Welcome To BeThink
A Place to Ponder



Think and Travel

action-banner.jpg

Bloggers' Rights at EFF

Join Me; EmpathyAndEducation!

Register to Vote: Rock the Vote, powered by Credo Mobile

The Whole Child


Reich: Obama Take Over BP

jvpwebbannershministimcsjpg

Fascinating Finds

  • Crucial Conversations
  • NOVA. Mirror Neurons
  • What the Bleep!?
  • Chile. Privatized Pensions
  • Iraq Coalition Casualties
  • The Nation
  • NOW! News Behind News
  • Economic Policy Institute
  • Social Security. Real Connections
  • Activism

  • Social Security. No Crisis
  • Act For Change
  • Media Matters for America
  • MoveOn.org
  • New Democrat Network
  • People for American Way
  • True Majority
  • Read and Reflect

    Daniel Goleman: Emotional Intelligence : Why It Can Matter More Than IQ

    Erich Fromm: Art of Loving
    Art of Loving
    By Erich Fromm

    Abraham H. Maslow: Toward a Psychology of Being


    Cosmic Comic


    Search Now:
    Amazon Logo
    Search by author:

    by Title:

    by Keyword or ISBN:



    BeThink Talk

    Subscribe to Site [RSS]

    Add to Technorati Favorites

    buzz-it!


    Can a Muslim, Christian, Jew Be A Good American Citizen? ©


    by: Betsy L. Angert

    Sun Jan 07, 2007 at 15:08:13 PM EST



    Mo Amer: Testing Americans On Muslim I.Q.

    Dearest Reader . . .

    Again, I received an electronic communiqué that left me feeling nauseous.  This one is titled, "Can A Muslim Become A Good American Citizen?  Can they be a good person?" 

    This communication is from an individual that barely knows me.  She is a devout and practicing Christian.  This woman attends church regularly and speaks of the Lord religiously.  She often states she would never wish to hurt another; yet . . .

    On the holiest of all Christian holidays, on the day that believers, throughout the globe honor their Lord Jesus Christ, this religious disciple sent me a bigoted letter in support of "racial profiling."  In truth, this "epistle" seems to justify "ethnic cleansing."  This patriotic preaching professes, people are not created equal, or after birth, they become evil.  According to this missive, in America, the Constitutional right establishing freedom of religion is unwise.  Muslims must be damned.  Please ponder the passage and decide for yourself.

    Betsy L. Angert :: Can a Muslim, Christian, Jew Be A Good American Citizen? ©
    I thought to attach this document to a lengthy treatise on racism, on hate crimes, on discriminatory practices.  I researched the topics.  I was ready to submit a thesis; however, upon reflection I concluded my endeavor to defend or dispute would serve no purpose.  People can only choose for themselves what they wish to believe and act upon.  Often unwanted overtures lead to resentment, rebellion, and ridiculous reactive behaviors.  I do not wish to participate in such silliness.

    You may recall the infamous letter penned by Pamela Foster that I also received through my electronic mail account,  Scary Song of Compassion? From Conservative Pamela Foster ©  Ms. Foster repeatedly reminded us, she did not care for anyone but herself, her kind, and her clan.  Numerous readers reveled in her words.  They submitted their agreement.  Sadly, I had little to say in return.

    Initially, I responded to comments on that critique.  However, ultimately, I realized that discussion needed to grow; by necessity, it must be broader.  My reacting to what I recognize as racism will do little.  People will evolve as they do.  Enlightenment comes through personal experience.  It is a process and cannot be hastened by outside influences.

    Unlike Ms. Forster, I believe that not caring for any entity is the saddest of all human choices.  The conditions we create when we do not have compassion, for me, seem chaotic.  For me, empathy is the best educator.  Nevertheless . . .

    I offer another scurrilous, scandalous, slanderous, and defamatory mail for your review.  I believe such xenophobic expressions are interesting and enlightening.  I think it vital that we recognize what many in mainstream America are thinking, saying, doing, and feeling.  My desire is to advance awareness, always. 

    As I stated, I will let the text speak for itself.  My hope is that people will read these racist rants and feel a distressed as I do.



    "Can A Muslim Become A Good American Citizen?" 
    "Can they be a good person?"

    Date: Mon, 25 Dec 2006 21:02:43 EST
    Subject: something to seriously consider

    Something to seriously consider
    Can A Muslim Become A Good American Citizen?
    Can a good Muslim be a good American?

    I sent that question to a friend who worked in Saudi Arabia for 20 years.
    The following is his reply:

    Theologically - no.  Because his allegiance is to Allah, the moon god of Arabia.

    Religiously - no.  Because no other religion is accepted by his Allah except Islam (Koran, 2:256)

    Scripturally - no.  Because his allegiance is to the five pillars of Islam and the Quran (Koran).

    Geographically - no.  Because his allegiance is to Mecca, to which he turns in prayer five times a day.

    Socially - no.  Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews.

    Politically - no.  Because he must submit to the mullah (spiritual leaders), who teach annihilation of Israel and Destruction of America, the great Satan.

    Domestically - no.  Because he is instructed to marry four women and beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him (Quran 4:34).

    Intellectually - no.  Because he cannot accept the American Constitution since it is based on Biblical principles and he believes the Bible to be corrupt.

    Philosophically - no.  Because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran do not allow freedom of religion and expression.  Democracy and Islam cannot co-exist.  Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic.

    Spiritually - no.  Because when we declare "one nation under God," the Christian's God is loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred to as heavenly father, nor is he ever called love in The Quran's 99 excellent names.

    Therefore, after much study and deliberation....  perhaps we should be very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country.  They obviously cannot be both "good" Muslims and  good Americans.
    Call it what you wish.... it's still the truth.

    If you find yourself intellectually in agreement with the above statements, perhaps you will share this with your friends.  The more who understand this, the better it will be for our country and our  future.
    Pass it on Fellow Americans.  The religious war is bigger than we know or  understand.  Reflect and take the following multiple-choice test.

    The events are actual cuts from past history.  They actually happened!!!

    Do you  remember?
    -1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed  by
    a. Superman
    b. Jay Leno
    c. Harry Potter
    d Muslim male extremist between the ages of 17 and 40

    1. In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes  were kidnapped and massacred by
    a. Olga  Corbett
    b. Sitting Bull
    c. Arnold  Schwarzenegger
    d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages  of 17 and 40
    2. In 1979, the US embassy  in Iran was taken over by:
    a. Lost Norwegians
    b. Elvis
    c. A tour bus full of 80-year-old women
    d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and  40

    3. During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by:
    a. John Dillinger
    b. The King of Sweden
    c. The Boy  Scouts
    d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    4. In 1983, the US Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by:
    a. A pizza delivery boy
    b. Pee Wee Herman
    c. Geraldo Rivera
    d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and  40

    5. In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and 70 year old Leon Klinghoffer, an  American and a Jew- confined to a wheelchair, was murdered and  thrown overboard by:
    a. The Smurfs
    b.  Davy Jones
    c. The Little Mermaid
    d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    6. In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and Robert Stidham, a US Navy diver was murdered  by:
    a. Captain Kidd
    b. Charles Lindberg
    c. Mother Teresa
    d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    7. In 1988, Pan Am Flight  103 was bombed by:
    a. Scooby Doo
    b. The Tooth  Fairy
    c. Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid
    d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    8. In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the
    first time by:
    a. Richard Simmons
    b. Grandma  Moses
    c. Michael Jordan
    d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    9.  In 1998, the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania
    were bombed  by:
    a. Mr. Rogers
    b. Hillary Clinton, to distract  attention from Wild Bill' s women problems
    c. The  World Wrestling Federation
    d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    10. On 9/11/01,  four airliners were hijacked; two were used as missiles to take out the World Trade Centers and of the remaining two, one  crashed into the US Pentagon and the other was diverted  and crashed by the passengers.  Thousands of people  were killed by:
    a. Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote, Daffy Duck, and  Elmer Fudd
    b. The Supreme Court of Florida
    c. Mr. Bean
    d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    11. In 2002, the United  States fought a war in Afghanistan against:
    a.  Enron
    b. The Lutheran Church
    c. The NFL
    d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and  40

    12. In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped  and murdered by:
    a. Bonnie and Clyde
    b.  Captain Kangaroo
    c.  Billy Graham
    d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    Nope, I really don't see a pattern here to justify profiling, do you?

    So, to ensure we Americans never offend anyone, particularly fanatics intent on killing us, airport security screeners will no longer be allowed to profile certain people.  They must conduct random searches of 80-year-old women, little kids, airline pilots with proper identification, secret agents who are members of the President's security detail, 85-year old Congressmen with metal hips, and Medal of Honor winning and former Governor Joe Foss, but leave Muslim males between the ages 17 and 40 alone because of profiling.  Give us a break!!!  These people must think we are idiots!  We are!

    I, Betsy, can only breathe deeply, then sigh with great remorse.  I struggle to accept that racism is relative.  How can we compare and contrast elements with little explanation.  Might anyone, or I, take excerpts from the New or Old Testament and then, with little knowledge of context, content, or the construct conclude that Christians and Jews are violent people.  I think we could if we would. 

    Distortion and discrimination abound.  I, for one, wish it were not so.  If this passage only advances awareness then I will be pleased.  I do not want prejudice, intolerance, or chauvinism to survive.  May peace and understanding thrive. 

    I wish us all well.  Namaste.
    Tags: , , , , , (All Tags)
    Print Friendly View Send As Email BuzzIt submit to reddit
    The sin of being different. (6.00 / 1)
    Betsy:

    For many, many, many years this type of hate speech has flourished.
    It scares me and sickens me to read such outright racism.

    Jews have long been the targets of this type of distortion. Of course Catholics owe allegiance to the Pope and therefore we certainly cannot have one of them be president.

    What amazes me is that so many can be so blind to blatant propaganda.

    Yet I have felt it in my life. One need only be different to know the sting of hate. Years ago [1975] my husband and I were traveling by car through Baton Rouge. At the time, he had long hair and a full beard and I was accustomed to going braless. You could say we looked a bit like hippies. We were non-conventional in another obvious way. I was twenty plus years older than he. At first we were amazed at the fact that there were no public places to eat in downtown Baton Rouge. However, as we walked down the street, we were astonished when we encountered blatant hate speech. This escalated as we crossed the street a vehicle swerved towards us. The passenger yelled out " we don't need any of your kind here."

    Obviously tolerance was not part of this milieu.  We decided we were not hungry and went on to New Orleans.

    When will we learn that being different is not a crime or something to be feared?

    Had we as Americans decided after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon to work to understand rather than hate and fear the world would be a better place!

    May you stay forever young.
    Berenice


    decided to work to understand (0.00 / 0)
    Dear Berenice . . .

    I too experience . . .

    Yet I have felt it in my life.  One need only be different to know the sting of hate. 
    Just yesterday, an acquaintance questioned whether Americans are truly free or have the civil liberties the Bill of Rights provide.

    Philosophies penned on paper are not practiced, at least that is what I believe.

    I thank you for sharing an actual story.  I think we lean and understand more authentically when we are given examples we can relate to.

    May you also stay forever young.

    It is only the giving that makes us what [who] we are. ~ Ian Anderson. Jethro Tull

    Betsy L. Angert

    BeThink


    [ Parent ]
    Zig-Zag Man (10.00 / 1)
    Berenice,
    I had a Zig-Zag Man decal on my rear bumper back in the late 60's - with a personal automobile tag that read, "Peace 4." In Tyler, Texas, I was refused gas - "We don't serve chickens around here," the attendant said. Even in Dallas, two men pulled up beside me on an empty road and yelled obscenities at me - before running me off the road. When cars did begin to approach - they peeled off. I was shaken, but OK, and went on home. It only strengthened my resolve to let my freak flag fly - metaphorically speaking. I could not grow long hair, but it seem obvious to the rednecks, I was a symbol they feared - for time's were a'changing...

    Molecules launch from our final breath - to be owned by the next living soul who inhales them...

    [ Parent ]
    Menu

    Why Create an Account?
    Make a New Account

    Username:

    Password:



    Forget your username or password?


    About
    Behind Be-Think.

    Be-Think
    Beckon Be-Think
    Create an Account
    Personalize Passwords
    Write On; Instructions
    Scripting with Style.
    Posting a Photograph.
    Travel Beyond

    Search




    Advanced Search


    Google Search
    Google

    Web This Site
    Past Work

    Job Opportunity
    Field Organizer; Local
    [Working Families Win]

    Resources

    Fascinating Finds

  • Crucial Conversations
  • NOVA. Mirror Neurons
  • What the Bleep!?
  • Chile. Privatized Pensions
  • Iraq Coalition Casualties
  • The Nation
  • News Behind the News
  • Economic Policy Institute
  • Social Security Puzzle
  • Activism

  • Social Security. No Crisis
  • Act For Change
  • Media Matters
  • MoveOn.org
  • New Democrat Network
  • People for American Way
  • True Majority

  • Blog Roll

    Reference Resources

  • AlterNet
  • American Prospect
  • IssueLab
  • Media Matters
  • Slate
  • Talking Points Memo
  • The Nation
  • The New York Times
  • TruthOut
  • Washington Post
  • Cyber Communities

  • BlogSheroes
  • Booman Tribune
  • Daily Kos
  • FLA Politics
  • Florida Progressives
  • MyDD
  • My Left Wing
  • Never In Our Names
  • OpEd News
  • Unbossed
  • Sharing Souls

  • Economist's View
  • Left Word
  • MF Blog
  • Off The Wahl Perspective.
  • Para Justicia y Libertad!
  • Open Left
  • Possum Page, DailyKos
  • Robert Reich's Blog
  • Sedalia's Tale
  • Semi-Daily Journal
  • Strange Death of Liberal America
  • The Disputed Truth
  • The Left Coaster
  • Town Called Dobson
  • Troubled Times
  • Florida Progressives

    Powered by: SoapBlox