SHOCKER: Muslims Support Christians in anti-violence Protest

[Emmortal]

Despite what some of the right wing bigot extremists on this board would have you believe, all Muslims are not terrorist scum.  I know, a shocker, right?

http://www.ahmedrehab.com/blog/2010/11/beyond-the-comfort-zone-passion-and-peril-at-a-pro-christian-rally/

Yesterday, CAIR-Chicago staff and interns participated in a rally alongside the Assyrian community of Chicago to condemn violence against Iraqi Christians. The rally was organized in response to the massacre of dozens of Assyrian Christians in Baghdad on October 31st.

It was a tricky decision for us. We knew that there could be anti-Muslim sentiment at the rally that would put is in a precarious position, but we decided that our disdain for the heinous acts of Al Qaeda far exceeded our concern for personal inconvenience.

We decided that the right thing for us to do was to act on our values and our sincere feelings of camaraderie with our fellow human beings in times of anguish. We wanted to raise our voices as Muslims in support of the Assyrian community and against terrorists who purport to act in the name of our faith.

Al Qaeda does not have reverence for any innocent life, including those of Muslims. It is a fact that they have bombed many more Mosques in Iraq than churches.
While we were weary of the possibility that some people at the rally could lash out at us, Muslims-at-large who condemn terrorism, we were not interested in seeing ourselves as victims. The only victims we were prepared to recognize were the 52 innocent souls that were claimed by the recent church bombing, and the many others – Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and otherwise – claimed by terrorism.

And so we set out with signs including “An Attack on Your Church is an Attack on my Mosque,” “American Muslims, Iraqi Christians, One Blood,” “My Brother is an Assyrian,” “We Stand with Iraqi Christians,” and “Muslims for Peace.”

We held our signs up high and marched in solidarity with the predominantly Assyrian Christian crowd.

The reaction we got was mixed.

In an interesting scene that summed up my experience, I was asked by one man if I was a Muslim. I said “Yes, I am.” He then asked, “Am I impure?”

I joked, “I don’t know did you shower this morning?”

He dismissed the joke and asked me if I thought “his blood was impure.” I told him, “why would you expect that, you’ve never met me, I am here supporting you, what about me leads you to ask me such a question?” He told me, “You said you are a Muslim.” I told him, “so what?” He said that Muslims believe this sort of thing. I told him that he had been grossly misinformed, “you’re blood like all innocent blood is holy to me.”

Another man interjected and started yelling that I was “unwanted” there, motioning with his arms for me to leave. As he continued to yell at me, my attention was drawn to something that touched me. A young woman a few yards away leaned down on a stroller she was pushing and started to sob uncontrollably.

At first, I thought it had nothing to do with us but my intuition told me otherwise. I asked here, “what’s wrong, why are you crying?”

She said unable to hold back her tears, “I am so sorry you and your friends have to deal with idiots like that, this man does not represent us, I am so embarrassed. This is so wrong.”

Here I was standing before a stark display of contrasts, extreme animosity on one end and extreme compassion on the other.

In a single powerful moment, I was reminded yet again at the absurdity of those who generalize about any one group of people. Here were two people of the same religion, color, and ethnic background standing side by side rallying for the same cause — and yet they could not be any more different.

I hugged her and tried to comfort her, “Trust me, I know, we have our share of idiots too, everyone has them, most people here have been kind.”

And it was true. Many in the crowd were genuinely happy – almost relieved – to see Muslims standing with them at this rally. Some smiled, some nodded, others simply said “thank you!” It reinforced my feeling that our participation was extremely important.

While there were other incidents – one lady held a cross up to my face and told me I was a “bad Muslim” for condemning terrorism which is “in my Quran”, two people told us that we are going to hell for not accepting Jesus as our Saviour, some guy yelled profanities and was held back by a girl half his size, another called for reciprocal violence – in every single instance, someone else would take a strong stance, telling the others to back off and apologizing.

As we made our way back to the office, we were chased by two girls. “Can I ask you a question?” one of them said. “Can I just give each of you guys a hug?”

We met back in the office for an evaluation.

I learned that my colleagues’ experience mostly mirrored mine.

Despite the bigotry of some, we all felt strong solidarity with most people. We felt as if the Assyrian community, with its good and bad, was our own.

It is of no surprise to any of us that there are some negative feelings among some Arab and Assyrian Christian communities regarding Islam and Muslims. Part of it is understandable to us, given the ugly acts by saboteurs claiming to act in the name of Islam. Part of it is due to the opportunistic work of preachers like father Zakaria Boutros who make a living out of telling Arabic-speaking Christians that Islam is an evil religion. Part of it still is due to the lack of dialogue and engagement between our faith communities, and that was the part we resolved to try to change.

Assyrians have a long and proud history that goes back to one of the earliest civilizations in the world. They live as a religious minority in their indigenous homeland. For centuries, they have coexisted peacefully with their Muslim neighbors. But at other times, especially now, the instability and violence is leaving them feeling frightened for their loved ones and overall vulnerable. Some of them blame Al Qaeda, others demonize all Muslims, and others still blame the United States and its wars.

One thing we must never allow is for the bad amongst us – terrorists, extremists, ideologues of exclusion and hate – to succeed in turning the rest of us against each other. We must condemn them, ostracize them, and disempower them. The way to do that is to strengthen our relations, and stand with one another. That is the only way to spell defeat for the agents of hate.

We must emerge from our comfort zones and stand together as one against all forms of violence, ignorance, and intolerance.

When Christians are attacked, they should NOT have to rally alone. We must rally along with them. When Jews are attacked, they should NOT have to rally alone. When Muslims are attacked, we should NOT have to rally alone.

[Fury]

Hahahaha, CAIR. Not even worth it.

The same organization that's had a dozen+ members either arrested for terrorist-related activities or fled the country because they're wanted. The same organization that refuses to denounce terrorism or suicide bombers. The same organization that is an unindicted co-conspirator in a terrorism-financing case. The same organization whose leader said he wants to see the US as an Islamic state. I could go on and on.

And of course brain-dead apologist morons like you eat this shit up hook, line and sinker. I feel sorry for sheeple like yourself.  

[Emmortal]

Hahahaha, CAIR. Not even worth it.

The same organization that's had a dozen+ members either arrested for terrorist-related activities or fled the country because they're wanted. The same organization that refuses to denounce terrorism or suicide bombers. The same organization that is an unindicted co-conspirator in a terrorism-financing case. The same organization whose leader said he wants to see the US as an Islamic state. I could go on and on.

And of course brain-dead apologist morons like you eat this shit up hook, line and sinker. I feel sorry for sheeple like yourself.  

You can feel sorry for me all you want.  I'm happy living my life without being filled with hate for an entire group of people because of my own impotence to do anything significant with my life. 

[Fury]

You can feel sorry for me all you want.  I'm happy living my life without being filled with hate for an entire group of people because of my own impotence to do anything significant with my life.  

Yet you support a terrorist-linked group that spends 99.99% of their time preaching hatred. Then they slap together the occasional "protest" to keep the sheeple like you on their side.

What a naive fool you are.

[Soul Crusher]

You can feel sorry for me all you want.  I'm happy living my life without being filled with hate for an entire group of people because of my own impotence to do anything significant with my life. 

aaaawwwwhhhhh, if only those whose heads have been lopped off by the dull knife had that same option. 

[Fury]

aaaawwwwhhhhh, if only those whose heads have been lopped off by the dull knife had that same option. 

You bigot! Don't you know it's better to sit there and take those 17,000 documented deadly terrorist attacks since 9/11 like a man? 

[Soul Crusher]

You bigot! Don't you know it's better to sit there and take those 17,000 documented deadly terrorist attacks since 9/11 like a man? 

Fuck that - i try to call it like it is. 

The fact of the matter is that whether its the bombing killing 15 in Karachi today, the article you posted, the crap in Oklahoma with Sharia, muslims and their locust like behavior os the clearand present danger and issue of our time. 

[Fury]

Fuck that - i try to call it like it is. 

The fact of the matter is that whether its the bombing killing 15 in Karachi today, the article you posted, the crap in Oklahoma with Sharia, muslims and their locust like behavior os the clearand present danger and issue of our time. 

Agreed. Don't worry, brain-dead sheeple apologists like emmortal are soon to be in the minority. The far-leftists and their islamonazi cronies in Europe are losing the battle to fool the European populace.

[Emmortal]

Yet you support a terrorist-linked group that spends 99.99% of their time preaching hatred. Then they slap together the occasional "protest" to keep the sheeple like you on their side.

What a naive fool you are.

And you support the same violence and hatred against an entire group of people for the same reason.  You are as bad as they are, just too big of a fool to admit it.

[Soul Crusher]

Huge Blast Leaves At Least 15 Dead In Karachi
Sky News ^ | November 11th 2010 | Andy Winter

________________________ ________________________ ____________________



At least 15 people have been killed and 100 injured in a massive explosion that ripped through the centre of Pakistan's largest city.

A local journalist has told Sky News that a police station close to the US consulate in Karachi was the prime target and has collapsed.

The explosion struck in a high-security area of the city that is also home to two luxury hotels and the offices of government leaders.

According to Sindh province home minister Zulfiqar Mirza, a gang of around six gunmen first opened fire on the office of the Crime Investigation Department before detonating a massive car bomb.

Shamilla Farooqi, a spokeswoman for the government in Sindh, said: "There are five policemen among the dead."

Witnesses have described a 10ft crater outside the building, which houses a prison facility that may have been holding militants.


(Excerpt) Read more at news.sky.com ...

[Fury]

And you support the same violence and hatred against an entire group of people for the same reason.  You are as bad as they are, just too big of a fool to admit it.

Nice sweeping generalizations, devoid of fact of course, that you're making. All you really seem to have is the race card and sticking words in my mouth. See, the thing is though, you far-left retards have played this card so much that it has no meaning anymore. No one is fooled by your attempts to paralyze any discussion on Islam by labeling anyone critical of it as a bigot.

Regardless, can you show me where I've ever advocated violence against all Muslims? I do little more than report on the daily abuse non-Muslims and Muslims are subjected to by other Muslims.

[The Showstoppa]

Good thing this Emmortal chap wasn't around during WWII....."the Nazi's are just a group of people.....i don't care that they killed millions, I think we should respect they are just different....."   

[Fury]

Good thing this Emmortal chap wasn't around during WWII....."the Nazi's are just a group of people.....i don't care that they killed millions, I think we should respect they are just different....."   

The funniest part is that he's actually using CAIR as an example of tolerant Muslims. Good attempt by him to fool the uninformed, though.

For an example of their tolerance, here's what the founder of CAIR, Omar Ahmad, had to say back in the 1998:

"Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant," a local reporter quoted him as saying, adding, "The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth."

Tolerant indeed.

[Emmortal]

Nice sweeping generalizations, devoid of fact of course, that you're making. All you really seem to have is the race card and sticking words in my mouth. See, the thing is though, you far-left retards have played this card so much that it has no meaning anymore. No one is fooled by your attempts to paralyze any discussion on Islam by labeling anyone critical of it as a bigot.

Regardless, can you show me where I've ever advocated violence against all Muslims? I do little more than report on the daily abuse non-Muslims and Muslims are subjected to by other Muslims.

Oh the sheer  irony of this post.  Sweeping generalizations are your expertise, aren't they?  You can't even come up with a valid retort that addresses my stance so you attempt to throw out insults in behest of your complete lack of an intelligent response.

[bears]

Despite what some of the right wing bigot extremists on this board would have you believe, all Muslims are not terrorist scum.  I know, a shocker, right?

http://www.ahmedrehab.com/blog/2010/11/beyond-the-comfort-zone-passion-and-peril-at-a-pro-christian-rally/

I don't remember seeing anyone say that "ALL Muslims are terrorist scum". 

Yes, most devout Muslims are pious, good people overall just like any other religion. 

However, in this particular day and age there does happen to exist a very large and growing constituency of Muslims that are seeking the blood of Christians in the name of Islam.

This is who most of your so called "right wing bigot extremists" want to defeat. 

And if we have peace seeking Muslims come out to a gathering such as this and stand by their Christian friends in unity it gets us one step closer. 

Now I ask you if Muslims come out to a gathering like this isn't that proof that even they recognize a problem within the Muslim community?  Why can't you recognize the same thing?  Instead you simply skim the news for proof of your foregone conclusion that Christians are bad and Muslims are good.  Which I should not have to remind you but that way of thinking is why we are in this mess in the first place.

[The Showstoppa]

I don't remember seeing anyone say that "ALL Muslims are terrorist scum". 

Yes, most devout Muslims are pious, good people overall just like any other religion. 

However, in this particular day and age there does happen to exist a very large and growing constituency of Muslims that are seeking the blood of Christians in the name of Islam.

This is who most of your so called "right wing bigot extremists" want to defeat. 

And if we have peace seeking Muslims come out to a gathering such as this and stand by their Christian friends in unity it gets us one step closer. 

Now I ask you if Muslims come out to a gathering like this isn't that proof that even they recognize a problem within the Muslim community?  Why can't you recognize the same thing?  Instead you simply skim the news for proof of your foregone conclusion that Christians are bad and Muslims are good.  Which I should not have to remind you but that way of thinking is why we are in this mess in the first place.

Great post......and doesn't it stand to reason that the only reason this is even "news worthy" is because it is unusual?

[Skip8282]

Great post......and doesn't it stand to reason that the only reason this is even "news worthy" is because it is unusual?

Probably.  Hyping CAIR as some sort of tolerant organization is a joke in and of itself.  People who buy this crap are akin to the mules who have a carrot dangling in front of them, never realizing it's outta reach.