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.
Yeah, the same fellow American citizens who happen to be Muslim and tell you to your face, "I like you, you're my friend, but when the revolution starts, I won't hesitate to kill you." (a quote from a soldier in my unit who was a fellow American citizen who happened to be Muslim)
#133
See how this works when you're on the outside looking in?"
O course, if he read the New Testament, which better reflects Christianity, he'd read about Jesus Christ challenging those who have not sinned to cast the first stone.
Any mention of Jesus Christ by any chance?
I wonder if the G W Bush will have the courage to declare that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and the only way to true peace with God. This is what Christ called all His followers to declare, and God has put Bush in a position that gives him the opportunity to be a tremendous witness for the Truth.
Let's pray he is not ashamed of the Gospel, but uses the opportunity God has given him to boldly declare the Good News--the Truth.
That responsibility is certainly heaped upon every white person in this country. White man's burden.
They're not remaining mum. You want them to denounce, and denounce, and denounce, and denounce, every day, all day, all the time.
American Muslims have not been silent, Lili. They really haven't.
What American Muslims have done the things you rave about in your last paragraph?
Extremist Muslims are committing all these murders IN THE NAME OF THEIR SHARED MUSLIM RELIGION.
No they're not. They're hijacking Islam to justify a POLITICAL AGENDA.
Kinda like the rest of the Koran that teaches Muslims to be peaceful and not seek war.
Then aren't they in violation of their faith?
No. Pat Robertson said that GW shouldn't be the "First Theologian."
No, I am indicating that the radicals are NOT in the majority, and that the majority of Muslims ARE peaceful people.
That was my mistake. Sorry for the confusion.
First Muslims are not permitted to read the Bible, as Muhammad told them that Bible is distorted and that Koran contains the all truth. Second if a Muslim reads Bible anyway, he will see that New Testament contains a new message.
See how this works when you're on the outside looking in?
Assuming that you ARE looking at all! If you do not look, you will see nothing, but if you do, you will see supreme wisdom of Jesus Christ, even from outside. Let a skeptical person read Koran and New Testament and compares them both. The texts will speak for themselves.
I hope I'm wrong.I can only go by what I repeatedly read and the silence of the American Muslim community at large is deafening. And I don't believe for a second that any real concerted effort to show solidarity is being suppressed by the media, as mentioned in this thread. The media has shown a bias TOWARDS Islam. Face it, if this were an element of Christianity or Judaeism commiting these atrocities around the world in the name of God, Christians and Jews would be outraged and let the world know, in mass (no pun intended).
"Come on. You can't be that naive. Just tonight, Saudi Arabia, one of the biggest objectors to any war against Hussein said that we could use their large air base in a war against Hussein. In fact, FOXNEWS said that it is likely that Bush will have more Arab nations on board in a coalition than his dad did in 1991. So much for "Arabs railing against a war against Iraq."
And you can't be so naive as to not realize they've been bought off, not to mention that they see Pres. Bush is no clinton and may target them next.
You're talking about the leaders of these corrupt regimes who do what they have to to stay in power or line their pockets. I'm talking about the rank and file Muslims, including countless clerics, who are in the media almost daily condemning the US for heading towards war with another Islamic country.
Look, I'm not a nuke'em all guy, but I have eyes and ears and am slowly learning a distrust and distaste for Islam and the majority who practice it. There may many Westernized Muslims in America, but it's becoming obvious that we're growing our own terrorist Islamists right here. The moderates should get off their rears and do something before the next large scale attack. It may be too late then.
Ask one. Talk to a Muslim, Jack. It might do you some good.
I would be impressed instead of depressed if instead of continuing this charade, Bush attended a Christian service in Saudi Arabia.
Televise the Christian church and everything.
Fat chance of that don't you think! But it would be a start!
Christians are hateful and bigots says Powell.
65 posted on 12/05/2002 7:45 PM EST by TLBSHOW
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Again, I ask you, where did Powell say those specific words. Or are you just spinning?
And a Christian once told me that unless you were Church of Christ, you were going to burn in hell.
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