Powell's Words a Lesson for McCain

Excellent article. Those who want to spread hatred against a religious minority must be challenged by all fair minded people. An excuse that a Muslim country will not elect a Christian as a president so we should not elect a Muslim is strange. Has our constitution been written by the leaders of those Muslim countries? It is unlikely that any Muslim will be elected soon, and a democracy works with all the prejudices of the populace, but to say that a Muslim should not be elected is certainly unconstitutional. While there will always be religious differences and a Christian can certainly say that no Muslim shall enter the Paradise he cannot, if he is an American citizen, say that no Muslim shall enter the White House.

I think the women have a plan to take the country over. http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/6/N/2/terrorist-pals.jpg

I dunno what the plan is. I have my own plan here. I hope it all works out for the best. I'm sure it will, one way or the other. Oil keeps dropping and that can't be bad. Well, at least for US.

Dear Sally Quinn,

Please,dont misunderstand me,but I've read this article over and over again and I decided that this article is not written by you.Yes,Dear Sally Quinn,this is not your article.

Mentality and notion of article dont fit to your previous ones.

Please,no offend,but this is *third class* article and there are some terrible mistakes in article.As far as I understand,this article is definitely written by a Muslim.

Sally,
I expected more out of you, Powell lost all creditability when he gave that speech about Iraq's WMD, before that people were skeptical of Bush, after Powell's drivel the war began. Powell resigned knowing that it was his speech that convinced congress. He kept quiet and now comes out ...shame on him. As a general he should have known what his lies would result in. Powell was no real general, the real hero was Schwarzkopf.

A Muslim in the White House? No. Of all the religions Islam is the most stupid. Its a known fact that Muslims would never allow anyone other than one of their own to rule in their own countries.

Lets see how this would play out, first lady in a hijjab an un-American costume. As a practicing Muslim American president, this man would have the Aazzan go off five times a day in the White House...Allah-hu-Akabar... there is no God but Allha...., then he would excuse himself and go off to pray, while the others pick their noses waiting for Mohammed President to return from prayer. European dignitaries dined in the White House will only be served Pepsi and orange juice, no alcoholic beverages and or pork products to be served in the White House. No American pies because the crust has lard. This guy will fast for a month causing all sorts of problems for the ones who don't. This man will then insist on going to Hajj, once in a while he will behead a goat in the white house lawns, we'll see live shots of him beheading his goat/cow/camel... whatever. Only animals killed inhumanely will be served in the White House all other harram meats will be banned. The toilets will have to be ripped out and designed to face any direction but the East. Foot washers and islamic toilets will be installed in the white house. I can go on but you get the general picture.
If there is to be a Muslim president in the White House of America then it better be a cultural non-practicing Muslim and not a Koran thumping idiot. While you can quote a good verse here and there from the Koran there are plenty of vial verses that I can quote but I'll spare you the trouble.

I find it very hard to understand how people who profess no religion look favorably upon Islam. Followers of this cult need very badly to reform their religion for the 6.5 Billion other inhabitants of the world.

Arif

If fifty percent of Americans either view Muslims as terrorists or with suspicion than there
is reply in following books:

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

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

Assuming it weren't that complicated, how much do you reckon it would cost to say something?

Obama is on TV saying turn off the TV for about the twentieth time today. You know big money is involved when they are spending so much money to tell you that you are wasting too much time. They are right.

Existence of a people depends upon the faithful discharge of their public debts. The crisis is the bottom line and the debt and crisis grows larger. The TV people are still making money and if we turn off the TV more jobs will be lost. You can't win. Mr. Tight Times is back. He steps among the bankers and down go the favorites of the markets. Try staying loose. I can't afford the theater, so TV saves us money.

All Muslims demonize themselves via the history of Islam as seen in their founder, an illiterate, hallucinating, warmongering, greedy and lust-filled, long-dead Arab. As long as the Worst Book Ever Written aka the koran is the operating manual of Islam, Muslims of any stripe cannot be trusted.

To be fair, the OT is the Second Worst Book Ever Written. It differs from the koran in being mostly fiction. The Ten Commandments are its only saving grace.

The NT has a small bit of wholesome history but 70% of the passages are embellishments added to create a deity out of a simple preacher man. There "ain't" many pages left once the
embellishments are removed. Said authentic passages would fill less than fifty pages making it simply a very short story of the life
of said simple preacher man.

And that's right, Athena. America has *never* been a country that needs to fear someone *else's* 'thugs,' ...we know how to deal with that.

*Becoming* thugs, now that's always been our real challenge.

We can deal with that, too, if only we remember.

"They" (U.S. Moslems) probably respect the US Constitution as much or more than the average Fundamentalist Christian does. "They" are as much Americans as you and I. Right, Victoria?

When it comes to religiously-motivated violence and not respecting the rights of others, Christians have no room to talk. The enemy is not Islam. It's radicalization. Despite their Islamist rantings, Bin Laden and his ilk are just a bunch of thugs.

"I am having a disagreement right now with a Muslim girl who is talking about the corrosive far left influence in America.
She actually validated her statement with a quote of the Moral Majority."

Hey, Victoria, I always say it goes both ways. Don't much care which brand name people get all Falwell for. :)

Sally Quinn's article is well-written. I said Sunday that Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama should be studied carefully. Powell has spoken for many people who have had a problem with the McCain campaign. For McCain and Palin to claim to be Christians, their campaign has been anything other than Christian in tone. They sound almost as radical and those Islamists that McCain rails against. Obama speaks sense. Obama has kept the high road throughout this campaign. When the Republicans say that both sides are doing what McCaion and Palin are doing, please let me know the next time they present any evidence or examples. The media has been unable to show any videos of such infractions by the Obama-Biden campaign.

General Powell has stimulated a much needed topic of discussion in America with his conscience driven words.
Just as there are disagreements in any community, Muslims also come in many different mindsets.
I am having a disagreement right now with a Muslim girl who is talking about the corrosive far left influence in America.
She actually validated her statement with a quote of the Moral Majority.

It was no different whatsoever than other conversations I have had in my life with judgemental, controlling, fundamentalists who spew stupidity.

The fact that she found more in common with the ideology of the christian right- than with a woman who shares her religion- proves just how ridiculous it is to make distinctions based solely on religious beliefs.

I'm not going to stop being American, and I'm not going to stop being a Muslim.

If you try to make America about *which* absolutist and unaccountable Fundamentalism is supposed to hold authority over our unalienable human rights, then you only have to fear from Muslim-Americans what you seek to claim for your own fundamentalism.

If we stand strong in the *true* American ideals, of pluralism, freedom, and liberty that resides in the *individual,* then no religious authority, foreign or domestic, need demand any more vigilance from us than any other.

Muslim-Americans who have a stake in and love for our liberties are more American than those who claim Christianity *owns them* and seek to take that power for *their* religion and then apportion some crumbs back to us, if we aren't too naughty or uppity.

Frankly, the sight of Muslim American families grieving over their *own* children lost to protect that freedom for all is probably precisely the reason that under Republicans, it was such a battle to have Wiccan soldiers get a decent burial.

Kind of undercuts the party line some will say, that only conservative Christians are 'Real America.'

Let's see some *real* here.

That means you don't cower in fear of neighbors with different beliefs. In America, an individual is free to be Christian or Muslim. Also free, as an individual with unalienable rights, to *not bow to, not participate in, or to *leave* Christianity or Islam.

What so many conservative Christian Dominionists who want to say 'America is a Christian Nation, and your rights are doled out only as Christians see fit' are really afraid of *is* someone treating *them* as they try to treat others.

America is better than that.

Alienating non-Christians from any stake or sense of investment in the very freedoms that make us *different* from theocracies is *not* the way to be 'safe.'

We are *not* a religious dictatorship, and when you have one of those, the brand name doesn't count for crap, anyway.

This is America. We don't compare ourselves to bloody Afghanistan, cause we're supposed to be on a whole different level.

Athena4,

How about US Constitution,*Man-Woman Equality*,Human Rights and Contemporary Values ?

Will we go back to Stone Age,or shall they come to Twentyfirst Century ?

How about "do unto others as you would have them do unto you?"

Show acceptance of other people's faiths, and they'll return the favor.

Let's make no mistake. What are the chances if a Democratic presidential candidate were white, Powell would have jumped party lines?

And Islam is comparable to Communism. Americans have been massacred in the name of it. They are right to be fearful.

How about some peace and tolerance on part of Muslims as well?

Sally,

This is hard for most people now even to discuss. Why? People think it most important to be "politically" correct. And since the only absolute is "liberal individualism" we can hardly understand allegiance to what has historically been central to our identity as people - our Christian history out of which have come affirmation of the worth of human life and of human dignity (people created in the image of God etc).

Now without knowing it we are ready to throw it overboard. What is wrong with affirming our historic Christian identity while making a full place for others in our soicety? Being a Christian can now it seems only be incidental or superficial. Basically, Christian identity has meant the affirmation of people with whom we disagree in deep ways. In superficial culture we want to say there should not be serious differences, that leads to conflict! No wonder there is so much of it.

Ben W

A great article. Thank You, and thanks to General Colin Powell for stating this so eloquently. McCain and Palin are the true terrorist. They are the unAmericans who threaten the freedoms we hold dear. In this election we really are voting for who we are, as a people and as individuals. Powell is a great statement and defined the situation well. McCain speaks who he is and that he is unworthy to sit in the White House.

From Sir Salman Rushdie's book "Satanic Verses", p. 376, paperback issue - for those 1 billion Muslims to read as they are forbidden to purchase or read said book:

"The faithful lived by lawlessness, but in those years Mahound - or should one say the Archangel Gibreel? - should one say Al-Lah? - became obsessed by law.

Amid the palm-trees of the oasis Gibreel appeared to the Prophet and found himself spouting rules, rules, rules, until the faithful could scarcely bear the prospect of any more revelation, Salman said, rules about every damn thing, if a man farts let him turn his face to the wind, a rule
about which hand to use for the purpose of cleaning one's behind.

It was as if no aspect of human existence was to be left unregulated, free. The revelation - the recitation- told the faithful how much to eat, how deeply they should sleep, and which sexual
positions had received divine sanction, so that they leamed that sodomy and the missionary position were approved of by the archangel, whereas the forbidden postures included all those in which the female was on top.

Gibreel further listed the permitted and forbidden subjects of conversation, and earmarked the parts of the body which could not be scratched no matter how unbearably they might itch. He vetoed the consumption of prawns, those bizarre other-worldly creatures which no member of the faithful had ever seen, and required animals to be killed slowly, by bleeding, so that by experiencing their deaths to the full they
might arrive at an understanding of the meaning of their lives, for it is only at the moment of death that living creatures understand
that life has been real, and not a sort of dream.

And Gibreel the archangel specified the manner in which a man should be buried, and how his property should be divided, so that Salman the Persian got to wondering what manner of God this was that soundedso much like a businessman.

This was when he had the idea that
destroyed his faith, because he recalled that of course Mahound himself had been a businessman, and a damned successful one at that, a person to whom organization and rules came naturally, so
how excessively convenient it was that he should have come up with such a very businesslike archangel, who handed down the management decisions of this highly corporate, if noncorporeal, God."

More on farting and Islam:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/1503931/Prayer-Recitation-of-Quran-and-Ablution-or-Bath?query2=islam%20fart

"Farting is problematic in Islam. During prayer, a worshipper must not fart. Sahih Bukhari (1.4.137) writes that Allah will not accept a Muslim’s prayer if he/she passes wind during the ritual.

The exception occurs if the worshipper farts silently, or the fart does not smell. In such a case, he/she may continue with the prayer (ibid, 1.4.139).Sunaan Nasai (1.162) writes that if you fart during a prayer you must redo ablution. Sahih Bukhari (9.86.86) says that for a “farter” Allah will not accept his/her prayer until
he/she performs another ablution."

Ms Quinn quotes Mccain as saying: "I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles, personally, I prefer someone who has a grounding in my faith."

I would not fault McCain for believing in the above as opposed for example to having a Muslim be the President of this great country. What predominantly Muslim country have a Christian or Jewish president? What predominantly Muslim country does not oppress its minorities whether religious or ethnic? What Muslim society does not enslave its women? Is that what you wish for us? Just look at the state of affairs of those places ruled by Muslim leaders. They are invariably failed societies. Is that what we deserve?

Dear Readers,

Justice or Equity in islam/submission means Shariah,nothing else.
Justice in submission has no any correlation with Contemporary Justice which is based on Human Rights and Present Values.
Justice in submission;
*Man can take(not marriage) four women and whenever he likes he can kick out his wives,but woman has no right to divorce her master*
Justice in submission;
-Man excels woman.Indisputable !
-Muslim excels non-muslim/infidel.
-Son excels daughter.
-Man can scourge woman,etc.

In submission,Justice is Desert Rule.

All would be better off if more people realized there are a thousand shades of gray between black and white

Mr. John McCain lost credibility to be president of present most powerful country in earth when he sang Bomb; bomb Iran which never invaded any country or continent. Rest is here:

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

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

dollarstein land.

despite the fact that i filled for bankrupcey ,still i,m the way the truth and life in america ,land of the free ,people are free to practice their religion and ideology as long as to keep their religion separated from the state, and keep their religion in the place of worship box????????????? this is a serious phenomna.

people in the free land or jesus land or dollarstein land or califate obama,s land or macain the baptist pool land need to give it some thought if they realy understand what freedom is what good for mankind is in general .

separation between the place of worship and the state is the problem not the solution.

do people separate secularism from the state and leave it in the theoryratical parish?

kert1 :
MIDDLER,
... There has always been argument in this country and rarely does it result in violence.

Martin Luther King,Jr.

We all know our candidates might lose and I have never heard of a political support getting killed for this...

Robert F. Kennedy

People almost never succeed in hurting the president,

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

so I would get back to reality, and stop hating your enemy..."

Which is a noble sentiment- and I didn't see any hatred in MIDDLER's post- just fear.

Another great african american man, who also called for an end to racism-

Malcom X- El Hajj Malik El Shabazz

There are several just plain false assertions made here about Muslims.
Here is a link to a conference of 500 scholars called The Amman Message. Fzor any who may be interested, in Muslims defining themselves.

http://ammanmessage.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=30&limit=1&limitstart=0

O ye who believe! Be steadfast witnesses for God in equity, and let not hatred of any people make you swerve from justice. Deal justly, that is nearer to piety.

I don't see anything wrong with wanting to vote for someone with the same faith based (religious) values as yourself. Doesn't everyone want to vote for someone who will uphold their values.

If he had said that the person shouldn't be elected or he wouldn't vote for an Arab, then that would be immoral, but he didn't say anything like that. Your twisting the story.

Muslims demonize themselves via the history of Islam as seen in their founder, an illiterate, hallucinating, warmongering, greedy and lust-filled, long-dead Arab. As long as the Worst Book Ever Written is the operating manual of Islam, Muslims of any stripe cannot be trusted.

To be fair, the OT is the Second Worst Book Ever Written. It differs from the koran in being mostly fiction. The Ten Commandments are its only saving grace.

The NT has a small bit of wholesome history but 70% of the passages are embellishments added to create a deity out of a simple preacher man. There "ain't" many pages left once the embellishments are removed. Said authentic passages would fill less than fifty pages making it simply a very short story of the life of said simple preacher man.

You are right here, it is certainly not coming from brotherly love or the teachings of Jesus to demonize Muslims and it is small minded, cruel, mean and even ignorant to do so. It is a fundamentalist mindset to do so. Is one religion's angry fundamentalism worse than another? Well, perhaps if it acts out in violence against others. But does one condemn an entire faith group based on its fundamentalist loony fringe? Add to this, does one do that for political gain and call it goodness? That's a kind of cynical manipulation that makes me wonder if the people who do it are aware that they are doing it. Or are they just so unconscious? And why does it appeal to many people? Perhaps they are sharing unconsciousness? Hard to tell. One thing that helps guide me is the righteous intolerance of some, the judgments of some that seem to project blame onto others as if the blamer is less human, less fallen, less frail. That's one guidepost for me. That intolerance and lust for exclusion and demonizing others, that righteous fundamentalism.

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.

Muslims are looked upon with suspicion everywhere in the world. Wherever they are a minority they are feared by the majority and when they are in majority, Shias look at Sunnis with suspicion and vice versa. My personal experience says majority of the Muslims are just fine but Islam as a religion tends to have more extremists than all the other major religions of the world.
As for most Muslims being friends or allies of US. I would say Dream on!!
Most Muslims view US as a bully (which incidentally is true) and is deeply unpopular. Though many Islamic states support the US policies the public there at large dissent it. And they can't do much about it, except become terrorists because Islamic states are not democratic.
As for John McCain he is just engaged in politics. After the elections things will be normal, at least till the next elections. Politics my friend is a dirty word. I consider myself politically aware and for this reason if anyone calls me a politician I would consider it as a grave insult to my character. :)

In defense of John McCain - and he appears to need it here! - General Powell said "he is as nondiscriminataory as anyone I know" and described both Senators as dedicated to the welfare of the nation. There were other criticisms of him and of the party, but to characterize John McCain as discriminatory is not fair, and I suspect there are contributors here who wouldn't vote for an Evangelical or a Mormon.

As for Senator McCain's position on abortion, he believes it should be returned to the states, in which case his personal views would have no bearing. By contrast, Senator Obama's commitment to abortion-on-demand, as so clearly expressed in his address to Planned Parenthood, would not permit returning it to the states.

So on abortion, Senator Obama is more rigid, although he described it to Planned Parenthood as having a "moral component" but in the last debates he declared it a "moral issue."

Has there been an evolution in his thinking? Is he now essentially a politician, doing what politicians do, as the Rev. Wright said. Let's at least be fair!

As to "sanctity of life" as contrasted to "quality of life," this is straight Joseph Fletcher, a Princeton theologian of the '70s who was famous for advancing Situation Ethics." He welcomed the Roe decision as an advancement in social life.

ON the subject of religion in American life, I agree on the importance of understanding the various traditions and found very interesting an article in First Things on The Death of Protestant America by Joseph Bottum:

"The great confluence of Protestantism has dwindled to a trickle over the past 30 years, and the Great Church of America has come to an end. And that leaves us in an odd situation, unlike any before. The death of the Mainline is the central historical fact of our time: the event that distinguishes the past several decades from every other period in American history."

I watched this take place in the Episcopal Church - the Church which formed Colin Powell, John McCain and me. But the new Episcopal Church supports abortion-on=demand, "assisted suicide" and presumably all that follows in their wake. Is this the Church that will provide the spiritual guidance for a President Obama now that Southside Chicago is a thing of the past?

Also, the General and Sally did not read Ayaan Hirsi Ali's autobiography. Infidel. If they did, the General's choice would have been different and Sally would never had written her column.

To wit:

"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."

Of course, Muslims are forbidden to read Hirsi Ali's books. Ditto for Sir Salman Rushdie's books which is another element of the backwardness and danger posed by Islam.

Why do Muslims riot worldwide over cartoons?

I can put 10 pages of comments how good this article is... One needs to remember what the US president stands for ; Unite the country, lead the free world........

The other day in Woodbridge, VA, there was a rally being held for McCain. Outside there were three people who were McCain supporters and who were distributing bumper stickers which read "CHANGE" but with a sickle and cross in place of the "G" and these people were screaming about Muslims being horrid, etc., etc. The problem with that was that some young people came up to go into the rally but were asked by these obnoxious odious three if they were Muslim. They answered yes and were horrified to find out that these three odious people were giving out those stickers and were also supporters of McCain. Luckily there was a rep for McCain in charge of the rally and he made the three people leave, but not until the other Muslim supporters had told them, "but we are also McCain supporters unless you are telling us you don't want our support".

Now isn't that one h*ll of a mess? Palin has encouraged and incited this HATRED and guess what's happening? Now they are losing some supporters who just happen to be Muslim. See what happens when people spread hate - it can cross you up when you least expect it! BTW, I live in No. VA.

The point is moot because there is no way a Muslim would ever get enough votes to be President. So this column is just the usual Democrat blather of being politically correct instead of being a realist.

Dear Sally Quinn,

You say,*How many know that Muslims revere Jesus as a great prophet and when they say his name they say ''Peace be upon him'' *

1-Muslims revere *Muslim Christ*,not Jesus Christ,on the contrary,islam curses Trinity.
2-Jesus was not a prophet,but He was *Son of God*,and islam also curses those who say *Son of God*
3-*Peace be upon him* is said,only and only,after the name of the founder of islam.
*Christ,peace be upon him* is an insult to islam.
Dear Sally Quinn,who told you *peace be upon him* is said after the name of Christ ? If you have time,please,speak with him/her.
4-In islam,there is no Jesus,but there is Christ.

Regards,

Halozcel

Great article! I only wished that majority of Americans agreed with your position. It would make out country the beacon of hope once again...

MIDDLER,
Your arguments are dumbfounding. There has always been argument in this country and rarely does it result in violence. We all know our candidates might lose and I have never heard of a political support getting killed for this. Why don't you engage in real political debate. It seems like people like you are trying to stiffle with hate speach instead of promoting your candidate.

Ignore these idiots on both sides who claim to want the president dead. There is always someone who wants the president dead. If it were me, I would much more concerned to be Pres. Bush now. I can't believe the hate towards him. People almost never succeed in hurting the president, so I would get back to reality, and stop hating your enemy.

Thank you for your commentary. This is an important subject for Americans to consider. It occurs to me that any idea of God or theological system is limited by language, culture, history and our own ego need to be right. As soon as we give up the need to be right we free the “I Am Who I Am” to be revealed in the world within more than one world view and mindset. I am a Christian as much by accident of birth as by choice, but I don’t think who I am limits God in the slightest to revelation and action within another language, culture, or history. In other words, it is we who are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus or whatever, but God (or by what ever name we choose to name the ineffable) is none of those things but greater and more inclusive than we can imagine. Until we have the humility to get that and the faith that it is safe, even imperative, to have a God who loves the whole world, not just the ones who look, act, behave or believe as we do, we will grieve the heart of God with our narrow minded bigotry.
The great spiritual leaders of the world of all faiths get it – Gandhi, the Dali Lama, Thomas Merton, Abraham Heschel and yes even Malcolm X who was gunned down by those who felt betrayed by his expanded world view.
Barak Obama embraces a more expansive world view which will serve our country well during his presidency should he be elected.

The U.S. should require 'Comparative World Religion' to be taught to high school students. I know it would be difficult to find a text that wouldn't be considered a hit job by half the population and a whitewash by the other half, but it needs to be done.

Also, as xenophobic as it may sound, all Western countries really need to take a look at Muslim immigration. Muslims in small numbers generally manage to tolerate Western culture. However, Islam is as much a political doctrine as it is a religion, and it expressly forbids Muslims being ruled by non-Muslims.

Most Muslims living in the U.S. (or Great Britain, for that matter) probably would rather not live under Sharia, or they wouldn't be where they are. But who are they to go against the Islamic grain? Once there are a sufficient number of 'subjects', someone will want to assume the mantle of 'leader'. Is the average Muslim going to stand up to their 'religious scholar' and tell him they'd rather be free of Sharia? That's what needs to happen.

I am a white man and I am scared to death for the future of my children with the hate that the John McCain campaign has adopted.

Just today, a Black bear was found shot, killed and left a a N.C. campus wrapped in Obama signs.

It seems to me that John McCain wishes that were Barack Obama.
As an Obama supporter, I consider myself a target for violence.

My worst fear is that it's only a matter of time before an Obama campaign worker or supporter is killed, and if it happens John McCain and Sarah Palin will be as guilty as the one who carries out such a horrendous act!

Thanks Sally for an articulate position.

General Powell raised to the occasion big time: He is truly A Great American Statesman.

Islam is part and parcel of and was built-in the US constitution:those of us who are unaware of this fact should consult Thomas Jefferson-whose copy of the Quran is still in the library of the congress.

PS:Sally:the correct number of Muslims in the world is 1.5 billion and they are by definition Moderate except the very few with the loud voices.

Something else the General failed to note 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.”

JHIMMI,
Thank you for the extra information. I'm still a little confused about how these rights and traditional Islamic doctrine work together, but I can see the problems they will have with Western Civilization. I really wish we had someone (maybe you) who could give us insight into the differences between Muslim and Western (possibly Christian) values. This article with Quinn gushing over Powell statement that Muslims are swell is insulting.

We all know that there are differences in Islamic culture just can't work with our Western values. Isn't this the reason we want to stop importing oil from Arab nations. We need real information to know what problems there will be and know what questions to ask.

I have nothing against Muslims in this coming to this country and serving any way they like. We just need to understand where the conflicts will be. I know in Europe they are struggling with this. They are trying to incorporate the Sharia Law in their common law and it just doesn't work. It often violates human rights. I just don't want us to be stupid and handle it the same way.

Thanks again for the insight.

Hi Sally,

SAlly: "McCain rarely lets an opportunity go by without referring to "radical Islamic terrorism" as our greatest threat. McCain referred to megachurch pastor Rod Parsley, who calls Islam a 'false' religion that should be destroyed, as his "spiritual adviser". He rejected Parsley's support only after the pastor's views became widely known."

The way to expose a false belief is to show it for what it is referenced against God's Word, the Bible. You have to have an ultimate reference point, and the Bible was around long before Islam and the God of the Bible said He would preserve His Word.

SALLY: "How many Americans understand that there are pluralists and extremists in every religion? How many know that Muslims revere Jesus as a great prophet and when they say his name they say "Peace be upon him"? How many Americans know that in the Koran it says, "God made us different nations and tribes that we may come to know one another"?"

I'm sure many, maybe most understand that there are extremists in any faith but that is not the issue here.

You are talking about two different worldviews that believe different things about salvation and who Jesus is. How can they both be true and yet say completely different things?

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" (John 14:6)

So if you are a Christian by God's grace you believe that the God revealed in the Bible is the One true and holy God. Therefore, by default, Islam is a false religion since it reveals things that are contrary to this revelation. It leads people away from the One true God.

So I can have love for the Muslim as a human being created in God's image, want only his best at heart, treat him with respect and dignity,go the extra mile for him, but if I am going to stand for truth I cannot agree that his religion is true, all the time while it undermines the God of the Bible and what He says.

Kerti,

Some tenets of widely accepted, mainstream Islamic orthodoxy are in direct conflict with the Univeral Declaration of Human Rights, which is why Org. of Islamic Conf. (OIC) had to come up with their own version of a human rights document, based on Sharia.

The Islamic Declaration gives men and women the right to marry, except if they are from different religions.
The Islamic Declaration does not provide for the freedom to change one's religion (usually a death sentence for Muslims to 'revert' away from Islam).
The Islamic Declaration gives women duties to perform, and some rights, but not the same rights as men.
The Islamic Declaration dictates the right to hold public office can only be exercised in accordance with the Sharia, which FORBIDS MUSLIMS TO SUBMIT TO THE RULE OF NON-MUSLIMS.
The Islamic Declaration provides free speech, unless it "violates sanctities and the dignity of Prophets", "undermines moral and ethical values or disintegrate", "arouses nationalistic or doctrinal hatred".
The Islamic Declaration also forbids discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, etc., but I don't know how Islamic govts square that with the dhimmi contract.

I just looked at the YouTube video by MUMBOJUMO just to see what is out there.

You'll be happy to know that it is a news story from Al Jazera. At least that is what it says at the end.

It's actually quite amazing who's "in charge" of the Republican party. Nothing really but quite a few misconceptions of who Obama is from some hicks. Most comments were just opinions. I just needed to see what facts were out there.

JHIMMI,
Those are interesting points. Would you say that some aspects of the Muslim faith are incapatible with Western Civilization?

I think you bring up much better points than the author. I think we need to understand what beliefs are behind any religion and see what we can agree with and how it affects culture. I don't think many Americans would be very impressed with the rights of nations run by Muslim leaders.

Muslims are not the problem, they are just ordinary people. The problem is that mainstream Islamic orthodoxy is in conflict with aspects of Western civilization's concept of human rights.
Muslims are caught in the middle, between what common sense tells them is true, and what their Imam, or some famous Mufti, tells them is true, namely, a literal interpretation of the Quran.

Mainstream Islamic orthodoxy stopped evolving several hundred years ago. Mainstream Islamic orthodoxy considers it heretical to suggest the Quran NOT be interpreted literally.

To everyone who compares modern Islam to Christianity 500 years ago, that's a valid point. However, would they have been tolerant of the Inquisition, or the Salem witch trials? Or would they have spoken out against that form of religious fanaticism? What would they say to, and about, the average citizens who fell under the spell of this mass hypnosis?

Would they have excused those who didn't instigate the violence, but silently believed what was being done in the name of the Lord was right and just? Too many Muslims are given a free pass, not required to question their beliefs and traditions, like Christians have been forced to do, and continue to do.

Rather than writing off a billion Muslims, people on the right need to focus on specific aspects of Islam that they disagree with, and the reasons behind that disagreement. If you sound like a psychopath, people will assume what you are saying is not worth listening to.

Rather than defending every critical examination of Islam as Islamophobia, people on the left need to ask the same types of questions of Muslims as they do of evangelical Christians - what do they believe? What is their opinion on the separation of Church and State? Sharia Law: Apostacy? Equality of men and women? Equality of muslims vs. non-muslims? Freedom of speech - freedom to insult and be insulted, without fear of death.

Spidey's ignorant venom will never abate
None can save him, for it's really too late
No wisdom will ever reach him
No compassion ever move him
He doesn't know our Lord taught love, not hate.

I understand that there are pluraists and extremists in every religion. Do you really? Were you defending Gov. Romney and his Morman faith? Sarah Palin's and her previous Assembly of God association? Or President Bush? It used to feel Jimmy Carter was almost made fun of for his faith. Would Rod Parsley fall under being a pluralist and extremist? What about Obama's association with Rev. Wright. It only took him 20 years to decide that he was a pluraist and and extremist. Do people who profess to "being born again"leave you uneasy. Reading your past articles it would appear that perhaps you aren't so tolerate. The question really " Is there something wrong with being a person of faith in this country?' The answer is 'No. That's not America."

Ms. Quinn, what a wonderful article and expressed my feelings exactly. Being African American and Muslim, I feel scrutiny based on my race and religion. I have the same concerns as you suggested for the climate my children are growing up in. Right after 9/11 a cross was burned on the front lawn of their preschool, recently my children were told they were going to "hell" by a classmate becasue they do not read the Bible. These are only a few isolated incidents, but my children will never forget them, especially when they over hear the local news coverage (for a Repub political rally) in which hateful slurs and suggestions are made against their religion and their race. We have relatives who live in Saudi, Pakistan, etc. We have Christain relatives also. I have generations of family members, male and female, who have served to protect this country.

We are decent, well educated, hard-working Americans, assests to our community, and proud to be Muslims - - all at the same time.

From a poster: Powell is showing some signs similar to Judas.

How so? Is the Republican Party God? Is McCain Jesus Christ? What a demented view of things.

Sally, great article. However it is not limited to Muslims. I am Catholic and voting for Obama. Do you know how many fellow Catholics question my faith by calling me a phony Cathoolic for my voting position? The distancing between religions is happening within our own Christian community which affects even more people than the Muslims. John McCain is a desperate candidate and I hope one day he awakens and apologizes for everyone that his campaign has offended.

I hope Obama starts his term tomorrow so Republicans can rest and just enjoy how the liberals start tearing each other with lies.

I can't stand the stupidity anymore.

The core republican party is WHITE SUPRIMACIST, here is the proof.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRqcfqiXCX0

A recent study sponsored by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs asserts that a well-integrated and empowered Muslim population would far better serve the United States than a population that feels marginalized. More than ever before, American policy makers need to incorporate the voices of American Muslims so that America can be more effective in navigating the critical policy challenges both here and abroad.

The "narrowing" of the Republican agenda and McCain's lack of leadership hurts not only the party but also the nation. For us to continue to shine the light of liberty and justice for all, we cannot allow any American to be demonized for their faith, ethnicity and race. This is so elementary and yet it is a shame that we have to state the obvious over and over again.

Great job Sally for bringing this issue to our attention. Unfortunately, in all the hoopla surrounding Powell's endorsement of Obama was lost his heart-tugging story of the fallen American Muslim soldier and his grieving mother.

To see a picture go to: http://www.newyorker.com/online/2008/09/29/slideshow_080929_platon?slide=16#showHeader

Coloradodog wrote "Have you read the Koran about those who Christians regard as infidels"

I think only a dog can understand that.

The core republican party is WHITE SUPRIMACIST, here is the proof.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRqcfqiXCX0

There are 1.3 billion Muslims in the world. Most of them are our friends and some our allies. Only a tiny minority wish us ill.

Oh, really.

Have you read the Koran about those who Christians regard as infidels.

It's like saying there are 2.1 billion Christians in the world. Most of them are friends of Muslims and some are their allies. Only a tiny minority of Christians wish Muslims ill.

Have you read what the Bible says about those who Christian regard as infidels?

Dear Mumbo Jumbo:

Your comments might be taken more seriously if you learned to capitalize properly and spell words correctly. And yes, that includes simple words like "supremacist." Otherwise they look like the ranting of a deranged semi-literate person who lives in his parents' basement.

Thanks!

Benjamin Franklin wrote “ God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel” –Constitutional Convention of 1787 | original manuscript of this speech

The sad fact is America is becoming like the builders of Babel. A nation of abortionist, gay marriage supporters and godless. A far cry from what Ben Franklin envisioned.

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 and most of all they are WHITE SUPRIMACISTS.

Just when someone says something thoughtful, the inevitable Islam-bashers and Liberal-bashers lay all of civilization's ills at the feet of Islam and Liberalism. How easy it is to forget that "Christian" nations also tried to put some of their outdated epistolary teaching into law by denying women the right to vote and making sure that slaves knew how to obey their masters. Neither "conservatism" nor "liberalism" are compatible with any one religion because religions are based on what people believe to be the will and teaching of God. Some of those teachings may be liberal (societal and individual concern for the poor) or conservative (marital fidelity). As long as people are venomous about religions not their own (forgetting to remove the beam from their own eye so that they can pluck the splinter from their neighbor's) and about political views not their own (blaming the "other side" for problems that everyone helped create), we will be prevented from working together to solve problems based on the reality of where we are now. All your imagined pasts of greatness, all your accusations that others are pure evil, all your ideologies that brook no possibility of mutually-agreed solutions, will increase suffering.

In 1941, early in World War II, Shoghi effendi, the Head of the Baha'i Faith, wrote:

"This vital force [true faith, spirituality, and religion] is dying out, this mighty agency has been scorned, this radiant light obscured, this impregnable stronghold abandoned, this beauteous robe discarded. God Himself has indeed been dethroned from the hearts of men, and an idolatrous world passionately and clamorously hails and worships the false gods which its own idle fancies have fatuously created, and its misguided hands so impiously exalted. The chief idols in the desecrated temple of mankind are none other than the triple gods of Nationalism, Racialism and Communism, at whose altars governments and peoples, whether democratic or totalitarian, at peace or at war, of the East or of the West, Christian or Islamic, are, in various forms and in different degrees, now worshiping. Their high priests are the politicians and the worldly-wise, the so-called sages of the age; their sacrifice, the flesh and blood of the slaughtered multitudes; their incantations outworn shibboleths and insidious and irreverent formulas; their incense, the smoke of anguish that ascends from the lacerated hearts of the bereaved, the maimed, and the homeless.

"The theories and policies, so unsound, so pernicious, which deify the state and exalt the nation above mankind, which seek to subordinate the sister races of the world to one single race, which discriminate between the black and the white, and which tolerate the dominance of one privileged class over all others -- these are the dark, the false, and crooked doctrines for which any man or people who believes in them, or acts upon them, must, sooner or later, incur the wrath and chastisement of God...

"Contrasting with, and irreconcilably opposed to, these war-engendering, world-convulsing doctrines are the healing, the saving, the pregnant truths proclaimed by Baha'u'llah, the Divine Organizer and Savior of the whole human race -- truths which should be regarded as the animating force and the hallmark of His Revelation: 'The world is but one country, and mankind its citizens.' 'Let not a man glory in that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind.' And again: 'Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.' 'Bend your minds and wills to the education of the peoples and kindreds of the earth, that haply ... all mankind may become the upholders of one order, and the inhabitants of one city.... Ye dwell in one world, and have been created through the operation of one Will.' 'Beware lest the desires of the flesh and of a corrupt inclination provoke divisions among you. Be ye as the fingers of one hand, the members of one body.' And yet again: 'All the saplings of the world have appeared from one Tree, and all the drops from one Ocean, and all beings owe their existence to one Being.' And furthermore: 'That one indeed is a man who today dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race.'"

(Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come, p. 113-114)

Fanatics, nations, and parties that continue to worship at the feet of unspiritual ideology cannot be expected to have the capacity to heal the world. That impotence is amply revealed in the jibbering and howling one sees in so many of the hateful comments that appear as responses to such thoughtful words as Sally Quinn wrote here.

hey ofrio or whatever! The Judeo-Christian American democracy????? What the heck are you talking about??? Prove it. Our democracy was founded on British Common Law! If we are a "Judeo-Christian democracy" then i suppose that there is no such thing as "separation of church and state" and that our constitution is religious -- right?? Religion has been the root of all evil! Why do you think so many people left Europe in our founding days -- to ESCAPE RELIGIOUS PROSECUTION dummy! Our founding fathers knew well the evils of religion and having it control government. That is how you get things like the Spanish Inquisition, and witch burnings in Salem, Mass., etc. Not many of our founding fathers were religious, accepting maybe John Adams among a very few! Washington was an atheist, and Jefferson and many others did not believe in organized religion and even Adams who was religious admitted in correspondence to Jefferson that even he believed that all organized religions were at the root of many of the world's problems. I believe Jefferson once stated that no good can come from organized religion. So, based on that, because someone might believe in a superior power, although not admitting it is definitely a god, doesn't equate to judeo-Christian beliefs, anymore then it equates to Islam, Jewish, or any other faiths. In fact, our founding fathers explicitly did not mention the word "GOD" once in the constitution, bill of rights or any other place for that matter! It says "we are endowed by our creator" not our God, which i believe was left vague enough to cover every one's different beliefs as to their own belief of "Creator", and to some people maybe that means Satan, or some other wild beliefs. Check it out, not once is the word GOD included in any of this country's founding documents. You believers in this false Judeo-christian theory of our democracy our living in religious stewed la la land! In fact, show me one place in the bible where even Jesus mentions that "all men are created equal"? Now I believe that all men/women are equal and should be treated that way, but I am an atheist as was my idol, George Washington. You religious freaks would do much better to bow and pray to your God in private away from organized religion as Jesus once told a disciple, calling those rabbis preaching in the synagogues and those who pray openly in the streets hypocrites. I want my freedoms back. I would willing take my chances with terrorists then give up even one ounce of my freedom and individual liberties. "Give me liberty or give me death"! Our founding fathers were LIBERAL, who were willing to put their lives, the lives of their families and their fortunes on the line for freedom. They feared not death with no freedom! Benjamin Franklin once said "He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither."

Sally Quinn,

I cannot commend you more on this article. It is so refreshing to know that as Americans there are still some of us that think clearly and humanly by not accepting every label that is presented to us by plots and narrow opinions given by media and biased outlets.

You could not have written this article more eloquently and more accurately.

I am also very proud of Collin Power for being so true to whom he is and to what someone in his position should be by holding real true American values.

It is so obvious to educated Americans that S. McCain although highly traveled is very uncultured and uneducated in certain matters. The fact that he an Arab cannot be a decent family man shows how uneducated he is in differentiating between religions, nationalities and race for that matter. An Arab can be a Christian, a Jew, or any other religion. So is he saying that a Christian Arab can not be a decent family man or a Jewish Arab can not be a decent family man?

The reality is a person who is NOT a decent family man, is one that cheats on his wife and engages in immoral acts. So does that make McCain a not so decent family man.....I wonder!

Another fact that McCain and anyone who is still hung on the anti Islamic opinions need to know is that in every religion there has been terrorist groups including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This would make it highly illiterate to call Muslims and Muslim countries (which include lots of non Muslim residents) as terrorists. If that is the case then calling people who follow the Christian faith "Christina terrorists" and same goes for "Jewish terrorists"

McCain does not represent Americans or American with his contradictions and faulty beliefs as he is only thinking in the benefit of the very select few who are "Christian, White, Rich and American" anyone who is not in this criterion will not be represented by McCain. For example, a Christian, Arab, Rich and American would not represented, you can fill any other race or group for "Arab" in the previous example and you can tell if you are included under McCain or not.

Thank you,

Very Concerend American

"Do we really believe that Gandhi is burning in hell right now and that those yelling "kill him" at Palin rallies will find their reward in heaven?"

We just don't know. The thief on the cross went to heaven and Judas, a disciple went to hell.

Powell is showing some signs similar to Judas.

It is interesting that when we look at historical people whom we consider to be enlightened such as Gandhi (a Hindu) or Dr. King (a Christian), we hear them talk about love, tolerance, and self-actualization. when we listen to religious extremists (Muslims and Christians alike), we hear a similar message: "ours is the only true religion. those who believe otherwise are infidels and will suffer in hell when they die"

It seems to me that it's not about what religion you are but whether you've grown as a person that determines whether or not you are on the right path. Do we really believe that Gandhi is burning in hell right now and that those yelling "kill him" at Palin rallies will find their reward in heaven?

Added reading supporting JM's position on Islam:

from- Ayaan Hirsi Ali's 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".

Yes halozcel1, let's bomb them all it'll fix your problem, isn't it?
Viva AIPAC and the neo-cons...I'm sure you are a great example of humanistic america you are a civilized human being...and you are right we have to fix this problem of the muslims every where...and I'm sure you don't want them to become christians (jews will not accept them anyway) cause you explain clearly that there's some thing inherently wrong in them, then you know the only reaonable solution is the final one...

McCain never said he wouldn't vote for a Muslim, not even in his first statement. Don't distort his words. He is simply being consistent with his faith by saying he would like to elect someone who believes as he does. He clarified later saying that he would vote for a competent Muslim if he felt he was best for the position.

The other issue here is the difference between Muslim and Christian world views. They are totally different. Most muslims are terrorists but unfortunately there are still problems. In England they are trying to enact a law that allows Muslims to beat their wives since this is consistent with Muslim law. Saudia Arabia is supposed to be our friends but everyone we admits they are using our oil money to fund hate education against America. We should never persecute a Muslim for being Muslim but we do need to know our differences.

Let's not really on stupid stereotypes but look at the facts.

Keep in mind McCain has done nothing to distance himself from Muslims. Obama has distanced himself from Muslims every chance he gets. He won't even appear with them on camera.

YET!McCAIN ADOPTED A MUSLIM GIRL FROM BANGLADESH.PERHAPS HE DOES NOT KNOW THAT 90% OF BAGLADESHI ARE OF MUSLIM FAITH."LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS DANGEROUS THINK,"SPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE RUNNING AS PRESIDENT FOR THE MOST POWERFUL DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.HIS MOUTH SINGS BOMB,BOMB,BOMB,HIS BRAIN THINK OBAMA IS A MUSLIM AND TERRORIST AND HIS HEART SAY, I AM FOR PALIN,HIS DEAR NEAR SIGHTED V.P

well written. bravo

I agree with General Powell's comment. In fact, I would argue that anyone who views a Muslim unfit to be president is un-American since I believe our Constitution says that we cannot have a religious test for the presidency.

In 1959 when I was in college, a history professor made us read the Koran because he told us we could not really understand world history unless we read it. Frankly, I did not pay much attention to what he said until 9/11/01 when I heard all sorts of statements about what it said -- some true, some not.

But I remember as a Catholic being surprised that the Koran had more written about Mary (the mother of Jesus) than we had in our Bible. I think we have much to learn from each other and we and the world would be much better off if we became more familiar with the beliefs of other faiths by study and not just by what hate-mongers might want us to believe.

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. They 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.

are you people for real specially (halocel1)...Islam = violence etc etc? My friend Iraq isnt in the US, Syria is not claiming America is a terrorist state and Iran is not using Venezuela as an excuse for contionous threats to the US...Is the US doing thiss? ummm I believe so...All this to the side you want to go on about your constitution much in the rhetoric that a passionate republican would...Yet your current president disregarded your beloved constitution in tapping into anyones phone at will, vetoed bills which would give more public access to medicine of poorer children justifying it by I quote "it will negatively effect privately insured citizens", allowed for pure capitalism and no regulation which we see as a result today. Yes you are right there are purely evil men who commit atrocious acts in name of islam, but let me assure you the acts of your president and his perception of himself as the crusader general(something he himself said in a radio interview early in the Iraq war) are giving these evil men much more substance and credit. Heres the great part arguing case for America in its current foreign crisis would be like arguing for Hitler in WW2, but what is even greater is that islam is at the forefront of the current Obama debate. Dear Bushmens, and republicans he isnt even muslim..Now imagine howmuch of the American constitutional freedom of rights regarding religion, and separation of state and church would be applied by these right wing freedom fighters if Obama was actually muslim...Well god forbid that now. What republicans would love to say is dont vote for the black guy but unfortunately cannot so best they can do is dont vote for the muslim whom really isnt muslim so ye like dont vote for him anyway......Oh and lastly North Korea isnt the only nation to have used a nuclear bomb....

"Still, the world is real and the Senator’s position on abortion-on-demand is one on which he will not yield. Perhaps, what it will all boil down to is whether the voters will be willing to exhange “the sanctity of life” for the promise of the “quality of life.”"

What sense is there in believing in the sanctity of life if there is no quality of life? In fact, without quality of life, "sanctity" is moot. But this comment also illustrates the blind single mindedness that drives so-called pro-lifers. You would rather vote for the man who could conceivably start another war, remain in Iraq a 100 years, further ruin what's left of our economy, put an unqualified religious extremist in a position of possibly becoming president, and who has no self-control when it comes to women, lying, mudslinging or hypocrisy because he now takes the position that he would not allow abortions for any reason including rape or incest.

And you wonder why the rest of us think your judgmental abilities lack something?

Dear Sally Quinn,
Respectful Madam,

*There are 1.3 billion Muslims in the world* Correct.
*Most of them are our(American) friends and some our allies* Right.Because,they have no another chance.
-Saudi Arabia and Gulf Countries are American friends against Iran threat.
-Pakistan against India menace.
-Turkey vs Soviet Union
-Egypt vs muslim fundamentalist,
-Indonesia against Communists.

Anti-muslim rhetoric doesnt mean to oppose 1.3 billion people.
1.3 billion is not *monolith*.Majority of them dont live as muslim.They are *unwillingly muslims*.Yes.Because,
-Islam/Submission is against Human Nature and Health.
-Submission is against *two plus two makes four*
But,when they are asked about islam,they say *Yes,we are good muslims*
Iran,even in Iran,majority of Iranian nation are reluctant muslims,but they are under Oppression and Subjugation.
-Do you think that vast majority of Iranian women wear Chador willingly ?
-Do you suppose that majority of Afghan women dress Burqa willingly ?

Submission makes most of Submission followers that they ;
-Dont like Fine Arts such as Painting and Statue,
-Take a shower once a month,
-Are idles,dont like to work,
-Are not reliable men,
-Dont know what Love is.Walking hand by hand is banned in some muslim countrie.,
-Are jealous.One of the main cause of their fanaticism is jealousy,
-Are ungrateful.They dont know to thank.

Yes,thousand time yes,Submission threats Civilization(not only US).This is not Phobia.
Submission menaces Human Rights and Democracy.
What I write is not Bigotry.These are not anti-islam rhetoric,but absolute reality.
Look at Malaysia,you will see what I mean within ten years.

Interfaith/Interactive/Intersharlatanism/InterTroyanhorsism etc. can not stop this Threat,on the contrary,provide the *Bridgehead* in US.When they reach five percent,yes only five or ten percent of US population,everyone will see what happens.
The Siege,Bruce Willes and Denzel Washington.

Sally quinn wrote "Only a tiny minority wish us ill."

WRONG. You don't know what you are talking about. Im not sure when you folks will wake up from your sleep. Sleep tight just like what Bill Clinton did.

General Powell's criticisms of the McCain campaign, Sarah Palin, and the Republican party may be well taken and his confidence in Senator Obama as a "transitional figure" is important, not only becuase of our respect for the General but because it helps to flesh out a man who has been so elusive and at the same time seems so emblematic of our best aspirations.

Still, the world is real and the Senator’s position on abortion-on-demand is one on which he will not yield. Perhaps, what it will all boil down to is whether the voters will be willing to exhange “the sanctity of life” for the promise of the “quality of life.”

KROSE 17,

*USA is a place of FREEDOM* Yes,but US is a place of US Constitution,Human Rights and Equality as well.
US is also a place of Civilization,Rationility and Contemporary Values.

*....justice for all* Correct.Thousand times correct.
-Man can divorce his wives whenever he likes,but woman has NO right to do so.Is this *justice for all* ?
-Man can take(not marriage) four women,but woman cant.Is it Justice ?
Many others examples can be given.

US is a place of *man-woman equality*,not *two women equals one man*
Keep in mind,Freedom and Religious/Cult tolerance should be in the frame of US Constitution.
There is NO Freedom of Enslavement in USA.

*It(islam/submission) is a beautiful(!),peaceful(?),welcoming religion(are you kidding) with generous,loving(does islam know what Love is),diligent followers(let me love my mind)*
Why do you try to discover American Continent from the beginning.There are 57 islam countries(except a few secular ones)
-Would you show any *beautiful islamic country* ?
-Could you write any *peaceful islamic country* ?
-Please,point any *loving islamic country*.Who walk hand by hand in islamic country ?

KROSE 17,
You dont know history.Yes,yes.
*Spanish Inquisition* or Catholic(second class christian) Courts in Medieval has no any correlation with current/present islamic terror.
Niether Spanish Inquisition nor 3500-4000 year-old Legends in the Law and Bible can not be excuse/apalogy for today submission violence.
You ought to stand up for US Constitution,Human Rights and Contemporary Values.
*American thing* is Rationality,not Sophistry.
*American thing* is Civilization,not Desert Rules.

PS.As far as I understand,you are not *American*

American seems to accpeti a muslim president but what about the muslums? Do they accept the americans? Why do we have to be so naive and try to cover the light with a hand. Where are we going with this ideology. Is the known where Obama will takes us if he becomes the next president?

This is a response to both your article and Abed's:

I believe that Islamophobia is a huge problem in this country. Most Americans don't just fear and hate Radical Islam, but distrust and loathe all followers of the Islamic faith. And sadly, many Americans believe that radical Islam = Islam. There is so much hate and intolerance in this country when it comes to this issue. I have seen so much prejudice and misunderstanding, and just plain ignorance or laziness. I am a Catholic who spent 7 years in Catholic school, but I have been lucky enough to be repeatedly exposed and welcomed into participation in and education about the Muslim faith. I believe that someone who has taken the time and effort to truly understand Islam and give it a chance will see that it is a beautiful, peaceful, welcoming religion with generous, loving, diligent followers. I believe that our country, its people, and its government could learn something from the values espoused by Islam. The United States of America is a place of FREEDOM. "One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Ring any bells? Religious tolerance is at the basis of our country.

Scholars of history would see that throughout the past couple thousand years, religions with peace at the center of their messages have been given a bad name by a small group of crazed individuals. Take the Spanish Inquisition, for example. Just because this horrendous event occurred, does this make all Catholics evil? Does this mean that Catholicism preaches killing and torture? I think any reasonable person would argue "no." So why not consider the crimes committed by the extremist Muslims with the same judgment?

My challenge to my fellow Americans, especially those who believe the kind of ludicrous things that have been commented in response to Abed's article, is to give Islam a chance. To stop being so afraid, and to try to really understand the thing that is making you so fanatically fearful. If you truly believe in this country and its democratic values, the responsible thing to do is to give Islam a chance, try to understand it and experience it first-hand.

I will attest that Islamophobia is a REAL problem in this country. It has been since September 2001. I believe that there is nothing wrong with being an American Muslim; in fact, I believe that pious Muslims are especially deserving of respect in the current environment of bigotry and prejudice. And, I will always stand up for any Muslims who are under attack. Because, among many other reasons, that IS the American thing to do.

I am so glad someone finally said it. And I encourage everyone to keep saying it until it sinks into the brains of every American.

It isn't helping our image around the world to qualify an entire religion as "terrorists". Our position on the world stage is already to tenuous to elect a person who allows that stereotype to be proliferated especially when that stereotype stems from their own campaign!

The Reality of Islam:

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.

Infamous fatawa:

"Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989 pronounced a death sentence on Sir Salman Rushdie, the author of The Satanic Verses.

Yusuf al-Qaradawi released a fatwa on April 14th 2004, stating that the boycott of American and Israeli products was an obligation for all who are able. The fatwa reads in part:

If people ask in the name of religion we must help them. The vehicle of this support is a complete boycott of the enemies' goods. Each riyal, dirham …etc. used to buy their goods eventually becomes bullets to be fired at the hearts of brothers and children in Palestine. For this reason, it is an obligation not to help them (the enemies of Islam) by buying their goods. To buy their goods is to support tyranny, oppression and aggression. Buying goods from them will strengthen them; our duty is to make them as weak as we can. Our obligation is to strengthen our resisting brothers in the Sacred Land as much as we can. If we cannot strengthen the brothers, we have a duty to make the enemy weak. If their weakness cannot be achieved except by boycott, we must boycott them. American goods, exactly like the great Israeli goods, are forbidden. It is also forbidden to advertise these goods, even though in many cases they prove to be superior. America today is a second Israel. It totally supports the Zionist entity. The usurper could not do this without the support of America. “Israel’s” unjustified destruction and vandalism of everything has been using American money, American weapons, and the American veto. America has done this for decades without suffering the consequences of any punishment or protests about their oppressive and prejudiced position from the Islamic world.[2][3]

Sheik Sadeq Abdallah bin Al-Majed, leader of the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan, issued a fatwa that prohibits vaccination of children claiming it is a conspiracy of the Jews and Freemasons.[4][5]

Indian Muslim scholars issued a fatwa of death against Taslima Nasreen, an exiled controversial Bangladeshi writer. Majidulla Khan Farhad of Hyderabad-based Majlis Bachao Tehriq issued the fatwa at the Tipu Sultan mosque in Kolkata after Juma prayers as saying Taslima has defamed Islam and announced “unlimited financial reward” to anybody who would kill her. [6]

In 1998, Grand Ayatollah Sistani of Iraq, issued a fatwa prohibiting University of Virginia professor Abdulaziz Sachedina from ever again teaching Islam due in part to Sachedina's writings encouraging acceptance of religious pluralism in the Muslim world[7].

Osama bin Laden issued two fatwas—in 1996 and then again in 1998—that Muslims should kill civilians and military personnel from the United States and allied countries until they withdraw support for Israel and withdraw military forces from Islamic countries.[8][9]

In 2005, the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued the Fatwa that the production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons are forbidden under Islam and that Iran shall never acquire these weapons.[citation needed]

In 2008, undercover reporting by a private TV channel in India showed several respected clerics demanding and receiving cash for issue of fatwas. In response, some were suspended from issuing fatwas and Indian Muslim leaders announced that they would create a new body that will monitor the issuing of fatwas in India.[10][11]

In 2008, a Pakistani religious leader issued a fatwa on President Asif Ali Zardari for "indecent gestures" toward Sarah Palin, U.S. Vice Presidential candidate.[12]"

Bottom line: The Worst Book/SOP Ever Written is the koran. Until the warmongering and anti-female passages are removed, no Muslim is to be trusted.

Last month when a citizen asked Palin about Pakistan – she ended up contradicting McCain’s position on the same issue.
How did McCain reconcile this discrepancy? – He claimed that the citizen’s question was a “gotcha question”

Now he is evoking ‘Joe the plumber’ daily.
This guy Joe told Obama that he is planning to buy a 250K – 280K businesses (just over Obama’s tax cut-off… how co-incidental?). It now turns out that this guy is nowhere near buying any businesses and he only earns 40K – thus would be getting a TAX-CUT under Obama plan!!! If anything Joe’s question was a well set-up ‘gotcha question’ just to put Obama on the defensive and make him uncomfortable. Obama knew this guy will not vote for him but still spent 6 minutes explaining his situation (Compare this to McCain’s/Palin’s response when confronted by a non-supporter – They will call the person “un-American”, “not real American”, “communists” and what not)
We know McCain will never acknowledge that Joe’s question was the real ‘gotcha question’!! He will continue raking-up ‘Joe the plumber’ for next 2 weeks like what he has done since last Wed.

Obama is much classier than McCain… at least he doesn’t whine and blame others when caught in a spot… he takes responsibility for his and his campaign’s action/words. McCain will blame his follies on someone else – “gotcha journalism”, “gotcha question”, “liberal media”, “partisan legislature” etc…

Last month when a citizen asked Palin about Pakistan – she ended up contradicting McCain’s position on the same issue.
How did McCain reconcile this discrepancy? – He claimed that the citizen’s question was a “gotcha question”

Now he is evoking ‘Joe the plumber’ daily.
This guy Joe told Obama that he is planning to buy a 250K – 280K businesses (just over Obama’s tax cut-off… how co-incidental?). It now turns out that this guy is nowhere near buying any businesses and he only earns 40K – thus would be getting a TAX-CUT under Obama plan!!! If anything Joe’s question was a well set-up ‘gotcha question’ just to put Obama on the defensive and make him uncomfortable. Obama knew this guy will not vote for him but still spent 6 minutes explaining his situation (Compare this to McCain’s/Palin’s response when confronted by a non-supporter – They will call the person “un-American”, “not real American”, “communists” and what not)
We know McCain will never acknowledge that Joe’s question was the real ‘gotcha question’!! He will continue raking-up ‘Joe the plumber’ for next 2 weeks like what he has done since last Wed.

Obama is much classier than McCain… at least he doesn’t whine and blame others when caught in a spot… he takes responsibility for his and his campaign’s action/words. McCain will blame his follies on someone else – “gotcha journalism”, “gotcha question”, “liberal media”, “partisan legislature” etc…

Bless you for standing up for tolerance, Ms Quinn, though I find some of your views unduly rose-tinted. Truly, may that little Muslim (or Jewish, or Sikh, or Wiccan, or Atheist, or Mormon) child one day fulfil their dream of becoming America’s CEO. However I would challenge the notion that most Muslims worldwide are well disposed toward America, i.e.:

“There are 1.3 billion Muslims in the world. Most of them are our friends and some our allies. Only a tiny minority wish us ill.”

In my conversations with Muslims in my own country (Australia), online, and in several countries of the Middle East in which I’ve travelled, the prevailing attitude towards America is one of wary ambivalence, and easily tips toward suspicion and hostility. Those who explicitly “wish ill” on America are a sizeable rather than a “tiny” minority. I would characterise the mood as at best “no love lost”.

And your apparently positive reference to those Muslim “allies” requires some qualification. It seems to imply that America’s current alliances with regimes such as those of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Egypt somehow equate to a soft spot for American values among the populations they rule. In several cases, America’s involvement with corrupt ruling elites in majority Muslim states is part of the reason why there is so much anti-American sentiment abroad among Muslims. Perhaps a change in foreign policy would be more appreciated among Muslims than any tokenistic opportunity to lunge at the US presidency.

And on the matter of Pastor Parsley “who calls Islam a 'false' religion that should be destroyed” - although few committed conservative Christians would advocate actual mass homicide, most view Islam as a false religion pure and simple, destined to eradication sooner or later by means of proselytization and/or the Second Coming. Hardly the stuff of harmonious relations, if sincerely believed. There are of course, religious liberals (Yahweh, Christ, Allah, Vishnu, Athena, et al bless ‘em) who have a more nuanced view, but my impression is that these are the minority and not really representative of the broad consensus of their co-religionists. Mistrust, distaste, and incomprehension rule the majority on all sides.

The Judeo-Christian American democracy will probably never elect even a nominally Muslim president, let alone a devout one. Should Muslims feel disrespected by this? And Muslim democracies such as Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Egypt, etc. won’t be having a Christian or Jewish head of state any time soon either. Should Christians and Jews feel disrespected by this? And as for the single Jewish democracy, Israel, when will an Arab-Israeli Christian or Muslim get elected to the top spot there? Should Christians and Muslims feel disrespected by this? Ms Quinn, such electoral tolerance as you and Colin Powell extol will only come about when religion has either become extinct or a thoroughly syncretising consensus spirituality. Neither of those conditions looks like being met any time soon.

Thank you, Sally! It didn't take a lot of imagination to see what was coming after 9-11. Everyone was looking for Arab terrorists after the OKC bombing, so this attack fell right in with everyone's expectations. Ay-rabs and Moo-slims are cohorting with Barack?! You betcha...

Thanks for writing this article Sally! 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 in our country 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.

Ms. Quinn, what a fantastic article! With every remark Sen McCain makes suggesting that Sen Obama is "OK" without saying that he still would be even if he was a Muslim, I feel less and less compelled to consider voting for him. Clearly, he does not consider all citizens of this country to be American, no matter their religion. I can only imagine what he'll do in office with such a mindset. So what if Sen Obama was a Muslim? Does being Muslim make a person less American, or less human, or a bad person? I can't do anything but laugh at people's ignorance, because trying to correct ignorance is impossible it seems.

Ms. Quinn, what a fantastic article! With every remark Sen McCain makes suggesting that Sen Obama is "OK" without saying that he still would be even if he was a Muslim, I feel less and less compelled to consider voting for him. Clearly, he does not consider all citizens of this country to be American, no matter their religion. I can only imagine what he'll do in office with such a mindset. So what if Sen Obama was a Muslim? Does being Muslim make a person less American, or less human, or a bad person? I can't do anything but laugh at people's ignorance, because trying to correct ignorance is impossible it seems.

So, while McCain's loudly un-becoming President... let's have a look at ourselves, shall we?

I think after 9-11 most of us indulged in some xenophobia. But it is 7 years later- we need to understand that not every Muslim is a terrorist, not every Jew is a zionist, not every Christian is a fundamentalist- The greatest shame of this country is when we forget we're all Americans and it is to the great shame of the republican Party that they have made a conscious decision to pander to the worst of our impulses.

The verdict by the march of time is clear: unity amongst world religions is inevitable.

50 years ago this idea was promulgated by a few obscure esoterics and mystics; now it has found its way into the mainstream.

A well written and important column, Sally. Thank you.

What a great article. I couldn't agree more and to hear Colin Powell state it so eloquently was wonderful.

ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS REPUBLICANS CAUSED HOUSING COLLAPSE WITH STEALTH MONEY

AP Press Release........
WASHINGTON – Freddie Mac secretly paid a Republican consulting firm $2 million to kill legislation that would have regulated and trimmed the mortgage finance giant and its sister company, Fannie Mae, three years before the government took control to prevent their collapse.

Associated Press Release link follows

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081020/ap_on_bi_ge/the_influence_game_housing

Gary Gelormino Seven Hills Ohio 44131 (216)447-0081