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.
"People should also understand the practical difficulties of declaring a war on a faith that has one billion people as adherents."
I hardly think that asking for more public condemnation, and showing more public support of the country who affords them the wonderful freedoms they enjoy, is hardly "perilously close to descending into religious bigotry" or "declaring war on a faith."
By the way, an interesting tidbit from NRO yesterday...
"For in the grand statistical overview of the present day world, Islam is expanding by its birth-rate alone, it is not making many converts; whereas, paradoxically, it is Christianity that is now spreading like wildfires from many different centres in the Third World, both by birth-rate and by conversion."
The Coming Islamic Implosion
(halfway down the page)
Well since we are questioning the president's religious convictions let's test yours. Do you believe as the Muslims believe that each are destined for hell?
He has done that more than any president in modern history so what you are saying is a lie.
He goes to a Mosque twice a year, and to his Christian Church every Sunday. How is that "promoting the religion of Islam?"
He doesn't seem to hesitate attending Islamic events and preaching the "vitrues" of Islam.
You didn't see the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, did you? He talked about "Him who was born in a humble stable."
To contend that Bush doesn't proclaim his Christianity is laughable. You know better than that.
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?
"...Deeep breath..., turn back the clock....spin your equation...", blah blah.
If your sense of post-9/11 history was actual, why would *not* describe it in your post when trying to make a point?
Your analogies usually make a lot more sense than this drivel. This one is outright goofy.
What is "goofy" about it? Explain.
Do you need a government official, a president telling you that Islam is a great religion, a religion of peace and a source of comfort?
I don't need the government to tell me anything about religion. Why doesn't the president refrain from promoting Islam? Why does he choose to continue to comment on religion--Islam?
All Christians, regardless of their profession or position in life, are called to be witnesses for Christ. The government shouldn't be involved in religion, but Christians in government still can publicly practice their religion as individuals. Now since President Bush has demonstrated his willingness to make public declarations about religion, I don't see why he wouldn't witness to the Truth in which he professses to believe.
What else do you need the government to do for you?
A lot less than they're doing for (to) us now! I wish the government would end it's involvement in prescription drug plans, government schools, etc.
Wait...Give me a minute to set up my babblefish software...
Let's take your example one step further.
I am both Christian and Pro-Life.
Am I honor bound to publicly denounce these people? I mean, do I owe it to society, or their victims or someone to say, take out a newspaper ad to ensure that everyone knows how much I hate them?
And what if I am indifferent to the killing? Does that mean I should be punished along with them, though I wasn't involved?
Even worse, what if I think they did right to kill those abortion doctors because I agree with their interpretation of the religion, but I had no part in their crime. Does the Constitution still protect me?
Curiously enough, I would find that scenario acceptable ;-)
I think you are confusing Muslims with Arabs. In fact, there are more non-Arab Muslims than Arab Muslims, and many Arabs are not Muslims, and do certainly enjoy that music we recognize as Middle Eastern.
The Muslim religion flatly condemns music in the usual sense, and those who endulge their very normal desire to enjoy music are defying Muslims sharia law.
Hank
Perhaps, but assuming the President doesn't know who the enemy is seems a bit condensending to me however.
I have been reading Sun Tzu since I was a teenager, and nowhere in there is there anything about kissing enemy butt.
Right there is noting about kissing enemy butt, but there is a lot about deceiving your enemies, keeping the opponent off balance, creating doubt about your intentions, controlling resources (oil in this case), dividing and conquering... the list goes on. So either the President is a fool or a traitor, or he is waging a war of words as well as the military war.
Your entitled to your opinion, I choose to think that Bush (and Cheney and Rummy) is neither a fool nor a traitor.
But he seems so knowledgable:
"Inside the ornate mosque, Bush offered an explanation of the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan..."I mean, he's obviously an expert. How else could you explain his visit to a mosque to explain to Muslims exactly what it is they are celebrating?
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