[Imc-beirut] Here's the standard: Islam is as Islam does

[sensenig]

For the first time in my life I agree with William Bennet, my God, what's going on! 

If you live in the MENA region, where Islamic law is enforced, things do look differently than the way Jim Zogby paints them. BTW, my ancestors were burnt at the stake by his (Roman Catholic) predecessors. And killing people for religious reasons is still officially sanctioned in the MENA, and even supported by Al Jeezera.

We need to get real on this one. Religious freedom yes, but no violence in the name of religion; i.e. zero tolerance for religious violence means none at all, no, but, but, but, .......

Eugene www.libanlink.org 

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  From: AAIMedia [mailto:AAIMedia at aaiusa.org]
  Sent: Sat 2/11/2006 12:26 AM
  To: AAIMedia
  Subject: AAI Talking Points on Danish Cartoons








  Dear activists,



  On Thursday evening, Dr. Jim Zogby, president of AAI, appeared on CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer (VIDEO: Watch Dr. Zogby debate William Bennett) to discuss the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed that were first published in a Danish newspaper. Dr. Zogby did a great job of pointing out the malicious intent of the cartoons, and that while all Muslims are justifiably offended, the manifestation of anger and violence were those of only a few. 



  Here is an excerpt of the transcript:



  BENNETT: Let's go beyond cartoons. The other story out of Iran is the story of two young girls who were raped. The girl defended herself and stabbed her attacker. She is now sentenced to be hanged under Islamic law. This isn't a caricature, this isn't a cartoon, this is a peak into the soul of that faith, when it's run through a government. It's a real story and it deserves to be criticized.

  ZOGBY: It's not a peak into Islam, it's a peek into the outrages that take place in contemporary Iran, which is not synonymous with Islam...

  BENNETT: It's recognized Islamic theology, it is Islamic theology...

  ZOGBY: The policy of the Catholics during the Inquisition is not synonymous with my church, nor is the policy of the Islamic extremists synonymous with the Prophet Mohammed. Let's be fair and use one standard. I agree, we have a double standard and frankly I think the way this story is cast is the wrong double standard.

  BENNETT: Here's the standard. Catholicism is as Catholicism does, Judaism is as Judaism does, and by God Islam is as Islam does and what it's doing right now I wouldn't wanted to associated with.

  ZOGBY: As President Bush has said correctly, hundreds of millions of believing Muslims do not practice these things, did not burn embassies, do not behead people...

  BENNETT: Where are they? Where are they?



  Mr. Bennett's comments about Islam turned what could have been an intelligent discussion about an important issue into a forum for hate. AAI needs your help to ensure that people like Mr. Bennett don't have a forum to slander followers of any religion. With your AAI Membership and support, we can more effectively monitor the media and mobilize our community to respond quickly, and in large numbers, to offensive statements such as this.



  HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO:



    1.. Share this email with friends and family who also believe that no person should be allowed to make bigoted comments about any religion. 
    2.. Join AAI and get involved. With your support, we can do a lot. There is strength in numbers.


  TALKING POINTS:



    1.. The cartoons controversy began as a deliberate provocation. Publishing the cartoons is not an issue of free speech. According to The Washington Post, the editor of the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten actually commissioned 12 cartoonists to create cartoons of Muhammed only to challenge the Muslim ban on portraits of Muhammed. 


    2.. In the very real environment of Islamophobia that exists in the world today, publishing the cartoons is insensitive and further inflames tensions.


    3.. Ignorance about Islam is at the root of much of the media coverage of this story. The iconoclastic essence of Islam is not understood and, media coverage of the violence by a few dominated news and did not help create understanding about Islam.  


  Thank you for your continued support.



  Sincerely,

  Christine Saah Nazer

  Director of Communications
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