Posted on 10/25/2003 9:02:49 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
Lt. Gen. William Boykin, the officer leading the hunt for Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, told evangelical Christian audiences last week that God was on the side of America's war on terrorism and said that Muslims worship an "idol." And that the Muslims' God is not a real God.
I know, being a Muslim myself, that I don't worship an idol, and my God is the same God who created us all. And I don't think that God all of the sudden has taken sides in killing and slaughter done in his name. Only people with serious delusions and mental problems think that God is a cheerleader for killing.
Such blatant racism and ignorance should not have a place in the U.S. armed forces or U.S. official policy. The president should make it clear that such extremist views will not be tolerated, and Boykin should resign.
Boykin's resignation would, first, maintain the integrity of the armed forces; second, send a message that racism and bigotry will not be tolerated in this country and, third, show that the U.S. war on terrorism is not war against a religion but rather against terrorists regardless of their religion.
One cannot help but to draw a comparison between President Bush's reaction to anti-Jewish comments by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Mohammed and his reaction to Boykin's anti-Muslim remarks. Bush chastised the prime minister publicly and said nothing to his Pentagon official. To Muslims around the world, Bush's silence confirms their suspicion that this U.S. administration is waging a new crusade against Islam and Muslims.
The general's ugly, racist comments did not come out of the blue, however. There is an undercurrent of anti-Muslim and anti Arab sentiment fomented by right-wing Christian evangelical groups and, unfortunately, as in this case, that seeps into the administration's official thinking and decisions.
Imagine if the general said the same words about any other religion. Of course, all hell would break loose, and he would not last until the end of the day in his position. To be an anti-Muslim in this country is, sadly, tolerated and oftentimes encouraged by extremist propaganda.
Are we a nation where hatred of particular religious and ethnic groups has evolved to become a common currency? In some quarters, yes, and I would not have been too shocked if those comments had come from the likes of Pat Robertson, who has in the past said similar things and just recently said that the State Department should be "nuked."
In the Middle East, Boykin's comments have made headlines and will definitely increase the perception that the United States today is a country bent on waging war against Islam. Moreover, the general's remarks will make bin Laden's argument more credible: that the United State is waging a war against Islam and Arabs, and, of course, for oil, under the guise of fighting terrorism. This perception, if it confirms Muslim suspicions, would not be very helpful to America's image around the world and would doom any U.S. policy in the Middle East or in the Islamic world.
Right-wing Christian groups, too, would see the general's comments as a vindication of their anti-Muslim hatred campaign and a step in the right direction toward an eventual Muslim-Christian war in the Middle East. As crazy an idea as it sounds, that's an eventuality crazed extremists on both side are rooting for.
Level-headed Americans of all colors and religions -- Jews, Christians, Muslims and others -- need to make a courageous stand against all forms of racism and extremism and to make America a better country.
Ali Alarabi is the National Director of the United Arab American League-Chicago. E-mail: alialarabi @suntimesmail.com
LOL. Muslims are better off looking in their own backyards first. Like at Sheikh Mansour Al-Rifa'i 'Ubeid, (former Egyptian under secretary for religious affairs in charge of mosques and the Koran) who thinks treason and deception are in the blood of the Jews ... or at some of those sermons spewed in Islams holiest mosques..
Actually, the tapes were of religious meetings that the general attended in June. Therefore, they are approaching 4-5 months old.
He was followed and taped by "someone" who then gave the material to the LATimes group. This someone was tipped by another "someone" from inside the pentagon.
All of them were in religious meetings.
After reviewing AR 670-1 and AR 600-20, the General is more than in his rights to practice his faith while in uniform.
These regulations prescribe the wear of the uniform AND specifically HOW the uniform must appear when IT IS worn in religious meetings; thereby affirming that its wear in religious settings is approved.
I can tell you without a doubt, that I was ordered on any number of occasions to speak in public religious settings outside the military and to wear my uniform while doing so.
This ranged from churches to cemeteries.
Xzins
Chaplain (Retired) US Army
Anyone know where Mr. Ali Babalooie was standing on 9-12-01? Was he taking a 'courageous stand' or was he whining about how Muslims were going to be mistreated even more in the U.S.?
...and his god, allah, is the pagan moongod that Mohammed's tribe worshipped.
...and it's obvious that he believes in freedom of speech for himself, but not anyone who disagrees with him.
This country had better wake-up quick and take a crash course in history, since Charles Martel ain't around to save our hineys.
Anyone know where Mr. Ali Babalooie was standing on 9-12-01? Was he taking a 'courageous stand' or was he whining about how Muslims were going to be mistreated even more in the U.S.?
...and his god, allah, is the pagan moongod that Mohammed's tribe worshipped.
...and it's obvious that he believes in freedom of speech for himself, but not anyone who disagrees with him.
This country had better wake-up quick and take a crash course in history, since Charles Martel ain't around to save our hineys.
http://www.ahram-eg.com/weekly/2003/661/letters.htm
Chicago: "The general's ugly, racist comments did not come out of the blue, however. There is an undercurrent of anti-Muslim and anti Arab sentiment fomented by right-wing Christian evangelical groups and, unfortunately, as in this case, that seeps into the administration's official thinking and decisions."
Cairo: "But I was not too surprised to hear those ugly and racist comments. After all, there is an undercurrent of anti-Muslim and anti-Arab sentiments fomented by right-wing Christian evangelical groups in this country, which unfortunately seeps through the administration's official thinking and decisions."
Chicago: "To be an anti-Muslim in this country is, sadly, tolerated and oftentimes encouraged by extremist propaganda.
"Are we a nation where hatred of particular religious and ethnic groups has evolved to become a common currency? In some quarters, yes"
Cairo: "But sadly, to be an anti- Muslim in this country is tolerated, and often times encouraged by extremist propaganda all over the place. What does that say about our country? Are we a nation where hatred of religious and ethnic groups has evolved to become a common currency?"
Chicago:"In the Middle East, Boykin's comments have made headlines and will definitely increase the perception that the United States today is a country bent on waging war against Islam. Moreover, the general's remarks will make bin Laden's argument more credible: that the United State is waging a war against Islam and Arabs, and, of course, for oil, under the guise of fighting terrorism. This perception, if it confirms Muslim suspicions, would not be very helpful to America's image around the world and would doom any U.S. policy in the Middle East or in the Islamic world. "
Cairo: This hurts "America's image around the world, especially if Muslims start realising that the US wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and possibly Syria and Iran are nothing but wars against Muslims and their religion."
Nope. Your god is an idol, dirtbag.
I have yet to see or hear what those words are. Talkradio hosts say they can only find paraphrases of the words in different sources, with the slant of the paraphrase depending on the source.
One paraphrase is to the effect: "a few extremists are ....". Other paraphrases leave off the word few or few extremists. It's like leaving off the word not in Arnahhlds comments about Nazis.
It seems like we're joining the groups that go around making themselves the victims and boasting that they are more victimized, and deserve more pity, than the other groups.
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