Indonesia: Two churches were set aflame; officials downplayed these atrocities by arguing that the buildings were "only made of board" and not real churches. A mayor also proclaimed that churches cannot be built on streets with Muslim names, even as Muslim majority regions reject the building of any churches.
Iran: Officials launched a Bible burning campaign, confiscating and destroying some 7,000 Bibles, many publicly burned. Likening their tiny Christian minority to the "Taliban and parasites," the regime also "cracked down" on Christians (who make up less than 1% of the entire population), arresting many, the whereabouts of which remain unknown.
Iraq: Two churches were bombed: the first damaged the church and wounded 23; the second damaged the church
The above list is just a recap of the last thirty days' "activities".
None of those happened in the US, of course. It's not curious that US Muslims are 'finding acceptance to be difficult.'
A decade after the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, led to a backlash against Muslims, many Americans are still uncomfortable with followers of Islam and think its teachings are at odds with American values.
"Throughout American history... immigrants professing faiths outside the existing mainstream have tested the commitment to religious liberty," said the report, "What It Means To Be An American."
The comparo is illicit. Mormons (and Catholics) were not bombing Jewish or Episcopalian synagogues or churches, killing their congregations, and burning Torahs and Bibles in other countries at the time of the immigration.
For that matter, Muslim domestic terror is still happening in the US. So, yes, 'acceptance' will be a bit difficult to achieve. That's called prudence. "Innocent until proved guilty" is a good maxim, but so is "keep your guard up."
"Mormons (and Catholics) were not bombing Jewish or Episcopalian synagogues or churches, killing their congregations, and burning Torahs and Bibles in other countries at the time of the immigration."
ReplyDeleteOk, but there were certainly instances of violence perpetrated by these groups, in most cases in self-defense. Why? Religious zealotry. And that is the real threat we face...as if Catholics, Jews, Protestants, etc. are immune to it.
In the 1840's and 1850's, anti-Catholic violence was carried out by members of the Know Nothing Party, who were concerned about the infiltration of "degenerates". One incident was ignited by a speaking tour by preacher Lyman Beecher, who wrote a book about a Catholic plot to seize control of the United States. After his speaking tour passed through a town in Massachusetts, a mob set fire to its Catholic convent and school.
In 1857, the infamous Mountain Meadow Massacre occurred. Mormons in Utah slaughtered a group of 120 California-bound pioneers who were openly hostile toward their religion.
In New York City (1871), Irish Catholic protests, in part over how the Bible was taught in public schools,
exacerbated age-old disagreements over the "true" faith with Irish Protestants, resulting in over 60 fatalities.
And on, and on, and on...
Following 911, the FBI found that anti-Muslim sentiments spiked and verifiable, religiously motivated hate crimes against Muslims in the United States increased 1,600 percent in 2001 from the prior year.
President Bush, to his credit, had immediately called for "treat[ing] Arab-Americans and Muslims with the respect they deserve...we should not hold one who is a Muslim responsible for an act of terror."
And several Muslim groups quickly condemned the terrorist groups as practicing a perverted form of Islam.
groups.colgate.edu/aarislam/response.htm
That is why some people are turned off to religion today when they here groups insist their faith is "better" while insinuating another faith is "the devil incarnate".
A religiously tolerant culture is a prerequisite for religious harmony and for the equality of all citizens irrespective of their religious opinions.
MILITANT ISLAM is dangerous, but not Islam as peacefully practiced by hundreds of thousands of Muslim Americans every single day.
Know the difference, please.
hate crimes against Muslims in the United States increased 1,600 percent in 2001 from the prior year.
ReplyDeleteI read your cite.
What BS! Leaving a 'red substance' in front of a mosque? A 300-person demonstration?
Be serious.
You're right; Catholics and Mormons were in self-defense mode.
Was that Army captain in 'self-defense'? The Muslims in the cited instances on the post above?
"What BS! Leaving a 'red substance' in front of a mosque? A 300-person demonstration?"
ReplyDeleteDid you scroll down and read the more serious offenses? You know, like death threats against Muslim kids and and a firebombing of a mosque?
No outrage? No moral disgust?
Besides, I don't think those crimes were committed by leftists.
Regardless of your quibble, the link PROVES that there has been a concerted effort on the part of Muslims to refute radical Islam.
"You're right; Catholics and Mormons were in self-defense mode."
Because extremists had devalued and denounced their religion. See how history repeats itself?
Don't forget the Mormons who bombed the car of the ex-Mormon who exposed their BS. These phony Christians will stop at nothing to conceal their lies.
ReplyDelete