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.
The suspicion of Muslims (which is understandable given the last year and a half) is perilously close to descending into religious bigotry.
While I think Muslims are wrong in their faith, as an American who believes in the Constitution I think everyone who is agitated about Islam should perhaps try to re-think his/her attitude in light of the Constitution and , if applicable, Christian teachings. People should also understand the practical difficulties of declaring a war on a faith that has one billion people as adherents.
You just buy a parrot, teach it to type "Bush is always right", and save yourself a lot of free time.
dubyaismypresident -- Diplomacy is saying "nice doggy" while looking for a bigger stick.
Take a deeeep breath. Now turn back the clock to 9/11 and assess what's happened since...
Wouldn't you rather spin your equation with a sense of actual history?
I am impressed seeing he never mentioned the name of the ONE true God or Jesus Christ once out loud in public last Christmas season..the moon god is worthy I guess
You -- Danconia55 -- just buy a parrot, teach it to type "Bush is always right wrong", and save yourself a lot of free time.
Classic line. 100% true. I will go on record saying that he knows little about his own religion...what can he possibly know about Islam, other than what the Saudi Royals tell him?
Let's put that to a test. If a "Christian" group is motivated by their religion starts shooting abortion doctors and bombing abortion clinics should all Christians be hunted down and killed?
What I "like" or dislike has nothing to do with the truth. That the Muslim ideology teaching that music, art, sculpture, dance, pet dogs, and a woman's liberty are all evil has nothing to do with what I like, it is pure evil. Why would you support or defend anything which opposes objective reason?
Do you hate music? Do you hate the creative arts? Do you believe women ought to be repressed? Do you believe everyone who has a pet dog is evil?
It is true, American Muslims are not strapping explosives to their bodies, yet, but neither were they blowing up nightclubs in Bali, not so long ago. Give them time, and a little more encouragement, and they will surprise you, but not me.
Naiveté is not a virtue.
Hank
Nor should he be. He's not qualified, for one.
But why does he insist on promoting the religion of Islam but won't witness to the Truth which he claims to believe? He does claim to be Christian, after all. He doesn't seem to hesitate attending Islamic events and preaching the "vitrues" of Islam. As a Christian, he should be a witness for Christ, not Mohammed.
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