So it begins - Opposition to Mosque Projects Across America

Osama and Newt, tacitly working together. From Will and Slate:

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Sheikh Your Newtie
The Gingrich-Bin Laden alliance.

By William Saletan

In the years since 9/11, Osama Bin Laden has issued more than 20 audio and video statements to spread his view of the conflict between the United States and al-Qaida. According to his worldview, the United States represents Christianity, al-Qaida represents Muslims, Christians won't protect Muslims, the West hates mosques, peaceful coexistence is a fraud, and the "war on terrorism" is really a war on Islam. By spreading this message, Bin Laden works to turn Muslims against the United States and rally them to al-Qaida.

Now Bin Laden has an ally in this propaganda campaign: Newt Gingrich.

Over the past two weeks, in a series of articles and speeches, Gingrich has declared a religious war that suits al-Qaida's agenda almost perfectly. While denouncing "Islamists" rather than Islam, Gingrich has blurred the distinction by selecting as his initial target the construction of a mosque near Ground Zero. Everything Bin Laden says about the United States, Gingrich validates. All you have to do is read their statements, side by side.



</p><table bordercolor="#d3d3d3" cellspacing="0" bordercolordark="#ffffff" cellpadding="4" width="100%" bordercolorlight="#d3d3d3" border="1" id="table1"><tbody><tr><td valign="middle" align="center" bordercolorlight="#d3d3d3" bgcolor="#d3d3d3" bordercolordark="#ffffff" colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="255"><p><font face="arial" size="2"><strong>BIN LADEN</strong></font></p></td><td valign="middle" align="center" bordercolorlight="#dcdcdc" bgcolor="#d3d3d3" bordercolordark="#ffffff" colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%"><p><font face="arial" size="2"><strong>GINGRICH</strong></font></p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="255"><p><font size="1"><font face="verdana"><font face="arial">[</font></font>N]ow that senior U.S. officials have spoken … every Muslim should rush to defend his religion. … They came out to fight this group of people who declared their faith in God and refused to abandon their religion. They came out to fight Islam in the name of terrorism.<font face="verdana"><font face="arial"> (</font></font></font><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1585636.stm" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">Oct. 7, 2001</font></a><font face="arial" size="1">)</font></p></td><td valign="top" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p><font size="1">One of our biggest mistakes in the aftermath of 9/11 was naming our response to the attacks "the war on terror" instead of accurately identifying radical Islamists (and the underlying ideology of radical Islamism) as the target of our campaign. <font face="arial">(</font></font><a href="http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=38282" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">July 28, 2010</font></a><font face="arial" size="1">)</font></p></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td valign="top" colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="255"><p><font size="1">This war is fundamentally religious. … Those who try to cover this crystal clear fact, which the entire world has admitted, are deceiving the Islamic nation. … It is a question of faith, not a war against terrorism, as Bush and Blair try to depict it. … Fear God, O Muslims and rise to support your religion.<font face="arial"> (</font></font><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/monitoring/media_reports/1636782.stm" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">Nov. 3, 2001</font></a><font face="arial" size="1">)</font></p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p><font size="1">Some radical Islamists use terrorism as a tactic to impose sharia, but others use non-violent methods—a cultural, political, and legal jihad that seeks the same totalitarian goal even while claiming to repudiate violence. Thus, the term "war on terrorism" is far too narrow a framework in which to think about the war in which we are engaged against the radical Islamists.(</font><a href="http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=38282" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">July 28, 2010</font></a><font face="arial" size="1">)</font></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="255"><p><font size="1">It has become clear that the West in general and America in particular have an unspeakable hatred for Islam. … A few days ago, they ... dropped—in what they said was a mistake—a radio-guided bomb on a mosque where ulemas were praying. They targeted the mosque, killing 150 Muslim worshippers. It is the hatred of crusaders. <font face="arial">(</font></font><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1729882.stm" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">Dec. 27, 2001</font></a><font face="arial" size="1">)</font></p></td><td valign="top" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p><font size="1">[T]he Ground Zero mosque is all about conquest and thus an assertion of Islamist triumphalism which we should not tolerate. … It is simply grotesque to erect a mosque at the site of the most visible and powerful symbol of the horrible consequences of radical Islamist ideology. </font><font face="arial"><font size="1"><font size="1">(</font><a href="http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=38282" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">July 28, 2010</font></a><font face="verdana" size="1">)</font></font></font></p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="255"><p><font size="1">The intentions of the Americans have also been clarified in statements about the need to change the beliefs, curricula, and morals of the Muslims to become more tolerant, as they put it. In clearer terms, it is a religious-economic war.<font face="arial"> (</font></font><a href="http://www.nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/FeaturedDocs/nefaubl20040104.pdf" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">Jan. 4, 2004</font></a><font face="arial" size="1">)</font></p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p><font face="arial" size="1"><font face="verdana">America is experiencing an Islamist cultural-political offensive designed to undermine and destroy our civilization. Sadly, too many of our elites are the willing apologists for those who would destroy them if they could. No mosque. No self deception. No surrender.</font> (</font><a href="http://www.newt.org/newt-direct/newt-gingrich-statement-proposed-%E2%80%9Ccordoba-house%E2%80%9D-mosque-near-ground-zero" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">July 21, 2010</font></a><font face="arial"><font size="1">)</font><br></font></p></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="255"><p><font size="1">The West is incapable of recognizing the rights of others. It will not be able to respect others' beliefs or feelings. The West still believes in ethnic supremacy and looks down on other nations. … How can we explain France's stance on the headscarf and the banning on wearing it at schools ... This is a Zionist-Crusader war.<font face="arial"> (</font></font><a href="http://kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/2006/04/24/4622.shtml" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">April 23, 2006</font></a><font face="arial" size="1">)</font></p></td><td valign="top" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p><font size="1">[T]hey proposed a 13-story mosque and community center that will extol the glories of Islamic tolerance for people of other faiths, all while overlooking the site where radical Islamists killed almost 3,000 people in a shocking act of hatred. Building this structure on the edge of the battlefield created by radical Islamists is not a celebration of religious pluralism and mutual tolerance; it is a political statement of shocking arrogance and hypocrisy. … [F]or radical Islamists, the mosque would become an icon of triumph, encouraging them in their challenge to our civilization. <font face="arial">(</font></font><a href="http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=38282" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">July 28, 2010</font></a><font face="arial" size="1">)</font></p></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><font size="1">So what is the sin of the Afghans due to which you are continuing this unjust war against them? Their only sin is that they are Muslims, and this illustrates the extent of the Crusaders' hatred of Islam and its people. (</font><a href="http://nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/nefabinladen1107.pdf" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">Nov. 29, 2007</font></a><font face="arial" size="1">)</font></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p><font face="arial" size="1"><font face="verdana">This is not a war on terrorism. Terrorism is an activity. This is a struggle with radical Islamists in both their militant and their stealth form. … The stealth form believes in using cultural, intellectual and political [power], but their end goal is exactly the same. </font>(</font><a href="http://www.aei.org/docLib/Address%20by%20Newt%20Gingrich07292010.pdf" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">July 29, 2010</font></a><font face="arial" size="1">)</font></p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" align="left" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><font face="Times New Roman"><p><font face="arial"><font face="verdana" size="1">"O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: they are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them." … Similar are sophistries like "dialogue of religions," "freedom of opinion," "freedom of speech," "peaceful coexistence." … </font><font size="1">(</font></font><a href="http://www.nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/FeaturedDocs/nefaubl0309.pdf" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">March 14, 2009</font></a><font face="arial" size="1">)</font></p></font></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p><font face="arial" size="1"><font face="verdana">President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, as our troops were landing in Normandy, went on national radio at 10 o'clock at night and actually led the nation in six and a half minutes of prayer, something very few modern liberals appreciate. This is part of what he said: "Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set up on a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity." This was not a man who was confused about what the stakes were, nor was he confused about what the goal was.</font> (</font><a href="http://www.aei.org/docLib/Address%20by%20Newt%20Gingrich07292010.pdf" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">July 29, 2010</font></a><font face="arial" size="1">)</font></p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><font size="1">So, who stood by America the Christian, and who supported it? Isn't that Zardari and his government and army? … Obama has walked like his predecessors in increasing hostility towards Muslims. … I encourage my Muslim nation to stand by the side of the mujahideen and support them everywhere. ("Speech to the Pakistani Nation," </font><a href="http://www.nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/FeaturedDocs/nefa_binladen0609.pdf" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">June 3, 2009</font></a><font face="arial" size="1">)</font></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><font size="1">President Roosevelt said the following: "We must remember what the collaborative understanding between Communism and Nazism has done to the processes of democracy abroad. Those forces hate democracy and Christianity as two phases of the same civilization. They oppose democracy because it is Christian. They oppose Christianity because it preaches democracy. Their objective is to prevent democracy from becoming strong." Again, this is hardly a man who's confused about what's at stake. Winston Churchill, at the very peak of the Battle of Britain, said, "Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization." </font><font face="verdana"><font size="1">(</font></font><a href="http://www.aei.org/docLib/Address%20by%20Newt%20Gingrich07292010.pdf" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">July 29, 2010</font></a><a href="http://www.aei.org/docLib/Address%20by%20Newt%20Gingrich07292010.pdf" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">)</font></a></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td valign="top" align="left" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p><font face="verdana" size="1">The war which has been taking place on your soil these past years is a war between Islam and the International Crusade. – ("Fight On, Champions of Somalia," </font><a href="http://www.nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/nefaubl0309-2.pdf" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">March 19, 2009</font></a><font face="arial" size="1">)</font></p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p><font face="arial" size="1"><font face="verdana">There should be no mosque near Ground Zero in New York so long as there are no churches or synagogues in Saudi Arabia. The time for double standards that allow Islamists to behave aggressively toward us while they demand our weakness and submission is over.</font> (</font><a href="http://www.newt.org/newt-direct/newt-gingrich-statement-proposed-%E2%80%9Ccordoba-house%E2%80%9D-mosque-near-ground-zero" target="_blank"><font face="arial" size="1">July 21, 2010</font></a><font face="arial" size="1">)</font></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Several astute writers—<a href="http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/20/a-mosque-maligned/" target="_blank">Robert Wright</a>, <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2010/08/if-he-could-bin-laden-would-bomb-the-cordoba-initiative/60833/" target="_blank">Jeffrey Goldberg</a>, <a href="http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/08/02/the_only_man_who_can_stop_the_mosque_madness" target="_blank">Blake Hounshell</a>, <a href="http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/08/national-review-vs-the-mosque.html" target="_blank">Andrew Sullivan</a>—have explained the idiocy of the anti-mosque campaign. By opposing the mosque, Gingrich, Sarah Palin, Rudy Giuliani, and other Republicans think they're standing up to Bin Laden. But Bin Laden isn't fighting for Islam. He's fighting to transform a war of terrorists against civilization into a war of infidels against Islam. He's fighting to persuade Muslims that they belong on his side, not on ours.</p><p>And you're helping him, Newt. You're giving him exactly the fight he wants. Nice going.</p><div id="insider_ad_wrapper" class="slate">

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On behalf of Muslim males, I'd just like to say we thoroughly appreciate the universe of videos/articles dedicated to "if Muslims keep reproducing at this rate, they will take over bla bla bla."

Getting laid has never been so easy.

Mathloom's favourite pick-up lines:

"Listen girl, the absolute worst case scenario is we improve our chances in the global war dedicated to eradicating us from earth."

"Do you really want to lose this war because we needed just one more litte soldier and you said no?"

On a serious note, we shouldn't be surprised by this. Nothing new has ever come to America without facing intense scrutiny (to put it nicely). I just hope that the sentiment is on a downward slope and the Muslims are mature enough to handle the reaction. Building a mosque is a noble cause, but Muslims don't really need mosque buildings, so patience is something they can afford.

 

Makes me wonder why they're doing all these things in such a round-about ways. Why not just make a change to the 1st amendment?

There. Problem solved.

 

http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Angry-protesters-descend-on-mosque-606515.php

How awesome is this? These people think that Jesus wants them to go harass Muslims at their houses of worship, curse them out, terrorize their kids in hopes of implanting a deep sense of social rejection in them, and telling them that their God hates them......ALL in the hope that these evil Muslims would see the light and, what, become their brothers?!!!

Worst.....Evangelism.....EVER!

 

Nothing shows how badly you've missed the whole point of everything Jesus ever said than yelling "Jesus hates [fill in the blank]!"

 

Several years ago there were some Muslims recruiting on UH campus and they had a sign that said they thought Jesus was a great/good person. Cannot remember exactly but obviously they were recruiting Christians.

To me he was either the son of God or a massive fraud and liar.

 

I really don't think Jesus appreciates people putting words in his mouth. I don't know how telling people that the central figure of your religion hates them is supposed to make them convert.

 

Your beliefs aside, I would wager most people would prefer being greeted by signs from followers of a different faith saying, "We believe in Jesus too" than being greeted with one that says, "Jesus hates [insert name of the religious group]"

A huge distinction, I would think.

I am not a Christian so I do not believe Jesus is God, but I certainly would prefer having Muslims tell me, "We like Moses too" than see signs proclaiming, "Jesus hates the f***ing Jews!"

Hope I got my point across.

 

I think the Muslim position is that he was a prophet that never claimed to be the Son of God. That was something created later and perpetuated by the authors of the New Testament, which they consider to be a document corrupted by man. So as far as Muslims are concerned, Jesus is neither the Son of God nor a fraud and liar.

 

That's about right. We believe he was a Prophet and Messenger of God and that's it. Let me add that he is one of the most important figures in Islam for certain reasons.

So, I really don't see why Jesus would hate Muslims if we respect him so much

And ya, Moses is pretty important to us as well.

 

It seems like the moderate Muslims are being pulled on one side by the "radical Christians" and on another side by the "radical Muslims." But I'm not going anywhere.

Put a gun to my head and force me to pick a side, I'll take the bullet.

 

Uh, isn't it a bit of an oxymoron to say 'Jesus hates ______' ? I know they are probably more on the radical side of Christianity, but still, what kind of Bible do they read?

 

Just to get a better understanding, would Muslims look at Jesus like Christians look at the apostles or John the Baptist or how Catholics look at Mary?

 

Seems like the vast majority of Christians are hypocrites. Hell, the religion itself is filled with hypocrisy. The old and new testaments often teach directly opposing lessons.

 

This supposed conspiracy of Muslims to transform the west into a 'shariah state' is something I continue to hear espoused by conservatives with reckless disregard. Its as if they really dont care what Muslims say or think, because the percentage of Muslims seriously advocating for that are virtually non-existant.

I'm going to second Mathlooms sentiments on hoping for maturity from the Muslim community in response to this. An equally irrational and angry counter argument wont accomplish much.

 

Isn't there a third option? Maybe he didn't say everything he is quoted as saying in the bible. Maybe those words about being the son of God were put there by someone else.

 

Or delusional...

Second coming of Christ...

 

I would say we're most similar in our views about John (Prophet Yahya). Not really the apostles or even how Catholics look at Mary except for the part that she was a virgin.

 

then you probably shouldn't read any of the new testament. like, not even one single page. especially 1st Timothy

there is a reason that the old and new testaments teach opposing lessons.

whats baffling is that the books within the new testament often teach opposing lessons, more specifically, within the synoptic gospels. Mark, Matthew and Luke all state very different irreconcilable discrepancies.

also, I think it should be pointed out that the Qu'ran is just as full of contradictions and hypocrisies. And obviously, there are Muslims that do the same thing...(my god hates _____). Which is just another reason why every religion sucks.