http://www.icnanj.org/sixflags/
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/09192004_nw_muslimyouth.html
Something that piqued my curiosity, considering this was a day of "rides and fun" for the children, was the list of guest speakers:
Chief Guests/Speakers at six flags
Imam Zaid Shakir
Dr. Ingrid Mattson
W. D. Mohammad
Let's take a look at these individuals and again ask ourselves just why were they speaking at a children's event.
Iman Zaid Shakir
Shakir is an American born African-American convert to Islam. Born in Berkley,CA and raised in different states, mainly in the ghetto's, Shakir is a devotee of Malcom X. Shakir often speaks at colleges and universities as well as different muslim youth groups.
Here is a link to a site where, at the top of the page, there is a Malcolm X video where Shakir speaks:
http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/msa/resources.html
This is an excerpt from a 2002 interview with Zaid Shakir: "EXCERPT OF SHAKIR ON TAPE: One of the miraculous things associated with Islam is that this civilizational genus in Islam can manifest itself anywhere. And we can make this Islam manifest itself right here in the United States of America so that when people look back in history, they can talk about the Islamic civilization of America."
Link to entire interview:
http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript101_full.html
If anyone is interested in reading more about Iman Zaid Shakir a google search will provide a great deal of info.
Dr. Ingrid Mattson
Ingrid Mattson is a Canadian born convert is Islam. From 1987-1988 she lived in Pakistan. She is vice president of the Islamic Society of North America and a professor of Islamic studies at Hartford Seminary in Connecticut.
Excerpt from a very interesting article (March 2004):
"Though Dr. Ingrid Mattson appears moderate, she is insidious precisely because she maintains that façade while steadfastly refusing to criticize radical Islamists, claiming that there is no such thing as Wahhabism and that the term "Islamic terrorism" should not be used in the media. Most shocking of all, though, is how little concern she expressed about suicide bombings in an essay she wrote shortly after 9/11."
http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/001332.php
After reading a considerable amount about Dr. Mattson I believe she is a apologist for wahhabism. This is but one indication of such:
http://www.thewahhabimyth.com/intellectuals.htm
In 2002 the Southern Baptist Council and Rev. Jerry Falwell had some things to say about Islam (I am neither a baptist nor a follower of Rev. Falwell although IMO they do hit the nail on the head. Just disseminating information here. ).
Excerpt from linked article about Dr. Ingrid Mattson's reaction:
The usual suspects gathered to condemn the Baptists for their excessive Christianity, and according to CNN, Ingrid Mattson, vice president of the Islamic Society of North America and a professor of Islamic studies at Hartford Seminary in Connecticut, called the comments "medieval." She said statements like this from such high-placed religious leaders can lead to violence against Muslims.
"It makes me wonder what's the hateful religion right now that we should be worried about," said Dr. Mattson
http://www.vdare.com/fulford/prophet_loss.htm
W.D. Mohammed
http://home.att.net/~spmckee/people_muhammadwd.html
One could spend an enormous amount of time researching W.D. Mohammed. W.D., like Zaid Shakir, has roots in the Malcom X movement. W.D. Mohammed's father, Elijah Muhammad, is one of the originators of recruiting black men in prison to islam. He was also one of the leaders of the Nation of Islam. Here is Elijah Muhammad's bio:
http://www.gale.com/free_resources/bhm/bio/muhammad_e.htm"
This article is, IMO, interesting, but rather brutal. The beginning is about the father (Elijah), and read to the end about W.D.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/4222/noi4.html
At some point W.D. Mohammed split from the Nation of Islam and denounced much that his father stood for. Later W.D. reunited with Malcolm X. Now, just to mention both sides of what I've found, there are quite a few muslim sites that commend W.D. Mohammed as being a leader of the "peaceful side of islam". But, I remain suspicious about the "peaceful" side of Islam as I haven't seen much, if any, of it.
If one is interested there is much more information on line regarding all three of these individuals. I have tried to give just a bit about each and as this post is entirely too long as it is I will leave with just this question:
What was the purpose of these three "controversial" individuals speaking at a children's day at the amusement park?
http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:qUZdX347gtMJ:www.federalnewsradio.com/index.php%3Fnid%3D79+Mosque+closed+in+Springfield,+Mo.&hl=en
Mo. Mosque Tries to Clear Terror Link
Oct. 3, 2004
Members of a mosque are fighting to keep their place of worship as the federal government probes a link between the Islamic Center of Springfield and a benefactor accused of financing terrorism around the world.
See, this is what I'm talking about!
Your research/report into this event and the ensuing conncetions into the organization and people. I hope everyone see's this and learns to appreciate you as I do ;)