Posted on 03/04/2003 2:34:57 AM PST by sarcasm
OLYMPIA -- He prayed for the politicians, the state's prosperity and peace for all ethnicities and religions.
But when a Muslim cleric offered the opening prayer before the state House of Representatives yesterday, at least two lawmakers stepped off the chamber floor.
"It's an issue of patriotism," Rep. Lois McMahan, a conservative Republican from Gig Harbor, said of her decision to stand in the back of the room.
"The Islamic religion is so . . . part and parcel with the attack on America. I just didn't want to be there, be a part of that," she said. "Even though the mainstream Islamic religion doesn't profess to hate America, nonetheless it spawns the groups that hate America."
Rep. Cary Condotta, a Republican from East Wenatchee, also left the floor. He said the timing was not a coincidence, but he declined to comment further on why he left, except to say he was talking to another lawmaker and "let's just say I wasn't particularly interested."
A prayer is given at the beginning of each Senate and House session, and attendance is hit or miss, particularly on Mondays.
The interfaith organization Associated Ministries of Thurston County schedules the daily chaplain, said Cynthia Zehnder, clerk of the 98-member chamber. They have selected clerics representing a broad range of faiths, she said.
Imam Mohamad Joban, of the Islamic Center of Olympia, presented yesterday's brief opening prayer.
In part, he said: "We open this session of House of Representatives in the name of Allah the one God Abraham, God of Moses, God of Jesus, and God of Mohammed, peace be upon them all. . . . We ask Allah or God to bless the state of Washington so it may continue to prosper and become a symbol of peace and tranquility for people of all ethnic and religious backgrounds. We pray that Allah may guide this House in making good decisions for the people of Washington.
"At this time, we also pray that America may succeed in the war against terrorism. We pray to God that the war may end with world peace and tranquility."
Joban said the walkout was not hurtful, but ignorant.
"They're unable to distinguish between Islam as religion and way of life, and bad Muslims," said Joban, who has also given the opening prayer to the Senate. "They are easily able to distinguish between Christianity and bad Christians.
"They need to understand that like (President) Bush said . . . Islam is a peaceful religion."
Kathy Erlandson, director of Associated Ministries of Thurston County, found the small walkout disappointing, but not surprising.
"It makes me embarrassed to know that some of our legislators can't even treat someone with that common respect," she said. "He's an American citizen and he's praying for their work, then how can it be an act of patriotism to walk away?"
McMahan said she does not oppose having a Muslim cleric deliver the prayer.
Her departure was not a protest, but a personal decision not to participate because "the religion is the focal point of the hate-America sentiment in the world."
"My god is not Mohammed," McMahan added.
Joban said that if he were invited to give the opening prayer, he would do it again.
"Even if half of them leave it's OK for me," Joban said. "As a Muslim we have to respect what people believe and . . . we have to forgive something because of ignorance.
"The Holy Quran says that (one should) always respond to bad action with good and those who used to be enemies become friends."
You have miserably failed to dilineate how a couple of legislators exercising their First Amendment right to not involve themselves in an Islamic prayer is in some way the violation of some imaginary 'Constitutional PRINCIPLE'.
Hmmmm Wonder how the Islamic cleric would respond if asked to recite the prayer ALL in English including the word God?
I have to admit I don't understand this logic. Of course they'd probably sneer and make nasty comments. And they'd be in the wrong.
Why would they be wrong? Because they have no business sneering at religious expression so long as all religions are treated equally.
And this is the same argument I am making to those who claim the Muslim cleric should not have been able to do this.
Does that include Satanism, or are certain religions exempt because they seek to destroy the foundations of this Republic?
And reserve the smarmy retort - just answer the question.
We are not to be unequally yoked or to pray to other Gods..
I can be polite and friendly to my Muslims neighbors ..I can have friends of any religion..but I do not pray with them
But if you were an elected legislator, and walked out because a "Mormon" Bishop offered a prayer to open your legislative session, I'd expect AT LEAST an apology from you to your consituents, and even an offer to resign.
You have no right to show "favoritism" toward or disrespect against a particular religious faith when you are acting in your office.
Does that include Satanism?
Reserve any smarmy retort - just answer the question.
There is FAR more similarity between the world's great religions than there are differences--though the differences are more immediately apparent of course.
The golden rule exists in some form in ALL of them, for example. The common values are those that are the most crucial to society; the rest is mainly window-dressing as far as community life is concerned.
I don't think that "Satanism" qualifies under even the most broad-minded application of standards.
I ~think~ we have seperation of Church and state....Seeing that there can be no state religion I believe those woman had a freedom to leave ..
I would not make a scene but I would not go for the opening or I would leave quietly Bill...and I would grant the same right to anyone offended by a Christian prayer or a jewish prayer.
This is the reason I am against prayer in the schools..
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