless way possible."

And of course the best way to "reorganize the Muslim world" is by engaging in over-the-top smooching of the posteriors of American Muslims at photo-op royales. This in turn (Ssshhh) will lull of course the rest of "Islam World" into a false sense of camraderie with the infidel President Bush.

167 posted on 12/05/2002 6:03:50 PM PST by F16Fighter
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To: FITZ
Salmon Rushdie is one example, they aren't allowed to think for themselves or it's the death penalty.

Salman Rushdie ridiculed specific Iranian mullahs. It was a personal thing, not unlike a "hit" being ordered by the Mafia.

Given some of the things Rushdie has written since, maybe the mullahs were on to something.

168 posted on 12/05/2002 6:03:59 PM PST by sinkspur
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To: sinkspur
Islam, the way it is observed by 98% of Muslims in the world, IS peaceful.

What world are you from, anyway?

The are nearly 70 Muslim countries, with the exception of three or four, they are all totally oppressive. "Well, what about Turkey, or Indonesia, or Jordan," someone invariably asks. These are the best, and none are exactly free capitalist societies, and we know what is going on in Indonesia. (Bali, in case you forgot, and two bombings just today.)

They do not list any of the following: Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, or the Sudan, which are the largest Muslim countries after Indonesia. One only needs to look at the news for any of these countries to observe the daily atrocities and obscene destruction Muslims engage in. Islam is peaceful and cooperative so long as its numbers are relatively small and the adherents are not exceptionally devout. All that changes when they gain power and believe their precious superstitions are being threatened by reason and intelligence. For example, recent events in Nigeria.

Already the Muslims in this country are beginning to be more agressive. Now that GWB and company are convincing them the USA is afraid of them, you can be sure the agression will be stepped up.

Freedom of speech entails an obligation to speak the truth. Those who waffle in this obligation for political reasons are committing treason against the truth. There is no excuse for not identifying I Islam for what it is, the stupidist, most backward, superstitious, culturally deprived and depraved, repressive religion in the world.

Those who defend Islam, whether from a naive belief that Islam really is a peaceful and benign religion with a few dangerous radicals, or from a desire not to offend others, are doing their part to keep millions of people enslaved, impovrished, and ignorant. There is no excuse for promoting an ideology that tyranizes its adherents, oppresses its women and children, and keeps them in slavish superstition. To not speak out loudly and clearly against this gross ignorance masquarading as a religion, is both inhumane and immoral. The greatest benefactors of this day are those who loudly proclaim the ethical evil and intellectual absudities of this corrupt ideology.

That's not you or George Bush, I guess. What does truth matter?

Hank

169 posted on 12/05/2002 6:04:01 PM PST by Hank Kerchief
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To: sinkspur
Even a Muslim will tell you that Islam is more than a religion. Islam is a way of life, a body of law, an all-embracing cultural framework. It's as much a political ideology as it is a religion if not more.

It's fine with me if Bush can successfully redefine Islam for these people but I'm afraid it's not going to work. You have to look inside the Koran for the true definition, Bush isn't even a mullah.

170 posted on 12/05/2002 6:04:37 PM PST by FITZ
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To: TLBSHOW
I'm so sick of hearing Bush say that "Islam is a religion of peace."

It will be a bright and happy day when, instead of a headline that reads "Bush Marks End of Ramadan...", we see a headline that reads "Bush Mocks End of Ramadan..."

Instead of saying "Islam is a religion of peace", let's hear him say "Islam is a religion of piss."

171 posted on 12/05/2002 6:05:16 PM PST by JavaTheHutt
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To: sinkspur
"Why do they have to take some kind of special responsibility because they share a religion that has been bastardized by the Wahabis? Do you take special responsibility for the Klan because you happen to be white?"

That is a very disengenuous comparison, and I find your sanctimony to be ridiculous in the extreme.

Extremist Muslims are committing all these murders IN THE NAME OF THEIR SHARED MUSLIM RELIGION.

Are you saying that they are entitled to remain mum on something that significant, but we are not entitled to resent their silence?

So moderate muslims are are afraid of "people like us?" Well, no wonder! There are Christian zealots running rampant all around the world, planting bombs in their sneakers, strapping bombs on their teenagers, firing missiles into airliners, enabling terrorist cells from within their churches, flying airliners into buildings, planting bombs in teenage discos, holding public celebrations in the streets over 3000 cold-blooded murders, and calling for the murder of all the rest of the non-believers.

Hell, I'd be scared of us too!

172 posted on 12/05/2002 6:06:31 PM PST by Darling Lili
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To: JavaTheHutt
LOL!
173 posted on 12/05/2002 6:06:56 PM PST by Joe Hadenuf
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To: A. Pole
New Testament replaced or revelealed the hidden intention of the Old.

You know that because you're Christian (I presume).

A Muslim reading the Bible might think we're a bunch of savages because the Old Testament commands followers of God to stone adulterers.

See how this works when you're on the outside looking in?

174 posted on 12/05/2002 6:06:59 PM PST by sinkspur
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To: rintense
No, I am indicating that the radicals are in the majority, and that the majority of Muslim ARE peaceful people.

You did say you thought there were not enough moderate Muslims to check the radicals. Your statement above tells us all that you believe Muslim radicals are in the majority and are peacful people. You seem quite confused to me; or perhaps the confusion is mine and you can help me understand what exactly you are saying.

I don't have to justify what the President does.

I never asked you to justify the Bush kid's actions, only your support of such political maneuvers.

175 posted on 12/05/2002 6:08:26 PM PST by eskimo
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To: Hank Kerchief
What exactly would you have Bush say about Islam, and what policies should he adopt. I know it might introduce some complexity into the equation, but sometimes the carrot and the stick approach, surgically applied, might get one closer to where one wants to go than just venting, even if it is true that Islam as currently practiced and structured has many disagreeable elements in far too many places among too many. But then so does the French and German cultures these days. Let's bash them too. So many to bash, and so little time.
176 posted on 12/05/2002 6:09:11 PM PST by Torie
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To: Hank Kerchief
Already the Muslims in this country are beginning to be more agressive.

Hank, which end of the turkey did you eat last Thursday?

Give us some evidence that American Muslims are "beginning to be more aggressive."

177 posted on 12/05/2002 6:09:16 PM PST by sinkspur
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To: FITZ
As far as I know Spain is the only country that was ever able to shake itself loose of Islam

Serbia, Greece, ,Hungary, Russia (Mongols/Tartars ruling over, became Muslim) did it too. Bulgarians, Armenians and Georgians were liberated with Russian help.

178 posted on 12/05/2002 6:11:05 PM PST by A. Pole
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To: All

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179 posted on 12/05/2002 6:11:28 PM PST by Bob J
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To: Darling Lili
I've actually talked with Nigerians about Muslims ---and Hindus. There's no way they think they're a peace-loving bunch.
180 posted on 12/05/2002 6:11:29 PM PST by FITZ
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