Israelis and Palestinians Work Together

This is from last week, but it is worth noting.  Someone set fire to a mosque in the West Bank.  It survived, but many Qur'ans were burned.  So a group of Israeli rabbis visited and brought new Qur'ans with them for the mosque.  And both sides condemned the fire.  See, both sides can get along.  Maybe not all the time, but I believe that most Palestinians and Israelis want peace.  Unfortunately, that is not enough.

Anti-Muslim Sentiment IV

I am happy to say that the Qur'an burning did not happen! I do want to link to a few articles here though. First, an article via Yahoo!: Fellow Americans' suspicions frustrate US Muslims. Really, how often do you have to explain that Islam is peaceful, and you are American?

Slate had a very good article about the Qur'an burning situation: We didn't start the fire. As the author says "You, your country, and your faith are being held accountable for the deeds of these people." The Islamic world holds US responsible for the Qur'an burners. Doesn't sound fair? Well how about holding THEM responsible for the actions of the 9-11 hijackers? It's the same thing.

I also enjoyed the Slate article: Nobody owns 9/11, and the World Trade Center site is not hallowed ground.

Anti-Muslim Sentiment III

The Qur'an burning may be cancelled! I'm not entirely sure. The pastor in charge said he is cancelling it, in return for the "Ground Zero Mosque" being moved. Which it isn't. So hopefully, the Qur'an burning is still cancelled. I must say, I was really moved by the number of people coming out against the burning. Even Sarah Palin was against it. Thank goodness so many people seem to understand the significance of a religious book.

Anti-Muslim Sentiment in America II

By now, I'm sure you have heard about the "reverend" who wants to burn Qur'ans on September 11th. I find this really disgusting. If I suggested burning Bibles, I'd practically be lynched for being some kind of religious nut. But burning the Qur'an? I guess this should not surprise me. There are too many Americans who believe the lies being perpetrated about Islam. I don't even know what to say about it. How can you change the beliefs of people who have never read the Qur'an and are simply parroting what they have heard from their minister or on the radio or through e-mail. Why do they refuse to even learn about Islam, to learn whether or not their beliefs are true? I really do not know what to say.

Qur'anic Snuff Film: Update II

UN chief Ban Ki-Moon has condemned the film. I'm glad to see common sense and good taste has prevailed. In general, I believe in everyone's right to believe whatever they want. But when they believe something that is not only hateful but completely WRONG, then I have a problem. If you want to hate someone, hate them for legitimate reasons.

Qur'anic Snuff Film: Update I

Remember the Dutch guy who made the propaganda film about Islam? Last week his website was shut down. And now, according to this BBC article he's posted it on a video website where you can watch it.

Analysis
First of all, I included the link because I do believe in freedom of speech and some people may want to watch it. Secondly, I do not lightly call this a propaganda film - that is exactly what it is. He has graphic footage of terrorist attacks interspersed with the rantings of some radical Muslims and Qur'anic verses taken out of context. Are there some violent verses in the Qur'an? Yes. There are also violent verses in the Bible. And I don't mean in the Old Testament. Even the New Testament mentions the wrath of God for non-believers and Judgement Day, etc. But somehow I doubt that the filmmaker would have bothered to make an anti-Christian film featuring the IRA.

How's this for propaganda: a 3-year-old Muslim girl saying that Jews are apes and pigs because the Qur'an says so. While I haven't read the entire Qur'an, I am fairly confident that is does NOT say that. And a 3-year-old hasn't read the Qur'an either. But now there's a group of people who will think that the Qur'an does say that. How convenient.

I only made it about halfway through the film before I was so disgusted that I had to stop. Now, I'm not trying to say that there aren't radicals out there who are crazy and anti-Western. But the majority of Muslims are not! There are some crazies, and they do horrible things in the name of God. And their numbers have dramatically increased since the US entered Iraq. As for anti-Jewish feelings, most of that goes back to 1948 and the creation of Israel. Most Muslims are good, decent people trying to live their lives as best they can. And propaganda shit like this makes it harder for them and easier for the radicals, because then the radicals can say "those Westerners hate Islam and are trying to destroy us" and they'd be correct. Hate crimes against Muslims have increased in the US.

As a last thought, let me leave you with this: Would you judge all Christians by David Koresh, or the people who blow up abortion clinics, or the IRA, or Warren Jeffs? Koresh and Jeffs had/have good size followings, and the IRA was responsible for a lot of deaths. But Christians aren't judged by that. But if you're not a Christian, then you're judged by whomever in your religion can talk the loudest. And nothing is louder than a terrorist's bomb.

News of the Weird: Qur'anic Ringtones

Apparently quite a few Muslims have been using Qur'anic verses as their ring tones, because they believe music is prohibited by Islam. Well, the Grand Mufti of Dubai just issued a fatwa prohibiting it. According to him, that's basically sacrilege. I can't help but be reminded of the early days of radio in Saudi Arabia. Supposedly, the only way to get the ulema to approve of radio as not being Satanic, was to read the Qur'an over the airwaves. Looks like things have reversed now.