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.
I guess I am just a "something" who wants to preserve our constitutional republic.
True. A Muslim that tries to leave gets a death penalty placed on him. So much for tolerance or peace.
She is lying to you. Muslims love to lie, especially to infidels.
Scary.
Sickening.
The local Seattle islam & 'palestinian' terror front in the form of muslim Jafar Siddiqui, equates 'palestinian' suicide bombers with the U.S. Government.
Here's this muslim's reasoning:
Terrorism is the killing of innocent civilians. When the Israelis kill Mr. Hamas who killed dozens of Jews with nail bombs and the family Mr. Hamas is hiding behind die, the Israelis are guilty of terrorism. Since the US funds and supports the Israelis and the Israelis use AMERICAN Cat D-9's, AMERICAN Apaches, and AMERICAN F-16s, the US government is equally guilty of terrorism.
Jafar Siddiqui gives press conferences with the fbi & federal prosecutors and says he "denounces terrorism" and then with a barely perceptable smirk, continues "I denounce all terrorism." And now you know the rest of the story.
I'm not sure who you are referring to when you say 'each'. The Saudis can sure go to (and burn in) hell, if they continue to sneak around like this! So can any muslim unwilling to stand up to, and against, their misguided, brainwashed brothers and sisters.
Yes, there are non-violent Muslims; yes, there are moderate Muslims; yes, there are Westernized Muslims. Unfortunately, your list speaks volumns. Interestingly, I haven't seen any reports of late about Christians or Jews funding, coordinating, inacting, or supporting murderous acts against innocent men, women, and children. I'm sorry, but something about this particular religion incites these monsters.
Personally, I call it the "Lazy Man's Guide to Paradise". You can lie, cheat, steal, maim, kill, be intolerant to infidels and still go to Heaven. Little harder for those who have to be tolerant and follow civilized behaviors for entry.
I see. You approve. The Muslims feel the same way about infidels and they also are against abortion and see the west as promoting it along with sex, drugs, alcohol and all sin in general. Just like the Muslims say, we do not condone terrorism but...... Many Christians say I don't condone killing abortion doctors but........
Wrong, Turkey does not as - in the last decades Turks purged the remains of previously numerous Christian Greek population - the original ihabitants of Asia Minor. I will not mention Armenians. In Jordan the ancient Christian population (predating the Islam) is shrinking slowly. In Egypt faster and in large areas of North Africa (where Saint Augustine lived) no Christians are to be found anymore.
The main remaining Christian groops are Copts (who became a minority in their native country long the ago and are loosing their share in population. Jordianian/Palestian Christians shrinking too, Christians in Syria and Iraq who have the most rights in Muslim world and last but not the least the Lebanese Christians who were the majority well into the middle of XXc
One suspects you're easily fooled.
I think Bush goes too far in affirming the legitimacy of Islam. Here is some more.
Here is a quote from a Bush speech to the U.N. in 2001.
They [the terrorists] dare to ask God's blessing as they set out to kill innocent men, women and children. But the God of Isaac and Ishmael would never answer such a prayer.
This indicates that the God of Islam and the Jehovah God of the Bible and Christianity are the same.
Clearly Bush is a Christian. But I think he is wrong here. A simple affirmation/warning that we should be tolerant and peaceful to peace-loving Muslims is all that is needed. Participating in their religious ceremonies, holding them up as a desirable and true faith, is simple wrong for a Christian or anyone else.
That is all I am saying.
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