Posted on 9/21/2006, 12:36:42 PM by Tiger007
Controversy over the pope's recent statements about Islam spilled into Colorado politics on Wednesday, as Rep. Tom Tancredo urged the pontiff to "resist calls to apologize," and a Muslim congressional staff member accused Tancredo of throwing "fuel on the fire with his hateful words."
Tancredo, a Littleton Republican, sent a letter urging Pope Benedict XVI to stand his ground on a recent speech in which he quoted a 14th century Byzantine emperor who said, "Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."
"It is not surprising that your statements prompted such a visceral reaction in much of the Islamic world, where the free exercise of religion is largely proscribed," Tancredo wrote. "Conversion from Islam to any other religion is illegal. Punishment is swift and severe - in some cases death."
Tancredo was raised Roman Catholic but is a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. He has spoken about what he sees as a "clash of civilizations" between Islamic radicals and Western societies. He drew worldwide ire in 2005 when, in response to a hypothetical question, he told an interviewer that the U.S. could threaten to bomb the holy site of Mecca in the event of terrorist attacks.
In Wednesday's letter, Tancredo cited four quotations from the Quran that he believes prove the point the pope was making, including calls to "smite" unbelievers and "slay the idolaters wherever you find them."
The letter drew an angry response from Nayyera Haq, communications director for Rep. John Salazar. Haq, who is Muslim, stressed in an e-mail that she was speaking for herself and not for her boss.
"As a man, Tom Tancredo has always been articulate in expressing his hatred of Islam and immigrants - no surprise there," Haq said. "In his arrogance, he chooses to disregard the existence of millions of law-abiding Muslim American citizens. What is surprising is that as an elected representative, someone who should be working towards our collective safety, Tancredo chooses to throw more fuel on the fire with his hateful words."
"Tancredo is being irresponsible with his congressional authority and is knowingly creating a more dangerous environment for all of us. Congressman Tancredo should focus more on building bridges with the progressives in the Muslim world rather than burning the few bridges we have left."
Many Muslim leaders have called for the pope to make a more direct apology.
Man, these Mooselims are getting to be as predictably knee-jerk as the RATs. LMAO
Appeasing genocidal mass murderers doesn't work and Tom understands that.
I think John Batchelor explains why the Pope used that quote from that period:
Theme of Jihad
By JOHN BATCHELOR
September 20, 2006
[snip]
The Pope then traveled back in time six centuries in order to demonstrate his case against jihad by using the voice of a long-dead empire that was defeated and obliterated by the jihad that, ... pursued a war of theft and attrition against civilized Christian Byzantium from the seventh century until Constantinople was smashed like glass in the 15th-century. It was total war... At the end, the losers not only were pushed into slavery, but also were forced to convert to Islam or die...
[snip]
What the pope did at Regensburg was point to the most spectacular victory for jihad in the last thousand years and say that it is not an example of religion nor of humanity...
[snip]
Today, for American leaders, there are bolder options when faced with jihadists. It is easy to see that Pope Benedict XVI hit his target squarely — Mohammed and his earthly heirs. Spreading the faith by the sword is evil and inhuman, says the pope. Jihad is ungodly, says the pope.Saying less than this is appeasement. As the criminal Osama Bin Laden aims to create a global caliphate of evil and inhumanity via jihad, so the lawful America can aim to restore reason and faith by defeating jihad, presto.
Read the whole thing here:
http://www.nysun.com/article/39997?page_no=1
So what were your previous incarnations on FR?
Good man.
And why? Because everyone refuses to recognize their brilliance or endure their terrible manners.
I didn't know Tancredo was an apostate from Catholicism. I wonder if that explains his hostility to all things Mexican.
Tancredo, I believe graduated from a Catholic high school. Maybe he has a grudge against those mean old nuns, he like hillary and Gingrich defend the pope but it's a typical self-absorbed Tancredo press release nonetheless.
lol, most mexicans are catholic, if not something else of a christian denomination, that would not make him hold hostility towards mexicans.
How about the idea that our govt is favoring one race over another to make up for past discrimination??
Precisely my point. He has personally rejected Catholicism.
Yeah those Anglo's are really lining up to take those food picking and toilet cleaning jobs, that you say the govt. is preventing them from taking.
When are you going to apply to be a food picker?
Not at all. It's a technical term.
Uh, I don't think Tom is really hostile to all things Mexican.
Seems that way to me.
The OBL doesn't even try to make sense anymore. They just go rabid and start foaming at the mouth at the mere mention of the name Tancredo. Attacking the man for supporting the Pope doesn't seem terribly bright.
I am a Roman Catholic and, like all observant Roman Catholics, I have a personal relationship with jesus Christ, I read the Scriptures for myself every day and I don't need clerical intermediaries to address God.
The strawman factory you're running seems to do a brisk business.
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