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| Dr. Laura under attack from Muslims (go figure) |
| 2003-11-20 |
| Tip to WND (edited for brevity) A controversial Islamic lobby group is demanding an apology from radio counselor Dr. Laura Schlessinger for an alleged "anti-Muslim tirade" on her program this week. Keep waiting Schlessinger, whose coast-to-coast show is heard by 12 million listeners, "crossed the line from legitimate commentary on terrorism to Islamophobic bigotry," charges the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR. And CAIR knows how to cross the line. The comments, on Mondayâs program, came in response to a mother who asked whether her 16-year-old daughter should take part in a Catholic high school classâs field trip to a local mosque. The visit was part of a "moral themes" class that aimed to help students learn how "Muslims are treated" in the United States. Schlessinger, a WND columnist, replied to the mother: "This is a class on morals. What is the point of going to a mosque? ... Youâre joking of course. How many Americans have tortured and murdered Muslims. I think you ought to stand up against this class and this teacher. This is despicable. You tell him you are willing to go to the mosque only if it is one that has done its best to rout out terrorists in its midst. Instead of complaining.ahh NO Schlessingerâs producer, Keven Bellows, told WorldNetDaily the radio host is formulating a response but cannot comment at the moment. I was thinking something like âBITE MEâ In a statement, CAIR said last year it asked Schlessinger to clarify her claim there is a "Muslim plan" to take over the world. Do we need to replay all the sermons from the mosques? "When Schlessingerâs extremist views have been confronted in the past, she has often responded by attacking the source of the challenge, instead of dealing with the substance of the complaints," CAIR said. Dr Laura is more MAINSTREAM that CAIR can ever hope to be. The groupâs communications director, Ibrahim Hooper, said "Dr. Lauraâs anti-Muslim tirade demonstrates a level of hostility toward Islam that should be of concern to her programâs audience and sponsors." LOL a threat from a muslim? How....Tolerant! "It has been our experience that one-on-one interactions with ordinary American Muslims are the best way to dispel Islamophobic stereotypes and promote religious tolerance," Hooper said. "It is a pity that Dr. Laura would interfere with that learning process by dissuading a student from visiting a mosque." Itâs good to see that CAIR has found a word that describes the feelings of DISTRUST towards the Islamic community: Islamophobic. Why are so many of us Islamophobic? âone-on-one interactions with ordinary American Muslims are the best way to dispel Islamophobic stereotypes and promote religious tolerance.â I donât think this is entirely true. I am sure that the people on those planes on 9/11 did not come away from that one-on-one interaction with a feeling of tolerance. Nor did the people in the twin towers or at the Pentagon. Am I painting with too broad a brush here? Maybe but consider that EVERY time a suicide bomber goes off in the world CAIR, PLO, Bathists, or any other Islamic based group tells us that itâs some Jewish conspiracy against them. To this dat I have not heard one of these groups take responsibility for their action or the hatred they have festered. Is it hard to admit the maybe, JUST MAYBE, they entire world does not revolve around the Palestinian/Israeli peace process? Also MAYBE Arafat is the WRONG leader for those people. Also maybe you donât have to spew about being the âdominant religionâ or instilling some Koranic law on us? I served in the Air Force with two gentleman that practiced Islam and I NEVER heard either one of them spew would comes out of these ânationalâ organizations. The leader of CAIR and other groups might want to stop trolling the air waves for Islamophobes and start cleaning up there own act. How about starting by telling the ILLEGAL immigrant Arabs that maybe if they respect the laws in this country people will be more tolerant of them. Or the next time some teenage bomber blows up a pizza parlor, you condemn the bomber and not the bombed. Sorry to rant on so but Dr. Laura is right on target with her comments no matter how unpalatable they are to CAIR. As a final note, maybe CAIR can help us by recalling all the terrorists that they helped catch. I sure would like to know that they are helping the WOT instead of bitching about their right. |
| Posted by:Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) |
| #21 Aris, you need to better educate yourself. Get a copy of the textbook, "What Islam is All About", by IBTS publishing. Also, "Mercy to Mankind" by IQRA Foundation, (until recently funded by the Saudi's). These books are widely used throughout the US in Islamic schools. They blatantly teach hatred for Christians and Jews. You should also read Frances Bok's book detailing the plight of Sudanese Christians forced into slavery and tortured and killed by the Muslims at the present time. |
| Posted by: milford 2003-11-21 9:08:40 PM |
| #20 the visit to the mosque was one of these element. Yes, to learn how Muslims are being treated. But why bring this issue up unless someone thinks there is a problem with the treatment of Muslims in the US in general? |
| Posted by: Rafael 2003-11-20 11:20:37 PM |
| #19 When I was 13, we moved to Detroit, I never knew any Muslims prior. I interacted w/a lot of Arab Muslims, Muslim Kosovars, Serbs, Turks, Croatians & Arab Christians after our move. Still have some good friends who are Chaldean and Lebanese Christians. Personally never had any problems w/them (the muslims), but I was never naive to their outlook on us either. I dealt w/them mostly in business climates, but on occasion socially. They (the muslims) were not interested in integrating w/the mainstream for the most part, looked down on American culture in general (i.e. Christianity), and had no compunction in screwing you over if given the chance. (there was no moral reason for them not to unless your a muslim as well). I also found them to look down heavily upon the inner-city blacks as inferior (this was not only a muslim peculiarity though, aside from white racism toward blacks, the Kosovars, Serbs, & Turks I knew seem to despise them as well). I remember the muslims referring to all whites as Americans - I used to ask - aren't you an American as well? Your a citizen as well right? They would almost be insulted by this fact. Again, this was my observation of living in Detroit for 11 years. I know not all of them think like this. It is going to take a long time, believe me, for them to come around. If my kid goes and visits a mosque, synagogue or ashram, that's fine w/me. Let him learn about other cultures/religions/philosophies. Knowledge is power, can never have too much knowledge. My wife & I will always be there to clarify things. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2003-11-20 10:55:27 PM |
| #18 How do you know that a synagogue wasn't next or previous in a series of visits to other religions' places of worship? The article tells us little about what the rest of this "moral theme" entailed, or what its actual elements were -- it only tells us that the visit to the mosque was one of these element. Selective reporting could quite well ensure that we wouldn't about trips to Buddhist temples or Synagogues, we would only hear about the trip to the mosque. |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2003-11-20 10:48:28 PM |
| #17 The visit was part of a "moral themes" class that aimed to help students learn how "Muslims are treated" in the United States. The key phrases are 'moral themes' and 'how Muslims are treated'. Why is the treatment of Muslims in the US an issue to be examined all of a sudden? Is there widespread persecution or something? What's the deal? Of course, the implied "moral theme" of this field trip is that Muslims are being mistreated. Secondly, why only the Muslim community? Why visit a Mosque and not a Synagogue? |
| Posted by: Rafael 2003-11-20 10:24:16 PM |
| #16 I'm not sure why the children of a Christian Catholic school visiting a Muslim mosque is a violation of church and state. "No to Muslims" in this specific incident seems a prohibition against Christian children visiting mosques or learning anything about the Muslim religion. Perhaps for fear that they'll be converted to Islam or something -- not sure what other fear Dr Laura may have. It's you are completely missing the point -- the article concerns Dr.Laura saying she is disgusted at the idea of christian children visiting a mosque. And people here agreeing to it. "When will the Muslim children be visiting the Churches and Synagogues on their field trip in an effort to better understand their non-Muslim neighbors?" I dunno, what's *your* guess? *My* guess is that if in these progressive countries we still have people thinking it despicable to have children learn about other religions, then it'll be a long time indeed before this attitude gets removed from the backwards Islamic countries. |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2003-11-20 9:29:09 PM |
| #15 Again, Aris does his best to completely miss the point. Like milford said, When will the Muslim children be visiting the Churches and Synagogues on their field trip in an effort to better understand their non-Muslim neighbors? 'No to the Muslims, murderers and terrorists'? The 'Muslims' part is your interjection. But for the sake of argument, ask yourself, from the viewpoint of a Muslim, what does "No to the Jews" mean? In the majority of cases, violence would somehow be involved. "No to the Muslims" in the case of most Rantburgers would mean "keep your religion to yourself thank you very much" or "does separation of church and state mean anything to you?". |
| Posted by: Rafael 2003-11-20 9:18:40 PM |
| #14 "How many Americans have tortured and murdered Muslims" I think the proper analogy is "how many *Christians* have tortured and murdered Muslims", in which case Dr Laura ought to have a look at Bosnia. 'radical Egyptian cleric, Wagdy Ghuneim led the song, "No to the Jews, descendants of the apes".' And people here are leading the song 'No to the Muslims, murderers and terrorists'? Not that much better, that one. "That's the culture you want your daughter to learn about?" One would expect that you would want to know about *any* culture that has impact on your life, whether that impact is positive or negative. Whether you are allies with it or at war. Unless ignorance is the way to go, for Dr. Laura. "She has high standards, tries to follow them, fails once, and so your take is that everything she says, irregardless of subject, is okay to ignore, LIBERALhawk?" Well everything she says is okay to ignore the same way that anyone's opinion advocating ignorance for our children is okay to ignore. |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2003-11-20 7:36:36 PM |
| #13 Who in their right mind would give CAIR any credance? When will the Muslim children be visiting the Churches and Synagogues on their field trip in an effort to better understand their non-Muslim neighbors? I still remember the rally CAIR and the American Muslim Alliance co-sponsored at Brooklyn College in 1998. The radical Egyptian cleric, Wagdy Ghuneim led the song, "No to the Jews, descendants of the apes". Three of CAIR's members were recently arrested under terrorism charges. Ismail Royer, Bassem Khafagi and Nihad Awad. Ismail Royer was picked up with over 200 rounds of ammo and an AK-47, part of the "Virginia jihad network." |
| Posted by: milford 2003-11-20 5:16:20 PM |
| #12 She has high standards, tries to follow them, fails once, and so your take is that everything she says, irregardless of subject, is okay to ignore, LIBERALhawk? |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-11-20 4:09:34 PM |
| #11 CAIR should take note of the dog that isn't barking here. Schlesinger has been taken to task many times in the past for her harsh comments. This time, nothing. Crickets chirping. Get the hint, CAIR. Her POV isn't extremist in this matter. Not anymore. |
| Posted by: BH 2003-11-20 2:33:07 PM |
| #10 "Thatâs the culture you want your daughter to learn about?" On her own time, sure. But if the school field trip is about visiting a Mosque, then they should also visit a Synagogue, Christian Orthodox Church, Buddhist Temple, etc etc. Teach the kids tolerance, not some BS guilt-ridden diatribe that "we are the root of all evil". |
| Posted by: Rafael 2003-11-20 1:46:57 PM |
| #9 There is no Moslem culture. This statement is incorrect. In the books Among the Believers: An Islamic Journey and its sequel Beyond Belief: Islamic Excursions Among the Converted Peoples V. S. Naipaul discusses this topic in detail. According to him there is a Moslem culture and its imperialist, and based on Arabic culture, and it has tried to supress the cultures of all non-Arabic states that have become Islamic. |
| Posted by: ruprecht 2003-11-20 1:26:34 PM |
| #8 It is not ok for someone on the radio to say some stupid comment from the gut but it is OK for the leaders of muslim countries to state that there is a jewish comspiracy to dominate the world. This at an official gathering of heads of state! I am so sick of the double standards that is practiced by muslims. |
| Posted by: Dan 2003-11-20 1:26:21 PM |
| #7 Derb says: "Bigotry = the open expression of conservative views." |
| Posted by: Raj 2003-11-20 12:54:22 PM |
| #6 There is no Moslem culture. Islam is practiced in a variety of ways by many races and cultures around the world. It is in the interest of the Islamofascist enemy to suggest that there is a "Moslem" culture, just as there is a "Jewish" culture. That way the radicals, mostly Arab and/or Whahabi, can hide amongst the Indonesians or Bangladeshis. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2003-11-20 12:10:53 PM |
| #5 "Thatâs the culture you want your daughter to learn about?" er, yeah. Schlesinger is an idiot. Didnt she make a big stink about becoming Orthodox, and advocating for conservative views on sexuality. Then turned out to be a total hypocrite, and not really Orthodox? Of course CAIR is even bigger idiots - talk show hosts like her say extreme things just to get attention and callers. CAIR just did her a big favor. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-11-20 11:32:54 AM |
| #4 Itâs good to see that CAIR has found a word that describes the feelings of DISTRUST towards the Islamic community: Islamophobic Quite coincidentally, "islamophobie" (islamophobia) is also the new word now overly used by crimination groups & muslim groups in France. Does this indicate some kind of "internationally" coordonated PR plan, language proximity, or that I am paranoid? |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-11-20 11:32:04 AM |
| #3 Click on the "Muslim Plan" link for a reminder. The article it leads to has a link to an even more detailed reminder. |
| Posted by: Fred 2003-11-20 11:18:00 AM |
| #2 :asked Schlessinger to clarify her claim there is a "Muslim plan" to take over the world" There is, its written in the Koran (or Qu'aran). I would love to see CAIR draw this one out because I think what Dr. Laura said is well within reason and a lof people are gonna be thrilled to see someone stand up to CAIR. |
| Posted by: ruprecht 2003-11-20 11:15:26 AM |
| #1 When CAIR executives and donors stop being linked to terrorists... |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2003-11-20 11:04:18 AM |