The Year of Moving Forward

The Year of Moving Forward
At our 4 person wedding reception in DC

Friday, November 30, 2007

Religious Extremism...It's All Around Us!

This shows how stupid and dangerous some people are. One of the YouTube questions for the Republicans was by Yasmin Elhady, a 21 year old Huntsville law student. Because she asked "What would you do as president to repair the image of America in the eyes of the world?", she has received threats and insults and her religion (Islam) has been blamed for the violence of the few.

Should the entire Christian religion be blamed for the violence that occured during the Crusades? (well, maybe).

Should the entire Christian religion be blamed for the Oklahoma City bombing, carried out by Christian terrorist Timothy McVeigh? (No)

Should the entire Christian religion be blamed for the hatred expressed by the United Church of YHWH in Talledega, who are tryng to "sanitize their hatred" by removing the swastikas from their materials, yet still describe Jews as "enemies of Christ?" (never mind that Jesus was a Jew).

Christian terrorism is alive and well, and is just as big a threat as Islamic terrorism. Not because Christians go around blowing themselves up along with other innocent people, but because reasonable Christians ignore the extremists in their own religion, or just look at them with curiosity while they meet and promote their hatred (like in Athens a couple of months ago). And then they question why reasonable Muslims don't do something about the Islamic extremists.

Thank goodness the FBI, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League monitor such groups. But the hatred of the Muslim religion based solely on the action of a few indicates a larger threat of hatred that could turn to violence if we aren't careful.

If you go to the video linked above and read the comments you will be disgusted. But hey, this is what Christianity is about for those people. The misguided, but very vocal few. Watch out.

By the way, Yasmin, I agree with you that our image needs to be repaired. That is one reason why I am backing Hillary Clinton for president, because she has the best chance at doing this after she is elected. Certainly no republican will do this, as they are scrambling to come up with the best plan for continuing war after war in country after country.

And thank you Yasmin for having the courage to ask this question. I am proud of you as an American, and as an Alabamian, for speaking out. You have already been recognized by being named one of Glamour magazine's Top 10 College Women for your activism. Keep it up, girl.

Gosh, and I haven't even gotten started on the spiritual terrorism committed by Christians toward lesbians and gays. Some other day.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

I just want to say that I denounce extremism and terrorism in all its forms. It is always unfortunate when an entire group of diverse, dynamic individuals are painted by the acts of an extreme minority.
ESPECIALLY when they espouse that their violence is in the name of God. God is not violent; He is love.

Joe said...

Yasmin,
Thank you for your comment. I know you have received a lot of negative input from hateful people. You just keep up the good work and the good will that you stand for, and much success to you.

If you are ever in Bessemer, look me up

Anonymous said...

Just came across your blog, and after reading the recent post, as a native of Athens, I am wondering what you're referring to here:

"reasonable Christians ignore the extremists in their own religion, or just look at them with curiosity while they meet and promote their hatred (like in Athens a couple of months ago)."

Any clarification would be appreciated. Thanks!

Joe said...

fq,
Remember in September when the annual Trail of Tears ride came through, and the same day the KKK was holding a rally in Athens. That rally and that group is who I am referring to. Go to my October 15 post and there is a link to an editorial about the event written by John Davis of Athens and published in the Bham News. Hope that clears it up.

btw, I used to live in Athens, on Angus Street...for one year.

Anonymous said...

Yasmin Elhady is a former CAIR intern. CAIR as an unindicted co-conspirator in an ongoing terror fund-raising case.

Anonymous said...

Right wing rhetoric. Even if CAIR was somehow really linked to terrorism, just because someone interned there means nothing.