Let's try to break this down into simple terms:

Mainstream Islamic orthodoxy mandates theocracy. Mainstream Christian orthodoxy does not mandate, or even advocate, a theocracy.

To defend, and support, mainstream Islam is to support Islamic theocracy. See Irshad Manji. See Tarek Fatah.

The nice, Americanized, Muslim you know who is ok with women wearing shorts, pop music, and homosexuality, does not represent mainstream Islam.

Billw3 WRITES
"Name-calling is the last resort of those who cannot refute facts."

I agree - look at what some fool wrote
"The problem is Obama's Muslim background"

Oh, wait - that was YOU.
BTW, calling somebody who lies a 'liar' isn't 'calling names', it's telling the truth.
Better luck next time!

HUMANITY

I have glanced thru some of the comments on this post and there are quite a few references as to whether God Is or isn't.

Well, God Is Real and He is a Trinity and He is a BEING OF PURE LOVE and He is not a he, a she, or an it, even tho God-Incarnate was a male but sometimes I refer to God as a He, because using a pronoun can come in handy.

God, by the way, is a searcher of hearts and minds, not of religious affiliations or lack thereof and it is important what you do and why you do it and what you know.

Jesus is God-Incarnate, He is not merely a prophet, even tho some have been deceived into thinking and believing this, and I, for one, do not hold it against anyone who has been deceived by satan into believing this, of course, I am only a messenger, and as I have already said: God is a searcher of hearts and minds.

It sure does seem that there are some that follow Jesus much better that do not even believe that He Is Who He Is which is, I AM WHO AM translated into english [this may or may not be the exact translation but it is close enough] than some of the people that believe that Jesus is God-Incarnate.

The Gospel which means GOOD NEWS is that: God wins, satan loses, a tie is unacceptable.

Knowing God's Name means that someone knows God's Name and sometimes it seems that that is about the only thing that some know about God.

God's Kingdom, the new heavens and the new earth, will come on the seventh day exactly when the seventh day will arrive, I do not know.

Before the seventh day gets here tho, the night of the sixth day will come.

I have no idea how long the sixth day has lasted until now nor do I know how long the night of the sixth day will be when it gets here.

It is GOD'S WILL that ALL BE SAVED and GOD' WILL will come to FRUITION.

By the way, God is the God of ALL, We are ALL made in the Image and Likeness of God, not just some.

Take care, be ready.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

After failing to inject race issue, now the Chritian conservatives and the Rupublicans are desperate.They are trying to inject a religion issue and scare against Islam. They have failed in the past and will fail gain with the Democrates winning a landlside historical victory this year to shut up the conservatives for next 8 years.

Are you really so angry that you would deliberately lie about and insult your own people Halozcel?
Or have you only read history according to Ataturk?
Ataturk destroyed the arabic alphabet, and replaced it with roman letters in the late 20s.
You cannot even read a history book in your own language- they have been rewritten.
Have you never been intellectually curious enough to read your own history?
Do you really believe what you write?

Shame on you for insulting your own forefathers like that.

Astoria,

The Ottomans welcomed Jews from Spain.Yes,because,Ottomans were at war with Spain and thought to undermine Spain.
But,what happened later ?
70 years later,Jewish community was exiled/deported to Albania.Is this tolerance ?

And,yes,you are right,some of Jews served as wizirs/Prime Minister and Advisors to the Sultans.The main cause was not tolerance,but there were not enough qualified statemen in Ottomans.

Yes, Powell clearly rejects Islamophobia. However does Mr. Bhuyan? That remains entirely unclear. Has Mr. Bhuyan ever encouraged a 7 year-old Muslim kid to run for president?

USA has changed a lot and that is why Obama is the candidate for The President of most powerful country on earth. Without support of millions of USA he could not be a candidate. And whatever anti-Muslim bigotry exist it is due to bad media propaganda as majority people try not to buy those lies against Muslims.
Rest is here on true justice:

http://www.authorhouse.com/bookstore/ItemDetail~bookid~44552.aspx

http://www.authorhouse.com/bookstore/ItemDetail~bookid~55528.aspx

mylivinglegacy, what if the prophecy says that Boston will be nuked by muslim states? Just asking coz it's not farfetch. You guys have no idea about the hate which emanates from the hearts of these people.

Im not saying you should hate Muslims but you guys are clueless.

mylivinglegacy, what if the prophecy says that Boston will be nuked by muslim states? Just asking coz it's not farfetch. You guys have no idea about the hate that boils down from the heart of these people.

Im not saying you should hate Muslims but you guys are clueless.

Thank you! I am a Liberal who briefly dated a Conservative who jokingly referred to himself as a Right Wing Nut Job. I had little understanding of his perspective and asked him for a book that would fill me in. He presented me with a copy of Canadian writer Mark Steyn's book, America Alone. With respect to Islamaphobia, Steyn's book was as horrifying a tribute to prejudice against Muslims that I literally got a 48 hour migraine headache. This man refers to Mark Steyn as the "Mozart of contemporary political thought". Please do a review of Steyn's book .. you will not find a better way to show vs. tell the degree to which Steyn operates as a cult figure whose followers are whipped into buyings "facts" that support their so-called "Truth. In terms of Steyn's style, by the way, prepare yourself; it would appear he takes an enema prior to putting pen to paper.

Liberal in Boston

Powell should have said, "No Ma'am, Obama is not a Muslim and if he is one, so what? What matters is he is a PRO-ABORTIONIST and GAY MARRIAGE supporter which is much, much more WORSE. "

Fast forward to the future, we'll have a president who can't even land in any muslim country because he has a SAME SEX PARTNER. I hope by then, Powell won't deride the Muslims coz they have that right to reject true INFIDELS.

I should have said, the Vaticanis the seat of satan. See how it will burn soon.

Impartialobserver wrote "'God' is a man-made construct conceived of at a time when humans lived in ignorance of the universe and the world around them. "

Upto now humans are still ignorant of how things were created and your hero Laplace still don't know why he lived and died and rot in his grave. God said that atheists are fools. I sure does AGREE. Here's a prophecy. You will die in time and just like Laplace you won't be able to undertand it and STOP IT. Then you'll get to face the ONE who understood it and made it happen.

Justillthen, Jesus siad that you will know a Christian by his fruits. Aside from it's wrong interpretation and unbelief of the Bible (Catholicism never permitted in its long history the owning of the Bible by its flock) they showed they always show their ignorance by aligning with the very liberal Democratic party. It's support gave way to gay marriages and abortion in parts of the U.S. As their numbers grow, the liberalism grow. Catholicism is the seat of Satan. See how it will burn soon.

.
MARCEDWARD1:

Name-calling is the last resort of those who cannot refute facts. Saying "You lie" without proof defines you better than anyone else can.

.

From one who knows about Islam first hand i.e. Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Read her books especially her autobiography, Infidel.

"Thus begins the extraordinary story of a woman born into a family of desert nomads, circumcised as a child, educated by radical imams in Kenya and Saudi Arabia, taught to believe that if she uncovered her hair, terrible tragedies would ensue. It's a story that, with a few different twists, really could have led to a wretched life and a lonely death, as her grandmother warned. But instead, Hirsi Ali escaped -- and transformed herself into an internationally renowned spokeswoman for the rights of Muslim women."
ref: Washington Post book review.

four excerpts:

p. 47 paperback issue:

"Some of the Saudi women in our neighborhood were regularly beaten by their husbands. You could hear them at night. Their screams resounded across the courtyards. "No! Please! By Allah!"

p.68:

"The Pakistanis were Muslims but they too had castes. The Untouchable girls, both Indian and Pakistani were darker skin. The others would not play with them because they were untouchable. We thought that was funny because of course they were touchable: we touched them see? but also horrifying to think of yourself as untouchable, despicable to the human race."

p.309

"Between October 2004 and May 2005, eleven Muslim girls were killed by their families in just two regions (there are 20 regions in Holland). After that, people stopped telling me I was exaggerating."

p. 347

"The kind on thinking I saw in Saudi Arabia and among the Brotherhood of Kenya and Somalia, is incompatible with human rights and liberal values. It preserves the feudal mind-set based on tribal concepts of honor and shame. It rests on self-deception, hyprocricy, and double standards. It relies on the technologial advances of the West while pretending to ignore their origin in Western thinking. This mind-set makes the transition to modernity very painful for all who practice Islam."

Said autobiography is not sold in Islamic countries showing the backwardness and danger from this warmongering, anti-female religion called Islam!!!!

Marc Edward you asked-
"You call the higher taxes paid by Christians and Jews "exorbitant" - how much was that tax? If you don't know how much it was, why label it "exorbitant"? Moreover, that was far better than the treatment Jews and Muslims got from Christian Europe, which was robbery, exhile and death."

The tax was similar to the 2.5% levied on Muslims also.
Since the cost of the infrastructure and social services of running the society were on the Muslim community- and all Muslim have to pay at the minimum 2.5% in zakat, or charity to their mosque every year- this tax was ot exhorbitant nor undue.
Also, non-Muslims were exempt from military service- and if they chose to serve- were then exempted from the tax.
The Ottmans welcomed Jews from Spain and all over Europe when the Spanish Inquisition happened. Jews rose to the highest poition in the land- being wizirs, or advisors to the Sultan etc.
ALso, an interesting side fact is the extrememyl humane treatment of the mentally ill and insane- hundreds of years ago- Turks were treating people with music therapy. That is just an interesting side note though.

CCNL writes
"Something else General Powell forgot to mention i.e. Muslims don't get along with infidels"

But history proves they get along better with others than Christians do.

SPIDERMEAN2 :
You state to imparialobserver; "you should know some basic things. Catholicism is NOT Christianity", along with lists of other falsities. Although catholicism may not be your favorite flavor of the religions that follow the teachings of Christ, it most certainly is christianity. One of the longest established lines of christianity. Not for debate, this, even if you consider it one of the basic tenets of your philosophy. Indeed, in my basics, I consider the catholic church to still stand for the fundamentals of love and compassion and forgiveness that was the essence of Christs' message better than most of the christian sects.
Take care. You tread down the road derided by CCNL in posts below. Infighting between branches of the same mother religion.

The brilliant French scientist Pierre-Simon de Laplace (1749-1827) showed by means of mathematical calculus how the operations of the solar system were those of bodies revolving systematically in a vacuum. Napoleon Bonaparte asked to meet Laplace, and wanted to know why the figure of 'god' did not appear in Laplace's calculations. Laplace's response:

"Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothese."....

Translation: "I had no need for that hypothesis."

Just as god was not necessary to construct a working model of the universe, the concept of 'god' is equally unnecessary to morality. 'God' is a man-made construct conceived of at a time when humans lived in ignorance of the universe and the world around them.

Billw3 writes
'The following does not deserve an answer.'

translation: Billw3 is a liar and hates to be called on it.

Billw3 said:
"The problem is Obama's Muslim background"
and than he says
"I never said he was Muslim."
Gee, Bill, you might tell that to your previous statement!

Billw said:
"his 20 year close association with his "uncle" (as he called him) anti-American Wright"

MARCEDWARD1 replied:
"Wright was a US Marine, hardly anti-American you coward."

'I was in both the marines and 101st airborne in wartime. No place for cowards.'

Forgive me if I don't believe a word you say, as you're a proven liar!

Billw referred to: "refusing to wear the flag pin"

MARCEDWARD1 replied:
"He occasionally wears one of those stupid flag pins, so you're a liar again."

'He refused until forced'

He wore one, you're a liar, period.
better luck next time liar!

PETUNIA39,
Thank you for your thoughtful insight into the experience of a non-native born American, and the dangers of using the name of a religion as a tool to slander. Some have no perspective, being so conditioned into the illusion of utter correctness, that they miss that they are utterly ignorant. It is a shame, and sad. And poor tactics to boot.

Something else General Powell forgot to mention i.e. Muslims don't get along with infidels as dictated by the Worst Book Ever Written and they also don't get along with each other.

To wit:

From: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/02/03/iraq.cleric.ap/index.html

"Al-Sistani was apparently referring to Abdullah bin Jabrain, a key member of Saudi Arabia's clerical establishment, who last month joined a chorus of other senior figures from the hardline Wahhabi school of Sunni Islam that regards Shiites as infidels.

Bin Jabrain described Shiites as "the most vicious enemy of Muslims."

And it "ain't any better" in Palestine:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/22/world/middleeast/22jihadists.html?ex=1311220800&en=477ff07cfa579449&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

An excerpt:

"The conflict in Lebanon has ignited a robust debate on jihadist Web sites over backing for Hezbollah, the Shiite group that set off the crisis when it seized two Israeli soldiers on July 12. The discussions reflect the widening divide between Shiite and Sunni Arabs in parts of the Middle East. Accusing Palestinians of being anti-Shiite, one Iraqi Shiite militant bitterly wrote, “It is better to concentrate one’s efforts on helping the Shiite kinfolk rather than the Sunnis.”

To all you frenzied, hateful, anti-everything-that's-not-like-me crazies:

It's gonna be worse than you expect!
Please dig a hole in your backyard and go away for the next decade. This is the only way to ensure the survival of your pure, true, patriotic ideals.
Hurry off, now!

(Oh man, I hope this works...)

Like you, I believe that the strongest point made by Colin Powell, was to bring up the issue of use of the word "Muslim" in this campaign to promote fear and loathing of Barack Obama. I am an American by choice. I am hispanic, but moved to the U.S. 35 years ago when I was five. I am also married to a Muslim man, who is also an American by choice. I have travelled to Europe and to the Middle East, not to mention Latin America and the Far East, and I believe that the greatest strength of this country is the diversity of its people. Though I was not born here, I know that I am an American. I don't know if I would have felt the same way if my parents had chosen to immigrate to some other country, where feeling accepted is often only a right by birth. That is an amazing statement to be able to make about this country. And it sends a message to its greatness beyond our borders. The rhetoric this election season by Obama's opponents has been very disappointing to me on a personal level, but more importantly I worry about what kind of message it sends to those outside our borders about who Americans are. Forget about governments who have political or ideological disagreements with the U.S., what kind of position does this sort of rhetoic force upon American allies in the Middle East? What sort of message does it send to the over 45 predominantly Muslim countries of the world? What sort of message does it send to the Afghan and Iraqi people we claim to be fighting for? This sort of rhetoric is not just Un-American, it is politically stupid for this country. Thank you, Mr. Powell for having the courage to bring up what others have not!

"Wow, maybe this really is a huge conspiracy among America's blacks and the Islamist extremists to take over the American government. Where's J. Edgar Hoover when you need him?"

Dead, and may he stay that way.

Our War on Terror and Aggression:

An update (or how we are spending or how we have spent the USA taxpayers’ money to eliminate global terror and aggression)
The terror and aggression via a Partial and Recent Body Count

1) Assassination of Benazir Bhutto

2) 9/11, 3000 mostly US citizens killed, 1000’s injured

3) The 24/7 Sunni-Shiite centuries-old blood feud currently being carried out in Iraq, US Troops (3,385 combat 800 non-combat) and 88,373 – 96,466
Iraqi civilians, http://www.iraqbodycount.org/ and
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/casualty.pdf

4) Kenya- In Nairobi, about 212 people were killed and an estimated 4000 injured; in Dar es Salaam, the attack killed at least 11 and wounded 85.[2]

5) Bali-in 2002-killing 202 people, 164 of whom were foreign nationals, and 38 Indonesian citizens. A further 209 people were injured.

6) Bali in 2005- Twenty people were killed, and 129 people were injured by three bombers who killed themselves in the attacks.

7) Spain in 2004- killing 191 people and wounding 2,050.

8) UK in 2005- The bombings killed 52 commuters and the four radical Islamic suicide bombers, injured 700.

Other elements of our War on Terror:

1. Saddam, his sons and major henchmen have been deleted. Saddam's bravado about WMD was one of his major mistakes.

2. Iran is being been contained. (beside containing the Sunni-Shiite civil war in Baghdad, that is the main reason we are in Iraq. And yes, essential oil continues to flow from the region.)

3. Libya has become almost civil. Apparently this new reality from an Islamic country has upset OBL and his “crazies” as they recently threatened Libya. OBL sure is a disgrace to the world especially the Moslem world!!!

4. North Korea is still uncivil but is contained. With the opening up of rail traffic between North and South Korea after 50 years and with the assistance of the US Navy in retrieving NK ships and personnel hopefully a fresh sense of civility is afoot.

5. North Korea was removed from the terrorist country list last week.

6. Northern Ireland is finally at peace.

7. The Jews and Palestinians are being separated by walls. Hopefully the walls will follow the 1948 UN accords and the Annapolis Peace Conference is at least somewhat successful.

8. Bin Laden has been cornered under a rock in Western Pakistan since 9/11.

9. Fanatical Islam has basically been contained to the Middle East but a wall between India and Pakistan would be a plus for world peace. Ditto for a wall between Afghahistan and Pakistan.

10. Timothy McVeigh was executed. Terry Nichols will follow soon.

11. Eric Rudolph is spending three life terms in prison with no parole.

12. Jim Jones, David Koresh, Kaczynski, the "nuns" from Rwanda, and the KKK were all dealt with and either eliminated themselves or are being punished.

13. Islamic Sudan, Darfur and Somalia are still terror hot spots.

14. The terror and torture of Muslims in Bosnia, Kosovo and Kuwait were ended by the proper application of the military forces of the USA and her freedom-loving friends. Radovan Karadzic was finally captured on 7/23/08 and is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the law of war -- charges related to the 1992-1995 civil war that followed Bosnia-Herzegovina's secession from Yugoslavia.

15. And of course the bloody terror brought about the Japanese, Nazis and Communists was with great difficulty eliminated by the good guys.

I am right with you Mr. Bhuyan. I was extremely proud of Secretary Powell for his courage in defending anyone of any religious fate (particularly Muslims) against the renowned Republican bigotry. Republicans are crass, arrogant, and utterly shameless, of course. So their unsurprisingly reaction again is to attack anyone that admonishes them. They, like any gung-ho right-wing religious radical, lack the ability to reflect inwards. They are so right, and everyone else is wrong. Let's hope that their numbers, ignorance, influence, and hate will be diminished in coming years. Bravo! once again to General Colin Powell. He's a true American Hero.

CCNL:
You seem one who will be disinterested in evolution of falsity in their own mind and beliefs, seeming to have found Truth yourself, but to be ever positively focused and hopeful of human growth I would suggest the same that I just did to Abhab. Reference post below.
Beyond the numerous assumptions you make on moral compass of Mohammad and Islam in general there is one that makes it particularly easy to illustrate the similarities between these Abrahamic religions and the actions of current political leaders and proponents of these fundamentalized versions of these religions that are so popular today. One being:
You state that Mohammad added delusion, angels, and a " militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers." Good lord, dude. Look at the current evangelical in office in America and his fundamentalist cadre...
At least we are equal opportunity plunderers. We will send soldiers of all religions off to war in the "lands of non-believers". So Colin Powells' reference to a muslim soldier dying for our country. Even if it may not have been 'for our COUNTRY' in the pure sense. The validity of this war is on an ever steeper slide. Indeed I am convinced that it was a false war for false purposes and based on corrupt values and moralities. A superior leadership WOULD NOT HAVE sought to prosecute this war.
Yet I go off base. Apologies.
I more mean to say that moderate voices, steady and balanced in their brains, are valuable assets to have in these times. Fundamentalists of any religion do not have the requisite inclusive embrace of this multifaceted world to make peace occur. They just love their own ways, noninclusive. They love their wars. Don't you agree, CCNL?

CCNL,
You said it all, but unfortunately it will fall on deaf ears of the offenders. Perhaps evolution will help later on.

MARCEDWARD1:

The following does not deserve an answer. I do so to point out the mindset of many Obama supporters.

Billw3 said:
"The problem is Obama's Muslim background"

MARCEDWARD1 replied:
"Obama's not a Muslim, so I guess that makes youa liar?"

I never said he was Muslim. The statement was made regarding the curiosity of many voters.

Billw said:
"his 20 year close association with his "uncle" (as he called him) anti-American Wright"

MARCEDWARD1 replied:
"Wright was a US Marine, hardly anti-American you coward."

I was in both the marines and 101st airborne in wartime. No place for cowards.

Billw referred to:
"refusing to wear the flag pin"

MARCEDWARD1 replied:
"He occasionally wears one of those stupid flag pins, so you're a liar again."

He refused until forced to for political expediency. You are the misinformed one, otherwise exactly what you call me.

Billw referred to:
"and not honoring the national anthem"

"Liar, liar pants on fire. See you in Hell liar!"

Your little rant is so pathetic it's actually funny.

.

Abhab:
I regret that you share the delusional social conditioning that millions of Americans have bought into regarding the essential pillars of Islam. Do not remain ignorant, spouting rhetoric about some twisted form of 'fundamentalism' in a religion as if that illustrates the moral values of all of that religion. How idiotic. Gain valid knowledge, be a mouthpiece of truth.
Should I act like your muslim counterpoint and say that all of christian faith share the values of christian based armed white supremacist groups, or pounding the OLD Testament vote lustily to engage in preemptive war on the muslim mid east? Cheer on American values!
To avoid assumption, I am not muslim. I was born and raised christian, and american.
One good step I'ld suggest to anyone is to read Reconcilliation by Benazir Bhutto, previous prime minister of Pakistan. She eloquently describes essential Islam, and its' many subsects. It could enlighten false beliefs, and support understanding.
Have the courage to let go of illusions.

CCNL writes "What General Powell should have said:
Mohammed was an"

Yeash CCNL, spewing your ignorant bigotry again? Glad Powell isn't a loud mouthed nitwit like yourself!
I snipped your lies about Islam same way I'd snip somebody using the "n-word".

"And who funds this muck and stench of terror? The warmongering, Islamic, Shiite terror and torture theocracy of Iran aka the Third Axis of Evil and also the Sunni "Wannabees" of Saudi Arabia."

Idiot - the Iranians are Shiia, the Saudis are Sunni. Al Qaeda is Sunni. The Taliban are Sunni. You don't know anything about Islam or the current confusing political situation in the Islamic countries. The Iranians attempt in bringing Islamic values into a 'democracy' has it's problems (problems mostly confined to the poor Iranians), but it's a totally different set of problems than what the Saudis have done in their spread of Wahhibism(sp). Claiming that the Iranian Shiia and the Saudi Sunni are working together is not only an ignorant stupid thing to say, it's also a lie.
If you're hell bent on humiliating yourself in public, isn't there someplace better than here?

PAGANPLACE:
"I see no 'deeds' to be worried about. All I see is your vague accusations."

Obama's background (of his own volition) does not lend credence to his word. Your term "vague accusations" suits your agenda. I would call it stating the situation for what it is.

.

Actually, Spidermean2, I am a lawyer. I deal in evidence, not fantasy. And I am still waiting for a single shred of evidence in support of any alleged supernatural phenomenon - be it UFOs, god, vampires. But instead, all I see is mountains of evidence against them, and religious folks who then scramble to adjust their 'irrefutable' religious teachings in response to new knowledge. For example, the creation myth was once thought incontrovertible by the jesus folks... but once they realized that they would not be able to cling to their 7 day creation story in the face of scientific discovery, they now tout 'intelligent design' as the 'true' theory. What happened to their faith?

Trotting out theories that are unprovable and untestable does not lend credence to them. As a scientist (you claim to be an engineer), I would expect that you would have more familiarity with and respect for the scientific method and peer review.

Nice to see you trotting out that tired old 'irreducible complexity' argument, though... I take it that you are a creationist / intelligent design proponent? 'Cuz THAT really lends a whole lot of weight to your arguments...

If the best you can do is throw the word 'ignorant' at me for not believing in your silly little myths, I'm sorry to say that I am still probably going to sleep pretty well tonight.

"Bravo to Colin Powell for being one of the few true American heroes with a voice."

I hope Obama picks him as Secretary of State so we'll see if he's a true hero or just a plain idiot.

Bravo to Colin Powell for being one of the few true American heroes with a voice.

So what if Obama were a Muslim? So what if he weren't Christian? All I care about it the fact that he is 1: a Human Being, so he has the capacity to be rational and moral; and 2: he follows through with that capacity and actually practices being rational, thoughtful, introspective, and moral. He does both with flying colors.

Morality comes from being human, it does not come from god or religion. Those come afterward as a way of giving human morality a colorful narrative.

With more people like Powell speaking out I have hope that we will someday conquer bigotry against those who still suffer from it whether they be black, gay, Muslim, atheist, women, or anything else.

What General Powell should have said:

Mohammed was an illiterate, womanizing, lust and greed-driven, warmongering, hallucinating Arab, who also had embellishing/hallucinating/ plagiarizing scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the koran but also a militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers.

This agenda continues as shown by the assassination of Bhutto, the conduct of the seven Muslim doctors in the UK, the 9/11 terrorists, the 24/7 Sunni suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the 24/7 Shiite suicide/roadside/market/
mosque bombers, the Islamic bombers of the trains in the UK and Spain, the Bali crazies, the Kenya crazies, the Pakistani “koranics”, the Palestine suicide bombers/rocketeers, the Lebanese nutcases, the Taliban nut jobs, and the Filipino “koranics”.

And who funds this muck and stench of terror? The warmongering, Islamic, Shiite terror and torture theocracy of Iran aka the Third Axis of Evil and also the Sunni "Wannabees" of Saudi Arabia.

Current crises:

The Sunni-Shiite blood feud and the warmongering, womanizing (11 wives), hallucinating founder.

"You live your life according to silly fairy tales "

Fairy tales? So you have now the knowledge who made the flowers and how they are made from scratch?

Iam an Engineer. Engineers create things and we know our limitations. You are a dreamer that is why you are full of delusions and ignorance.

Powell appeared as uncomfortable with Cheney's white "Christian" neocons as McCain now does.

You live your life according to silly fairy tales, and YOU are calling ME ignorant?!? That is actually pretty funny, given that it comes from someone who has voluntarily turned off his or her intelligence and replaced it with blind adherence to the jesus myth.

The only distinction necessary is between fact and fiction. Do you really think that differences in dogma matter?!? It is ALL a lie.

Wow, I love religious people. You are all so CUTE and QUAINT with your silly beliefs...

The core supporters of the republican party dont understand Powell defending the human rights of american muslims and arab americans. This core group sheds crocodile tears about freedom for tibet and human rights in darfur, they are staunch supporters of the apartheid israeli zionist regime ongoing ethnic cleansing of palestinians and most of all they are WHITE SUPRIMACISTS.

"I don't see much point in distinguishing between particular brands of delusion."

If you don't know the difference between the religions you mentioned, then you are ignorant and deluded. You have to understand things first before making some sound comments. Ignorance begets ignorance.

Catholicism, protestantism, evangelicals... it's all the same thing. I don't see much point in distinguishing between particular brands of delusion.

No one "supports abortion" - what they (and Obama) support is a woman's right to choose. But such distinctions aren't important to the anti-choice movement, I guess.

Re gay marriage, what the hell are you so afraid of? Do you think someone is going to start forcing people into same sex marriages? Or that the US might run out of marriage licenses to give out? Who CARES who someone else wants to marry?

Impartialobserver, you should know some basic things. Catholicism is NOT Christianity. I think Catholics comprise the bulk who will vote for Obama, a supporter of abortion and gay marriage.

Sorry - slip of the finger - I meant "...preventing young girls from accessing the HPV vaccine is, to catholics, 'MORAL' as it could be seen as encouraging premarital sex."

Lack of morals is not killing America; rather, America is being suffocated by small-minded pinheads who confuse 'morality' with 'adherence to religious dogma', and who try to force their barbaric monolithic christian delusions on everyone else.

The problem is that, in the (small) minds of the 'true believers', any deviation from their particular brand of religious BS constitutes 'immorality', regardless of what the actual effect of that deviation is. For example, preventing young girls from accessing the HPV vaccine is, to catholics, 'immoral' as it could be seen as encouraging premarital sex. In other words, these bastards would rather condemn young girls to an increased risk of cervical cancer, than endorse something that could be inconsistent with religious dogma. It is hard to imagine something more profoundly IMMORAL, but still the jesus folks pat themselves on the back for it.

America will not be able to save itself until it eliminates the influence of religion on public policy.

Religion equals intellectual poison, and religious faith is like a cancer on human intelligence, reasoning and rational thought.

One day, historians will look back at jesus lovers in the 21st century in the same way that we scoff at people who still believe the earth is flat.

Organized religion is like a mental illness - a whole bunch of delusional idiots sitting around congratulating themselves for having the best imaginary friend.

Athena wrote "Why do you hate America?"

The prophecies are written on the walls. Lack of morality is destroying America. We conservative Christians are preseving America. The liberal left are the ones destroying it.

"Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time;"

That was a quote from Charles Caroll,a signer of Decalration of Independence. Where is the "hate speech" there? You are out of your mind.

Athena4 writes
'Talk about "hate speech" there, SpiderMEAN'

OMG - you mean you read his posts? I appreciate his handle at the start of his rants because I know to skip them. His posts are ignorant, bigoted and hateful 100% of the time, mostly because in his real life nobody pays attention to him. Can you imagine what it's like being one of his co-workers (or worse, family members!)? Must be wonderful picking up the phone and hearing his voice - one guesses he's the sort of person who will waste 1-3 hours of your time while you politely try to get off the phone (hint - get a recording of a car crash to play and pretend that a car has entered your kitchen, scream and hang up).

Talk about "hate speech" there, SpiderMEAN. You sound like you're looking forward to America being destroyed. Why do you hate America?

The truth is, people... nobody really cares about Ayers, Wright, whether he's a "terrorist" or not. The economy is in a meltdown, and McCain isn't offering any real solutions, just more of the same policies that got us into this mess. "Spreading the wealth" sounds pretty good to someone who lost their job and might lose their home - especially when you have corporate fatcats getting spa weekends with the Government bailout money! The question isn't "are you better off than you were four years ago?" but "are you better off than you were four WEEKS ago?" That's why Obama is ahead.

Charles Carroll - signer of the Declaration of Independence stated :

" Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure...are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments." [Source: To James McHenry on November 4, 1800.]

America is losing its morals. Part of America will cease to exist soon. As the above statement says, IT WONT SUBSIST ANY LENGTH OF TIME.

abhab writes
'Marc pontificates:
“If history is any guide, nothing. Islam recognizes Christianity and Judaism as part of the same series of revelations that culminated in Islam, no? Under most periods of Islamic rule Christians and Jews were allowed to govern themselves.”

You must be kidding. Is the exorbitant Jizyah (head tax) levied on them part of that self rule ?'

You call the higher taxes paid by Christians and Jews "exorbitant" - how much was that tax? If you don't know how much it was, why label it "exorbitant"? Moreover, that was far better than the treatment Jews and Muslims got from Christian Europe, which was robbery, exhile and death.

Billw3 writes
"The problem is Obama's Muslim background"

Obama's not a Muslim, so I guess that makes youa liar?

"his 20 year close association with his "uncle" (as he called him) anti-American Wright"

Wright was a US Marine, hardly anti-American you coward.

"refusing to wear the flag pin"

He occasionally wears one of those stupid flag pins, so you're a liar again.

"and not honoring the national anthem"

Liar, liar pants on fire.
See you in Hell liar!

American history refresher course for Powell...quotes from the founding fathers...

http://www.eadshome.com/QuotesoftheFounders.htm

Inadevertantly posted under anonymous.But my comments are no were to be seen now!!!!!!
My first comment reads:

"General Powel is a true American Statesman."

Why did it disappear??

My second comment was about higlighting Arab/Muslims' substantional contributions human civilization-ALSO Disapppered!!!!!! WHY??????

The best thing Powell should do next is to register as a Democrat. I felt he was a real Democrat even before this blunder.

No wonder the Bush administration is a mess. He ran as Republican but put democrats in his cabinet.

Nearer to Doomsday :

Democrats will fast tract abortion, gay marriage rights and everything liberal.

Democrats had placed us into this mortgage mess which then put us into economic tailspin : http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081020/ap_on_bi_ge/the_influence_game_housing

Democrats would be very soft on pouncing on future TROUBLE SPOTS like it did with the Taliban in Afghanistan and pre-911 terrorist attacks until they were successful in 911.

Democrats enriched communist China by having unfettered trade with them despite the fact that they are still COMMUNISTS and dangerous and oppressive to religion. China is much more dangerous today than it ever was. Thanks to Democrats' FORESIGHT.

Democrats placed us into an OIL CRISIS because of their "green" laws. That contributed much to our economic downturn.

Democrats are very tough on trade to the extreme. The world would truly miss the gentleness of the Republicans on this area. Oftentimes you won't give idiots what they wish coz it would spell more trouble. The world want a Democrat so give them the Democrats. When these people start complaining, I want you to remember that they CHOSE this.

Stupidity, BIG TIME.

I watched Powell through his career in the Bush camp.
He always seemed to be an odd man out philisophically- he is a man I have respected in the past- especially when I saw him trying to negotiate peace between the Palestinians and Israelis.
He was a very moderate voice- and fair minded. He seems to have been a man of honour in his career- and if he had run for the Presdiency I may have swung over to his side for the first time in decades of voting Democrat.

I felt like he was somewhat betrayed by his own party- and set up to take the fall for getting into Iraq.
But what I am seeing the GOP come up with now- the accusations of being a socialist- appealing to the old Red Scare that many voters are old enough to remember(especially old white men- the demographic most needed right now to swing those borderline electoral votes)
the robocalls- linking Obama to terrorism-
calling tax breaks for middle class americans WELFARE-
all more and more negative.

It took a great deal of courage for Powell to endorse Obama.
Now, his party is taking him to task, and of course he is now accused of racism playing into his decision.

As he stated himself, so eloquently, If he were going to vote for OBama using race as his criteria, he would have done it quite a long time ago.
But he did not.

It is such a double standard- are white men accused of racism for their support of other white men?
Or a woman voting for a woman?

I'm a woman- and Palin is the first real bid we have at getting into the Whitehouse- but I couldn't conceive of voting for her- as her ideology is sort of repulsive to me, and would represet a step back for all Americans- and not a step forward for women at all.

I watched the interview on Meet the Press tiwce, and Powell was conflicted, and clearly did not come to his decision lightly, nor from one issue such as race.

He did not read from a teleprompter, but spoke passionately and extemporaneously and fluidly- givng many many coherent and deeply thoughtful reason both for, and against his decision.

I watched with distaste and disappointment when he spoke before the UN and held up that scary little vial of white powder.

There were a total of 6 anthrax scares in totla.
And I watched his real sense of being betrayed as he recounted briefly, his part in that drama.
He said he believed the intelligence given to him at the time- and I am not inclined to believe politicians as a rule- but it was credible to me.

And speaking his conscience by saying, what if Obama were a Muslim? Was just the right question to ask- as we examine our consciences in dealing with the nationalistic fervor being propogated by the McCain camp- a zealotry that serves, not to include- but to divide American into "real Americans" implying some of us aren't as real as others- and the real fearmomgering of the "other" whomever that may be- we should also examine our consciences for the Islamophobia and prejudice that Muslims have been experiencing since 911.

Bigotry is not what makes us proud- it is not an American value.
Now, I argue in my own community that we should do more- serve the whole of America more enthusiastically- and be better stewards of our poor no matter what faith they are.
But I can also argue that we, as Americans, need to speak out against bigotry and vilification of the "other" no matter who they are-
We are not a nation that is powerless, but powerful, and with that greatness comes a greater obligation to be vigilant in our protection of those who are on our shores. The newcomers, the immigrants, the poor- and the politically voiceless, we are mostly all immgirants tothis nation, and must steward it for the benefit of all here.

I'm voting most enthusiastically for Obama, as he represents the old dreams of the pluralistic America that I was raised with and still hope for.

"The irony of all this is that traditionally and currently Taliban and Al-Qaeda have been supported by more than anyone in line with the Saudi kingdoms Wahabbi idealogy and financing. And who is Americas biggest arab-muslim ally? Yes the Saudis."

This, of course, is true, with the exception of the United States of America, which supported Bin Laden, trained him, and helped to develop the Taliban to fight the dreaded commies. In the meantime, by positioning ourselves at the border with Russia as early as 1979, we provoked some of the conflict.

That same year, General Zia, in a military coup, this government supported, took over Pakistan, and introduced Shariah law. Well known to us, he accepted the Saudi offer to build Madrassahs in desperately poor Pakistan. The Saudis, our good friends, hoped they could export their terrorist threat and they did, although they still have terrorism at home.

Poor people send their children to these schools believing they will get a decent education.

Americans, can we stop being witnesses to history and start making it?

"I mean, just maybe, a religiously-neutral term was sought cause some people literally can't *hear what time it is* without trying tostart a religious fight about it?"

Dunno. Before my time here, I think. Mebbe, some folks thought time vocabulary should move right into the 20th century, optimistically, hoping the human brain would follow....Still might catch up with the calendar. We can always hope, anyway. :)

There seems to be the perception among the happily ill informed far right that what Al-Qaeda, and Taliban do is in line with islamic teaching. So than i suppose actions of KKK are values of American and Christian values? Ofcourse not. The irony of all this is that traditionally and currently Taliban and Al-Qaeda have been supported by more than anyone in line with the Saudi kingdoms Wahabbi idealogy and financing. And who is Americas biggest arab-muslim ally? Yes the Saudis. Maybe Bush should have considered taking democracy to the worlds most oppressed state. Anyhow I congratulate Powells comments, as late as they are and hope more democratics and republican(as unlikely as it may be) denounce such anti islamic rhetoric. As for Americans whom would like to believe islam is in the actions of Taliban etc, I as a muslim must say I see the same sense of eyes in the faces of Bush, Rumsfield, Palin, Mccain as I do on the faces of the leaders of Al-qeada, and the Taliban. The eyes of the devil amongst people.

I mean, just maybe, a religiously-neutral term was sought cause some people literally can't *hear what time it is* without trying tostart a religious fight about it?

Gods.

"I am breathing just fine."

Glad to hear it. My ancestors, aka Jews, also fought in the Revolution and in John Brown's raid. And? So? Point? Among the founders were deists such as Jefferson, Washington, probably Franklin (although his autobiography frequently suggests that he may have been an atheist/agnostic).

What difference does it make? If you're a Christian, take a look at what Paul says about lineage.

Come on, Guy. Ease up. I agree. This is just a discussion.

And it's not 'wiping out the history of Christ' by changing 'The year Of Our Lord' (AD) to C.E. (Common Era.) This is about not making two thirds of the world pretend to genuflect to Christianity just to use the same calendar as the West.

""Obama took the time to speak for an hour to us about what he learned from that 'uncle' as you introduce the idea he called him."

"Typical Obama supporter logic. Obama's past deeds speak for him, not what he promises. "

I see no 'deeds' to be worried about. All I see is your vague accusations.

Seems you chose to ignore the notion I mentioned from my own experience that one can learn a lot from 'uncles,' real and metaphorical, without sharing their politics, (or theology, for that matter,) too, Bill.

I was responding to another post about the founding fathers and their religion...the founding fathers of America, that is. In addition to that, I was also responding to a comment about Christians being revisionist historians. This is just a discussion. Their is no hostility on my end. I did not claim that the history of the planet was my history and that all people are not gifts from God. That was not my statement, it was yours. I am commenting on the founders of this country, not some other country. I appreciate your advice, however, I am breathing just fine.

bri2 Author Profile Page:

Christians aren't revisionist historians.
Christians aren't trying to wipe out the history of Christ by changing our years in textbooks from "AD" to "CE"...

Pretty sure this means something. The question is what...

Br12,

Please open the window and breathe in the elixir of life. Times have changed. People who are different from you are gifts from G-d. The history of the planet isn't YOUR history. It's our historIES.

"Obama's 20 year close association with his "uncle" (as he called him) anti-American Wright,"

To which paganplace replied:
"Obama took the time to speak for an hour to us about what he learned from that 'uncle' as you introduce the idea he called him."

Typical Obama supporter logic. Obama's past deeds speak for him, not what he promises.

.

Christians aren't revisionist historians.
Christians aren't trying to wipe out the history of Christ by changing our years in textbooks from "AD" to "CE"...

http://www.eadshome.com/QuotesoftheFounders.htm

Err, ....Pirates say 'Arrr!'

Bostonian chicks getting impatient with fallacies say, 'err...'

To Err is human. To Arr! is ....piratical? :)

Here, by the way, is an article about faith written by Barack Obama. You know how some of you people say, "Why doesn't he just come clean and TELL us things?"
Well, he's written books and such.
So here's one of those big "secrets" he's been keeping...

http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1546579,00.html

-----

May I also add, regarding Powell's endorsement, that if this endorsement was only about race, you'd think Powell would have noticed that Obama was black a long time ago and thrown his support behind him earlier. It could have helped him in the primaries and the debates, etc.
Maybe he was busy campaigning for Charlie Rangel and Jim Clyburn and Jesse Jackson Jr... You know, because he always supports the black candidate. Right?
Has he EVER endorsed or supported black political candidate before? -Honest question.

--
Meanwhile, my prayers go out to Obama's grandmother who is apparently not doing well.

Wow.
Some of you people are really scary...

When Obama is elected lightning will shoot from his eyes and an army of Islamic warriors will crawl out of his rear, and woe! - they shall begin chopping off heads and going "loolooloolooo!" And Obama shall look into the eyes of the congress and alas his eyes shall be like hypnotic spiral thingies and congress shall be mesmerized and worship at his feet. And they will all yell, "LU-LU-LU-LULULULU!" And they shall submit to his will and raise taxes and horrible stuff like that, and the rich people will be sorely put-off. And Obama the conquerer will make a quick phone call to the devil -and holy crap!- your Bible will turn into a Koran! And you will say to the people who voted for him, "SEE!? We TOLD YOU so!" And Colin Powell will say, "Man, I'll never endorse another guy based on race."

...Is this basically what you're predicting?

"My country, "AMERICA" was founded on Christian principles and traditions. If one can't accept that reality then one needs to move to another country. "WE THE PEOPLE" will defend our country and protect our families from evil. My ancestors sacrificed and fought for American freedom and all other Americans that love this country will do the same."

Dude, you should really read a history book that isn't written by a Christian revisionist historian. OUR country, America, was founded by people of a wide variety of spiritual beliefs, including Judaism and Deism. Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington were Freemasons and Deists. They wrote in the separation of church and state because they saw how both institutions were corrupted by power under King George. George Washington himself stopped New England soldiers from making fun of their Catholic brothers-in-arms during the Revolutionary War.

As for sacrificing for one's country, I refer you to the list of approved religious symbols for military headstones. There are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Atheist, Scientologist, Hindu, Buddhist, and (finally) Wiccan symbols on that list. Am I less of an American than you because I am a Wiccan? Is that soldier who died any less of an American because there is a Moslem symbol on his grave? What have YOU done to serve your country?

No, I'm a ninja. ;)

Are YOU a pirate?

No, Paganplace is not a pirate. She was saying err, not arrrr.

This is your wakeup call:

A. Obama isn't Muslim.

B. Not all Muslims are terrorists.

C. More Muslims are affected by terrorism than nonMuslims.

I am an Iranian Jew, who, as a child, saw a good family friend murdered as he was being taken "into custody" by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. My family fled Iran in the middle of the night as did many Jews and Christians.

There are almost no Jews left in Iran and few Christians. Three million Middle Eastern Jews are living in exile, some of us from families that date back to the Middle Ages.

It would be the easiest thing in the world for me to hate, but I do not. (On the other hand, take a racist stand against me, and watch your ass, whatever and whoever you are.)

I have seen Muslims from all walks of life take courageous stands against oppression, most recently in Pakistan after Musharraf had disbanded the judiciary. Millions of young people, many of them college students, marched to Islamabad in protest. There are Pakistanis who risk their lives every day in the interest of freedom and democracy.

These people must not be forgotten. They are part of the world's hope.

Err...err...are you a pirate?

Err, no. *Paganism* is a group of religions, yes. But. Secularism is a political motive, humanism and atheism are philosophical notions.

Those latter groups can't be called 'rival religions' when you find it convenient in your own religion to define them as such.

Noah Webster

Secularism, humanism, atheism, paganism...those are religions too.

OK. Everyone chill out a minute.

Again. What you fear about Islam has nothing to do with who to vote for right now.

Doesn't matter how fair or unfair your view of Muslims may be if you are trying to apply it to people who aren't even Muslim in the first place, and then use *that* projection to further say Muslim-Americans are bad.

If you don't want a theocracy, don't play on those terms.

How about a competent secular government that by any realistic standard *actually ain't out to get even the most paranoid of Christianiest fundies?*

Meanwhile, I hate to rain on your idea of impending Apocalypse, but we could actually just, err, stop screwing things up, and it could be dealable?

Maybe that'd be disappointing to some, either, but I assure you mass death probably looks a lot tidier in your paranoid fantasies than it does when you gotta clean up.

We can make this work. If we don't, it's not God that made it screw up. It's us.

You want that on whatever's left of your conscience?

No?

Then let's look at reality, here. This election isn't a referendum on our paranoia about Islam.

Much more boring.

Far more important.

Dig?

A Muslim who fought for American independence? A Muslim American founder? I can't find one.

I've respected Colin Powell for years because of his service and sacrifice and I believe he was not valued in the Bush Administration, primarily by VP Chaney, because he (Powell) spoke his mind. However, I am deeply disappointed that he has chosen to endorse a man who has no concept of service and sacrifice (Obama) and who poses a threat to our national security by not understanding who are enemies are. As you most graciously depicted the service and sacrifice of a young Muslim man who fought for his country, Obama has stated he will negate that sacrifice and forsake our attempt at fullfilling the Clinton administrations's mandate for a regime change in Iraq (look up the quote in Clinton's 2nd State of the Union Address 1998). The real threat by radical Islam to Israel and the West must not be overshadowed by a few who are Islamophobes. Knowing our real enemies and our real friends is essential to our future. Like Chamberlain who repeatedly "met" with Hitler to discuss issues, Obama seeks to meet with those who would wipe us and others off the face of the Earth. That IS dangerous!

mariameshaq, whatever happened to your sense of reason. Bush is NOT the enemy. He is just a victim, like most of us are, to the extremism your religion propagates.

If people like you would be hating extremism more than you would hate Bush, I think that would solve part of the problem. You guys add salt to the injury.

Whatever happened to seperation of church and state? you guys sound crazy!

Lacuna:
I never said a President had to pass a religious test. I said my country was founded on Christian principles and traditions. There is no way to deny that. It's America's history, no matter how you might want to change it. Study the writings of everyday early Americans and the founding fathers. Christians fought for AMERICA'S independence.

Sharia law will never be practiced here......ever

lacuna wrote " "No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." (Art. IV)"

CORRECT. So who's stopping anybody?

Marc pontificates:
“If history is any guide, nothing. Islam recognizes Christianity and Judaism as part of the same series of revelations that culminated in Islam, no? Under most periods of Islamic rule Christians and Jews were allowed to govern themselves.”

You must be kidding. Is the exorbitant Jizyah (head tax) levied on them part of that self rule ? Or the humiliating restrictions spelled out in the constitution for the “people of the book” as spelled out in the Omar Pact cited below part of that tolerant, humane as well as an an enlightened rule?
Sample:

"We shall not manifest our religion publicly nor convert anyone to it. We shall not prevent any of our kin from entering Islam if they wish it."
"We shall show respect toward the Muslims, and we shall rise from our seats when they wish to sit."
"We shall not seek to resemble the Muslims by imitating any of their garments, the qalansuwa, the turban, footwear, or the parting of the hair."
"We shall not speak as they do, nor shall we adopt their kunyas."
"We shall not mount on saddles, nor shall we gird swords nor bear any kind of arms nor carry them on our- persons."
................
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/pact-umar.html

Our founding fathers put the following provision in the United States Constitution:

"No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." (Art. IV)

mariameshaq " Barak Obama gives me hope that American will be that way again and that the 8 dark years of George Bush hate will be a dark chapter in our past, never to be repeated again. "

Where have you been? Haven't you heard of the bombings around the world? In India, in Pakistan, in Thailand, in England, in Spain, in the Philippines, in Indonesia, in Yemen, ... I lost count already. Almost in all countries around the word. If you ask those bombers what made them do it. They say one word. ALLAH. Bush is not the source of hate here. It's comes from your religion. He's just a poor "fireman" who is just overwhelmed by the FIRE your religion spreads.

I don't like Bush for endangering the lives of American foot soldiers with little fire hoses. What he should have done is use MORE PLANES to quench the fire.

Yes it will spread much bigger during the term of Obama. I think that is self explanatory.

My country, "AMERICA" was founded on Christian principles and traditions. If one can't accept that reality then one needs to move to another country. "WE THE PEOPLE" will defend our country and protect our families from evil. My ancestors sacrificed and fought for American freedom and all other Americans that love this country will do the same.

mariameshaq " Barak Obama gives me hope that American will be that way again and that the 8 dark years of George Bush hate will be a dark chapter in our past, never to be repeated again. "

In your dreams. It's the fault of your religion where they can't seem to rein-in the extremists within your camp. Doomsday is coming and a big thanks to your religion who will light the match of Doom. It's in the prophecy.

Doomsday is not a happy sight but if ever it occurs, one good thing it will produce is it will erase ALL STUPIDITY and IGNORANCE.

1000 years of peace and prosperity will then commence. I'll say that again. Islamic states will jumpstart doomsday.

Thank you for writing this article. I'm glad to read that I wasn't the only person who cried during Colin Powell's interview. I have waited 8 years to hear people talk about the subject of Islamaphobia and how it has brewed in our culture since 9/11. I've told myself that every race/nationality/religion has had to deal with backlash during wars such as the Jews, Germans and Japanese during WWII, Vietanmese during the Vietnam War, Korean's during the Korean War but it's really hard to swallow and accept on an daily basis. I long for the days before 9/11 when Islamaphobia did not exist (at least not the way it does today). American is my country and my home and I want to feel apart of our society again. Barak Obama gives me hope that American will be that way again and that the 8 dark years of George Bush hate will be a dark chapter in our past, never to be repeated again.

Since neither Obama nor Powell is actually Muslim, I don't suppose it'd be too much to ask for America to table the freaking out about Muslims factor and educate their votes? There's always gonna be someone saying 'God Wants You Dead In Horrible Ways.'

You get used to it. Trust me.

Meanwhile, we could have an America.

How bout it?

From the Koran, what all muslims believe to be their gods word.
“O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends: They are but friends to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them [for friendship] is of them [an infidel]. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust” (Koran 5:51).
“When ye meet the unbelievers smite at their necks” (Koran 47:4).

no muslim leader has ever apologized

This is a complicated issue. Some, in fact, most of the "leaders" in Muslim countries are not the people's choice, nor would they be anyone's. They're dictators, almost all of them corrupt, some of whom, like Mubarak, the US supports.

Others are something more than figureheads, but not too much more. They can't apologize, since for the most part, they are still involved in oppressions of various sorts.

Muslims, in the US, however, can speak out against anti-Jewish, anti-Christian, anti-Hindu racisms, etc. So, too, can all these groups speak out in oppostition to prejudice against Muslims and everyone else.

As for Colin Powell, his obvious self-prostitution at the UN was an embarrassment for me and for many other Americans. He, however, is not responsible for Iraq. One must assume the Congress watched his performance, just like we did, and found, like us, that it had no credibility. Yet Congress authorized this disastrous war. It still owes the American people a solid explanation for why we are in Iraq.

My understanding is that Colin Powell's resignation was something less than voluntary, that it was requested.

I think a lot of people are forgetting all the crimes done in the name of christianity. Extremes of any religion are dangerous, whether it be 9/11 or bombing of abortion clinics by so called Christians. I think we all need to take a step back and realize that Muslims are indeed in this country as well respected citizens of every community and should be treated with the same level of respect as you yourself want to be treated. The hatred and nastiness of this campaign is exactly what has turned so many people off to the Republican party. Not only that, but you're all starting to sound like a bunch of whack-a-do's!!!

I am so happy that Colin Powell spoke out! Maybe now, people will listen. When we have people like McCain replying to "Obama is Muslim" with "no ma'am. He's a decent man," it's no wonder there are so many ignorant people now thinking that "Muslim" and "decent man" are mutually exclusive! McCain is not fueling the fire, but he's standing by and watching it burn and spread. I certainly do not want a president like that.

What we don't have time for is any more self-righteous Charlie Foxtrots.

See, what *America* doesn't have time for is another incompetent administration that got elected cause someone told them it had *anything to do* with how little they know about Islam. Or care to factcheck the robocalls.

"This is what I wrote that you didn't have time for:"

(Actually, I have time for this BS, our nation does not:)

"Obama's 20 year close association with his "uncle" (as he called him) anti-American Wright,"

Obama took the time to speak for an hour to us about what he learned from that 'uncle' as you introduce the idea he called him.

I learned a lot from a number of uncles. Picture a teenage Siouxsie Sioux walking onto the set of 'Rescue Me'

Love my uncles, real and metaphorical.

Doesn't mean I share their politics.

"refusing to wear the flag pin,"

Not when it'd come to symbolize for half of America shallow and acquiescent jingoism instead of what our beloved nation *really* stands for, no.

Actually, he didn't *refuse* so much as not choose to, till someone made a trivial point about it.

"and not honoring the national anthem."

That's a new one on me. What's the second verse, or were you too busy shouting for the game to start?

" Obama brought distrust on himself without the help of bigotry an anyone else's part."

I don't think so.

While the present and the previous Popes has apologized for past errors of the Catholic Church, no muslim leader has ever apologized for the atrocities committed by muslim fron the year 622 on. Islam is not compatible with our democracy
because muslims treat women and non-believer as second class citizens. Colin Powell's words have no and will never have any weight after deceiving us about WOMD in Iraq.

"This is BS. We don't have time for this."

This is what I wrote that you didn't have time for:
"Obama's 20 year close association with his "uncle" (as he called him) anti-American Wright, refusing to wear the flag pin, and not honoring the national anthem. Obama brought distrust on himself without the help of bigotry an anyone else's part."

.

I mean, seriously. If you really think all it takes to scare America out of civil rights for all is to blow up a couple of buildings, and then beg for the 'right' brand of religion to tell you to take it out on gays and infidels, ...it's a wonder someone doesn't blow up a building for 'God' every day.

Meanwhile, people are trying to live, here.

Let's live smart.

"The problem is Obama's Muslim background"

Not that it ever stopped a Republican, but he has none. Despite the fact he can tell the difference between a Sunni and Shiite, which McCain can't....

He doesn't have the 'background,' any more than as a proud Irish American lass I had the least clue who theheroes of my own heritage were.

This is nonsense in the extreme. Even if he *were* a Muslim, he's stood stronger against theocracy in his own words than Palin and Mccain, who tacitly want to gut our laws to enable their own, then act all scared some *other* religion will use their own policies to suborn what they thought to claim for 'Christianity.'

This is BS.

We don't have time for this.

If you're that afraid of Muslim religious law, don't sign our rights away to another religion for fear of them. It's not that hard.

.
"What if he is a muslim?"

The problem is Obama's Muslim background, his 20 year close association with his "uncle" (as he called him) anti-American Wright, refusing to wear the flag pin, and not honoring the national anthem. Obama brought distrust on himself without the help of bigotry an anyone else's part. One would have to be dense to not understand that.

.

I strongly agree with this article and it makes me sad. It is a leadership function to guide with strength both moral and intelligent. By pandering to the weak and fearful a political leader does his country, state, or family no honor. Rather than say 'my country right or wrong' our leaders should be saying, 'We'll make this country right and change it if its wrong'. Thats the leadership function of a President.

Who cares??I care. We have seen American decapitated, shot, and violated because of Religion>>> If he is a Musulim and turns to be this leader of the so call change are we ready to accept this.
Colin P maybe sincere now but maybe he was a piece of the pie..Like all politicians.

Sorry guys but we are in trouble with BUSH now here it comes OBAMA>
HELL IS HERE CLOSER THAT WE THINK.
IF OSAMA COULD NOT DO IT;VOTE FOR OBAMA HE WILL DO IT.

"What if he is a muslim?"

If one is a devout Muslim, I think he has to lie prostrate on the floor facing Mecah for a number of times during the day.

Powell is a hypocrite. I don't think he would vote for Obama if he knows Obama would do such a thing.

"We all share in the racialist baggage. It would be a good idea if we started to unpack it together."

Easier said than done en masse, and probably will never occur.

I mean, hey, Spidey, it seems to me that up till last year, as one of those 'token black Republicans,' he could say no wrong, now all of a sudden a four star general and veteran is some hack cause he doesn't agree with *Palin?*

Hrm.

Err, there's no deception involved, here, Spidey. Powell has always been respected for his military acumen and experience. He was willing to take hits to his reputation to stand by Bush when he didn't want to, ...now that he has no horse in this race, and nothing to gain, I think we can safely say that when he endorses a foreign policy, he meant it.

Unless of course you're one of those conservatives who used to use Powell to claim you aren't racist... Until he disagreed with you, of course, at which point a half-century of service to America and expertise in his field is to be erased cause two black people might happen to be standing next to each other?

Hostility against the Christian faith, and determining which ones abide that and which do not.

I would include anti-Jewish racism, considerably more prominent, but then Muslims aren't alone in that, are they? As well, they were assisted in it by Christians, weren't they? (Answer: Yes, beginning with the Crusades, continuing to the present)

Then there is Muslim hostility toward Hindus and in some cases, notably Iran, the Bahai.

But let's look at this Christian country, shall we? Anti-Islamism, anti-Jewish racism, bigotry against Sikhs, Hindus, those who practice the indigenous religions doesn't really qualify one to explain how acceptance of diversity to anyone, does it?

We all share in the racialist baggage. It would be a good idea if we started to unpack it together.

It's better that Powell showed his true color early on. It could have been worse if he will run as a Republican candidate for president sometime in the future. He could have fooled a lot of Republicans. At least that scenario can never happen now. That's the silver lining there.

So I guess we're blaming the Christian aid worker instead of her brutal murderers.

I don't care for either candidate. Both are bad choices for the so call change.. What if OBAMA is really a sell out?? Are we ok letting it happen or should we take some steps to prepare for this?

Obama sound good but there is something not right. Obama could win the elections but do we know the true about this guy before it happens.. Something is missing and we all are going to get it I am sure of it.

McCain he is just plain lost in space. He need to look for a fishing pole and be gone.

I would rather give my vote to Colin Powell at least he seen both side of the country the good one and the bad one.

Both Senator will bring the country to its knees.
Niether has the experience or the real heart.

Wait and see first six months we are doom

Anyway, admirable as it is that General Powell has stod up for our Muslim-American servicemen, noneof this is *really* the point.

The point is that a very respectable, (and until this week, by the GOP respected) general,

Well, he's looking at McCain and the Bush/Cheney/Rove administration and saying,

War: UR doing it wrong.

Let's not forget that until the Right was claiming this was about racial politics, Powell was their *darling* on military policy.

Now it's suddenly about race, or even Muslims?

No.

It's about why he resigned from the Bush administration in the first place.

He knows what he's talking about.

.
There are good Muslims and there are bad Muslims.
There are two problems: Hostility against the Christian faith, and determining which ones abide that and which do not. We have Obama's word, but he broke his word (signed on paper even) on campaign finance, as well as his back-tracking on other things. Nowhere is it written than any given individual is obligated to trust him.

.

An interesting essay.

"But the really right answer is 'What if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country?' The answer is 'No. That's not America.' Is there something wrong with some 7-year old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she can be president?"

On this thread, I have frequently asked what Obama's religion or lack thereof had to do with the election. Whether he is a Muslim, Christian, Jew, Bahai, animist, or atheist is irrelevant to his qualifications for president. Partly as a result of having made these assertions, I, an Iranian Jew have been accused of being a "Jewish Muslim Atheist."

I teach in a large university in which the majority of students are working class Christians, mainly Lutheran or Catholic. There are as well foreign-born students from nearly sixty countries. Last year, when the business of Obama's religion came up, my students repeatedly responded with the same question: WHO CARES?

I'd like to see more people responding with this question all over America.

But in fairness I'd also like to see Muslims here and abroad, echoing this response when questions of whether someone is Jewish or Christian arise.

alohais wrote "Did you hear what Biden said today?"

A thinking person know that. I admire Biden for saying it. America is much closer to Doom upon the election of Obama. Our opponents would think he is weak and would exploit it. What if they are wrong? War is much closer with an Obama presidency than it is with McCain.

For anti-war advocates, you've just made yourself a trap.

Fear hides behind the mask of religions.

Wow, Far too many bigots here for my liking. Powell is right, since when does someone's faith identify them as "undesirable" ? This is America, fercrissakes! Surely we interact with others of different faiths than our own. Don't we ? Somebody better read our Declaration Of Independance again, or the inscription on the statue of liberty. It basically says, we welcome all, c'mon... It doesn't discriminate, nor should we.

Jews attacked deliberately and without provocation USS Liberty near the Palestine coast in 1967 killing more than thirty seven US naval officers.

American Jews regulary spy on America:Johnathan Pollard and lately Shai are a case in point and among many such examples.

How was "israel" punished? By providing it with billions of US taxpayers dollars and a free and the state of the art modern weapons arsenal in addition to its formidable Nuclear Arsenal which the world pretends it does no exist.

The Arabs/Muslims made substantial contributions to human civilization especially western civilization without which the Renaissance and the industrial revolution would have never materilaized. Such contributions include high culture,philosophy,sicenses such as Math-Arabic Numerals-medicine including the discovery of the blood circulation in the 10th century in Damascus,agriculture...mostly thru Muslim Spain when Europe was in the dark ages...You may see the recent book "Lost History" by Michael Hamilton Morgan.

Withou the Arabs/Muslims Greek wisdom,philosphy and legecy would have been totally lost:the Arabs transalted it,added to it, commented on it, passed and taught it to the west:Averros and Avicenna are just to name a few.

I knew it beforehand that Powell was really a democrat. What we really have in the White House was a republican by name but democrats by heart.

It was the Dems who started this mortgage mess.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081020/ap_on_bi_ge/the_influence_game_housing

It was Dems who built up Bin Ladin and enable him to train his men fly planes on U.S soil.

It was the Dems who squeeze oil supply by making "green" laws.

It was a democatic 8 years and NOT Republican.

Wall Street are even run by Democrats.

That's that thing about 'Christian aid workers' who are really just proselytizers who end up, like Bush, expecting to walk into a situation, insult armed and angry people, put the very children they claim to be 'saving' at risk, ....while inflaming the situation and expecting Delta Force to come bail them out.

Forget about it.

You care about kids, this ain't about ou getting martyred. It's about reality.

Did you hear what Biden said today?

He said that he guaranteed that within six month of an Obama presidency, He will be tested by our enemies to the likes of the Bay of Pigs. He also said that he will have to do some unpopular things to combat this problem.

Hmm, sounds like he will do things that opposes what he has been promising. (Remember, as a politician he will say what you want to hear just to get elected), look at his voting record to see what he has a tendency to do, not what he verbalizes what he will do.

My prediction: The elections will end in a dead tie between Electoral College Votes, and another election will be held, and Obama will probably win it. Within six months, all hell will break loose!

One mans opinion.

I mean, not that martring myself is a carte-blanche virtue in my religion, but string me up if I was ever vain enough to put a child at risk in the name of my own religious vanity.

Rule one of rescue.

Don't become a casualty.

As for Colin Powell, I just feel sorry for him - he was supporting the war and yet was not tough enough to stick it out. The Iraq people will always be grateful to this country but not for Powell who was coward when things got tough......and certainly never for Obama......who will never be respected for anything.....ok...ACORN and voter fraud........ok....his PASTOR who hates this country....ok....his partner in radical education....AYERS.....ok......the guy that called him Messiah.....Farrakhan....or and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for all the money they gave him in 3 short years....and finally I am sure that leaders from IRAN and ...VEnezuela....who are cheering him on....and think of that money they are donating to his campaign.........

" bri2

"A Christian aid worker was shot in the street yesterday by the taliban because they claim she was "spreading her Christian faith." She was working with handicapped children. There's a special place in heaven for her, God bless her."

Well, I have to say, especially since the Taliban are a legacy of American funding to frustrate the USSR in the region, whoever it hurt, and before 9/11 you couldn't get a Republican to look twice at what they were doing till 9/11, (even if you stomped up and down a lot)

Well, as a Pagan in America, I can tell you that there comes a time when you can look at a fanatic and say, 'We need to help this child,' or you can say, 'I have the right religion, and this child is to prove it.'

Compare and contrast the results.

Meanwhile, back in the world of what
our most-respected generals say is the best foreign policy.....

Marc Edwards doubts Manji’s assertion that

"muslims are taught by the koran not to befriend non-muslims."
Moi:
You do not need be in doubt anymore. Peruse!
"[O ye 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. Verily God guideth not a people unjust.]" (Al-Ma’dah 5: 51)

Did you hear what Biden said today?

He said that he guaranteed that within six month of an Obama presidency, He will be tested by our enemies to the likes of the Bay of Pigs. He also said that he will have to do some unpopular things to combat this problem.

Hmm, sounds will do things that opposes what he has been promising. (Remember, he will say what you want to hear just to get elected)

The elections will end in a dead tie between Electoral College Votes, and another election will be held, and Obama will probably win it.

One mans opinion.

" bri2

"My son's Weekly Reader stated that Obama's favorite book of all time is "The Autobiography of Malcolm X"."

I grew up with the 'Weekly Reader' in public school. Turns out, though, it wasn't as official as it presented itself to be.

A Christian aid worker was shot in the street yesterday by the taliban because they claim she was "spreading her Christian faith." She was working with handicapped children. There's a special place in heaven for her, God bless her.

My son's Weekly Reader stated that Obama's favorite book of all time is "The Autobiography of Malcolm X"...After the assassination of JFK, Malcolm X said it was "America's chickens coming home to roost."...Sound familiar! Maybe we should all have a Malcolm X refresher course and get to know Obama and his world view a little better.

This portion of the Powell endoresement was barely covered, but it is a beautiful appeal to Americans' better selves. If we are exceptional in any way, let it be because we truly leave our prejudices and hatreds when we come here to form a more perfect union.

I think the number is greater than 25%.

HERE'S MY ENDORSEMENT:....WE RECEIVED OUR GUTTERSNIPE NONSENSE AYERS ROBOCALL FROM JOHN MCCAIN SATURDAY MORNING.....Thanks John, ....IT REMINDED MY REPUBLICAN WIFE AND I TO GO VOTE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE EARLY VOTING POLLS OPENED....We did.....WE WENT AND VOTED FOR BARACK OBAMA AND JOE BIDEN!!!....WE HOPE IT REMINDS EVERYONE ELSE TO DO THE SAME.....YOU REALLY TICKED US OFF, AND YOU DESERVE TO LOSE FOR GETTING SO McNASTY, AND FOR YOUR POOR JUDGMENT IN SELECTING PALIN....YOU SURE LET EVERYONE DOWN.....Now it's time to put Obama and Biden to work for all AMERICA!!! GET OUT AND VOTE!!!

to chekfacts:

All of 19 hijackers of 9/11 were very nice neighbours. Noone said they were aggressive or dangerous. HOW you can believe any of these sisters and brothers of Islmic faith. How you can trust them if noone showed protest to the 9/11 crime and OPEN support on streets of US?

Almost 25 percent Muslims support 9/11 (the religionofpeace.com). The Christian people, who have lived longer than Muslims in Iraq have been decimated by Muslims. Hindus who have lived longer than Muslims in Pakistan and Kashmir have been decimated. Europenews.dk

TO Azizk:

What exactley the world should be proud about muslim and arab culture? Paintings? Medicine what saves our lifes? Science? Yes, the science of bombing. But even in this field they failed. Their bombs often explode the potential killers.

The author states that Secretary Powell's comments are " unmatched thus far by politicians and pundits alike", but Campbell Brown from CNN wrote a piece ("So what if Obama were a muslim or an arab?") prior to the interview (October 13) asking the same question. I would think that America must feel like a scary place for our brothers and sisters who are of the Islamic faith. I hope we can do more to make this country welcoming to people of all faiths.

to Azik

Never Jews attacked the country were they live. Jews have three millenium history in Europe, few centures in USA. Never they demanded anything hijacking or bombing or killing anyone. If I am not mistaken, all of the internation terror conducted by muslims.

Author is out of it. It is the Muslims who are killing civilians every day all over the world. America gives Muslims and all other migrants freedom to practise their religion and a life of dignity. There are 57 intolerant Islamic nations in the world with only 1 or 2 with any significant minority and Muslims are killing and fighting for more.

HERE'S MY ENDORSEMENT:....WE RECEIVED OUR GUTTERSNIPE NONSENSE AYERS ROBOCALL FROM JOHN MCCAIN SATURDAY MORNING.....Thanks John, ....IT REMINDED MY REPUBLICAN WIFE AND I TO GO VOTE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE EARLY VOTING POLLS OPENED....We did.....WE WENT AND VOTED FOR BARACK OBAMA AND JOE BIDEN!!!....WE HOPE IT REMINDS EVERYONE ELSE TO DO THE SAME.....YOU REALLY TICKED US OFF, AND YOU DESERVE TO LOSE FOR GETTING SO McNASTY, AND FOR YOUR POOR JUDGMENT IN SELECTING PALIN....YOU SURE LET EVERYONE DOWN.....Now it's time to put Obama and Biden to work for all AMERICA!!! GET OUT AND VOTE!!!

Mr. Powell clearly makes his case for the Democratic Party in a very deterministic way, citing his reasoning for doing so. Certainly, these are not all of his reasons, as even I could add pages, and I have, on posts throughout this country.

It must have been very disturbing for him to find the pre-hostilities intelligence regarding Iraq from the intelligence services cooked to order. Such began a long list of atrocities by the Republican Party under the incompetent leadership of a weak pair of inept executives.

There will be much work to be done after Obama is elected president, and I would put education as a high priority. One thing the Republican Party has vividly demonstrated is the almost unimaginable damage uninformed and misinformed voting can have upon a democracy.

Poor education is the greatest threat of all to the United States, even more so than energy or terrorism. Either we fix our educational system and produce intelligent, rounded individuals, or we enact a system upon which votes are weighed against a national criterion, such as of age, citizenship status, time in country, community service, criminal record, and education.

Going back to the likes of Bush / Cheney, or to the ridiculous notions of a McCain - Palin leadership, is simply not an option.

Teleologicus, your dissertation about the evils of Islam notwithstanding, I just want to ask you a simple question: Assuming for a moment that everything you claim is true, what is your point? That Christianity is much better than Islam? That the world should convert to Christianity? What would that achieve? Would it make the world a better place? If history is a guide, the answer is no.

It never ceases to amaze me how you religious nutjobs can waste so much time and energy arguing about whose fairy tales are better!

I LOVED what IMPARTIAL OBSERVER said in his/her post: 'It really does resemble a bunch of retards sitting around arguing about who has the best imaginary friend.' What a dead-on, astute observation about religious people!

Now go back to wasting time bashing each other over the head about whose God is crazier and which one of you slaughtered more of the other. That's what religion does to your thinking!

I mean, seriously, if I wanted to *win* in Iraq, I'd have sent our boys in like they could have done in Gulf War I: "We have stupidly-overwhelming weapons. You are about to be under new management and are directed to sit tight, and not run off with weapons stores to become guerillas with nothing to lose or anything, Iraqi Army. You get paychecks, rations, and clean uniforms the next fiscal week."

General Powel is a true American Statesman.

McCain told the lady that described Obama as an "Arab, meaning a sort of a subhuman ":"No Mame...no.. he -Obama-is a decent family man.." which meant that an Arab is not decent. How shameful.Does this guy represent America the land of the free?

Obama to whom I am voting did not fair much better-he, times and again, said:"Am not a Muslim." He could have had the courage and decency to say :" Am not a Muslim-but what if I am," which he never said.

There are 330 million Arabs from Morocco to Baghda;the Arab people are a proud people with a great history,cultur,language,faith and have made substantional contributions to the human civilization.

Islam contributed to the US constitution:Ask Thomas Jefferson about that. "Islam" is engraved on the dome of the library of congress. And Thomas Jefferson had his own copy of the Quran-on which Rep. Kieth Ellison swore the oath of alligiance after wininng a seat in the house of Reps.

There are between six-eight million American Muslims and they are just as loyal as the next American.Karim the Muslim soldier who died in Iraq fighting an unjust war against his fellow Muslims. How many Jews are willing to an American war against israel??

Enough with racism and bigotry.

"Just because "our side" has butchered "their side" does not make it OK for "them" to butcher "us." "

Nor does any of this make butchery or 'us-them' paranoias good, responsible, or even winnable policies...

Back to competent generals endorsing Obama.....

"Teleologicus, check your Christian history. Crusades by Christians murdered hundreds of thousands of people, not just Muslims but also pagans, Jews, Mongols and even other Christians such as Greek Orthodox and anyone else who may have gotten on the bad side of the Pope.
Christianity was at least as brutal and bloody (if not more) in its history as Islam has been. Be careful when you get on a high horse debating the virtues of one religion over another. They all have been used for political purposes at one time or another. The deeds of political and radical opportunists do not define those of true faith."
---

The above is all most people have been told about the history of Islam and the West. Even if it were correct -it is not correct- it would be merely an example of the tu quoque fallacy and irrelevant to the issue. Just because the other kids do it too does not make it right. Just because "our side" has butchered "their side" does not make it OK for "them" to butcher "us."

There was once a widely accepted theory that Islam was one of the things that made the Dark Ages as dark as they were. In "Mohammed and Charlemagne" Henri Pirenne made what was thought to be a good case that the explosion of Islam in the 7th century further depleted and impeded and retarded the growth of the late antiquity West. Though this may have been overemphasized there is no doubt that the soldiers of Allah conquered and held about as much land as the defunct Roman Empire in the space of little more than a century. The reason there was some place for Crusaders to crusade towards is that Muslims seized Jerusalem in 638 CE. They also invaded and ruled Syria, Egypt, Armenia, North Africa, Tblisi and parts of Southern Italy. Then came Persia, Transoxiana, Sindh and the Iberian Peninsula. Also Nubia, Anatolia, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caucasus. . .If they had not finally been halted at the Battle of Tours in 732 CE by Charles Martel the future Europe would have been conquered as well. In addition they repeatedly attacked Constantinople for over 500 years before eventually taking the last Roman citadel in 1424 CE. They attacked Vienna twice, in 1529 and 1683 C.E. The number of battles, wars, conquests, incursions, attacks and takeovers by followers of the Prophet is too long to list. Islam has been an aggressive, militant, warlike and imperialistic religion from the very beginning. Islam is NOT a religion of peace. The Prophet did NOT counsel followers to turn the other cheek or to regard war and killing of infidels as bad. Quite the reverse. Every single fact of history and the Koran and its legions of commentators points in one direction: world conquest.

You can easily find all this out for yourself in a matter of minutes if you are willing to learn. For some reason the majority of people are determined to cling to the misleading and often false propaganda they have heard on TV or in school, the fantastic misrepresentation of Islam and Muslims as perennial VICTIMS of an evil West. Had the West not pulled ahead scientifically and technologically and politically we would all be Muslim now. Islam came a lot closer to conquering the world than people realize.

No one armed with the facts of the case could possibly doubt or deny that Islam is the prototype of militant religion and Mohammed the role model for the armed prophet. The documented history of Islam has been one of relentless expansion and military conquest. The Ottoman Turks were at the gates of Vienna only a little more than three hundred years ago.

It is the worst and most pusillanimous type of folly to choose to remain dangerously ignorant of such matters when never has it been simpler and easier to inform oneself of the reality rather than the fantasy. A few hours or even less on the web checking history would dispel and fog of comfortable illusion that many today prefer to the more fearful reality.

But I have found that few indeed are those willing to investigate such things for themselves. They prefer to heed what they have heard or been told or what they like to believe, what makes them feel good and what reassures them there is nothing to fear.

Yah. And I'm Queen Elizabeth the Third, and I promise to outlaw all Nerf products because they look like fried foods.

Meanwhile, back on topic.

The intolerant Obama supporters only defense of their candidate is descending to repeating his lies. His lie about being a Christian while supporting implementation of Sharia law in Kenya is a glaring one.

Barack Obama & associates gave $950,000.00 to Obama cousin Raila Odinga in his campaign for president of Kenya running on a platform to overturn the Kenyan Constitution to one supporting Muslim Sahrian law. MOAMMAR QADDAFI'S son added another $750,000.00 in contributions to Odinga.

Libyan leader and terrorist supporter MOAMMAR QADDAFI publicly spoke out identifying BARACK OBAMA as obviously being MUSLIM.

QADDAFI also said ISLAMIC CONTRIBUTIONS to the OBAMA PRESIDENTAL CAMPAIGN would finance an ELECTION VICTORY for OBAMA. Online campaign contributors up to $200.00 are not identified. Obama ACKNOWLEDGED he received illegal online contributions from the MIDDLE EAST.

Obama's taking campaign contributions from the middle east considering the state of International affairs is an egregious affront to hard working American taxpayers.

PIRATES in SOMALIA hijack ships to support an ISLAMIC crusade against Christianity just as Obama financed Odinga to turn Kenya into an Islamic Constitution.

The concern about Obama's Muslim ties and the appearance of his being a closet Muslim with an undisclosed aganda of openly supporting increased Islam influence is very REAL.

Colin Powell is disingenuous or ignorant saying concern about Obama and his close ties and campaigning to make Kenya a Muslim country are not a concern, not only for the apparent violation of the Logan Act, but; for his being a closet Muslim and supporting increased Muslim influence in the USA.

I mean, hey, maybe General Petraeus supports Obama's policies cause he's black, too...

Oh, wait. He's not black, is he?

Colin Powell is respected by most people in this country, some people wanted him to run for President. He deserves praise for his courage in announcing his support for Obama. The more some Republicans spew hate the less of a chance McCain has. Thank god there's a few Republicans like Colin Powell

Archarito: How could I oppose the US "remaining a country founded on christian principles"? It is what it is - no one can change the principles upon which it was founded, because that is its history.

The thing is, most of us have grown up since then, and recognize the idiocy and ignorance that underpins religion. Do you really think it appropriate to believe completely in a book written by a committee of unknown people who lived in mud huts 2,000 years ago?

The US was also founded on the slave trade. Do you think we should support that as well?

Like I said, people like you scare the crap out of me. You are crazy, you know. Batty. Nuts. Oh, that's right - crazy people don't know that they are crazy.

" Archarito

"Honor Killings are synonoymous with infanticide."

Not really. One is accepted by misogynists, one isn't.

"Obama supports Sharian law that supports honor killings, regardless of the off topic rant about denying his legislative speech supporting killing babies accidently born after a failed abortion by the pagan."

BS. That's Pagan with a capital P, btw. We're people with a name.

Obama not voting to enact a law that Christians *said* was about some new protection for 'born alive' babies does not mean he 'supported infanticide,' as some liars say.

Law already existed and was in full force that did just the same thing. Ask the AMA in Chicago.

This thread, of course, is not about that, it's about the conservative darling and respected general by any accounts, Colin Powell saying both that Obama's foreign and military policy is better, but also that it's an injustice for some to try to alienate Muslim Americans from any investment in the very country that promises them *liberty,* not the kind of dominion you obviously want to scrap over.

And then you try to say, 'Oh, now our most-respected general that the GOP wanted to run on their ticket doesn't know anything, it's just cause he's black when he disagreed with a disastrous administration.

Get real.

But, maybe you better sit down, first. Seems like you ain't exhaled in a while.

MARCEDWARD1

You are toxicly misinformed. I have posted the truth.
Obama followers esteem his lies and accordingly post the same lies, but; repeating those lies does not make those lies true.

Archarito,
I hope at least you can understand your own babbling nonsense, because I sure can't!

What the hell are you even talking about??

If you can't write anything coherent, perhaps it's time to lay off whatever it is you're taking.

MARCEDWARD writes "Isn't strict adherence to Sharia only practiced in the more fundamentalist Sunni areas (Saudi Arabia, the Taliban)? .....nor is it used in many Islamic countries (Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon). Don't see how Sharia is any kind of threat."

This really shows some ignorance on your part. Sharia is often cited as the point of contention in the violence that is spreading in Thailand, Phillipines, Pakistan, India, etc. Parts of Sharia are now officially sanctioned by Great Britain.

The greater question is, how many Muslims want Sharia Law implemented? I ran into a Somali college student just recently who vehemently asserted that living under Sharia in the US was his "right". Like healthcare, I guess.

Dara2: Thanks for saying so. There is nothing scarier than a person who believes that he or she has 'god' on their side - it allows the person to imagine that their actions are 'right' and 'moral', regardless of the nature of those actions.

I often wonder how it is that some of these hard core christians can convince themselves that they are any different than religious nuts of any other flavor.

It really does resemble a bunch of retards sitting around arguing about who has the best imaginary friend.

ImpartialObserver LOL

So you oppose the USA remaining a country founded upon Christian principles?

That position makes dismissing everything posted most appropriate.

The smears you produce and smear tactics you advocate also make dismissing your comments more appropriate and render those posts cretinesque.

Desperation isn't pretty, and these Republicans are sure desperate! Now Powell has given many on-the-fence Republicans cover to vote for Senator Obama, and the Republicans can only whine 'racism', as if the Republican party wasnt the home for all white racists!

Archarito writes
"Honor Killings are synonoymous with infanticide.
Obama supports Sharian law that supports honor killings"

You sir, are both ignorant and a liar. Honor killings have nothing to do with Sharia law, and Obama supports neither. See you in hell!

"Obama's SUPPORT of INFANTICIDE"

Obama doesnt support killing infants. You are a liar. See you in hell!

KMichaels wrote
"I despise all liars"

Self hater are you? Maybe you should find religion!

Impartial Observer, your post about religion hits the nail on the head. Couldn't agree with you more...

It's infuriating, but also truly terrifying to see some of these incredibly ignorant posts by right wing religious loonies here.

I can only hope that one of these people doesn't suddenly have a 'Jesus' moment and decide to take the 'will of God' into his own hands. It's not too far-fetched. Believe me, I went to an evangelical christian high school and college (before seeing the 'light' or lack thereof!).

Evangelical nutjobs are TRULY scary in their dogmatic and close minded view of the world. They are basically self-righteous (and wealthy) versions of the muslim fundamentalists they so despise! How's that for irony?!

I do have the deepest respect for MR POWELL, i agree with all he said, but as a voter i have always study the facts, the person, and decided.
don v

ARCHARITO: You are clearly a f-cking idiot whose brain has been destroyed by religious faith. Stop smoking rolled up bibles and get help for your anger issues, before you end up naked in a tower with a high powered rifle.

It is folks like you (and W) that give the republican party a bad name.

Honor Killings are synonoymous with infanticide.

Obama supports Sharian law that supports honor killings, regardless of the off topic rant about denying his legislative speech supporting killing babies accidently born after a failed abortion by the pagan.

That speech was before a vote to protect the lives of babies accidently born that was later passed by the US Congress and which was even supported by the most extreme abortion advocating organizations in Illinois when the vote took place. The argument it was to prevent an irrelevant political proposal is another OBAMA LIE emanating from HIS COCAINE and MARIJUANA HABITS.

Obama is the most extreme legislator against the support of a babies life accidently born during a failed abortion attempt in the history of the United Statesof America, whereas; he supports crushing the skull of a living baby accidently born. That is supporting infanticide!

ABHAB: Your stated that, "The Muslim ideology runs counter to all the ideals of the American culture. Freedom of conscience and freedom of religion being at the top of the long list. The respect of human dignity with equality for all, classes and genders, under the law is sacrosanct in this land. Muslim organizations... are inciting for the replacement of the US constitution with a foreign and a primitive ideology that proved its failure around the world and across the centuries."

Actually, you could replace "muslim" with "christian" or any other religion, and the sentence would be equally true. Ask any catholic how "freedom of conscience" works out for them if they dare dissent from dogma.

Religion is intellectual poison that has no business in any reasoned discussion. Religious faith is the antithesis of rational thought - a vestigial tail on human intellect and reasoning.

Rush Limbaugh isn't fit to comment on a distinguished and accomplished person such as Colin Powell, yet he has suggested his endorsement of Obama is solely about race. Limbaugh is frightened, like many right wingnuts, as he observes his rants become more and more irrelevant. Colin Powell's endorsement is a crucial validation of Barack Obama's qualifications, and a severe blow to the underhanded McCain effort to associate Obama with "terrorism." He also covered the insidious nature of the Limbaugh-like suggestions made by Gov. Sarah Palin and Rep. Michele Bachmann that anyone with views other than those they approve must be "anti-American." Perhaps this election will finally give the nation the chance to put to rest the phoniness of the claim that Republicans have pretended to have on patriotism and being pro-American--as if that was their exclusive territory. Instead, Republicans have repeatedly put self-interest and political expediency and greed ahead of the nation's interests, and I'd call that pretty "anti-American" if I didn't think such a term was not worth using at all, by anyone. Elect Obama for a brighter future.

That said, if I might direct people's attention back to the actual discussion?

ARCHARITO: Fortunately, the United States is NOT a christian nation... despite the ignorant views held by far too many right wing neo-con religious loonies. Church and state are separate, and no matter how much you wish it were so, jesus love has no official status. Thank dog for that - you people are bad enough with just a pulpit - but you would be untenable if your faith-based delusions could be enforced with the power of the state.

Besides, the US set the stage for the anti-christ 8 years ago, when it elected him President.

jhimmi writes
'"What's wrong with being Muslim in America?"
The answer is Sharia Law'

Isn't strict adherence to Sharia only practiced in the more fundamentalist Sunni areas (Saudi Arabia, the Taliban)? It's not a Shiia thing, nor is it used in many Islamic countries (Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon). Don't see how Sharia is any kind of threat.

Sidney3 writes
"But what happens to non-Muslims when Muslims are in majority?"

If history is any guide, nothing. Islam recognizes CHristianity and Judism as part of the same series of revalations that culminated in Islam, no? Under most periods of Islamic rule Christians and Jews were allowed to govern themselves, unlike in Christian Europe where Muslims and Jews were regularly persecuted.

"Don't you think it is an insult to them when that nation is declared an Islamic republic? Why in Saudi Arabia they will not allow a Bible?"

Saudi Arabia isn't an Islamic Republic, it's a monarchy which practices (sp) Wahhibism, which is an extreme form of Islamic fundamentalism. Wahhibis don't tolorate other forms of Islam even (like Shiia or Suffi).

" Archarito
"Obama's SUPPORT of INFANTICIDE is synonymous with one supporting HONOR KILLINGS."

Considering it's not 'supporting infanticide' to not vote for a bill that claims to promise protections that already existed while messing with legal precedent, no, it's not.

What it is is not being pressured into voting for a bad and functionally-redundant law introduced as a political stunt.

The idea Obama 'supported infanticide' is a *lie,* to wit. If there's any wit to direct that simple fact toward.

"Obama's character is not in sync with the character of a Christian nation."

I'm... not sure what *you're* in sync with, but it would not appear to be the business of government or fact.

"Is America setting the table for the world's acceptance of the anti-christ described in Revelation?"

Not on my watch. If you wanna try and make it like that, that's your fault.

I got nephews.

If you can't see how Bush tried to live down to your anti-christ myth, I'm just not sure what you want anyone to do for you, there.

People are trying to live, here.

Obama's SUPPORT of INFANTICIDE is synonymous with one supporting HONOR KILLINGS.

Obama's character is not in sync with the character of a Christian nation.

Is America setting the table for the world's acceptance of the anti-christ described in Revelation?

I mean, the really *stupid* thing about all this Islamophobia is that on the day of 9/11, America showed no signs outside Bush's inner circle that we had any kind of glass jaw.

This was not our reaction on that day.

Someone took a lot of trouble and a lot of time to sell us that reaction. No need to buy it now.

Seriously, though, if you are afraid of Sharia law, stop telling people they need, need, need that kind of thing and hope your brand name wins out.

This is America. We have the tools to deal with even that paranoid nightmare, if you don't sell them away to your preachers.

" Sidney3

"But what happens to non-Muslims when Muslims are in majority?"

Well, I guess you'd better hope you live in a Republic where your civil rights and human dignity weren't made contingent on a certain faith when Christians felt in charge, eh?

Barack Obama & associates gave $950,000.00 to Obama cousin Raila Odinga in his campaign for president of Kenya running on a platform to overturn the Kenyan Constitution to one supporting Muslim Sahrian law. MOAMMAR QADDAFI'S son added another $750,000.00 in contributions to Odinga.
Libyan leader and terrorist supporter MOAMMAR QADDAFI publicly spoke out identifying BARACK OBAMA as obviously being MUSLIM. QADDAFI also said ISLAMIC CONTRIBUTIONS to the OBAMA PRESIDENTAL CAMPAIGN would finance an ELECTION VICTORY for OBAMA. Online campaign contributors up to $200.00 are not identified. Obama ACKNOWLEDGED he received illegal online contributions from the MIDDLE EAST.

PIRATES in SOMALIA hijack ships to support an ISLAMIC crusade against Christianity just as Obama financed Odinga to turn Kenya into an Islamic Constitution.

The concern about Obama's Muslim ties and the appearance of his being a closet Muslim with an undisclosed aganda of openly supporting increased Islam influence is very REAL.

Colin Powell is disingenuous or ignorant saying concern about Obama and his close ties and campaigning to make Kenya a Muslim country are not a concern, not only for the apparent violation of the Logan Act, but; for his being a closet Muslim and supporting increased Muslim influence in the USA.

"What's wrong with being Muslim in America?"

The answer is Sharia Law. If you're Muslim and you renounce any efforts directed at implementing Sharia Law in any form, in America, then welcome to America. Of course, with this renunciation comes a death sentence from traditional Islamic orthodoxy.

If you can't commit to the American Constitution, and basic human rights, then I'm sorry, but there's something wrong with that, and you don't belong here.

flintston :
Amen Abhab! I feel no shame of any sort for my distaste for and rejection of the Muslim faith. Muslim ideology does run counter to many of the truths that Americans [should] hold most dear. We've seen too clearly the results of Muslim states. We should continue to reject its acceptance into our country.

October 20, 2008 1:33 PM
`````````````````````````````````

Yes, because adhering to our 1st ammendment, that every citizen has the freedom of religion, would be somehow anti-american? Your position is unfortunate and the hurt your express is sad. Do you know how many thousands of 5th and 6th generation Muslims live here in America? American Muslims fought for your freedoms in the Civil War, World War II, Vietnam, Gulf War, and I know becasue I am related to many of them.

You can not dismiss us, or reject us, we've helped to build this country, fought for this country, and have earned our right to be heard.

Perhaps some of the posts should cool down and adopt Senator Obama's style for discourse. We can agree to disagree and still have a conversation without ugliness.

I have voted for Senator Obama already because he is the best qualified and the best of the best for these challenging times and our 21st century opportunities. I support Senator Obama for president because he is a moderate Democrat and Constitutionalist and at the core of his being he is well-trained in constitutional law; he is very smart, wise beyond his years, and a brilliant politician; he is a man of highest integrity and bold-face bravery and a leader that inspires and unites many types of people within our nation and abroad regardless of age, income, race, profession, education, geography, urban or suburban, and religion; he has the highest premier education in constitutional law and civil liberties; he has the broadest experience of interacting with the poor and middle class and small businesses while serving government; he has an incredible talent of communication in rhetorical speech and written word (award winning books). He isn't a messiah, he's just Superman :-).

Perhaps some of the posts should cool down and adopt Senator Obama's style for discourse. We can agree to disagree and still have a conversation without ugliness.

I have voted for Senator Obama already because he is the best qualified and the best of the best for these challenging times and our 21st century opportunities. I support Senator Obama for president because he is a moderate Democrat and Constitutionalist and at the core of his being he is well-trained in constitutional law; he is very smart, wise beyond his years, and a brilliant politician; he is a man of highest integrity and bold-face bravery and a leader that inspires and unites many types of people within our nation and abroad regardless of age, income, race, profession, education, geography, urban or suburban, and religion; he has the highest premier education in constitutional law and civil liberties; he has the broadest experience of interacting with the poor and middle class and small businesses while serving government; he has an incredible talent of communication in rhetorical speech and written word (award winning books). He isn't a messiah, he's just Superman :-).

But what happens to non-Muslims when Muslims are in majority? Don't you think it is an insult to them when that nation is declared an Islamic republic? Why in Saudi Arabia they will not allow a Bible?

USA is the best nation for migrants of all religions. Before you criticize, look yourself in the mirror.

u7930z wrote:
Actually Obama is associated with terrorists, not Islamic terrorists, but American domestic terrorists."

Some of the people I went to high school with are probably in jail right now. I guess that means I'm associated with criminals?

"I would also say, what about the fact that Obama is popular with terrorists like Hamas?"

I don't know, what about the fact that he's popular with our allies too?

KMichaels wrote:
"So, Sarah Palin gets hammered because she shows faith in small town America but Obama gets mostly a free ride"

Are you kidding? He got hammered over that remark.

"by calling small town American bitter, and that they cling to guns, religion and racism (antipathy against others that are not like them)."

Let me tell you something; I am from one of those small towns in Pennsylvania, and Obama's comment was pretty much spot on.

KMichaels wrote:
"I despise all liars, I despise all socialists, I despise all radicals."

Liar? Maybe, he's a politician after all. Radical? From a certain point of view I suppose you could call him a radical, but it's a stretch.

But socialist? No. Do you even *know* what the definition of socialism really is? (Hint: it's not universal health care or increasing taxes on the wealthy.)

QUOTING Texan2007

"When an American and Christian can be the President of a Middle East country then America can vote for A Middle eastern and a Muslim for President. Until then - NO!
AMERICANS ARE TIRED OF RULES FOR US AND RULES FOR EVERYBODY ELSE!
That is what is KILLING THE AMERICAN DREAM!'
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ignorant and selfish comments of mentally self-blinded people, like the above, fail to realize that Obama is being elected not only to be US President, but also a true World Leader. There's no one currently better than him for the position.

Drooling lying unfounded factless moronic Obamabot writes:

"I see the same crazed right wing wackos on almost every election related article I read these days! KMICHAELS is one of them! It's obvious you despise muslims"

Funny, but nothing that I said implies that I despise Muslims. I am the first to say that there are good and bad people in any race, culture, religion, society, city, and even at the family level.

I despise all liars, I despise all socialists, I despise all radicals.

I despise Obama because he is a liar, a socialist and a radical.

I dont despise Obama because he was a Muslim up until he was 10. I despise him that he lied about who he was and what his background was for political expediency.

I see in Obama somebody that is loath to admit that if he were a Muslim that it would be bad for business to admit it.

I would love to see a wise Muslim that truly did understand that Capitalism was better than socialism and that he was running for high office.

I am not a respecter of persons based on their outward appearance. It is the fact that Obama is like a whited sepulchre, beautiful on the outside but inwardly he is full of dead mens bones that causes me to despise Obama.

I agree with General Powell when he says "But the really right answer is 'What if he is" a Muslim?

Religious beliefs should make no difference when it comes to selecting a President. He/she should not be controlled by the church and the church should not be controlled by the state.

Everyone has a right to their religious beliefs but they should be kept separate from governance
and not be used to attract votes or to change the minds of the people that don't believe the same way.

This is how Obama thinks that all Americans are Americans. In this case, he is talking about the bitter Americans clinging to guns and religion (in Penn, that would be mostly Christian religion)

Obama: "You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. So it's not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations. "

So, Sarah Palin gets hammered because she shows faith in small town America but Obama gets mostly a free ride by calling small town American bitter, and that they cling to guns, religion and racism (antipathy against others that are not like them).

Obama is just a socialist with a free pass to be as destructive as he wants as long as he runs on the dem ticket.

I see the same crazed right wing wackos on almost every election related article I read these days! KMICHAELS is one of them! It's obvious you despise muslims, but have you read some of the violent and vengeance filled passages of the old testament in the Bible? The ignorance of you white/christian supremacists is astounding!!

All three major Middle-Eastern religions are basically the same. I know there is nothing more insulting to you right wing evangelical wackos than to be even compared to the hated muslims, but if you pull your heads out of your backwards rear ends and really read and think about these religions, you will see that they are all the same bunch of fairly tales and absurd non-sensical stories! You talk about Christianity and Judaism as if they were somehow created out of pure perfection compared to Islam, when in reality they are almost identical! What can one say to such blind ignorance??

The problem is not just 'Islam', it's ignorant and closed minded religious people, regardless of whether they are muslim, christian, or jewish, who are always so sure that theirs if the most enlightened way. Wackos like KMICHAELS and the Palin crowd just seem to revel in their misguided sense of false superiority.

There are a lot of poorly-informed and inflammatory posts here. This is sad and ironic considering the topic of the article these posts are responding to. Colin Powell is truely to be admired for his courage and well-articulation of his beliefs to stand by tolerance and our constitution which provides the freedom for all to practice their religion and not mix religion and state. He is a moral man and a patriot of the highest kind. His party has morphed into a very right wing party. It is sad. My generation if the first to vote Democratic and we come from a long Republican line since Lincoln. It is not the party of Lincoln today. It is the party of nationalists that talk of country right or wrong and generate McCarthyism-speak about being "Un-American". We are all American. Our American tradition and constitution were set up with the idea that we distrust our government while we passionately involve ourselves in politics. Our founding fathers created the "checks" and "balances" of our government because they did not trust goverment. They knew men were not angels and could be swayed by ambition. It is my patriotic duty to question my government and check it's behavior by my "vote". It is my patriotic duty to question my government and check it's behavior by my freedom to speak. I am a patriot whether I agree with my government or I don't. I am just as much American with my roots that run down to the American Revolution, the Civil War, and WWII as I am with the new immigrant to this country. We are a nation of immigrants who share the beliefs in our constitution and the American dream. Those in the McCain camp who use the language of "Un-American", "Muslim", "Socialist" certainly have the freedom to speak their hate, but all of us are just as American and just as right to take part in the political process. No more, no less.

It is silly that one of the new Un-American tags from the Republicans is "socialist". This is ironic since the Republicans have overseen the greatest increase in the size of government for decades and oversaw the greatest nationalistic/socialistic grab of the 9 top banks and AIG. Socialism is a little like calling the kettle black. What hypocrites?

So will you also talk about removing Social Security? Will you remove patent regulation? Will you remove the Federal Reserve and trade protection laws? Will you remove the FDA and drug protection and safety? Will you remove the building of highways and bridges? Will you remove our fire and police protection? Will you remove our libraries and schools? Will you remove the tax protection for capital gains and investments? Will you remove mortgage interest deductions from our tax code? And so on and so on. Such hyprocracy and all for the purpose of tagging people as "other" and for fear-mongering and hate. All for the purpose of peeling off votes.

When an American and Christian can be the President of a Middle East country then America can vote for A Middle eastern and a Muslim for President. Until then - NO!
AMERICANS ARE TIRED OF RULES FOR US AND RULES FOR EVERYBODY ELSE!
That is what is KILLING THE AMERICAN DREAM!

NOBAMA.

Wow, Kmichaels. What timing I have.

How quickly Republican sincere respect for a black general's lifetime of service gets taken away....

KMichaels writes
"From an article after Obama belittled the Christians of Pennsylvania"

Except Senator Obama never said 'Christians' nor has he ever belittled Christians, being one himself.

" YOUR Obama, the top guy of the party personally and repeatedly dissed Christians, directly and by name"

Nope, you're just lying again, liar.
How ironic you use OnFaith to lie. Remember, God lists lying up there with murder. See ya in Hell!

TruthSeeker18 writes
"Marc Edwards responded with a rant to my earlier comments and, in his blind anger, threw up the standard left wing denouncement --- anyone who doesn't agree with a liberal's view is ignorant or hasn't evolved as far as they have. It is such an empty headed response."

Uhm you are ignorant and I called you on it.

"Of course I have read the Koran. Marc, please check the Saba or Sheba Chapter and look at line 33 ( in the translation I have )"

Sorry but listing one line out of context does not an argument make.

"to find what you are trying to deny exists. "We shall put the necks of infidels in chains.""

Which infidels are they talking about? Probably the polytheists who were in control of Mecca who had been making war on the Muslims for years. Why do you think they were talking about Christians or Jews when they view Islam as an extension of those religions?

"One must recognize, however, that Senator Obama choose and followed a spiritual mentor for over twenty years who found his hatred for whites strong enough to yell "God Damn" America from his pulpit."

Where has Obama expressed hatred of white? Where has Rev. Wright expressed a hatred of whites? Why should not Wright condemn America when America fails morally (like supporting torture)? You come across as less than honest.

"Secondly, the portion of the endorsement that I chose to highlight above is likely to get lost in the news. That is because decrying Islamophobia, even though it seemed to be the most important reason for Powell's decision to endorse Obama, is simply not sexy."

Not to diminish the importance of what Powell said on this issue, (Mr?) Bhuyan, cause it really *is,* but Powell's endorsement of Obama, and his foreign and military policy, as one of our smartest and best-respected military commanders and advisers, however his image was tainted by loyally helping make the case for the Iraq war, (and this despite the fact that he finally resigned in what can only be taken to be quiet protest of Bush's policies and conduct) ... Well, the fact that it's *Colin Powell* endorsing Obama's foreign policy is the *big* story, here.

I'm still glad he took the opportunity to speak out against the Islamophobia that's been such a tool of bad policy here in America in the past seven years.

Wasn't so long ago that *conservative Republicans* were extolling Powell's virtues and expertise as a possible candidate for *their* election.

Not only was Powell right about important things about Iraq, with the much-mocked 'Pottery Barn' reference, he's *a respected military man.*

That he chooses Obama over McCain's claims to be strong in these areas isn't just the bigger story, it's actually *key* here.

Now the GOP claims it's just cause they're both black, but that's not what they were saying about Powell last year.

He's right, of course, about Muslim Americans. The image of mothers of dead Muslim-American soldiers at a marked grave is kind of part of the reason it was a twelve-year battle for Pagans to be able to honor our dead in that same way... It disrupts the fearmongering of certain parties who want to call some Americans foreign and threatening, even after they've actually died for their country.

Lets use some of Powell's simplistic and illogical naive logic only place other labels in it.

All Germans are Germans. The idea that some Germans are more patriotic to the ideals and well being of Germany is just foolish.

Imagine Powell saying this to a group of people that did not like Nazi philosophy nor did they like the extremist Hitler?

Powells response againg would be, Hitler is not anti-German. All Germans are Germans.

To me, that shows how utterly naive and blind Powell is in his efforts to make sure he is on record supporting the black guy.

Powell simply repeated the same Obama talking points we have heard for months. And they dont sound any more credible when he says them than when Obama said them.

Obama is a known socialist. No, Obama is not just as American as the next guy. Obama is a known and practiced extreme leftist. This socialistic tendancy of Obama's is not just as good as any other philosophy. Obama's socialism will do nothing but damage to America. That is the plain and simple fact of it.

McCain and powel: http://www.obamamccainbidenpalin.info/

KMICHEALS take controle of the situation,his negative post been everywhere;don't give no chance.

NETHERLANDS ANTILLES

From an article after Obama belittled the Christians of Pennsylvania:

[A political storm is brewing over Sen. Barack Obama's recent statements. Last Sunday, Obama was explaining his difficulty with winning over working-class voters in Pennsylvania and the Midwest, saying they have become frustrated with economic conditions:]

Obama: "And it's not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations,"

Now imagine it was McCain saying the same thing about Muslims in some area of the USA heavily populated by Muslims. Or the same with Jews in America. McCain would never get away with such a thing yet Obama got pretty much a free pass.

Oh yeah, since Huffington was supporting Hillary at the time she did bring it up. But again, strictly to help Hillary win.

More recently Obama was caught dissing Christians again, pointing out that they did not understand their own scriptures, that Christian religion was extremist in some ways and then he used Christian Scripture to belittle their religion.

Again, Obama got a free pass on his attack against Christians.

Imagine again McCain stating that Muslims did not understand their own scriptures. Imagine if McCain went on to point out that Muslims' religion was extremist in nature. Imagine if McCain used Muslim scripture in a manner that was intent on pointing out their extremism and in how the go against their own scriptures.

Yes, there is surely a gross and obvious double standard here. Especially if you consider the fact that McCain did no such thing against Muslims or Islam but that Obama himself did indeed do and say such things against Christians.

Marc Edwards responded with a rant to my earlier comments and, in his blind anger, threw up the standard left wing denouncement --- anyone who doesn't agree with a liberal's view is ignorant or hasn't evolved as far as they have. It is such an empty headed response.

Of course I have read the Koran. Marc, please check the Saba or Sheba Chapter and look at line 33 ( in the translation I have ) to find what you are trying to deny exists. "We shall put the necks of infidels in chains."

As to not "cracking a book" your assumption could not be further from the truth. I read a book or more a week. These are fiction and non fiction and typically lengthy and detailed. I have several degrees including one from a top MBA program. As an undergrad, I studied James Joyce in an Honors seminar under Richard Ellmann. I imagine in your DB of knowledge you probably don't realize the significance of this last statement but there are a few others who will.

So, I return to my point. The violence is part of the teachings of the prophet himself. It must be addressed and removed as a part of the faith and actions of the Islamic global community or it will remain a motivating force for terrorists who believe their violence is a Godly act.

Sorry, Marc, go open the Koran and see why I have not accepted the misguided position of Colin Powell. I do not accuse Obama of being a Muslim. One must recognize, however, that Senator Obama choose and followed a spiritual mentor for over twenty years who found his hatred for whites strong enough to yell "God Damn" America from his pulpit. Sad to see the home of people worshiping the Savior and God walking amongst us as a place to damn the country we live in. Criticize it, many times yes. Damn it in a church with yelling and condemnation, not appropriate. Then Obama acts as thought it was no big deal that this raving lunatic, Rev. Wright, was his mentor for a long period of his life.

Why is Obama loved by the media? They love everything that "sounds" intelligent and Obama is very articulate and bright. That doesn't mean he arrives at the correct conclusions. Hitler, from the historical records of his times, was reported to be very bright also. He just happened to be wrong in many of his conclusions.

Racism & Religious Persecution are international issues stretching back thousands of years. Perhaps, these issues will NEVER be solved, but that does not mean that we should not at least try. Personally, I think Powell would make the better president and I wish he would have ran some years back. As far as taxes and big government go - both of these principles are in direct oppositions to the intentions of our founding fathers. The biggest problem Americans face today is INCOME TAXES (which are unconstitutional), forget about printing more monopoly money to send out "stimulus" ie inflationary checks (like the 700 billion bail-out), just stop taking 44% of my paycheck and I will be ok. I think Ron Paul says it best (Heck, if the republicans really wanted change, they should have picked my boy Ron). Anyway, at the end of the day Obama would still make a better president than McCain. (I just wonder can America convince the world that we are actually democratic by putting him in office, it would be a good step in the right direction.) As far as experience goes, too much of the wrong teaching can be just as bad as none at all. Furthermore, how much experience did the first 8 presidents BEFORE Geaorge Washington have? (who was president from 1776 to 1789?) hmmm...

markedward, lying Obamabot writes:

"I can see your problem, as Obama has never said anything negative about Christians. Lie much?"

It is not a lie. I will point out two of the most recent Obama attacks and belittling of Christians.

While pandering to leftists in San Fran Obama implied that Christians were simple-minded and were prone to cling to their bibles and their guns.

More recently Obama stated openly and clearly that Christians did not understand their own scriptures. He then preceded to use Christians scriptures interpreted in his own negative light as weapons against Christians. He aslo claimed that Christians believe in extremist views.

Had McCain said only a fraction of these same things in regards to Islam Obama and his campaign would be all over it and the media lapdogs for Obama would be harping on it until the election.

No mark, it is you that is the liar. Either that or you know nothing about the real Obama. Either way, you are wrong.

I found it laughable to see how childish and naive Powell was in regards to his simplistic statement (obviously just repeating Obama talking points from the previous day) that all Americans are Americans. Hmmm. Were all Germans just Germans during Nazi Germany? Many of them rejected Nazi principals. But according to that simple-minded blinded Powell, you would be doing a diservice to Germanys by pointed out that the Nazi beliefs would be harmful to Germany.

In that same vain, Obama was found on the official rolls of NEW PARTY in Chicago. This group is self-declared SOCIALISTS. Ayers is a SOCIALIST. The Democrat Socialists of America listed Obama as their official candidate.

Obama openenly welcomed the support of DSA and NEW PARTY.

No Powell, not all Americans are real Americans. There is indeed a diversity of beliefs. Some Americans do things and stand for things that are and will be extremely harmful to America.

Obama's consistent socialistic views, beliefs, tendancies, friendships, backgrounds and followings are indeed proven harmful to America.

So as much as we would wish to ignore the harsh reality of human behavior, not all Americans are true Americans and put America first.

Obama is self-serving, self-promoting and is a socialist at heart. He is not a true American in the sense of caring for America. He has proven that a number of ways.

The fact that he has changed his tune so frequently strictly to appear to be a centrist when he is a pure leftist is just one of many means to determine the true nature of that empty suit Obama. He is not to be trusted with even a lesser position, let alone president.

Powell's reasoning was weak at best, gullible naive and untruthful at worst. Regardless of Powells past service he has proven to be a simplistic lapdog of a known socialist, Obama.

KMichaels writes
"Obama has said so many negative things about Christians that it is hard to know where to start"

I can see your problem, as Obama has never said anything negative about Christians. Lie much?

u7930z writes
"Actually Obama is associated with terrorists"

Actually he isn't. He has served on a board that includes bank presidents, university presidents, leading Republicans and Ayers. That's one 'terrorist', not multiple. Stupid much?

abhab "Because there is plenty wrong in being a Muslim, especially in this country. The Muslim ideology runs counter to all the ideals of the American culture. Freedom of conscience and freedom of religion being at the top of the long list."

Except that Islam has a long history of tolorance for other monotheistic religions, especially Judism and Christianity.

"The respect of human dignity with equality for all, classes and genders, under the law is sacrosanct in this land"

Actually Muhammad's original Ummah in Medina was all about equality between classes and genders, helping the poor, freeing slaves, etc. It's the Quran that spells out rules of war, including only fighting defensive wars, no torture, no mutiliation, no forced conversions, no killing of civilians, etc. Ignorant much?

There is rumour in the highest circle of the Bush Government that Condilisa Rice is also thinking to resign and endorse Obama by this week end. Lately, she has been frustrated by the dead Presidency hijacked by the right wing Christian militia gang.
It shows that Obama and the Democrats may bulldozed Republicans and their associates. The ship is sinking and wise people would like to jump out rather than to sink alongwith the BUSH-CHENEY-MCCAIN GANG.

It is fine that Senator Obama talks about Christianity because so many of his values are tied to it. That he is critical of certain ways of thinking by certain people, I think that actually is a good topic to talk about.

Certainly, raised as a Christian I saw and have interacted with all types of people and ways of thinking. Not everyone uses any form of the Bible to promote tolerance. Some promote intolerance by quoting parts of a particular version of the Bible. In fact, you can go to many parts of the Bible and find tolerance and intolerance if you just focus on a particular sentence. In the old testiment, some people quote Jerimiah which is one of the most hideously violent parts of the Bible where the god-appointed go to village to village to kill men, women and children and wipe out peoples. Now noone would use that to guide their behavior, but it is in the scripture. Keep that in mind. There are many forms of Christianity and many types of people. Some encourage the "red letter" voice of Christ and others use what they want to gain their riches on this earth. It all has to be kept in mind. Human beings are not angels. Humans who read the Koran are capable of doing just as much distortion and rabble rowsing. It is the individual we judge.

Sorry to all for my typo error. I lost the "U" in unequivocally.

No lucy2008 you are the person missing the point. YOUR Obama, the top guy of the party personally and repeatedly dissed Christians, directly and by name. You can turn your blind eye all you want but you refuse to admit to the obvious. You care more about Obama's ambition than to reality.

I have pointed out what Obama himself did to diss Christians but that is acceptable to you. But if somebody in the crowd of thousands says something about Muslims then you worry.

You are not sincere and you prove to be a bigot in your own right and you are fine with Obama being a bigot as long as the target is Christians and Christianity.

You have no credibility here. None, zilch.

And you also refuse to acknowledge other key aspects of this discussion. The fact that Obama, Powell and other surrogates seem to be abnormally fearful of Obama being a Muslim. You guys jump at the chance of repeating that he is not Muslim. He is no Muslim. He is not Muslim. It is your behavior that illustrates that your party is the one that openly fears being a Muslim.

And you also fail to note that the majority of concerns about Obama and Muslim is that Obama has been found lying about being a Muslim as a child. It is his continuous coverup of the facts that bothers voters. It is his continuous lying about who he knew, when and why and what his relationships really were.

Obama is a proven liar and has repeatedly made fun of, belittled and disprespected Christians. That is a huge problem if he is supposedly the guy with the right attitude about religious freedom.

Obama is the bigot. Obama is the racist. Lie about it all you want but the truth is obvious.

Dear Mr. KMichaels,
Senator Obama did not get a free pass from the media over that statement he made at a San Francisco dinner. In fact, it was the liberal media who broke the story on Huffington Post. He had to do a lot of apoligizing and explaining about that comment taken out of context (not the same that you posted), but essentially close to what he said. Yes, people say stupid things. It is our right to say that those are stupid things. No problem. But Senator Obama did not say that with hate or fear-mongering. And it is pretty funny to say he said such a thing to get votes :-).

No Colin Powell is a moral man and patriot to speak out against groups of people being targeted with hate and especially hate that can incite violence.

Noone is being intolerant against Christianity in general. There are some who are unhappy with the rhetoric of the evangelical fundmentalists who are particularly associated with Senator McCain's campaign and make statements that are fear-mongering and hate-mongering. One such statement was by Mrs. Palin in her RNC acceptance speech where she quoted a religious right, ultra-racist fascist (the same man who threatened Bobby Kennedy with the hope of his assassination). Not too cool. There are a few reasons why people are really jumpy about these topics.

Amen Abhab! I feel no shame of any sort for my distaste for and rejection of the Muslim faith. Muslim ideology does run counter to many of the truths that Americans [should] hold most dear. We've seen too clearly the results of Muslim states. We should continue to reject its acceptance into our country.

Obama has said so many negative things about Christians that it is hard to know where to start.

I guess it is politically acceptable to say that a given religion clings to its holy books and its guns like Obama did, as long as you dont refer to either jews or muslims and you just target Christians.

I guess it is acceptable for Obama to target a single religion and point out that they do not understand their own holy scriptures then use some of those scriptures as a weapon against that one group. Again, as long as the target is Christians.

Obama has walked upon dangerous ground time and time again and seems to get a free pass as long as he only targets Christians. Christians are simple-minded. Christians cling to their bibles and guns. Christians dont understand their own scriptures. Christians dont understand that their religion preaches extremism. Again, totally acceptable as long as the targets are Christians. This is undeniable truth yet Obambots will either ignore it or attempt to deny it.

Obama is the head of his party. He is the candidate running on that ticket. He is not a surrogate. He is not a faceless person in a crowd of 30,000 shouting terrorist. He is the head of the party yet he is given a free pass to belittle and talk down to huge sections of American Christian society.

So, Powell, dont you dare condemn McCain for doing something that he did not do. And Powell, stop turning a blind eye to Obama, simply because you favor an "electrifying" black leader. It is time that you drop your pretend games and stand up and condemn Obama himself for setting himself up as the judge AGAINST Christianity.

While I am a great admirer of Powell I would say that he failed as Secretary of State as he tried to convince the world that Iraq had WMD and sided with Bush to go to war in IRAQ.
If he acted so because he was carried away by wrong intelligence report it shows he could be misguided.
If it was because he could not resist pressure from secretary of defense and VP and acted as instructed by president, against his conscience, as a disciplined and loyal subordinate, he lacked the moral courage to oppose an action that was not in the interest of the country and the world
( I do believe that he is a person of integrity and did not intentionally hid facts to prove that Iraq had WMD)
He deserves congratulation for disassociating from the war monger hawks. Better late than never

General Powell's endorsement is pretty obviously an issue of race just by virtue of the fact that his two primary arguments for making it are so specious:
1) That John McCain's judgment is suspect because he picked Sarah Palin for a running mate. Is the General implying that Obama is more qualified than Palin? If he is, then the General's judgment is sorely lacking.
2) That John McCain's campaign has somehow been involved in religious attacks against Obama. To the contrary, McCain has gone out of his way to NOT make mention of the fact that Obama attended a racist church for 20 years, and has repudiated any instance in which anyone has made mention of Obama's middle name. (All much to my chagrin; Obama's religious roots should be discussed just as openly and objectively as Mitt Romney's were.)

You should listen to Juan Williams analysis, himself a black journalist. Juan clearly indicates the General's role here, i.e. as that of a black leadership figure of an earlier generation giving the hand-up to the up-and-coming black leader of the next generation and that he (the General) would have been vilified for doing anything else. All very easy to understand; just disappointing that the General could not have been more honest about his endorsement, but then had he, it would not have had the intended effect. Oh well..

Dear Mr. KMichaels,

Your posts are missing the point.

Colin Powell spoke out for American freedom of religion and peoples. It is that simple. The reason he spoke out because it has been a fear-mongering and hate-mongering ISSUE RIGHT NOW where people are using the words "terrorists", "muslims", "arabs", "non-American" as hate filled tags that divide our people. These tags are being used not by those voting for Senator Obama. Why do you think people are using those tag words? The Obama campaign team hasn't made this the issue. The issue has been made by the McCain campaign team and those Republican campaign managers in regions of the country that this resonates to get votes. Virginia, Florida, and Ohio have been in the news lately because of the especially harsh OpEd articles, campaign flyers, and harsh phone push pull activities. No, the McCain extended campaign team absolutely has pushed these tags because it riles people up and gets votes.
Colin Powell is a moral man and a patriot for speaking out against this.

dnha I've read our history. Fact is, the TREATY OF TRIPOLI was drafted and signed to address the Barbary Pirates operating off Tripoli at the time. The most salient point is that the founding fathers declared uneqivocally "...the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion;"

Early in our nation's history those who wrote the Constitution, Congress, and several Presidents denounced the claim we are a Christian Nation in their public documents. They repeatedly reaffirmed their desire for the ABSOLUTE separation of Church and state.
The following quotes are taken from historical documents and biographies of those persons. I have included the sources, and all are available with a quick search of the Internet.
"Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, both of whom would later be president of the United States, argued that religious beliefs should be solely matters of individual conscience and completely immune from any interference by the state. [Madison's] major triumph there was blocking the establishment of state support for churches. The passage of the [Virginia] Statute for Establishing Religious Freedom in 1785, in Madison's view, "extinguished for ever the ambitious hope of making laws for the human mind."
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/42.htm

[In reference to the Virginia Act for Religious Freedom] "Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by inserting the words "Jesus Christ," so that it should read, "A departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion;" the insertion was rejected by a great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mohammedan, the Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination."
-Thomas Jefferson, Autobiography

"Although the idea of a "wall of separation" originated with Roger Williams and not Thomas Jefferson, it is Jefferson's phrasing which has been most used by judges, lawyers and politicians when it comes to interpreting the First Amendment. This is unsurprising because of Jefferson's role in the development of our nation and our political system.

,In the 1879 decision Reynolds v. U.S., for example, the [Supreme] court observed that Jefferson's writings "may be accepted as an authoritative declaration of the scope and effect of the [First] Amendment.

The phrase [wall of separation] itself stems from a letter which Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Church [in response to a letter sent October 7, 1801] in Connecticut. Jefferson was president at the time ... [and] responded to reassure them that he also believed in religious liberty and said, in part:

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God; that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship; that the legislative powers of the government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between church and State.

This was, by the way, not the only time Jefferson used this phrase. It appears again in a letter he wrote to Viriginia Baptists in 1808: Because religious belief, or non-belief, is such an important part of every person's life, freedom of religion affects every individual. State churches that use government power to support themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths undermine all our civil rights. Moreover, state support of the church tends to make the clergy unresponsive to the people and leads to corruption within religion. Erecting the "wall of separation between church and state," therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society.

It also ignores the fact that Madison himself referred more than once to the concept of a wall of separation. In a letter from 1819, he wrote that "the number, the industry and the morality of the priesthood, and the devotion of the people have been manifestly increased by the total separation of the church and state." In an even earlier and undated essay (probably early 1800s), Madison wrote, "Strongly guarded...is the separation between religion and government in the Constitution of the United States."
http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/cs/blcsm_sep_danbury.htm

lucy008 writes:
"Senator Obama is being asked to define everything in detail about his beliefs and history while Senator McCain is getting pretty much a free pass."

What bridge did you recently purchase? You need to open your eyes. You are completely dead wrong opposite of the truth.

Do you want to explain free passes lucy? Are you sincere? If so, then dare to explain why Obama got a free pass saying that lots of Christians are simple-minded and tend to cling to their bibles and their guns?

That Obama statement pretty much got a free pass from the leftist media Obama lapdogs.

What about when Obama glibbly stated (very recently) that Christians dont even known their own scriptures then proceded to diss portions of Christianity and point out that Christian scriptures were extremist in nature.

Did your hero Powell run to the rescue of Christians and condemn Obama for his obvious anti-Christian rhetoric? Of course not. Powell is a simplistic blowhard that harbors racist views of his own. He is even afraid if Obama were a Muslim. Watch him cringe and repeatedly jump at the chance to say that Obama in not a Muslim. Obama is not a Muslim. Obama is not a Muslim. That sure shows Powells faith in Muslims.

One party and one candidate openly fears being called a Muslim and or being associated with Muslims.

I remember all the grief that Bush got from democrats for wearing Muslim garb and hugging various Muslim leaders.

I see that Powell does not seem to sincere about his feelings towards Muslims. His first thing was to make sure that everyone understood that Obama was not a Muslim. Now, why is this even necessary if Powell believes that there is no problem in being a Muslim?

The pure and obvious fact is that Powell, Obama, Obama's campaign and most of Obama's surrogates believe that if Obama were a declared Muslim that he would not be able to gain enough political support to become president.

It is ironic and freudian to see Obama, Powell, etc say: "Obama is not a Muslim. Obama is not a Muslim. Obama is not a Muslim and Obama is not a Muslim." Then, like pathetic scared kids they weakly ask, "so what if he is Muslim."

Well, Powell, well Obama, well Obamabots, well Obama media lapdoggers, so what if Obama is Muslim?

It is obvious that Obama and his followers are afraid of being associated with Muslims because they fear base on their own personal beleifs that being a Muslim is not good for business.

Senator Obama is being asked to define everything in detail about his beliefs and history while Senator McCain is getting pretty much a free pass.

While people here like to misrepresent and link Senator Obama with William Ayeres, they hypocritically leave out Senator McCain's long associations with questionable people. Senator McCain has been a senator for 26yrs, a long history of working with corporate lobbyists including what hit the fan as the Keating 5 scandel. Senator McCain pals around with the most infamous plumber of them all who is an unrepentant felon that sponsored fund raising meetings for McCain, is a "friend of the family" (as McCain said on Letterman's show last Thursday), and regularly has McCain on his talk radio show. This infamous plumber is G. Gordon Libby the Plumber of Watergate who performed felonies for Nixon against Nixon's enemies. Libby was one of the famous Plumbers of Watergate. This started the impeachment process against Nixon and then Nixon resigned. Not everyone remembers the infamous Plumbers, some remember Deep Throat. Libby is currently a pal of McCain. Such hypocracy.

Bhuyan's article is the most eloquent I've seen on this topic. I agree that Powell's remarks about religious tolerance on Meet the Press exceed in significance the endorsement itself, and I also agree that Obama has never shown understanding as deep as Powell's. Powell's comments are especially noteworthy because of his role in the wars on Iraq. It was well said by one of the writers earlier today that we should remember that we're fighting for Muslims in Iraq and even Afghanistan. At the same time, we can never ignore the fact that Islam, like any religion, can provide a pretext for immoral and criminal acts, up to and including genocide. Probably the greatest test of intellectual integrity and devotion to our idea of freedom of religion is to accord respect for religions that, at least in appearance, have no understanding of or respect for our ideals. Although Powell didn't express it quite this way, I hope that's what he believes.

The bigger issue is, of course, not the presidential candidates views, but the reflection of American views toward Arabs and Muslims. If a person is Arab and/or Muslim, so what? It is a poor reflection on Obama that he emphasizes the denial that he is a Muslim first, without correcting the source to be specific about the implicit smear (Arab/Muslim = fanatical/terrorist Arab/Muslim). Whether he wants to or because of political pressure, he is supporting the link of anything Arab/Muslim to the fanatical realm within these communities, by assuming that the accusation is meant to link him to fanatics and therefore as something to quickly correct. McCain buys into it when he takes mic from a lady only after she calls Obama an "Arab", and corrects her that Obama is a "decent family man". No one has the right to judge the religion a person chooses. Suppose Obama was a Muslim, suppose he was proud to be of Arab descent. He is a US citizen, born on US soil, which makes him eligible to be Prez. Enough Christians have led this nation in the wrong direction and enough Jews have brought pain to other Jews. That is the bototm line. What is one going to do as leader, what does one believe; not what answer is given to a field on an application. There are hateful Jews, Muslims and Chritians. That should not reflect upon the next person who is affiliated with the particular "religion". Whether or not the Torah, New Testament and Koran are explicit with any hateful verses or if one chooses to interpret any verses as such, none of us can make a sweeping generalization, because EVERY community has skeletons, extending associations/relations out far enough. Look at each person separately, without projecting that person's faults/crimes on anyone else who you have no further info about.

I was moved to tears and am so proud of Colin Powell. We are blessed to have him in our country. Yes, Colin Powell is right. Senator Obama certainly isn't a Muslim, he is a Christian. But that does not matter by rule of law and our constitution. Nor should it matter in our culture if we followed those ideals. Freedom of religion is one of the basic articles of our constitution. Freedom for all religions. One can be Christian, Jewish, Muslim/Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu and so forth. It is the ignorant and the fear and hate-mongering that treat being a Muslim as a new form of racism. Being prejudice about muslims, is like being prejudice against evangelical pentacostal Christians. Now who judges and throws the first stone. Not very Christ-like for sure.

Our country is great because of these founding principles and because we all believe in them with a love of "these truths are self-evident, all men are created equal". It is all of us that show those ideals by our actions. It is these actions that we show by example to the world and why so many admire America. It is easy in the rush of hate to forget these first principles.

And finally, our founding fathers, our constitution, and our culture is built on the inate mistrust of government and the understanding that men are not angels especially with political ambition. Our form of government is built on checks and balances because our founding fathers knew to not trust men to always be angels. It is a tradition and the core of our America for patriots to distrust our government while giving our passion to it. It is patriotic to practice free speech and question our government. It is patriotic to not accept blindly our country right or wrong. It is patriotic to practice that "check" with my vote and practice that "check" by speaking out and if need be perform civil disobedience if it is in one's heart, but accept the punishment of our rule of law. So many here forget what it means to be a patriot and a citizen. I am a patriot to speak out against the Iraq War and you are a patriot to speak for it. That is what America is.

Actually Obama is associated with terrorists, not Islamic terrorists, but American domestic terrorists. I would also say, what about the fact that Obama is popular with terrorists like Hamas? What about the rabid anti-American sentiment from Muslims that started well before any American wars in the Middle East, the anti-American sentiment that has caused so many Republicans to be wary of Muslims?

2 Timothy Chapter 4:
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Mark 13:
21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

Wright: "Obama, like Jesus, was a poor black man living in an area controlled by rich white people."

Farakan: "When Obama speaks it is the messiah speaking."

Obama: "You will see the light. You will have an ephiphany and you will go and vote for Barack."

Ephipany: A religious event related to the realization that you have seen a great leader, a messiah, a diety.

If we cling to anything God created in such a way that it hinders our ability to answer the immediate nature of the Holy Spirit's inspiration, then we are gulty of idolatry by placing a created thing before God. This includes, religion, weapons, or anything.

Plenty wrong?
My father's family is German, they left Russia's Volga River when the Red Army was killing German settlers in the 1905 Germany-Russia War era. They left Montana when the local folks were getting the Germans drunk then asking about their views on WW1. This was followed by trial for sedition for those who answered wrongly. In Walla-Walla, Washington my cousin still thinks she is a Russian.

There is plenty wrong in America when we allow folks to single out others for reason of sedition.

(My mothers side has a representative at the Jamestown Living Museum, Jacob Miller, a blacksmith.)

Great article. Message may get lost in the bigger media arena, though, it's reaching folks like me, and I've been discussing these exact issues with several friends/McCain supports who exhibit some latent racist/Islamophobic thinking. Not sure if they have gotten it yet, but it's not a question of winning them over. Am I standing up and speaking against this kind of thinking, Yes I am. And eventually people will understand that we cannot let a different name, or religion, or skin color limit our thinking and reduce us to hate filled, scared, self centered adolescents.

I am deeply angered by the people who are throwing around the term "Anti-American" and "Un-American" to describe our fellow CITIZENS who happen to have a different point of view than yourselves. That is a nasty accusation to make, and essentially labels a person a traitor, a crime punishable in the USA by the death penalty. You don't just launch that kind of attack over political disagreements. Look in the mirror... if you react to a difference of opinion by trying to silence or even execute your opponent, YOU are the one being Un-American. People have fought and died (and continue to do so) defending our citizens' right to free speech and freedom of religion. Don't mock their sacrifice by abusing other Americans.

I think Americans are a lot more tolerant than people want to give credit for. I don't know if many people realize this, but Muslims have staged riots calling for the lives of people who "insult" their faith. Most people probably remember the cartoon that incited rage across the Muslim world. There is also currently a Dutch lawmaker who is hiding for fear of his life because he produced a short film about the Muslim faith and stated that Muslims do not assimilate into the cultures to which they immigrate. Some muslims are now crying out for his blood. I am not saying that this is all Muslims, but to say that Americans are incorrigible bigoted hatemongers shows ignorance of just how mild we are in comparison to some groups.

If the action of pre-judging some person based on observation of other persons belonging to the same groups is defined as prejudice, then I am prejudice towards Muslims on this one point.
Where are the Muslims in America denouncing the terrorist actions, performed in the name of Islam, of other Muslims around the world? Shout your message from the highest mountain and I will stop being prejudice regarding Muslims.
The silence is........
DEAFENING

King3 typical blathering Obamabot writes:

"@KMichaels. Physician, heal thyself."

You do realize dont you that the term "Physician, heal thyself." was used in a negative attack against Jesus himself, right?

Neither Jesus nor I am in the need to heal myself. I have stated nothing that is untrue or unwise.

I have stated that all anti-religious activity is prone to promote ill feelings.

Does it bother you that I point out that it was Obama himself that was found repeatedly dissing large segments of the Christian religion?

Does it bother you that I point out that neither McCain nor Palin have ever stated that all Muslims were terrorists as you lying Obamabots suggest?

I am not in need of healing. My party is not in need of healing. Any members of McCains party that are found dissing other religions are quickly put to shame in our own party by our own leaderes.

Now, it is your party and your leader that are in need of healing.

It was Obama that stated that Christians were simplistically prone to cling to their bibles and their guns. This statement was not McCain saying that Muslims were prone to cling to their Korans and their guns. It was OBAMA.

It was not McCain that stated that Muslims do not understand their own scriptures. But it was Obama that glibbly stated that Christians dont understand their own scriptures. It was Obama that stated that some Christian scriptures illustrated an extremism being taught.

So dont be thinking that I am the person in need of being healed on this subject. I am far from perfect but it is your new-found messiah, declared as such by both Wright and Farakan. It is he that was found openly and publically dissing large segments of American Christian society. But I guess that Obama's Christianphobia is ok. I guess that Obama stating that Christians were simple-minded to cling to their bibles and their guns and that that is acceptable language coming from a would-be president.

No indeed, I know of what I speak and I am not the one in need of healing. It is Obama himself that has proven his anti-Christian tendancies. And he feels free to excuse himself since he feels untouchable.

Many of my fellow Christians would do well to re-read Matthew chp. 25 and give serious thought to what Jesus actually said in the last few verses. If we call ourselves Christians and do not do what Jesus said, we are taking the Lord's name in vain, and will not be held guiltless.

There is no Great deal of democracy in elections its all big money are we going back ?

If all democtats(Senate and presidency), Nancy would say come on Obama we approve pull the trigger( she says it for taxes) Obama thinks now he is experienced enough and pulls of the Nuclear trigger, then he calls his foreign policy experts and asks what to do now !!!! and Guess what they will say , enemy was preparing attach as per intellignece has WMD

Enough Media stop propganda

Mr. Bhuyan,

I know how you feel. I also cried knowing that Powell's LIES about Iraq allowed for Mr. Khan to be murdered in Iraq for no reason except for Halliburton, Exxon (profits), and political power. FItting now Halliburton, the vice President's company, has moved out of the USA to the Muslim country UAE. I read on the internet that Halliburton sends flowers to Mr. Khan's grave on Allah's birthday. Really? Could you investigate that Mr. Bhuyan?

God Bless your moral soul Mr. Bhuyan!

MIKEU1

Probably true from 1797 until the Barbary Pirates (read Muslims) began attacking US ships in the Mediterranean. Once again America was willing to make friends with anyone, but had to start defending their ships when the pirates (the ones we extended friendship to) began their attacks. You need to read your history after 1797. As we all know, things change. It's the cause of the change that makes all the difference.

Wow, another writer with one of those middle eastern names defending Islam and Colin Powell (sold his soul to Hussein's agenda). Wow, so Colin Powell, a black guy, leaves his party to support another black guy, big surprise, and they say this election is not about race. Wow, so it appears Colin Powell has DEEP within his heart an affection for Islam, and of course that means he also gets the dirty laundry of Islam's hate for America. Wow,from Powell's interview I think less of him, he's proven to be a racist, has a deep yearning for the likes of Hussein Obama's buddy Ayers who tried to blow up the Pentagon. Wow, Colin Powell believes those American hating islamists would make fine Presidents. Wow, what a sad day for America. Maybe new mosques being built in American cities will help the economy while giving America's black population a place to bow on their knees toward Iran while praising their Allah. Wow, maybe this really is a huge conspiracy among America's blacks and the Islamist extremists to take over the American government. Where's J. Edgar Hoover when you need him?

b

GUYTHOMPTO:

"People want to know about how forthright he is. For example, why did he prefer to be called Barry for most of his life, then suddenly want to be called Barack? What was the reason and who or what were the influences? He is not required to tell anyone anything in this regard, but it then leaves an opening for those who suspect something is being hidden."

Guythompto, put in a little effort yourself and you will find Obama has answered these questions. In his memoir he describes the reason he went back to his given name, he has spoken many times about his influences and has addressed all the accusations against him. If you don't know the answers after 20 months of this campaign, then you must have made a concerted effort to remain ignorant.
Sometimes it takes a little investigation to find out want you want to know. Don't be lazy and just let the talking heads on TV fill your head.

if Obama were accused of being short he might say "no, i am tall" rather than "what is wrong with being short?, so what if i am?" or "i used to be short when i was younger." why should he begin to preach to everyone about bigotry?

every animal group fears the "others" especially when those others are intent on assimilating or destroying the "us".

several years ago in an effort to erase any of my own mounting preconceived notions i read the Koran and was completely flabbergasted at the hate and outright rude meanness of much of the text.

i challenge everyone to read it.

of course, people will compare it to the Torah and the Bible - but that is not completely fair because they were written by men recording their own history, admittedly. the Koran was written by a prophet through an angel of God (who hates free will apparently).

i guessed it was the same point of view as in Genesis where God laments and repents of having made man; historically it is just an attempt (and a good one) at assimilating the Pagan tribes in the area.

Genesis 6:6
"And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. "

i can see why. However, God never repented at making women. that is precisely why Islam scares me, simply as a woman. if i were a man i would feel like Powell does most likely.

Powell: "Yet, I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion, "He's a Muslim and he might be associated terrorists.""

"Senior members"? Who? If Secretary Powell wants to make accusations like this, he should be willing to name names. Otherwise, Powell is engaging in the same sleaze he claims to abhor.

You are wrong JZ9- 10s of thousands of Iranians poured into the streets and held vigils after 911.
I had bricks thrown through my window, and was accosted and threatened physically many times- someone tried to run me over in their car.
When I called the police, they arrested me.
My neighbor kept yelling at them that it was me that called them- but they said I was drunk.
I havent had a drink of alcohol in 2 decades.
No one in America had the slightest idea what Islam was before 911. It didn't, as suggested, grow over centuries- it grew overnight.

I have refrained from recounting instances of violence and aggression against myself after 911-
it's not about me.

I was also very touched by the courage of General Powell to speak out.
If he had thrown his support behind McCain, I would have been disappointed, but understood.
He obviously put a great deal of sweat into the decision.

Chris Matthews, who had Representaitve Bachman oin his show who suggested the media should intensely investigate "anti-american" members of Congress- has been sounding an alarm against such McCarthyist accusations.

Good people should be alarmed at hate speech in public- Powell rightly asked, And what if he is Muslim?
This exact subject was pointed out on Chris Matthews show yesterday, a special edition following Powell's endorsement- and this issue was spoken about publicly and it was heartening to see.

totally agree. he hides not only his believes, but also his college records and birth certificate. it's a funny joke - his health record. one page...

Ret. Gen Powell is a true American hero not given to sensationalism, emotionalism, or party in-fighting.

His autobiography gives wonderful insights into the character of the person he became. I read it and was fascinated by Powell viewpoints, ideas, and philosophy.

My only comment is that if the Republicans were bent upon winning this election surely Sen. McCain should have picked Powell as his running mate. The Republicans would have swept the elections and checkmated Sen Obama's campaign.

It is very strange that the Republican party had three excellent VP candidates: Powell, Romney, or Lieberman.

Why did they go with Palin...a virtual unkown who has ZERO experience?

This is why Powell chose Sen Obama and is looking out for the greater picture the U.S. must portray in the next administration.

May G-d Bless our country and its leaders in these very dangerous and difficult times.

In 1797 the U.S signed an agreement called the "TREATY OF TRIPOLI" with unanimous approval of Congress and duly signed by President John Adams. It states: "Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

Teleologicus, check your Christian history. Crusades by Christians murdered hundreds of thousands of people, not just Muslims but also pagans, Jews, Mongols and even other Christians such as Greek Orthodox and anyone else who may have gotten on the bad side of the Pope.
Christianity was at least as brutal and bloody (if not more) in its history as Islam has been. Be careful when you get on a high horse debating the virtues of one religion over another. They all have been used for political purposes at one time or another. The deeds of political and radical opportunists do not define those of true faith.

Does anyone else notice the freudian implications of such statements from the typical Obamabot like lucy2008 here:

"I was moved to tears and am so proud of Colin Powell. We are blessed to have him in our country. Yes, Colin Powell is right. Senator Obama certainly isn't a Muslim, he is a Christian."

Ok, then, Obama is not a Muslim, Obama is not a Muslim, Obama is not a Muslim, Obama is not a Muslim. What campaign and its followers seem to be afraid if their candidate was found to be a follower of a given religion?

Obama himself
His Campaign
Powell
Obamabots

All in deadly fear of having the American voters think that Obama may actually be a Muslim. Surely this has all the undertones of their own racism and their own bigotry more than anything else.

Aish HaTorah, an Israeli group, working as the Clarion fund in the US, releases hate-speech films in America and distributes them in mainstream newspapers. Prior to this direct propaganda technique Jewish zionist writers Daniel Pipes, David Horowitz and Robert Spencer put a concerted effort (paid for by the Israeli group) in putting out as much misinformation in bookstore shelves and on the internet as possible. These three men collectively own jihadwatch, honestreporting, campuswatch, and most of the anti-islam sites on the net. They have coined the term islamofascist and actually attempted to create an islamofascist week holiday. Their penetration is vast and profound. A person searching for true information on Islam cannot help but see their mark all over the internet and bookstore shelves. So America's version of Muslims is being fed and controlled by a few on top who are financed in the millions by Israeli hate groups and they are unrepentantly using propaganda tools to create the divide, thus creating ignorant people who cannot possibly support the Palestinians and want to argue moot "clash of civilization" points. This all boils down to festering Israeli hate that has taken over Judaism in the form of mainstream Zionism, that fervently dedicates much of its time to fabricating unsympathetic views of Palestinians, who live in abject poverty behind an apartheid wall. Ju

Nice article. It's really remarkable that the first person to stand up and say, "Enough of this bigotry against Muslims" was Powell, a Republican. Maybe some of the Dems will find a little courage and speak up.

Once again, people who want to be offended are successful. The concern with Obama is not whether he is Muslim, Christian or atheist. It is his running away from the question about what he does believe. Perhaps he has been open and his message has not been well articulated. People want to know about how forthright he is. For example, why did he prefer to be called Barry for most of his life, then suddenly want to be called Barack? What was the reason and who or what were the influences? He is not required to tell anyone anything in this regard, but it then leaves an opening for those who suspect something is being hidden.

Wow, the hatred, dishonesty, and bad faith that comes out in the comments here by the folks that oppose Obama, Muslims, and now Colin Powell pretty much leaves me speechless.

SAMASH10 - I *did* see that newyorker "photo" but I believe it to be a fake, created to make a (valid) point.

Having visited Arlington National Cemetery several times, it is inconceivable to me that the grass around the headstone would be so long and straggly.

Powell, Obama, the idiot Obamabots and the media Obama lapdoggers are missing the all too evident evidence in all of this.

1) Obama claimed that a given religion was too prone to have people within that religion clinging to their holy books and clinging to their guns.

2) Obama claimed that a given religion was too prone to not understanding their own holy scriptures. He then recited some scriptures from this given religion and misrepresented them and also used some of the scriptures from this given religion to show that this given religion had some very extreme views, as was demonstrated in their own scriptures.

Ok, where is the fine people of America, that one guy that claimed he was from Israel, the members of the other faiths speaking out and condemning Obama for his bigoted approach to this given religion?

Wow, the silence is deafening.

I was moved to tears and am so proud of Colin Powell. We are blessed to have him in our country. Yes, Colin Powell is right. Senator Obama certainly isn't a Muslim, he is a Christian. But that does not matter by rule of law and our constitution. Nor should it matter in our culture if we followed those ideals. Freedom of religion is one of the basic articles of our constitution. Freedom for all religions. One can be Christian, Jewish, Muslim/Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu and so forth. It is the ignorant and the fear and hate-mongering that treat being a Muslim as a new form of racism. Being prejudice about muslims, is like being prejudice against evangelical pentacostal Christians. Now who judges and throws the first stone. Not very Christ-like for sure.

Our country is great because of these founding principles and because we all believe in them with a love of "these truths are self-evident, all men are created equal". It is all of us that show those ideals by our actions. It is these actions that we show by example to the world and why so many admire America. It is easy in the rush of hate to forget these first principles.

And finally, our founding fathers, our constitution, and our culture is built on the inate mistrust of government and the understanding that men are not angels especially with political ambition. Our form of government is built on checks and balances because our founding fathers knew to not trust men to always be angels. It is a tradition and the core of our America for patriots to distrust our government while giving our passion to it. It is patriotic to practice free speech and question our government. It is patriotic to not accept blindly our country right or wrong. It is patriotic to practice that "check" with my vote and practice that "check" by speaking out and if need be perform civil disobedience if it is in one's heart, but accept the punishment of our rule of law. So many here forget what it means to be a patriot and a citizen. I am a patriot to speak out against the Iraq War and you are a patriot to speak for it. That is what America is.

Colin Powell for president

I have a very simple test for who is a true patriot: do they or do they not subscribe to the principles of the Declaration of Independence that speak of everyone being created equal with equal rights and the principles embodied in the great seal such as E Pluribus Unum (out of many, one - for the Latin Challenged).

General Powell's statement confirm that he is a true American and furthermore a mensch.

There is of course still hatred and bigotry in this country and the servants of evil that seek to exploit and increase those kinds of things, but God willing that will continue to diminish.

@KMichaels.

Physician, heal thyself.

You ignorance is appaling. Please apply your criticisms to your OWN CAMPAIGN FIRST. alll you posts are your opinion, so they matter not.

On the other hand, we do enjoy watching you flail around helplessly as you try to justify your party's stupidity.

GOP - the party of prejudice and hate-mongering. It's why I left it. It's the reason I voted for Obama today, in Texas.

The Powell interview was a big topic of conversation at the dinner table last night. My father was beaming with pride as the Secretary articulated on national television what he had felt for the past 18 months.

As a Muslim with a similar upbringing to your own, I agree with your opinion. However, the negative reaction to Muslims is, at times, overblown and is used as a crutch by the Muslim community. I remind you that the Germans, Irish, Italians, and Catholics in the late 19th and early 20th centuries had it much worse.

Whenever America encounters a new group of people there is always a transitory period. This period is filled with confusion, ignorance, and hate. With time, prejudice gives way to logic and reason.

The only way to expedite this process is to engage with our neighbors and become a part of our community. We cannot survive by talking only amongst ourselves in the comfort of our Mosques and homes. This blog is a step in the right direction and I hope it encourages people to become a part of this American discourse.

Congratulations on the blog, Abed. I look forward to reading your posts in the future.

The charge that fear of Islam by the West or indeed anyone belonging to the House of War is irrational and bigoted surely represents the triumph of hope over experience. Unfortunately many Westerners are so uninformed about events since the mid-7th century that they are easily seduced into believing that there is something called "Islamophobia" that it is the mark and duty of a superior and sophisticated mind to eschew.

The facts however are quite otherwise. Not only in our time but since its inception Islam has been a militant, imperialistic, crusading religion of the sword. The history is there for all who care to learn. Few indeed bother to do so.

Individual adherents of Islam may be and no doubt are the kindest, nicest, gentlest and most pacific people in the world. That is not the issue. The issue is the transcribed god-given content of the Koran and its repeated application to practice over more than a millennium. From Tours to the gates of Vienna the contest, to borrow the phrase of the Iron Duke vis-a-vis Waterloo, has been a 'dem'd near-run thing.'

Fatuous self-indulgent presentation of self as having risen above "Islamophobia" and the sugary commendation of others for similar histrionic preening and posturing does not represent reality but fantasy. Those tempted to succumb to this dangerously out of touch propaganda owe it to themselves and their descendants to acquaint themselves with the actual facts.

It is certainly irrational and even wicked to hold every adherent of Islam personally accountable for the aggressive and often horrific behavior of other believers. It is not in the least irrational or wrong to view with considerable alarm the resurgence of Islam itself nor to entertain apprehensions as to what this could lead to.

All not too deeply in thrall to political correctness can easily acquaint themselves with the actual history and hence the grounds of concern about Islam. Were they to do so -the majority will not- they would learn in the space of less than an hour information that would make it harder for them to smirk superior smiles of tolerance and enlightenment at those who know the facts of the case.

The only way "Islamophobia" is going to go away is for Islam to overcome its well-earned reputation as a religion, often bloody, sometimes merely brutal of the sword, a religion one of whose central tenets is the command to make the entire world submit to Islam or face the consequences. The job of eliminating "Islamophobia," in other words, properly belongs not to the actual and potential victims of Islam but to its believers who have forsworn and now condemn the barbarous behaviors that have caused others justly to fear it.

I think that the issue of anti-muslim sentiment in American culture dates back to the fall of the Soviet Union. Think about it for a second:

-During the cold war, Hollywood presented the Soviet as the iconic representation of evil. When the Soviet Union fell, there was a major paradigm shift in foreign policy and in the media.

-After the Soviet Union, who did the US have to portray as THE 'Enemy of the State'? No one. As the world became more connected through the rise of the internet, a new enemy came to the forefront. Muslim Extremists.

-Then the 1993 bombing at the towers...

It all spiraled out of control from that point. As an Arabic Linguist in the military, I have been exposed the the finer points of Arabic culture, many of which stem from their religious beliefs.
When I separated from the military and returned to college in 2004, I was disturbed by the lack of valid information. I asked students what the first thing was that they thought of when they heard the word Arab or Muslim: The vast majority said, 'Terrorist'.

I believe that our country had gotten so used to having someone to demonize (the Soviets) that we latched onto the percieved threat of terrorism and let our fear control our actions.

The END RESULT: Those who are intolerant of anyone who differs from them in religious or political belief were able to successfully hijack our country. And they did so with OUR blessing.

Sadly, a lot of these comments are just proving the point of the article's author.
I find it hard to believe Christians who claim to be persecuted and hated in the USA. Of any religious group, Christians have the most influence and political power.
But to take the Christian point of view, please re-acquaint yourself with the story of the Good Samaritan. In this parable, Jesus describes an injured man on the side of the road. Only the Samaritan, (today would be known as a Palestinian) came to help the poor stranger. The point Jesus was making was to show his followers the humanity and goodness in everyone, even those of other cultures or religions.

So Daniel16, let us test your sincerity about religion and the dissing of religion.

Let us say that a given candidate stated that Jews do not understand their own holy scriptures. Then lets say that this candidate read some Jewish scripture and belittled it publically, and belittled large sections of that religion for either not understanding their own relgion or not condemning some extremities in their own scriptures?

Let us further suppose that a given candidate stated that Jews were simplistically clinging to their Torahs and their guns, implying a simple-minded nature of religious Jews in general.

Well, that is exactly what Obama did, only in this case, he did it in regards to Christians.

Well, will you condemn such behavior, especially since it came from the candidate himself or will you turn a blind eye?

Obama himself, at his pleasure, in order to pander to the anti-Christian segment of his base, has openly and repeatedly belittled a large segment of US Christian society. And not a whimper or a gasp can be found in the MSM about Obama's behavior. Now this is the true shame of the state of affairs in current US politics.

Punster you didn't look hard enough.
http://www.newyorker.com/images/2008/09/29/p465/080929_slideshowplaton16_p465.jpg

Kmichaels, all I can say to you is LOL, and really your tired old rhetoric doesn't even deserve that much.

It is so obvious, it is of epidemic levels. The only reason Powell voted for Obama is because he is a racist.

I love it, he's a republican, served under and for three republican administrations, and then low-and-behold he votes for Obama. Yeah right. Plain and simple. Obama is black.

I too was moved by Secretary Powell's comments and the example of Karim Rashad Sultan Khan.

The problem is that I was completely unable to find any matching photo on the web and when I went to the Arlington National Cemetery website, there is no such person listed for either Operation Iraqi Freedom or for Operation Enduring Freedom.

The closest match is this one: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/hsmkhan.htm

Although the age and birthplace are different this brave Capt. Khan still provides an excellent example of Secretary Powell's main point.

But I really, REALLY wish that our leaders would be more careful in their speeches. It unfairly tarnishes a valid argument when it is so clearly inaccurate in the details.

there nothing wrong to be a little muslim boy or big muslim men. there is only one thins wrong - I did not see ever public protest of muslims in the history of Unites States or the world to show support to victims of 9/11 or 7/11 or any muslim radicals crime against humanity. this is what wrong. they are silent. but the picture is different as you touch palestinians. there you have floods of them on the streets. proof me I am wrong.

I'm a 50+ year old, white male in Texas. I was moved to tears, too.

Of all the *many* disappointments I have had this year, following this campaign, this issue has possibly been the greatest. The claim that Obama is a Muslim (which is false), but far worse that there would be something wrong with that if he were is one of the lowest moments for this country in recent memory that I can think of. I am so glad that General Powell spoke out so forcefully and movingly against this. I hope many more will do the same.

To last commentator, "Abhab", your comment echoes a sentiment shared by many Americans, especially those outside of New York, those that did not see 9/11 but claim they have a "institutionalized right" to hate Muslims because of it. It follows a bad pattern of exclusion by theory, not by fact, also it reeks of entitlement. As if you think you are somehow "entitled" to call Islam backwards because of your "civilized" position. On one hand there is the fact that a Muslim has probably never directly affected you - touched you are came in contact with you, yet you slander Muslims by saying they are wrong for this country. On the other other hand you were not affected by 9/11 yet people like you take some holier than now approach to defend it. You also mock them by using a made-up name "Abhab". Afraid to be an individual you cling to the hate-speech taught to you by talking points from wingnuts. We all know your talking points and it's a lame way to justify your hate. The original colonists established America escaping from religious persecution in their lands. They did not come here to get more persecuted, which is what America has done to American Muslims in the last 8 years. Muslims are not out of step with America, America is out of step with Muslims and it's own values. We have islamophobes like Robert Spencer, Daniel Pipes, David Horowits to thank for this rash. During this election cycle, they along with an Israeli Group Aish HaTorah provided 50 million dollars in "seed money" to create an organization that made Obsession hate DVD, which 2 weeks ago was distribution to millions of Americans home. These DVDs spread hate but also are contained within well known newspapers, so one must beg the question, why does the mainstream media aid these people. They do anything but honest reporting and their only mission is to put out false information, books and speeches on Islam bent with hate. The DVD is typical hate-speech against Islam which has no credibile sources and relies on exaggerated claims over horror music and stifled editing, an obvious attempt to sway voters in the areas it was distribute. In the week following, it caused a gassing in a Mosque in Ohio and many attacks on Muslims throughout the country, the media of course did not cover this. Last week the same company, Aish HaTorah working as the Clarion fund in the US, released another hate-speech film - so this continues with no resistance from any non-muslim in America, seemingly because most non-muslims are buying into the hate-speech. Islamophobia is alive and well in America and it's being fed and controlled by a few on top who use propaganda tools to create the divide, thus creating ignorant people like above commentator who want to argue moot "clash of civilization" points. Last time I checked, we shocked and awe'd Iraq, killed over 2 million Muslims, and continue our reign of terror in the mideast. The Muslim deathtoll far outweighing the American. These are modern Christians values however, to not see the reality and to soak oneself in denial over the cowardice and sheer ignorance of your brethern. The war is justified in these people's minds because they are fighting Muslims, and muslims are "As the rumor goes", backwards. To support this claim they discuss treatment of women, style of execution, and out of context phrases from the Qu'ran, meanwhile Muslims fight for this country and work in it, none of which are affected or discussed. It's a repulsive person that brandishes Muslims in this way, one who has never spoken with an American Muslim and who thinks this war is righteous. Shock and Awe was not righteous. Killing innocents is not righteous. Creating a culture of hate from lies is self-destructive to yourself and those around you, and is definitely not righteous.

Bigotry (i.e. unfounded hatred and/or criticism without a basis of fact toward a group or race of people ) is unacceptable. However, recognizing that a group ( in this case the world population of Muslims ) has a faith that includes exhortations to "put infidels in chains "as a blanket statement from the Koran (see the Saba chapter for example ) is not bigotry. It is a statement of fact. If Muslims wish to remove this component of their faith from their Koran and denounce any followers of Islam from portraying this as a part of their prophet's life and directions to Muslims they should do so vigorously and throughout all the leadership of Islam. Has this happened across the leadership of Islam? No. The silence has been explained as a fear of offending Muslims who have taken over "the street." I find that a poor excuse.

I feel honored to live in a country where a Muslim American has made the ultimate sacrifice of his life to retain our freedom of faith here. I pray that more young men like him don't need to be the victims of the worldwide mission of dominance found in the tenets of Islam. I admire Colin Powell and regret that he has left out in his faulty analysis a critical part of the problem with this so-called "Islamophobia" and has arrived at an incorrect conclusion. Let us see a campaign by Muslim's worldwide on these violent and oppressive tenets of the Islamic faith that remain as integral parts of the Koran. Let us see a global attack within their own ranks under the banner of Islam and on the field of battle against terrorism in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Then, I think fears of Islam's global mission to put infidels in chains can be decried as unfounded bigotry. Until that happens, these reactions to the basic threats and specific terrorist acts are not bigotry they are observations of fact.

This is beautifully written and right on point. I, too, was speechless as I listened to Colin Powell in the same living room of my home where I have listened to all of the radical right extremist hate speech of bigotry and intolerance and the incitement of violence. I have witnessed McCain/Palin appealing to the very worst in some of us and exploiting it in order to win an election to give them the honor of providing leadership for this great country that is almost on her knees. I have been offended and disturbed and have had a few sleepless nights. This morning, I voted early, a straight Democratic ticket. I have never missed voting in a Presidential election. This, however, is the first time I turned from my voting machine and exited the building in tears, overcome by the magnitude of the privilege I had to not just vote for a hopeful renewal of America but against everything I abhor. May God protect and guide us all and hurry the healing!

Let's do a test.

McCain came out today and claimed that Muslims liked to cling to their Korans and their guns.

A) what would be the response of Obama and his campaign?

Now, what presidential leader stated that a given religion liked to cling to their specific holy book and their guns?

Any guess? Anyone? Buhler?

Right again. It was none other than Obama himself. But then, that is ok if Obama is caught repeatedly in dissing and belittling entire groups of Christians. After all, that is acceptable in the eyes of leftists and Obamabots.

"But while considering that Americans will not vote for a Muslim candidate, also consider that Iranians will not vote for a Christian candidate. I don't think this is simply American hatred/racism/faithism. I just think that this is human nature. People trust what they know and they know their own faith."

Well excuse me, but as a Christian I don't recognize too many signs of Christianity in all the so-called Christians out there who spew the anti-Muslim and anti-liberal hate slogans. That is a Christianity which is completely foreign to me -- and I suspect Jesus would perceive it similarly.

McCain rejects Christianphobia. McCain supporters are attacked daily for being Christian, clinging to our bibles and our guns (hmmm, from who again? Oh yeah, Obama himself) but all hell breaks loose if a handful of McCain supporters says something negative about Muslims. McCain and Palin have both rejected anti-Muslim talk. But Obama does not seem to prone to reject anti-Christian talk. Perhaps because he has been in a pattern of denouncing groups of Christians and or belittling groups of Christians.

Just the other day Obama glibbly stated that there were way too many Christians that did not understand their own scriptures. Then he went into some very poor interpretations of what he thought some scriptures meant.

How do you think the leftist media would respond if McCain glibbly stated that Muslims do not even understand their own scriptures. And then McCain used some examples of Muslim scriptures to prove his point?

It is very plain and extremely obvious that two standards of judgement are being used and that anti-Christianity is routinely accepted, both formally and from the highest members of the Obama party, including Obama himself.

As an Israeli, I have observed this presidential campaign with much admiration for the remarkable - and remarkably democratic - drama unfolding. But there were indeed strident notes - innuendo and smearing that reminded me far too much of the days of incitement preceding the Rabin assassination here in Israel. And one of the most disturbing phenomena was that one could not challenge blatant Islamophobia except at grave political peril.

Until now.

I am not naive. There are serious questions to be asked about the cultural and religious roots of Islamic extremism. And I live in country where fear and loathing of "the other" - be he Jew or Arab - is often politically expedient.

But none of this can amount to even the vaguest justification for de-legitimizing Islam, or Muslim Americans.

General Powell has proved his heroism in uniform. He displayed his heroism and integrity once again yesterday. He has the gratitude of those who love America and its values from afar.

I came to this country 31 years ago ,and I've never been more ashamed of what this country has gotten too.I love this country ,this country has given me and my family so much ,and when I watch my faith being smeared all over the place it makes me think about what went wrong ,and have i done enough to defend my faith . They say that history is there to prevent us from making the mistakes our forefathers made ,but it seems that one cares ,and today Islam is the new villan .There are 1.5 billion muslims in the world ,and in a blink of an eye we are all terrorits.I want to beg the media to wake up from this nightmare ,and not be a tool in the passing of this propaganda ,because it only serves the bigots .I want to thank Mr .Powell for his strong truth full ,and moral statement ,and hope that McCain ,and Obama will follow with the same.

How strange that a man who has generally commanded so much respect from members of both parties, has suddenly become almost vilified by the many Republicans after endorsing Obama.

And how small of McCain to comment about the insignificance of such endorsements, while pointing out some of his own.

McCain lost most of the rest of the respect I might have had for him the moment he announced his VP running mate choise, and it has gone downhill ever since. I'm still a Republican and proud of some of the members of the party for standing up to the underhanded tactics that have been played out recently. However, I cannot in good conscience vote my party this year. They have lost much of my belief in what I once considered their basic values.

Yet another Obamabot writes: "The effort to suppress Islamic terrorism will not succeed until we stop calling all Moslems (sic) terrorists."

Well, I think the bigger issue is quit lying about the number of people calling all Muslims terrorist. There is not a single time that either Palin, McCain or any key person in his campaign have called all Muslims terrorists.

You idiot Obamites are simply setting up strawmen arguements.

How about we folks that like McCain start saying that Obama and his campaign all hate Christians since we have more than enough evidence to prove that some Obama lovers hate Christians and have been negative about them?

That is exactly what you fools are doing. Yet you see no problem in your gross hypocricy.

"blatant bigotry towards Muslims"

Maybe so many observent Americans have this attitude is because of the "blatent bigotry" Islam shows to the west.

Powell and his son damaged the United States. Powell by lying, his son by selling out to big media. The only thing he has in common with Obama is both are black. I am many Americans want him and his son to retire and enjoy the profits $$ they made while working for the republican party.

While I am saddened, I'm not surprised in the fact that some of the comments here show as much comprehension as Palin did on her SATs. I'm a disenfranchised fiscal conservative that has no time for the religious fundamentalist types. I'm disheartened that MY party has been mutated into something that spews hate and division. I'm a registered republican who didn't want to vote for Obama, but was forced to by the choices that McCain has made in his campaign. I don't support hate, I don't support division, and I sure as hell don't support religious zealots. Which is what McCain's VP pick is.

I miss the McCain from 8 years ago, the stand up man that was really a maverick. The man that had his presidential election destroyed by the same tactics that he employs today. That's the guy I had hoped to vote for.

Amen. This country was founded and has been inhabited by all peoples. Let's get over the "heritage" of all our fellow Americans.

Colin Powell is an American "hero." A friend of mine who served on his staff in Europe earlier in his career had nothing but praise for him as a leader, human being, and patriot. It is he who was duped by the Bush Administration before his presentation before the United Nations when the administration mislead the US public about the weapons of mass destruction.

Colin Powell transcends race and he speaks the truth. Unfortunately, America seems to be lost as to the real significance of democracy and equal justice under the law. As a southerner, as a past soldier, as a past Republican, I believe that this election will tell us a lot about ourselves and our country. I hope that justice and hope influence our country.

I agreed, somewhat, with Colin Powell until he related Obama to a Muslim American Soldier. He is generalizing the entire Muslim population.
Nobody has a problem with Muslims but they do have a problem with Muslim Extremists.
This Muslim American Soldier was a proud American that wanted to make a difference in the world. He also wanted to make it a safer place and, as a Christian myself, I respect him the same as I do any other soldier no matter their race or creed.
Obama on the other hand has not stood up for anything, except what has been popular. He has never served in the armed forces and he has barely had time serving in our government.
He has been connected with Muslim Extremists and only now denounces them and their beliefs. He has not backed up this country with any actions only word.
To me this soldier is ten times the person Obama will ever be, no matter what their beliefs are.

I am proud of being an American. I proudly voted for John McCain in the 2000 primaries, and I will proudly vote Barack Obama in a couple of weeks. But I have never been prouder of being an American nor felt a contemporaries words so deeply as when I heard these words from Colin Powell yesterday.

One thing I don't understand is how can we both dislike Muslims yet also be fighting for them?

During WWII we fought against the Japanese and the Germans and both were our sworn enemies (thankfully not anymore.) In this war it's not too clear who were fighting against or who were fighting for. I think it's Muslims in both cases.

So, on one hand we want to beat the terrorist Muslims but save the "good" Muslims. Given this fact we need to embrace our Muslim brothers and sisters as we are fighting for their rights to live as they want and not as we dictate, as long as their rights don't infringe on the rights of others. That's what America is all about. Freedom, no matter your race, creed, color or religious orientation. And we're helping Muslims find that freedom.

I sound like I'm pro Iraq war which could not be further from the truth. We need to get out ASAP. What I am is pro-freedom. Freedom for Jews, Christian, Muslims, Buddhists and every living being on Earth.

So, anyone that is bigoted against Muslims, just ask them who were fighting for in Iraq and why would we fight for people we fear?

First of all, I agree with Colin Powell that there is definitely nothing wrong with being a muslim, nor should we disqualify someone from being president because of it.

He is, however, wrong that Obama has "always been a Christian." His school records from Indonesia clearly show he was listed as a muslim.

Ok, so children don't pick their religion - their parents do. It's possible his family put "muslim" on there to get him into the school, but if you HAD to be a muslim to get into the school, then why did the school record even bother to have a line on it for "Religion"?

I was disturbed too by all this "Obama is a muslim" crap. If he ever was, clearly he is not now. Then I heard a muslim Imam on a talk-radio show. He explained that under the Islamic faith, if you are born a muslim you are ALWAYS a muslim - even if you renounce it.

By no means am I defending the muslim-haters or even those who just wish to undermine Obama's run for office. But for a billion people in the muslim world - outside our country - the US is about to get its first muslim president. That's not MY view or Obama's view, that's apparently THEIR view.

I also want to call to people's attention a very disturbing fact. During anti-war rallies, American citizens from the far-left held aloft PALESTINIAN flags and shouted condemnation of Israel. Every day in Berkeley, the "Women in Black" protest Israel. There is a REASON why John McCain pushed Obama to step forward and declare support for Israel, not because Obama did not but because MANY OF HIS SUPPORTERS DO NOT.

Obama and his views are one thing. He can say that he opposes gay marriage, supports the Second Amendment, supports a limited death penalty, supports offshore drilling, etc., but we all know he is LYING. His supporters know he is lying. Yesterday I saw, side by side, an Obama yard sign right next to a yard sign opposing a ban on same sex marriage. I saw gay men in the Castro wearing Obama t-shirts. THEY don't believe his stump statements.

The only thing more loathesome than Obama's liberal views are the extreme far-left views of those who LITERALLY worship him.

Very few have said Obama IS a Muslim. But he DID support Raila Odinga in Kenya -- who DID sign an agreement with radical Muslims to enact SHARIA LAW. We the People HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW our ‘future’ President ALIGNED himself with Odinga -- a brutal thug who ‘won’ a government post by instigating riots—aka ethnic cleansing—at the hands of fellow tribe members (with the help of radical Muslims.) NOT what I want in a president. But where is our 'free' press? Sucking up to the money machine (Obama's camp—and where is all that money coming from?) Google it. Odinga Obama. Watch the YouTube videos shot in Kenya. Check overseas news sources about Odinga/Kenya. Find out for yourself. I don't understand Powell "overlooking" this, except he wants a job in the new bought-and-voted-frauded-in administration. The only thing that will impress me is IF Obama is the martyr who stands up to radical Muslims and doesn't sign agreements with THEM in America. This is a Judeo-Christian country and we aren't looking for that kind of "change."

How can one endorsement magically give Obama all the foreign relations and military experience he needs?

You say because it was Colin Powell! A general and a Statesman...

You mean like the over 200 generals and admirals who endorse John McCain, not to mention Mr. Henry Kissinger?

I have always liked and respected Mr. Powell, and I still do.

However, his endorsement dose not change anything that is Obama! Obama is still too inexperienced to be President during our current times, no question about that!

It is interesting to see that Obama is paying Mr. Powell for his endorsement with a "high level position"... Well, I guess when your stated intention is to spend a TRILLION dollars and you have no qualms about how you raise your money, then you get use to turning to money to solve all your troubles. Wow, what a Presidency that would be, SUPERSPENDER in the HOUSE, WHITE HOUSE that is!

And you poor people still think HUGE government with high tax is the solution, Socialist...

Why don't you who have too much money come over and "re-distribute" it to me, I could use some more, especially seeing how Mr. Obama is going to kill the energy industry in which I work.

I know America to be a great nation, but, I just cannot understand the stance on racism of some persons even today. I admire Colonel Powell's as a person for he does not see black or white he sees America. Obama is an American, so what the black and white is all about. Americans! look at the issues at hand.

I am looking forward to seeing Senator Obama as the next President of the United States of America and seeing America's image around the world improve. America would be a better place.

Here is your typical Obamabot isrepresentation of the facts ...

1) Not only has Palin stirred the anti-Muslim sentiment

ABSOLUTE LIES.

2) but when called on it,

In otherwords, when falsely accused

2) McCain has equivocated

In other words, McCain denied the false claim against him.

3) found ways to not admit it,

Obamabots want McCain to admit to the untrue claims that they make and are irritated that he likes to tell the truth instead.

4 to stop saying that some Americans are not Americans.

Well, it is true that some Americans are less likely to put America first. That would indeed by the typical Obamabots. But I guess it is wrong to be bluntly truthfull and point out that Obama's socialism is not at all in the true American spirit.

I guess two that we should include terrorist Ayers and terrorist McVeigh and Charles Manson and lots of serial killers in the list of good Americans too, since technically they are all Americans.

Are small towns more prone to being more patriotic. Well, frankly, they are. Are large cities prone to have a larger section of leftist and socialists? Again, the blunt truth is yes they are.

Is this to say that large cities are nothing but leftist and socialist? No. It is just obvious that percentage wise they are higher per capita than small cities. That is why some states are blue and some red. Sorry to point out the obvious diversity in how patriotic some Americans are or are not.

But the Obamabot is wanting some Americans to be silenced and not speak their piece and point out the obvious truths.

In Germany, some Germans became Nazis. This is history fact. We can be naive children and assume that since Nazis were Germans too that they were as safe as other Germans that opposed Nazis and Hitler but be intellectually honest. There are some true differences.

I too was moved to tears by Powell's eloquent statement. The effort to suppress Islamic terrorism will not succeed until we stop calling all Moslems terrorists.
The low quality of the posts here so far has moved me too, not to tears, but to a sick feeling in my stomach. Nothing is more of a threat to the strength of America than this sort of ignorance.

Abed, you have done well to highlight Colin Powell's stance against Islamophobia. The trouble is that the fear of Islam has been inculcated over the centuries and it will take more than a few senior statesmen repudiating it to rectify the situation. Under ideal circumstances some education about Islam would have helped. But the trouble is that a lot of Americans come from parts of Europe that were either ruled by or were in direct conflict with Turkey. The stories they have to tell may not be true of post-WWII Turkey but some are certainly true of pre-WWII turkey. To make the matters worse a lot of modern day Muslims seem to have the notion that Islam means fighting and killing non-Muslims, which it certainly does not.
So, I think, before pleading the case for Islam we Muslims should put our own house in order. We should convince ourselves that Islam is not as war-like as our mullah's paint it to be. Once we have succeeded in doing that we can argue our case everywhere, not just in the US.
Muhammad

PS. Indeed every child born in the US has the right to dream of becoming the President of this great country, but let us not rush it. There are a lot walls to be felled before that can happen. Mr. Powell’s statement is a remarkable first step. This indicates that we will eventually get there, though a lot of patience and a lot of hard work will be needed.

Now that Secretary Powell has thrown his support behind the Democrats... will they take back their hate speech (calling him the "House Nxxxxx")?

Like you, I have been waiting for this from someone that we will listen to since the start of this campaign. It is downright unamerican and unpatriotic to assume that if Barack Obama were of Muslim faith that would be a terrible thing. Also, why is it perfectly acceptable to use being a muslim as a bash in this country? I can only imagine what that must feel like to Muslim Americans.

Oh, by the way, I am a jew that fully supports Israel, but knows there is enough blame to go around and that we must get past the hate and make peace.

Very well put by General Powell. It's not about being a Republican or Democrat. it's about doing the right thing.

Abed, are'nt you glad you got all the nutjobs crawl out of their holes? These are the asses who cannot figure out why they will never win in Iraq or Aghanistan if they keep spouting the ant-islam
venom. I cannot imagine what level of hatred this anti-islam phobia will reach the day that the US has to withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan ala Vietnam.

As to blatant bigotry, I see more anti-Christian bigotry portrayed by far by leftists then much sign of anti-Muslim bigotry. For every one example of anti-Muslim you can find 100 samples of anti-Christian.

And unfortunately for Obama, his own pastor has about 10,000 signs of being anti-White and anti-American.

Ayers has a history of being anti-American, anti-conservative, anti-Christian and anti-Capitalism.

Farakan has been anti-White, anti-Jew, anti-American and anti-Capitalism.

There are some serious signs of serious flaws with those that Obama chooses to call friends or mentors. And these events should see more of the light of day.

I agree that this was by far the most powerful statement anyone of stature has made on this issue and that is one that desperately needs to be made and repeated. Being a nation of religious tolerance, respect, and economic opportunity for Muslims will only encourage moderate, mainstream Muslims, including Muslim patriots like Mr. Khan, and discourage recruitment efforts by the tiny minority of dangerous extremists whose violent views have no place in any religion or any society.

I support Senator Obama and understand why he has had to tread carefully on this issue, but I agree that it is a shame that he and others have not been more forceful in denouncing the proposition that the mere fact of being a Muslim is somehow negative or somehow associates one with terrorism. Just as, incidentally, being Jewish or a Christian does not automatically associate a person with violent extremists and terrorists who proclaim those religions.

Not only has Palin stirred the anti-Muslim sentiment, but when called on it, McCain has equivocated, found ways to not admit it, and definitely has not come right out and told Palin and her supporters to stop saying that some Americans are not Americans.
The example of Northern Virginia being "un-American' because they support Obama comes to mind.
I think that General Powell felt the necessity to support Obama for President precisely because the GOP were using such underhanded methods to get support for Palin/McCain. That he brought it up in this context makes it clear that he probably would have stayed on the sidelines if McCain had not been using the Nixon/Rove tactics of painting the opponent as a commie, terrorist monster. The best example is when the woman in Wisconsin said she was not going to vote for Obama because he is an Arab. McCain did not say, HE IS NOT AN ARAB and what would be wrong with him IF HE WERE AN ARAB?.
No, McCain said, he's a good man.
It did not go far enough. He lost the endorsement of Gen Powell right there.

There are two key figures today that are afraid of being associated with Muslims. Obama and now Powell. They are obviously afraid of being connected to Muslim or Islam. Why is that? Do they have an inner sense that to be declared a Muslim would hurt their careers? HE IS NOT A MUSLIM. HE IS NOT A MUSLIM. HE IS NOT A MUSLIM, but so what if he were. Well, Powell, Obama, apparently you figure that the so what if you were Muslim would be a career killer. If you dont like racism, guys, then quit being such obvious racists.

My question for Christian, Jew or Muslim is this. Are you honest. Are you a true American. Are you radical or well-balanced. What does your history of association say about your judgement and your choices of friends. Who do you historically rush to defend? Yourself? Your country? Your religion? Your past friends?

These are all valid and critical questions that Americans expect honest and truthful answers to. And Obama has been slow at being honest at best and has outright lied at worst.

I have never seen anyone in any high or formal position in the McCain campaign make an issue of Obama being a muslim. Yet if you hear that sad liar Powell, they are all doing it and it is a pattern. Talk about race baiting. It is a shame that a guy that had at least some following decided to risk it all just to suck up to the black candidate. What a shame indeed.

The common mention about Obama and Muslim is that he has repeatedly lied about his early Muslim upbringing. The issue is not whether he is a Muslim but whether he lied about it.

But apparently both Obama and Powell figure that if he was truly a Muslim then that would hurt him politically. Talk about being racist, it is Obama and Powell that have concluded that if Obama were Muslim then it would hurt his political chance. So they keep repeating the obvious freudian clue that HE IS NOT MUSLIM. HE IS NOT MUSLIM. HE IS NOT MUSLIM, but if he was, so what. Well, Powell and Obama, apparently if he was you would be wetting your pants in fear that it would hurt his political career.

If Romney, being Mormon, reported that he was never a Mormon, then people there too would be right to question his honesty. But Romney had nothing to hide and admitted clearly what his background was. Reid on the other hand, also Mormon, well, you dont hear much about that do you. It is not Ironic that Reid has repeatedly played the race card as well.

It is not about race but all signs from the Obamabots is that it is indeed about race, either playing the race card or trying to stir up division and class warfare in order to win some sucker votes.

Informationally, Obama was a Muslim until 10 years of age then after that it appears that he was brought up as Christian.

The type of Christian Obama became as an adult was to listen to repeated anti-White and anti-American talk from his CHOSEN preacher, Jeremiah Wright.

Obama also was a 13 year friend with Ayers. Evidence also exists that Ayers may have been his ghost writer for his book Dreams From My Father.

Obama has connections with the Rezko Mobster org and now a couple of other mob connections are coming to light.

Obama was on the official rolls of SOCIALIST party NEW PARTY. Obama was listed as an official candidate for the Democratic Socialists of America.

There is lots of valid questions that should be asked by all media about Obama but the leftist press has chosen that the American public does not have a need to know. Apparently free press is more like free campaigning to them.

I think Colin Powell was right about the "faithism" in this country, but also very naive. Only an idealist could believe what he said. Yes it is sad that a Muslim could not hope to be President of the United States at this point in history. But while considering that Americans will not vote for a Muslim candidate, also consider that Iranians will not vote for a Christian candidate. I don't think this is simply American hatred/racism/faithism. I just think that this is human nature. People trust what they know and they know their own faith.

Powell was a huge disappointment in that he let any semblence of intellectualism slide downhill in favor of parrotting Obama talking points better than Obama himself. Powell seemed well rehearsed to do so. I am sure, he he he, that he waited till the last minute to decide to vote for the "electrifying" black guy, not because of race but because of, well, race.

I now have to wonder in what way Powell was ever a Republican. Apparently judicially he does not want coservatives there he wants leftists instead. Why does Powell just not admit to that fact. He prefers LEFTIST judges as opposed to conservative judges.

Where are Powell's reasons for not liking Roberts, Alito, Thomas, etc? Is he saying that these eminently qualified judges should be rejected because they are conservative?

Powell, for the first time in my viewing, really showed a serious of retarded reasoning. He seemed like he was grasping at straws and simply parroting Obama talking points instead of real sincerity. Again, most likely to hide the obvious fact that he would be voting for the black guy, no matter what.

A declared republican being for a known socialist, the most far left presidential candidate in US history, a guy that would be picking leftist judges, a guy that would be redistributing the wealth, a guy that wants to kill unborn children, even late term. Obama is a person that is far far left in every political measurement but a supposed Republicans wants him to win.

But remember, nudge nudge, hint hint, it is not about race.

Tell that to this mother, Abhab.

http://www.newyorker.com/images/2008/09/29/p465/080929_slideshowplaton16_p465.jpg

Abed says:
“Obama has frequently denied the claim that he is a Muslim only by presenting the fact of his Christian faith and not addressing the crucial subtext of the claim: that there is something wrong with being a Muslim.“

Because there is plenty wrong in being a Muslim, especially in this country. The Muslim ideology runs counter to all the ideals of the American culture. Freedom of conscience and freedom of religion being at the top of the long list. The respect of human dignity with equality for all, classes and genders, under the law is sacrosanct in this land.
Muslim organizations instead of aiding their members to assimilate and reap the fruits of an enlightened rules, are inciting for the replacement of the US constitution with a foreign and a primitive ideology that proved its failure around the world and across the centuries.