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CBS: U.S. Muslims ‘Feel Like Strangers in Their Own Country’

Posted on September 10, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Filling in for anchor Katie Couric on Thursday’s CBS Evening News, Early Show co-host Harry Smith introduced a report on opposition to building mosques in some areas of the country: “…they feel like strangers in their own country, Muslims shocked by the growing opposition to new mosques ….building a mosque has suddenly become a hot-button issue in many communities.” Smith expounded on the cause of the protests: “The furor over plans to burn the Koran and the building of the proposed Islamic center near Ground Zero has had ripple effects all across America.” Correspondent Seth Doane followed by focusing on opposition to a proposed mosque in Tennessee: “About 250 Muslim families live here in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. For decades, they’ve lived in peace and have prayed at a small local mosque. But then trouble started brewing over this site, where they want to expand and build a bigger Islamic center.” Doane described the feelings of one Muslim resident: “[Saleh Sbenaty] says even after September 11th, he didn’t see hatred like this.” Doane added: “Nationwide, more than half a dozen proposed Islamic centers have run into roadblocks, from Temecula, California, to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to the high-profile one near Ground Zero.” He did not explain what those “roadblocks” were. Doane turned to the Sbenaty’s daughter: “Is this really about a building or is it about something bigger?” Dima Sbenaty replied: “It’s about the growing hatred, you know, against Muslims.” Doane warned: “Dima says for the first time she’s scared.” Near the end of the report, Doane cited more evidence of anti-Muslim sentiment in the form of grade school name-calling: “10-year-old Zaid Abuzahra probably had more on his mind than just school. Last week at recess, some bullies learned that he was Muslim.” Abuzahra explained: “This group comes, and starts calling me terrorist, ‘I hear you’re a Muslim. This is America.'” The report included only two brief sound bites of mosque opponents, with Doane portraying them as a radical fringe: “In June, residents packed meetings in protest….And what some call a vocal minority, got louder….A few weeks ago, construction equipment at the site was set on fire, and with that, the arsonists set nerves on edge, too.” Meanwhile, on Thursday’s NBC Nightly News, correspondent Ron Mott also reported on the building of a new mosque in Tennessee, but took a slightly different approach: Last night’s call to prayer outside Memphis was answered by the Muslim faithful as usual: shoes removed, rugs laid, all bowed east toward Mecca, singing Allah’s praises. But what makes this year’s Ramadan different is where they’re worshiping, a Christian church called Heartsong, a sort of ‘welcome to the neighborhood’ gift while a new mosque is built nearby….Neighbors ever since the Memphis Islamic Center bought 31 acres in the heart of the Bible Belt. Unlike other parts of the country, there have been no signs of protests. Doane left out any mention of that story of religious cooperation elsewhere in the state. Here is a full transcript of Doane’s September 9 report: 6:40PM ET TEASE: HARRY SMITH: Up next, they say they feel like strangers in their own country, Muslims shocked by the growing opposition to new mosques. 6:42PM ET SEGMENT:      SMITH: The furor over plans to burn the Koran and the building of the proposed Islamic center near Ground Zero has had ripple effects all across America. There are 2.5 million Muslims in this country, and about 1900 mosques, but building a mosque has suddenly become a hot-button issue in many communities. As Seth Doane reports, that’s just what happened in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. SETH DOANE: Like most 13-year-olds, he’s proud of his school, his soccer trophies, and his country. SALIM SBENATY [MURFREESBORO, TN. RESIDENT]: I’m as American as you get. I’m as patriotic as you get. I mean, I’m America all the way. DOANE: He’s also proud of his religion. Salim Sbenaty is Muslim, and nowadays, this Tennessee town that’s been his family’s home for nearly 20 years, doesn’t feel the same. SBENATY: I’m always afraid for my mom, because there are always a few stupid people out there. You never know what they’re going to do, and my mom wearing that scarf is a symbol saying, ‘hey, I’m Muslim.’ DOANE: About 250 Muslim families live here in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. For decades, they’ve lived in peace and have prayed at a small local mosque. But then trouble started brewing over this site, where they want to expand and build a bigger Islamic center. In June, residents packed meetings in protest. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If construction does begin, I would also encourage contractors to boycott it. DOANE: And what some call a vocal minority, got louder. LARRY ANDERSON [MUFREESBORO, TN. RESIDENT]: They want to make this instead of one nation under God, America, they want to make this one nation under Islam. DOANE: A few weeks ago, construction equipment at the site was set on fire, and with that, the arsonists set nerves on edge, too. Salim’s dad says even after September 11th, he didn’t see hatred like this. SALEH SBENATY: It’s very hard for me to forget what I’ve heard directed toward me from people who don’t know me. DOANE: Nationwide, more than half a dozen proposed Islamic centers have run into roadblocks, from Temecula, California, to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to the high-profile one near Ground Zero. Is this really about a building or is it about something bigger? DIMA SBENATY [SISTER OF SALIM SBENATY]: It’s about the growing hatred, you know, against Muslims. DOANE: Salim’s 20-year-old sister Dima says for the first time she’s scared. SBENATY: It’s very disappointing. It really is, because this country was founded upon freedom of religion. DOANE: Across town this morning, 10-year-old Zaid Abuzahra probably had more on his mind than just school. Last week at recess, some bullies learned that he was Muslim. ZAID ABUZAHRA: This group comes, and starts calling me terrorist, ‘I hear you’re a Muslim. This is America.’ DOANE: How did it make you feel? ABUZAHRA: Awkward, sad, like, surprising. DOANE: A surprise to many here who watch the news and wonder. SBENATY: First Amendment, ever since I was little and had to memorize it, freedom of religion, it says it. DOANE: In that First Amendment, another right – freedom of speech, for some just harder to hear. Seth Doane, CBS News, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

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CBS: U.S. Muslims ‘Feel Like Strangers in Their Own Country’

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Wash Post’s Anne Kornblut: Why, Despite Obama’s Healing Efforts, Is There So Much Anti-Muslim ‘Resentment?’

Posted on September 10, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Washington Post staff writer Anne Kornblut used her question at a White House press conference on Friday to worry that, despite Barack Obama making it a “priority,” anti-Muslim “suspicion” still existed in America. She queried the President, ” Nine years after the September 11th attacks, why do you think it is that we are now seeing such an increase in suspicion and outright resentment of Islam, especially given that it has been one of your priorities to improve relations with the Muslim world? ” [MP3 audio here .] Obama’s response seemed to echo his infamous 2008 comment about Americans being “bitter” and “clinging” to their guns. He proclaimed, “You know, I think that at a time when the country is anxious generally and going through a tough time, then, you know, fears can surface, suspicions, divisions can surface in a society. And, so, I think that plays a role in it.” On April 11, 2008 , the then-Senator condescended, “It’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.” Of course, Kornblut had no follow-up and didn’t challenge Obama on his latest assertion. A transcript of the September 10 question and answer can be found below: 11:32 ANNE KORNBLUT: Thank you, Mr. President. Nine years after the September 11 th attacks, why do you think it is that we are now seeing such an increase in suspicion and outright resentment of Islam, especially given that it has been one of your priorities to improve relations with the Muslim world? BARACK OBAMA: You know, I think that at a time when the country is anxious generally and going through a tough time, then, you know, fears can surface, suspicions, divisions can surface in a society. And, so, I think that plays a role in it. One of the things that I most admired about President Bush was after 9/11, him being crystal clear about the fact that we were not at war with Islam. We were at war with terrorists and murderers who had perverted Islam, had stolen its banner to carry out its outrageous acts. I was so proud of the country rallying around that idea, that notion that we are not going to be divided by religion. We’re not going to be divided by ethnicity. We are all Americans and we stand together against those who would try to do us harm. And that’s what we’ve done over the last nine years. We should take great pride in that. And I think it is absolutely important now for the overwhelming majority of the American people to hang on to that thing that is best in us, a belief in religious tolerance, clarity about who are enemies are. Our enemies are al Qaeda and their allies who are trying to kill us, but have killed more Muslims than just about anybody on Earth. You know, we have to make sure that we don’t start turning on each other and I will do everything that I can as long as I’m President of the United States to remind the American people that we are one nation under God and we may call that god different names. But we remain one nation and, you know, as somebody who, you know, relies heavily on my Christian faith in my job, I understand, you know, that the passions that religious faith can, can raise. But I’m also respectful that people of different faiths can practice their religion, even if they don’t subscribe to the exact same notions that I do. And that they are still good people and they are my neighbors and they are my friends and they are fighting alongside us in our battles. And, you know, I want to make sure that this country retains that sense of purpose. And I think tomorrow is a wonderful day for us to remind ourselves of that.

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Wash Post’s Anne Kornblut: Why, Despite Obama’s Healing Efforts, Is There So Much Anti-Muslim ‘Resentment?’

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Morning Joe Cuts Pastor Jones Before He Has Chance to Respond to Panel

Posted on September 10, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

In what had to be the ultimate in condescension and elitism, MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” brought Pastor Terry Jones on the show merely to lecture him on Christianity, cutting him off before he could even respond. Co-host Mika Brzezinski explained to him “we don’t really need to hear anything else, so thanks.” Newsbusters’ Mark Finkelstein first briefly reported on this segment this morning. Panel member Jon Meacham, the departing editor of Newsweek, briefly preached to Pastor Jones on Jesus’ New Testament message of love and forgiveness and then appealed to him “as a fellow Christian” to not follow through with his threats to burn the Koran. Then, before Pastor Jones responded, his live feed was cut and co-host Mika Brzezinski continued with the show, saying that they did not need to listen to Pastor Jones. “The central message of the New Testament is forgiveness, and to put oneself in the place of another,” Meacham lectured Pastor Jones on planning to burn copies of the Koran. “And so I would simply appeal to you, as a fellow Christian, that the course you suggested is going to be incredibly dangerous, and would ask you to desist in the name of New Testament theology.” After Jones’ feed was cut, Mika remarked “Well said, Jon Meacham. And Pastor Terry Jones, we appeal to you to listen to that. And we don’t really need to hear anything else, so thanks.” The show featured a bizarre segment earlier on Pastor Jones’ threat, which he retracted from Thursday and now is not sure whether he will follow through on his plan. Both conservative Pat Buchanan and liberal Donny Deutsch agreed with each other that President Obama, as Commander-in-Chief, needs to step in and arrest the Pastor before reactions in the Middle East by militant Islamists result in the death of American troops. Donny Deutsch was still fuming over an hour later, when the Pastor’s feed was cut. Deutsch said he wanted to confront Jones as a “terrorist,” calling him “scum” and saying that “seeing his face is disgusting enough.” “I don’t think there should be a peaceful message,” Deutsch said in dealing with the pastor. “Sometimes screaming is okay.” A transcript of the segment, which aired on September 10 at 7:30 a.m. EDT, is as follows: MIKA BRZEZINSKI: We’ve really been debating whether or not to do this. Joe says “no,” he doesn’t think it’s a good idea at all. He might be right. The Florida pastor, threatening to burn copies of the Koran tomorrow, is now saying his plans are “on hold,” after a local Imam told him that the proposed New York Islamic center near Ground Zero would be moved. And joining us now from Gainesville, Florida, is pastor Terry Jones. And the reason we’re doing this is my worry is that the pastor’s going to have blood on his hands if he goes forward with this plan. So Jon Meacham just has a quick message for you, sir. Jon? JON MEACHAM, Editor, Newsweek: Pastor, I just wanted to – this is Jon Meachem. I just wanted to suggest that Jesus said the night before he was handed over to suffering and death that he ordered his disciples to love one another as he had loved them. That was his central commandment, and as he died, he said that “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The central message of the New Testament is forgiveness, and to put oneself in the place of another. And so I would simply appeal to you, as a fellow Christian, that the course you suggested is going to be incredibly dangerous, and would ask you to desist in the name of New Testament theology. (Cut Live Feed) BRZEZINSKI: Alright, well said Jon Meachem, and Pastor Terry Jones we appeal to you to listen to that. And we don’t really need to hear anything else, so thanks. Alright, moving on. Donnie, you disagreed. You wanted to talk to him. DONNY DEUTSCH, Chairman, Deutsch, Inc.: Yeah, I think, and I understand why you guys don’t want to give him a platform. I mean, seeing his face is disgusting enough. But a lot – this kind of reach out, that we’ve come to a country where sometimes action needs to be taken. We’re at war, to – in the previous segment, this is obviously a bigger issue of, you know, Islamic hate running amuk. And we need to make a stand. And this guy, he’s scum, he is not a man of God – BRZEZINSKI: Now what productive nature would saying that to him have? (Crosstalk) DEUTSCH: Yes, everybody’s pussyfooting around with this guy! BRZEZINSKI: I’m not. We’re giving him a very peaceful message that (unintelligible) DEUTSCH: I don’t think there should be a peaceful message. This is a terrorist of a different form. He is no different than terrorists that are holding this country hostage. DAN SENOR, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations: You confronting him the way you want to confront him will build him up, get him even more ___ than he already is? Or is it actually going to make him less relevant? I think you will make him more relevant. DEUTSCH: He’s relevant! He’s relevant there, and I think 99 percent of this country feels the way I do and wants some action, and I just – I really believe that. And he’s already – SENOR: What you want to do is not action! DEUTSCH: The toothpaste – the toothpaste is out of the bottle. No, I want our President, our Commander-in-Chief to act like a Commander-in-Chief and say “This is putting our country in harm’s way right now.” We have the General of our troops over there saying that. Act like a Commander-in-Chief and stop this from happening. Somehow, someway. That’s all I’m asking. BRZEZINSKI: Okay. You know what? Screaming at him – DEUTSCH: Sometimes screaming is okay. Yeah. Sometimes screaming is okay. SENOR: Donnie, can I – the principle of the President stepping in is a principle you would be committed to if this were President Bush in a time of war saying “I need to take action against say the Imam, Imam Rauf. The mosque he’s building is going to inflame people, it’s going to be viewed as a monument of military victory, and we need to shut that down. Would you be comfortable with that? DEUTSCH: The video of burning the Koran around the world – SENOR: That’s not for you to decide. The question is are you for the principle of the President on these grounds to step in? BRZEZINSKI: Pat, before we go to a break, your thoughts? PAT BUCHANAN: Mika, the mosque is a matter of the culture war. This thing down in Florida is a matter of the real war. And let me say that if Gen. Petraeus, as he has done, tells his commander-in-chief “My men are in danger, they will die if this thing goes forward, and you as Commander-in-Chief do not act, and then men die as a consequence of that, men are lynched in the Middle East, Americans are killed, you are not qualified to be Commander-in-Chief in my judgment if you cannot act to save the boys you sent into battle. BRZEZINSKI: Meachem? MEACHAM: There’s got to be a way through this that is not going to violate the Constitution, and can preserve some sense of our culture of liberty, which is the message we have to send around the world. This is what we’re fighting for, this is what the country is about. And it’s repulsive what’s going on in Florida, but we unfortunately – repulsive things happen here. And we just can’t – BRZEZINSKI: And around this table, by the way, we all love each other very much, and a lot of us disagree. But we do, as you say Jon, have to find our way through it.

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Sembahyang raya aidilfitri

Posted on September 9, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Q: What is the meaning of “puasa”? A: There are five Principles in Islam namely ‘‘kalimah’’, “sembahyang” – pray, “puasa”– fasting, ‘‘zakat’’ and ‘‘haji’’. Therefore, “puasa” is one of the principles that all Muslims must adhere to. There are 27 important days in this month. Q: What is the benefit of “puasa”? A: It is good for our health especially for our heart that pumps 365 days without stop. For this one month, we can control our body, relax our body and all the organs. Q: What if someone

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Kathleen Parker and Eliot Spitzer Unanimous in First CNN Appearance

Posted on September 9, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

CNN offered a sneak preview of their upcoming Parker-Spitzer program on Wednesday’s Anderson Cooper 360 with the new hosts, pseudo-conservative Kathleen Parker and “Client Number Nine” Eliot Spitzer agreeing that the “well-spoken” Imam Feisal Rauf changed few minds with his recent interview. The two also forwarded their network’s charge that “Islamophobia” is growing in the U.S . Anchor Anderson Cooper began the segment by asking the two about Soledad O’Brien interview of Rauf, which took place the previous hour. Parker, the ” Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and noted conservative commentator ,” as Cooper called her, endorsed his appearance and went on to characterize the two sides of the debate over the planned Ground Zero mosque. In her view, those who oppose it “were going to sort of be looking for ways to convince yourself that he was…trying to be this, sort of, secret jihadist .” On the other hand, the supporters of the mosque ” understand that he seemed as a reasonable, rational person who’s well-spoken and has something important to say .” The former New York governor agreed with his future co-host: SPITZER: I think Kathleen got it exactly right. You saw in his commentary- which I found persuasive, thoughtful, and very well-spoken- precisely what you believed going in…Those who were skeptics heard, in his invocation of national security, a threat. Others, who were more sympathetic to him, understood that, in the context of international affairs, his saying- look, be careful that we don’t create additional reasons for those who are radicals to hate us. And so, you can use this as a Rorschach test, and see in it exactly what you already believe. Later, the CNN anchor brought up some of the wider controversies involving Islam in the United States and raised the “Islamophobia” charge: “We’ve seen these incidents now moving away from just this mosque, but to opposing- some oppose the building of any new mosque in the United States, or some expose just the expansion in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. And those who support it say, ‘Look, this is Islamophobia.’ Do you buy that?” Spitzer went further than just accusing people of “Islamophobia.” He all but said that the country has always had a streak of bigotry: SPITZER: I think there’s a big element of Islamophobia, but I think this is also part of our history, and we need to be careful that we appeal to our better angels, as Lincoln said …..I dug out George Washington’s letter to a synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island in 1790, where he addressed this and he said the wonderful thing about this nation, a new nation at that point, three years old- 220 years ago, he wrote this- is that we are tolerant, and we need our political leadership to speak to tolerance. We need to go back to those values, so that everybody can do what the imam wants to do . The Democrat actually erred with his history, as the U.S. wasn’t three years old in 1790, but fourteen years old, if you date it from the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. His future co-host raised another common liberal argument, that many were just ignorant of Islam and Muslims: “We keep hearing this, ‘they’re going to do this, if you let them get in.’ You let them do this, then they’re going to demand, demand. Who is the ‘they’? I mean, these are Americans, too, and it makes me wonder how many people out there watching tonight actually know someone who is a Muslim? …I think we’ve got to stop thinking of Muslims as being ‘them.'” One might surmise from this appearance, given the former governor’s liberal credentials, and Parker’s swipes at conservatives, as she did earlier in September against Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin , that CNN’s upcoming program is going to be less like Crossfire and more like an Amen corner. The full transcript of the segment from Wednesday’s Anderson Cooper, which began 38 minutes into the 10 pm Eastern hour: COOPER: Joining me now are Elliot Spitzer, the former governor of New York, and Kathleen Parker, Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and noted conservative commentator. In October, their new program begins right here on CNN at 8 pm. Welcome, thanks very much for being with us- good to have you here. KATHLEEN PARKER: Thanks, Anderson. Thanks for having us. COOPER: What did you think of the imam tonight? PARKER: You know, I thought it was very good that he came out and spoke and that people could see him in person and hear his voice. I think he probably changed very few minds. I think people are going to see exactly what they were already prepared to see. If you’re against it, you were going to sort of be looking for ways to convince yourself that he was playing some role- you know, in trying to be this, sort of, secret jihadist. And then, if you were for it already, then you understand that he seemed as a reasonable, rational person who’s well-spoken and has something important to say. I doubt that he really changed many hearts and minds, but maybe, it’s a start, as he says, toward a conversation that needs to take place. COOPER: Elliott, do you think he changed minds? ELLIOT SPITZER: No, I don’t think. I think Kathleen got it exactly right. You saw in his commentary- which I found persuasive, thoughtful, and very well-spoken- precisely what you believed going in, and you saw that on your panel earlier in the show. Those who were skeptics heard, in his invocation of national security, a threat. Others, who were more sympathetic to him, understood that, in the context of international affairs, his saying- look, be careful that we don’t create additional reasons for those who are radicals to hate us. And so, you can use this as a Rorschach test, and see in it exactly what you already believe. And I think he was well-spoken, but- COOPER: The lines are so clearly drawn, right? SPITZER: The lines are so rigid, and the views about this are so deeply ingrained and the passion- when you’ve lost somebody on 9/11, and the pain is so real, it’s very hard to change minds. COOPER: So, are we beyond a place where there is dialogue or possibility of coming together to- you know, David Gergen talked about some sort of solution of having- you know, a multi-faith center, is it- or are we beyond that? PARKER: I think that’s a great idea. I think that’s a great idea. I don’t think we’re beyond that. But I do think we have to be so careful as we give attention to these people who are, essentially, crackpots, okay? Let’s talk about this fellow- COOPER: You’re talking about- not the people who oppose the mosque? PARKER: No, no, no. Not, not- certainly not. I mean, look- COOPER: The Koran burners? PARKER: There is some crackpot-ism involved in this. I mean, there was a time when the headlines were fairly rational and straightforward and news-oriented, and you can see that was last December, as he said. And then, if you look at the headlines beginning last May, then they get increasingly inflammatory. And so- you know, I think that the rhetoric has been highly exaggerated in many cases. The media- you know, we all have a role in that and we have to be so careful, because when we do give attention to people like- for example, this fellow in Gainesville who’s threatening to burn the Koran. I was talking to a friend of mine earlier tonight who lives in Gainesville. And I said, ‘Do you know this character?’ And she said, ‘Yeah, my church is about a quarter mile down the road from his.’ His church is a metal building. He’s got approximately 50 followers. COOPER: And sells used furniture on eBay. PARKER: Yeah, and I would like for the Muslim world to understand that this is just one individual who doesn’t represent anyone but- you know, a handful of folks. That’s just- and that feeds, though, and builds this sort of- the sense that this is an awful thing going on. SPITZER: We need for time to pass. When emotions are this raw, you cannot address the issues rationally, because emotion overwhelms rationality. Andy [Sullivan], in your prior panel, said something very interesting and very important. He said this was the last straw for a middle class that is disenfranchised. Now, this issue is one of many that has led to an outbreak of anxiety, anger, venom- in many cases, legitimate because of emotions that derive from 9/11. In other instances, it is just a focal point for an upset with the way our economy and our national politics is playing out. And so, we need to understand this in that context, and I think when you view it that way, you understand how hard it is to bridge this chasm right now. COOPER: There’s- you know, we’ve seen these incidents now moving away from just this mosque, but to opposing- some oppose the building of any new mosque in the United States, or some expose just the expansion in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. And those who support it say, ‘Look, this is Islamophobia.’ Do you buy that? SPITZER: I think there’s a big element of Islamophobia, but I think this is also part of our history, and we need to be careful that we appeal to our better angels, as Lincoln said. COOPER: This is just the newest group? SPITZER: This is (unintelligible)- COOPER: From Catholics to Jews to the- SPITZER: Precisely, the newest incarnation- and, in fact, before I came on the show, I dug out George Washington’s letter to a synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island in 1790, where he addressed this and he said the wonderful thing about this nation, a new nation at that point, three years old- 220 years ago, he wrote this- is that we are tolerant, and we need our political leadership to speak to tolerance. We need to go back to those values, so that everybody can do what the imam wants to do and what David Gergen spoke to, which is to get people together and say, ‘wait a minute, let us not’- COOPER: But that’s not what our political life is about now. PARKER: But we keep hearing this, ‘they’re going to do this, if you let them get in.’ COOPER: Pat Robertson saying that (unintelligble)- PARKER: You let them do this, then they’re going to demand, demand. Who is the ‘they’? I mean, these are Americans, too, and it makes me wonder how many people out there watching tonight actually know someone who is a Muslim? You know, there seems to be- I just feel like this has become a misunderstanding on a broad scale. And while- absolutely, when you talk to people whose families died in this and- you know, on 9/11, you can’t not take that seriously. I mean, that emotion is real, and it’s still raw. But I think we’ve got to stop thinking of Muslims as being ‘them.’ COOPER: We’ve got to take a quick break. Elliot Spitzer, Kathleen Parker, appreciate you being with us. Thanks very much.

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Kathleen Parker and Eliot Spitzer Unanimous in First CNN Appearance

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Pastor Terry Jones Has Cancelled His Plan to Burn the Quran on 9/11 ||| UPDATE (9/9/10, 10:41PM PT): Oh… No, Wait… Now He’s "Rethinking" His Cancelled Quran Burning

Posted on September 9, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Florida minister cancels plans to burn Koran on 9/11 GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The leader of a small Florida church that espouses anti-Islam philosophy says he is canceling plans to burn copies of the Quran on Sept. 11. Pastor Terry Jones said Thursday that he decided to cancel his protest because the leader of a planned Islamic Center near ground zero has agreed to move its controversial location. The agreement couldn't be immediately confirmed. Jones' plans to burn Islam's holiest text Saturday sparked an international outcry. President Barack Obama, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan and several Christian leaders had urged Jones to reconsider his plans. They said his actions would endanger U.S. soldiers and provide a strong recruitment tool for Islamic extremists. Jones' protest also drew criticism from religious and political leaders from across the Muslim world. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-naw-koran-burning-20100909,0,6… added by: EthicalVegan

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Rick Sanchez to Pataki: Did Your Opposition to Mosque Lead to Koran Burning?

Posted on September 9, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

On Wednesday’s Rick’s List, CNN’s Rick Sanchez tried to connect the overwhelming opposition to the planned Ground Zero mosque to a Florida pastor’s “Burn a Koran Day” event. Sanchez asked former New York Governor George Pataki, ” Do you feel in any way that some of this backlash … led by some fine gentlemen like yourself … has kind of paved the way for that controversy, and if so, do you feel guilty at all? ” Sanchez interviewed Pataki during the prime time edition of his program. Just before the bottom of the 8 pm Eastern hour, the anchor raised Pastor Terry Jones’s planned inflammatory protest: “Let me ask you one final question, if I possibly can. There’s this new hullabaloo going on in Gainesville, Florida, with this pastor who wants to literally burn Korans. And now, we’re getting protests in Afghanistan- our generals are saying this guy’s going to get our troops killed.” The CNN personality then asked his question. Pataki didn’t even acknowledge the premise behind his question, and launched into a condemnation of Jones: “I can’t claim or understand what the motive of this person in Florida is. All I can say is that it’s wrong, it’s reprehensible, and it should be condemned by all Americans. And it’s just- we are a free and a tolerant society. Any sign of bigotry, such as this person is talking about in Florida, is utterly unacceptable and has to be condemned.” This isn’t the first time that Sanchez has asked an out-of-the-ordinary question on the Ground Zero mosque issue. During an earlier interview of Pataki on August 10 , the anchor bizarrely wondered whether investigating the funding behind the planned mosque would lead to investigations into Catholic and/or Mormon funding: ” If you start going into who is giving money … you’ve got to go to Rome and start asking where the money is going into Rome …. and you have to go the Mormons and ask … what are they doing with their money? ” The transcript of relevant portion of the segment from Wednesday’s Rick’s List: SANCHEZ: Let me ask you one final question, if I possibly can. There’s this new hullabaloo going on in Gainesville, Florida, with this pastor who wants to literally burn Korans. And now, we’re getting protests in Afghanistan- our generals are saying this guy’s going to get our troops killed. Do you feel in any way that some of this backlash that has been seen, led by some fine gentlemen like yourself in New York City, has kind of paved the way for that controversy, and if so, do you feel guilty at all? PATAKI: I can’t claim or understand what the motive of this person in Florida is. All I can say is that it’s wrong, it’s reprehensible, and it should be condemned by all Americans. And it’s just- we are a free and a tolerant society. Any sign of bigotry, such as this person is talking about in Florida, is utterly unacceptable and has to be condemned. SANCHEZ: George Pataki, former governor of the State of New York, thanks for coming by, sir. PATAKI: Thank you, Rick.

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Rick Sanchez to Pataki: Did Your Opposition to Mosque Lead to Koran Burning?

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On Today: CAIR Spokesman Equates Ground Zero Mosque Protest to Japanese Internment and Slavery

Posted on September 9, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

NBC’s Meredith Vieira, on Thursday’s Today show, invited on New York Republican Congressman Peter King and CAIR’s Zead Ramadan to discuss the potential burning of Korans by Pastor Terry Jones and the furor over the Ground Zero mosque, but it was only King that was pressed by the Today anchor, as Vieira let Ramadan go unchallenged even when he equated opposition to the mosque to internment of  Japanese-Americans in World War II and even slavery. First up, Vieira, after playing a clip of Feisal Abdul-Rauf, recited the Imam’s concerns to King that if he moved the location of the mosque now it “would just be fueling the radicals” to which the New York Congressman shot back that “he seems to be equating the 71 percent of Americans who oppose this as being radicals.” Then Vieira let CAIR’s Ramadan go on, uninterrupted, as he proceeded to compare the protest surrounding the Ground Zero mosque to some of America’s worst moments of intolerance as he went on to say: “The issue with the public sentiment is that when an issue is related to bigotry, unfortunately our history has shown that sometimes we’re on the wrong side. For example we interred Japanese during World War II, we segregated our military, our schools, and it took on Executive Order to undo that. And we also enslaved our fellow Americans. So I mean when it comes to bigotry we’ve got to be careful about the public sentiment.” The following is the full segment as it was aired on the September 9 Today show: MEREDITH VIEIRA: Let’s get more on this now from Representative Peter King of New York who has been a vocal opponent of the plan to build an Islamic community center and mosque near Ground Zero, and Zead Ramadan, who is with the Council on American Islamic Relations. Gentlemen, good morning to you both. [On screen headline: “Islam Under Fire, Are Muslims Being Treated Unfairly In America?”] REP. PETER KING: Good morning. ZEAD RAMADAN: Good morning. VIEIRA: Let’s start with this notion, you know Pastor Jones, who’s now said, who plans to burn the Koran on 9/11, on September 11th, on this Saturday- RAMADAN: Right. VIEIRA: -that if somebody were to call from the White House or the State Department or the Pentagon, it is something that would not be ignored. So do you believe that someone from the White House, maybe even the President himself, should call this man and encourage him not to burn the Koran? I’ll start with you? KING: First of all, this is insane, it’s dangerous, there’s absolutely no place in American debate for what this, this mad man is talking about. My only concern if it’s someone like the President calling him is that you give him status, you give him stature. We can have real issues to debate here this morning. It has nothing to do with the Koran, nothing to do with the New Testament, nothing to do with the Old Testament. We have political, diplomatic issues and it’s insanity that a person like this is tying up the country. VIEIRA: Do you think a call should be placed? RAMADAN: I think if General Petraeus was to say, “Look we think that American lives would be at stake here, that you’re gonna flick on the switch for radicals and extremists to act,” I’d rather save American lives. That would be my perspective. Even though he did say a couple of weeks ago that the person he respected was George Bush, and they asked him if George Bush called would you stop, he said no. But I really hope that if he had a change of heart that we would do something about that and- VIEIRA: What do you think is going to happen, if he does go ahead with this? RAMADAN: Well, you know, you never know what triggers psychotics. And I’d hate to think that people are turned on, you know, just like that flick the switch analogy and someone becomes an extremist and they go from rhetoric to action. And that would concern me in America, and outside of America. You know I, we don’t want anybody else threatening American lives. And I think that’s what’s most important to us. VIEIRA: But, but since this whole controversy erupted we have seen the American flag burned by Muslims around the world, we’ve heard people scream “Death to America,” but no one, or I would say most people do not believe that all Muslims hate the U.S. or wish it harm. So why is so much weight and legitimacy given to this pastor and his relatively small congregation? We’re talking maybe 50 members. KING: I think it’s a sign of the times. If a person speaks loudly enough and says something crazy enough the media is gonna cover it and people are gonna respond. I think we all do ourselves a favor if we could somehow ignore him. It adds, not only adds nothing to the debate, it brings the debate down and brings it to a level where no one wants to be at. It’s wrong… VIEIRA: Should the media not cover it, which is what the Secretary of State has suggested? RAMADAN: I think so, personally. I think that you’re giving him a forum and I think that if people never listened to him, he might think that this is not something that’s worth his while at the end of the day. You know an organization called Right Wing Extreme said they initially planned to protect him while he does this. And they said that after a lot of praying and thinking they just didn’t realize how this would bring people closer to Jesus. Some people are saying – so they backed down last week. And maybe this a little bit too right wing and too extreme for them. VIEIRA: Let’s talk about the controversy surrounding the construction of this Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero. Last night on CNN, the man behind that proposal Imam Feisal Abdul-Rauf said that had he realized how much controversy this was gonna cause he never would have decided to build it there, but at this point he has a responsibility. Listen to what he told CNN. FEISAL ABDUL-RAUF: If we move from that location, the story will be that the radicals have taken over the discourse. VIEIRA: I know Congressman that you’re opposed to that mosque being put there. KING: Right. VIEIRA: But is he right, that he would just be fueling the radicals if he moved that cultural center, at this point? KING: Well my problem with what he’s saying, he seems to be equating the 71 percent of Americans who oppose this as being radicals. He’s talking about the radicals who are opposed to the mosque which, to me is 71 percent of the American people and comparing that to al Qaeda or radical elements in the Muslim community. And that, to me, is a, it’s a totally wrong equation. And it’s, to me, that is – he is almost – to me it’s like a threat to the United States. What he’s saying is that if somehow this mosque is not approved, that the radical elements of the Muslim world are going to be against us. I don’t think we have to prove ourselves to anyone. I mean Muslims in this country as well as Catholics and Jews and Protestants are treated better here than anywhere else in the world. And I would say Muslims probably have more freedom in this country than any of their own countries. VIEIRA: Mr. Ramadan? RAMADAN: Yeah the, the issue with the public sentiment is that when an issue is related to bigotry, unfortunately our history has shown that sometimes we’re on the wrong side. For example we interred Japanese during World War II, we segregated our military, our schools, and it took on Executive Order to undo that. And we also enslaved our fellow Americans. So I mean when it comes to bigotry we’ve got to be careful about the public sentiment. What’s really important is that our public officials and our, and our congressmen have to come out and tell people, this is not what, this is not what America represents, these are not the ideals that our nation was founded on and we have to be better than that. KING: Yeah but what I disagree with there, is why do we say, what am I saying, as a Congressman, that in any way violates American ideals? I have raised real questions about the Muslim leadership in this country. For instance, I don’t think the Muslim leadership speaks out enough against terrorism. I can tell you that there are mosques in this country where imams tell their congregants not to cooperate with the, with law enforcement. And if you talk to law enforcement people they will tell you that very seldom, do they get cooperation from the Muslim leadership. And that to me is the real issue. VIEIRA: But the imam might, but the imam might say to you, as he said on CNN last night, this story broke last December, the front page of the New York Times. Nobody complained about it then. It wasn’t until about two months ago. He thinks that it’s politicians who’ve grabbed onto it for political reasons. Even the mayor himself said, come November 3rd this won’t be an issue anymore. KING: I disagree with that completely. RAMADAN: This is, it is the midterm, it is the midterm elections and people like Newt Gingrich who’ve equated Islam to, you know Nazism. I mean we need to condemn people like that and say this, these are, these, you know these sentiments are absolutely wrong. And if you don’t think that people are listening to Newt Gingrich or Sarah Palin or Rick Lazio who hasn’t talked about anything else and he’s running for the governorship of New York state, you know except for the mosque. You know he’s basically driving all attention and driving the public sentiment against the development of a religious institution which is protected by our Constitution. VIEIRA: You have about 15 seconds left… KING: Okay, okay no one says that there is not an absolute right to build a mosque, but because you have the right doesn’t make it right. And I think it’s a very legitimate issue to talk about this mosque to be barely 500 feet from Ground zero, to have a 13 story, $100 million edifice where 3,000 Americans were killed that day, it’s wrong. And I think it’s wrong to say that it’s somehow un-American to raise that as an issue because- RAMADAN: No, no. I don’t think that’s it. I think, I think that you know- KING: Free speech is also an American principle. RAMADAN: But Timothy McVeigh, but Timothy McVeigh blows up a federal building and we don’t say you can’t build any churches around there. You know- VIEIRA: This is, you know gentlemen- RAMADAN: That, that’s it… VIEIRA: -this is a discussion that’s gonna go on for quite awhile. KING: That, that- RAMADAN: …blame it on Christianity. You know? KING: -is a totally unfair comparison. The fact is- RAMADAN: Why is it unfair? KING: Because the Muslim leadership in this country does not cooperate with law enforcement… RAMADAN: What Muslim leadership? Let me ask you about that. Because there’s no Jewish leadership or Muslim leadership who talk on behalf of- VIEIRA: And what, you know what, this is, this is, this- KING: I’m concerned with imams, I’m talking about imams in mosques which are being investigated. VIEIRA: This is why, this is, gentlemen- RAMADAN: You can’t just make a judgement… VIEIRA: -I’m gonna have to cut it off there. I understand but, but my point is- RAMADAN: I’m against, I’m against all terrorism. I’m against all extremism no matter where it’s from. VIEIRA: -this is because, this is why this is such a controversy because it is so heated, on both sides and it’s not gonna end today or tomorrow. I’m have to stop it there. Thank you so much, Congressman King. KING: Okay. RAMADAN: Thank you very much. KING: You’re a peacemaker. VIEIRA: I’m a peacemaker, exactly.

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On Today: CAIR Spokesman Equates Ground Zero Mosque Protest to Japanese Internment and Slavery

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CNN’s Feyerick Promotes Ground Zero Mosque Imam

Posted on September 8, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

CNN’s Deborah Feyerick played up Imam Feisal Rauf’s apparent credentials as a “moderate” Muslim during a report on Wednesday’s American Morning. Feyerick omitted using sound bites from Rauf’s critics, and only briefly mentioned his controversial remarks about on CBS’s 60 Minutes about the 9/11 attacks and his reluctance to condemn Hamas. The CNN correspondent’s report led the 6 am Eastern hour, and was re-broadcast throughout the day on the network. Almost immediately, Feyerick stressed how Rauf is apparently a “voice of moderation” by playing three clips from three who unequivocally endorse him- the State Department’s P. J. Crowley, mosque developer Sharif El-Gamal, and Professor John Esposito of Georgetown University. She continued by describing the Islamic cleric as a ” Sufi Muslim, at the other end of the Islamic spectrum from the radical theology that feeds groups like al Qaeda .” After two further sound bites from Esposito, who gushed over Imam Rauf, Feyerick highlighted his background: “According to his biography, Feisal Abdul Rauf was born in Kuwait in 1948 into an Egyptian family steeped in religious scholarship . In 1997, he founded the non-profit American Society for Muslim Advancement- its mission, described on its website, as ‘strengthening an authentic expression of Islam based on cultural and religious harmony through interfaith collaboration, youth, and women’s empowerment.'” The correspondent didn’t bring up Rauf’s controversial past until the end of her report, and almost as an after-thought: ” He was criticized after 9/11 for saying U.S. support of oppressive regimes was partly responsible for the attacks, but maintained his remarks on 60 Minutes had been taken out of context. Rauf supports Israel’s right to exist, but says as a bridge builder, he can’t condemn radical Palestinian group Hamas as terrorists .” Overall, Feyerick played six clips in favor of the imam, and none critical of him. She didn’t even quote from any specific critic of his. Feyerick has been on a roll, as of late, with her recent one-sided reporting on the Ground Zero mosque and related “Islamophobia” issues. On August 26, she advanced the theory that the stabbing of Muslim taxicab driver in New York City may have been ” connected to this big Ground Zero controversy, where we’re hearing so much anti-Muslim sentiment .” Exactly a week later, on September 2, the CNN correspondent c ontinued her network’s promotion of the charge that “Islamophobia” is a growing phenomenon inside the U.S. The full transcript of Deborah Feyerick’s report from Wednesday’s American Morning: FEYERICK (voice-over): If you have never heard him speak, this is what Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf has to say. IMAM FEISAL ABDUL RAUF: The major theme in Islam is the oneness of God, and that we should worship one God- love and adore the one God. FEYERICK: People who know Imam Feisal say he’s a voice of moderation. The State Department- STATE DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT SECRETARY P. J. CROWLEY: His work on tolerance and religious diversity is well known. FEYERICK: The developer of the controversial Islamic center near Ground Zero. SHARIF EL-GAMAL: He is somebody who has sacrificed his life to building bridges within communities. FEYERICK: Islamic scholar and university professor John Esposito. FEYERICK (on-camera): How would you describe him? Is he a threat? JOHN ESPOSITO, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Feisal is, from my point of view- he is ‘Mr. Mellow.’ FEYERICK (voice-over): Imam Feisal is a Sufi Muslim, at the other end of the Islamic spectrum from the radical theology that feeds groups like al Qaeda. ESPOSITO: He approaches Islam spiritually. He is a Sufi in background, which means one pursues, if you will, a more, kind of, spiritual mystical path. He’s somebody who would find terrorism and religious extremism as abhorrent. He’s run a mosque in this area for years and years and years. FEYERICK: That mosque, the Masjid al-Farah, is 10 blocks from Ground Zero, and has co-existed peacefully in the Tribeca neighborhood for 28 years. ESPOSITO: He has integrated himself into the community. FEYERICK: According to his biography, Feisal Abdul Rauf was born in Kuwait in 1948 into an Egyptian family steeped in religious scholarship. In 1997, he founded the non-profit American Society for Muslim Advancement- its mission, described on its website, as ‘strengthening an authentic expression of Islam based on cultural and religious harmony through interfaith collaboration, youth, and women’s empowerment.’ Several years later, Rauf founded the Cordoba Institute to improve relations between the Muslim world and the West, writing how American Muslims can help bridge the divide. The State Department noticed, sending him as a cultural ambassador on four trips to the Middle East, most recently this summer. GRAEME BANNERMAN, FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: They try to get people who reflect the best aspects of American society. FEYERICK: Rauf is often asked to speak at meetings like the World Economic Forum in Davos. He was criticized after 9/11 for saying U.S. support of oppressive regimes was partly responsible for the attacks, but maintained his remarks on 60 Minutes had been taken out of context. Rauf supports Israel’s right to exist, but says as a bridge builder, he can’t condemn radical Palestinian group Hamas as terrorists. As for the proposed Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero, he says that, too, is about bridges. RAUF: This is also our expression of the 99.999 percent of Muslims all over the world, including in America, who have condemned and continue to condemn terrorism. This is about our stand as the Muslim community, which has been part of this community. FEYERICK: But right now, this moderate Muslim cleric finds himself at the eye of a storm. Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.

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Does This Dirt Field Look Muslim to You? [Fearmongering]

Posted on September 8, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

The Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville, Pa., supposedly honors the brave folks who sacrificed themselves during an in-flight power struggle on 9/11. So why does its design include a huge Muslim crescent pointing at Mecca? Here we go again. More

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