Posted on 09/22/2011 11:54:21 AM PDT by Fiji Hill
"That's right," Reeve said at the council meeting, "I named my dog Muhammad."
The remarks came during a discussion about a planned dog park in the city. A council action related to the dog park was scheduled for adoption without discussion, but Reeve pulled the item to ask questions and make a brief comment.
Apparently Reeve thought the remark was funny, and so did some meeting attendees, who could be heard laughing on the recording of the meeting.
"I have two new dogs. I'm excited about a dog park," Reeve said. "America and Muhammad may want to play with dogs."
Local Muslim leaders didn't see any humor. It is widely regarded an insult in the Arab world to refer to someone as a dog. And Muhammad is the most common name given to men in the Muslim world.
The Muslim leaders see the comment as an attempt to provoke the larger Muslim community.
"It is un-American, irresponsible and immoral of the Councilman to engage in behavior that will not only serve to fuel anti-Muslim sentiment, but also runs counter to our country's values of unity, respect and pluralism," Munira Syeda, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles wing of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, wrote in an email.
Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, wasn't as strident but clearly wasn't pleased with the comment. "It's difficult to dignify such childishness," he said. "It doesn't even deserve a condemnation."
Al-Marayati said the comments were "beneath" the Muslim community, which wouldn't come out strongly against them. But he wasn't restrained in his opinion of Reeve.
"I'm sure the dog is more useful to the city than the city councilman [Reeve]," Al-Marayati said.
Mayor Sam Allevato said he was "frankly shocked" when he heard Reeve make the comment. Allevato said elected officials need to be held to a higher standard.
"I do not believe that comment does any good in the furtherance of good relations with members of the Muslim faith," Allevato said. "We have to be mindful as the elected leaders of the city. What we speak from the dais reverberates throughout the community and throughout the organization."
The remark will very likely be discussed at next week's council meeting. Council members are scheduled to consider "free speech and the decorum of the City Council," according to the meeting agenda.
Reeve could not be immediately reached for comment.
This isn't the first time this year that a local city council member has made comments offensive to Muslims. Hundreds turned out at a Villa Park City Council meeting in March to protest comments made by Councilwoman Deborah Pauly, who called attendees at a Muslim charity event "enemies of America."
— ADAM ELMAHREK
So? Islam is a murdering child-molesting cult. It deserves all the disrespect it can get.
That’s cruelty to dogs. Myself, I call the stuff I flush in my toilet, “Muhammed.” As in, “Bye Muhammed.”
How degrading to the dog!!!!
I named the stuff that comes out of my dog’s ass “Mohammed.”
What did his poor dog do to deserve to be named after such a worthless POS? Dogs and dog lovers everywhere should be outraged at such an insult to the canine name.
What a messed-up bunch of flakes -- that councilman had better upgrade his security.
He had better not draw any cartoons of his dog.
Poor dog.
It’ll probably have a new owner and a new name soon anyway, though, since this guy is going to have one of them “fatwads” issued against him...
My best little bitch dog is named Mohammed.
No joke.
Now, maybe a vicious, rabid pitbull...
Bent on utter distruction and intimidation, sadistic and whatever it can’t kill or destroy - it tries to hump ...
At least that sounds like Islam
So what?
I have had cats whom I have named “Thatcher”, “Truman” and “Lincoln”. All are names of endearment. Maybe this guy was trying to show his love for a favored athelet; Muhammed Ali?
Naming a dog Muhammad is an insult to the dog.
Councilman Derek Reeve sounds like a man after our hearts. He recently proposed a law allowing people to carry unloaded firearms in parks, which the council rejected. And he will soon propose a “Right to Work Act” aimed at curbing the hiring of illegal aliens.
Is this the same San Juan Capistrano that is fining people for having an inoffensive Bible Study in their homes? At least they are equal opportunity religion haters there in uppity San Juan. Why do the swallows keep going back there anyway?
That’s going to go over like a fart in a mosque.
No...it is PATRIOTIC to fuel anti-Muslim sentiment
but also runs counter to our country's values of unity, respect and pluralism"
Where the hell did he get all that? Certainly not in the U.S. Constitution. Most definitely not in the Koran.
Both dog and owner are now at risk of vengeance form the cult of peace.
I wonder how long it takes for CAIR to start a lawsuit 3-2-1.
Yes, it is. Judging from the article and from other reports on the dog incident, the majority of the city council as well as the mayor are liberals. Giovanni da Capestrano, a crusading priest who fought the Turks, and for whom the city is named, would not likely be pleased with what's going on at City Hall.
This same town recently fined a couple for holding weekly Bible studies.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.