ISIS chops off heads, incinerates hostages, kills gays, enslaves girls. Obama: Blame the Crusades.

I'll keep that in mind next time Texas tries to incorporate the notion that Moses was an important factor in the foundation of the United States into our public school system.

 

I am a person of faith and was not insulted.

it's a fact that ISIS does all those things, and it's a fact that religions have been used for good things and bad things.

 

has to be out of the onion. You can't be that stupid Trader george.

 

Maybe because they feel Obama think Crusade (and slavery) = ISIS and that pissed off a lot of people?

Historically, I don't think that's really accurate relatively to the time it happen. What ISIS is doing is very extreme of today standard. Crusades started out as a push back against Muslim but ended up badly and was full of horrible stories. But it was actually very accepted by most of society at the time. Slavery was a very "normal" thing for that time.

Looking back from today standard, they are bad. But really, you can't compare the two.

Obama, I'm sure didn't meant to said the two are equals, but that horrible things have been done in name of Religion. But the way he did it is really not understanding people sensitivity and I can see why some Christians would be ticked. And for someone like him, horrible politically. Almost seems like he isn't aware or no longer seems to care about the political landscape.

It was a stupid thing to said for a politician. His real message was lost.

 

Not really. Just twisted by dumbasses like texxx

 

I didn't agree with bigtexxx if that's what you are thinking. And it definitely got twisted by the Rep for political reasons. Who provided that bullet?

What bigtexxx does is intentional. I almost ignore everything he said. You don't have to evaluate what the President said based on what bigtexxx said.

 

When you plagiarize other peoples arguments, do you lose immediately or is there some sort retroactive loss of credibility for anything you have ever said?

 

I have an argument about your "content". Obama isn't a theologian who has a responsibility to critique religion. No, his responsibility to the American people is to protect them and Texxx, for once answer me with objectivity regarding Obama. What will it accomplish if Obama explicitly stated as you desire that "Islam is bad."? Do you think Muslims around the world are suddenly going to have an epiphany and leave their religion? Or do you honestly believe that Obama is "supporting ISIS" and trying to find excuses for them? Please tell me the rationality behind this and why a president of the United States would desire the success of ISIS rationally and objectively.

I see a president performing his responsibilities. His goal of that speech was not about addressing ISIS, but rather attempting to not isolate and disparage the Muslim community in the United States, an important community that is vital in suppressing Islamic extremism. Obama's words are influential and if your desire of Obama becoming a theologian and a Sam Harris type personality were to come true what do you think that will do to those few Muslims in the U.S. who are teetering between fanaticism and moderation? What do you think it will do to that young adolescent Muslim who is actually contemplating joining ISIS when he hears his president make harsh critical remarks regarding his religion?

Everyone here knows my harsh criticism towards Islam, but combating ISIS and criticizing Islam do not have to be mutually inclusive. You can do one without doing the other.

 

Maybe it's a horrible thing politically but it's silly for people to jump on what? Him saying that Christianity had it's dark moments?

All he is trying to do is prevent people from demonizing Islam and creating more irrational hate and fear.

 

More importantly, Obama's speech was more directed towards the Muslim community. He is essentially saying "Don't worry we got your back. America has your interests in mind more than ISIS or any fundamentalist organization does. We don't think you are evil and please be proud of being American."

 

Yup - it's sad that people try to twist that into "Blame the Crusades".

It really shows that folks like Bigtexxx are so morally void they will just manufacture b.s. for their hatred of the opposing political party.

 

Great post. You deserve a well thought out response from him. I hope you get it.

 

LOL...don't hold your breath.

 

No, the point is allying with the mainstream of religions and vilifying the violent extremes, giving examples from history how even Western religions have gone insane.

 

You lost because your brain can't actually follow the point he was making.

 

Prevent WHO from demonizing Islam and creating more irrational hate and fear?

If his message is toward those on the edge of doing that, maybe it worked a bit. If his message is toward those who already rejected that, it doesn't matter. If his message is toward those who is *already* doing that and trying to convince them to move toward his viewpoint, I think he failed miserably and likely alienate them more.

It is intentional and for political reason for people to say he "excuses" or "blame". There isn't really anything silly about that - they know exactly what they are doing.

It's not that silly that people get upset over this when they view him comparing their religion to ISIS. To me, he could do the same but soften the language a bit. This is because I do have a problem with his comparison - it doesn't really work due to what I stated before. He could have clarified that point a bit more to help with why he brought up those points, but he left it up to wide open interpretation.

Like it or not, many Christians are "at war" with Islam. You want to close that gap, talk about what Islam is good at. Talk about their good side. Push that side to do more good. I would have liked if the US actually partner with Islam leaders here in the US to tell of a good story of Islam. I think that go much further than talking about the "bad" side of Christians.