Ofcourse this is horrible to see, but you have to admit it's wonderful people can say and think what they want and everything is happening in more or less a peaceful way (no physical violence). This way the protesters feel acknowledged in what they think, and the people protested on more or less know that they have to be careful, practice tolerance and forgiveness and know that there is a lot of ground to be won concerning an open minded, tolerant and understanding society.
Seemed pretty bad to me too, so I had to look up what was causing all the fuss. Apparently the speakers at this charity event are pretty controversial:
"...[Demonstrators] were particularly upset with the event’s keynote speakers, New York cleric Imam Siraj Wahhaj and Amir Abdel Malik Ali, whom they said hold anti-American, anti-Israel and anti-Semitic views.
"Ali is a frequent guest of Muslim student organizations on U.S. campuses, including the University of California, Irvine (UCI), where he has spoken several times at the Muslim Student Union’s Israeli Apartheid Week... In May 2010, the Oakland cleric told a UCI audience that he supports Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad as well as jihad on the UCI campus, and accused Jews of causing the world’s financial troubles. UCI Chancellor Michael Drake condemned Ali’s endorsement of terrorism, without mentioning the cleric by name, as a breach of the university’s commitment to values and civility.
"Wahhaj, who leads the Brooklyn al-Taqwa Mosque, became the first Muslim to give an invocation at Congress in 1991. He was named as a co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. He was never charged and has denied involvement.
"ICNA spokesperson Syed Waqas said the $25-a-plate event was meant to raise funds ... that will be used for local social services, such as women’s housing, disaster response, and burial and funeral assistance. He said Ali and Wahhaj were chosen to speak because they were available on the day of the event and because of their strong backgrounds in social services...
"Waqas denied that his group was anti-Israel or anti-Semitic, adding that ICNA may or may not endorse everything Ali and Wahhaj, who are not ICNA members, stand for."
Yes, if you advocate Jihad and Sharia law, you are bound to get some push back.
(not that I advocate hatred in return for hatred. This really radical guy once said "love your enemies.. do good to those who persecute you". Wouldn't that be wild?)
Why is it that protesters like these can be right in the faces, screaming at children just trying to go to worship with their families... But protesters against things like wars, corporations, torture, etc have to protest in special 'protest zones' miles away from anywhere that they might have impact?
As someone on Reddit pointed out, "The reason this is news is because it's so f***** up and out of the norm." This isn't America. This is what America is shocked and scandalized by, so naturally we paste it all over the internet. Then people like Jim come along and assume that internet clips of shocking stuff actually represent the 300 million people who live here.
I am glad that our country vigorously defends the right to free speech, even for assholes. I do wish some of that energy could be diverted to protecting the fourth amendment, though.
Then people like Jim come along and assume that internet clips of shocking stuff actually represent the 300 million people who live here.
I don't recall saying that.
What i see is people holding public office getting in front of a rowdy crowd, pointing at a building full of charitable citizens and saying that what's going on in there is "pure unadulterated evil."
When did pandering to hatred and bigotry become a good idea to several people holding public office, including a congressman?
That's what i meant by "How did this happen to your country?".
I wish people would stop equating anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. Zionism is a christian construct meant to appease a guilty conscious while offering Jews a way to get the hell out of Western nations.
wow this is... really far-right wing stuff. What's amazing is that there was no physical violence, which is hard to believe.
ReplyDeleteAlso i'm wondering were there any counter-protesters? Was there no other group of ppl in the OC offended by such a display of hatred?
How did this happen to your country?
ReplyDeleteIf you change your display to black and white it looks just like Alabama or Mississippi in the 50s and 60s.
ReplyDeleteThings used to be really good.
ReplyDeleteNow things are bad
What has changed?
Well... there are a lot more Muslims and Mexicans than there used to be.
THAT MUST BE IT! THERE COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE ANOTHER EXPLANATION! WE JUST NEED TO GET RID OF THEM AND THEY EVERYTHING WILL BE BACK TO NORMAL.
What poor, sad, stupid people.
ReplyDeleteAlabama or Mississippi in the 50's?
ReplyDeleteI was thinking more like Nazi Germany just before Hitler started killing off the Jewish people and non-Nazis.
Ofcourse this is horrible to see, but you have to admit it's wonderful people can say and think what they want and everything is happening in more or less a peaceful way (no physical violence). This way the protesters feel acknowledged in what they think, and the people protested on more or less know that they have to be careful, practice tolerance and forgiveness and know that there is a lot of ground to be won concerning an open minded, tolerant and understanding society.
ReplyDeleteSeemed pretty bad to me too, so I had to look up what was causing all the fuss. Apparently the speakers at this charity event are pretty controversial:
ReplyDelete"...[Demonstrators] were particularly upset with the event’s keynote speakers, New York cleric Imam Siraj Wahhaj and Amir Abdel Malik Ali, whom they said hold anti-American, anti-Israel and anti-Semitic views.
"Ali is a frequent guest of Muslim student organizations on U.S. campuses, including the University of California, Irvine (UCI), where he has spoken several times at the Muslim Student Union’s Israeli Apartheid Week... In May 2010, the Oakland cleric told a UCI audience that he supports Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad as well as jihad on the UCI campus, and accused Jews of causing the world’s financial troubles. UCI Chancellor Michael Drake condemned Ali’s endorsement of terrorism, without mentioning the cleric by name, as a breach of the university’s commitment to values and civility.
"Wahhaj, who leads the Brooklyn al-Taqwa Mosque, became the first Muslim to give an invocation at Congress in 1991. He was named as a co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. He was never charged and has denied involvement.
"ICNA spokesperson Syed Waqas said the $25-a-plate event was meant to raise funds ... that will be used for local social services, such as women’s housing, disaster response, and burial and funeral assistance. He said Ali and Wahhaj were chosen to speak because they were available on the day of the event and because of their strong backgrounds in social services...
"Waqas denied that his group was anti-Israel or anti-Semitic, adding that ICNA may or may not endorse everything Ali and Wahhaj, who are not ICNA members, stand for."
Yes, if you advocate Jihad and Sharia law, you are bound to get some push back.
ReplyDelete(not that I advocate hatred in return for hatred. This really radical guy once said "love your enemies.. do good to those who persecute you". Wouldn't that be wild?)
Why is it that protesters like these can be right in the faces, screaming at children just trying to go to worship with their families... But protesters against things like wars, corporations, torture, etc have to protest in special 'protest zones' miles away from anywhere that they might have impact?
ReplyDeleteOh right. The power thing.
As someone on Reddit pointed out, "The reason this is news is because it's so f***** up and out of the norm." This isn't America. This is what America is shocked and scandalized by, so naturally we paste it all over the internet. Then people like Jim come along and assume that internet clips of shocking stuff actually represent the 300 million people who live here.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that our country vigorously defends the right to free speech, even for assholes. I do wish some of that energy could be diverted to protecting the fourth amendment, though.
Then people like Jim come along and assume that internet clips of shocking stuff actually represent the 300 million people who live here.
ReplyDeleteI don't recall saying that.
What i see is people holding public office getting in front of a rowdy crowd, pointing at a building full of charitable citizens and saying that what's going on in there is "pure unadulterated evil."
When did pandering to hatred and bigotry become a good idea to several people holding public office, including a congressman?
That's what i meant by "How did this happen to your country?".
I wish people would stop equating anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. Zionism is a christian construct meant to appease a guilty conscious while offering Jews a way to get the hell out of Western nations.
ReplyDeletehttp://totalbuzz.ocregister.com/2011/03/04/councilwoman-attacks-muslim-speakers/49481/
ReplyDelete