Perpetuating Lies

Lots of that going on these days.

The one that irritates my political bones the most is the, "Obama is a Muslim.". The convoluted logic that backs up this assertion is ridiculous. Blogs like this one proliferate the myth as well. I won't bother refuting many of the points in that one. A serious, objective reader with even the smallest ability to reason will see the lack of basis there is in the 'proof'.

Obama has repeatedly said that he is a Christian. In an interview with Christianity Today Obama said, "I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian. I believe in the redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe that that faith gives me a path to be cleansed of sin and have eternal life. " One would be hard pressed to get a clearer declaration of salvation than that.

Now on to Franklin Graham's comments about Obama's faith. Graham clearly says the Obama professed to be a Christian and that we must take Obama's word on that (which we really must do with anyone professing Christianity because we cannot see into another man's heart). So that part is cool.

The part that bugs me is the, "Obama was born a Muslim." No. Obama was born to a father who was a Muslim, and not even a practicing Muslim. Graham asserts that one can be 'born a Jew or born a Muslim' but not a Christian. Islam is a religion, not an ethnicity. Obama's father was from Kenya (Brief Kenyan history). If, Islam is to be considered an ethnicity it would be Arabs that fit the bill since Muhammad claimed to be descended from Abraham and Ishmael. There is a difference also in being born an Hebrew and being born into a Jewish family. The same principle applies to Obama. His father was a Muslim, but his father was not an Ishmaelite. See the difference? I hope so.

I beg of all the Republicans out there that don't like Obama that you quit using the argument that Obama is a Muslim as a campaign issue and wedge to further divide America. According to our Constitution there is no religious test for those who would hold public office in this country. Constitutionally Obama's faith is completely irrelevant. Get over it and quit chasing red herrings and beating straw men to death. Can't you see that this is a distraction? There are so many issues that need our attention and propagating this falsehood does nothing but divide and distract.

The FED has devalued our money, we are waging unconstitutional wars that are draining our treasury and robbing from our children, our liberties are being trampled upon by the government behemoth, we have politicians that are owned by big business and big pharma, we are being taxed out of our livelihood all while the politicians and pundits distract us with non-issues. Concentrate. Focus. And fight for true liberty before it is gone forever.

U.S. Funding Foreign Mosques (or "I Knew Obama Was A Muslim!!")

This article being bandied about by every conservative blogger and news outlet is getting very tiresome. And, unfortunately, it seems to be gaining steam. The senseless proliferation of the overstated implications of the funding of mosques is astounding to me. So, to bring some balance to the discussion...

First, the AFCP (Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation) was founded in 2001 under our glorious, godly President George W. Bush. And under Bush there was a lot of money donated to restore/preserve mosques and Islamic texts. Below is a link to the AFCP so that you can verify what will follow.

Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation

2001~ $14,942 for the preservation of Islamic texts; $14,500 to restore a mosque. For a total of: $29,442. Total AFCP payout for the year $2,858,662.

2002/2003~ $25,345 for mosque renovations; $24,475 repair for a Muslim mausoleum; $24,945 for restoration of a mosque/madrassa; $14,446 for mosque preservation. For a total of: $89,211. Total AFCP payout for the year $3,454,710.

2003/2004~$16,650 to preserve Islamic manuscripts; $33,310 to preserve a mosque. For a total of $49,960. Total AFCP payout for the year $2,344,815.

2004/2005~ $23,375 for exhibition of Islamic manuscripts; $9,345 to document Islamic heritage; $31,931 to restore a mosque; $16,100 to preserve Islamic culture; $31,015 for restoration of a mosque. For a total of $111766. Total AFCP payout for the year $3,261,251.

2005/2006~ $25,000 for preservation of Islamic texts; $24,000 to restore a mosque; $24,125 to restore a mosque; $24,700 to restore yet another mosque; $22,500 for a survey of Islamic architecture. For a total of $120,325. Total AFCP payout for the year $4,464,113.

2006/2007~ $25,589 to restore mosques; $60,600 to restore a mosque; $106,110 to restore a mosque; $37,676 to restore a madrassa. For a total of $229,975. Total AFCP payout for the year $5,026,328.

There was no information for 2007/2008 or 2008/2009.

Please bear in mind that these projects for mosques and Islamic texts and cultural preservation are only a small fraction of the overall money being spent.

Now I will agree that the government should not have been spending this money when we are having to borrow money from China, but to use this as an argument against Obama or to prove that Obama has Muslim sympathies is ridiculous; unless one is willing to admit that Bush also was a Muslim/Muslim sympathizer.

To my patriotic friends I say, Do not become sidetracked with this non-issue! That is exactly the kind of thing the government is hoping for so that we won't be watching what is really going on.

The Cordoba Initiative

The Cordoba Initiative got the go ahead to build the community center and mosque a couple of blocks from Ground Zero. And, not surprisingly, the Right is in uproar. The amount of vitriol coming from opponents of the mosque is really disturbing. I saw a comment on an article where the author called for all mosques to be blown up. Hateful people.

One of the arguments I hear most often is about the name of the mosque, Cordoba House. Cordoba was built, as the critics of the mosque say, as a sign of the triumph of the Muslims and that the use of that name means that the Muslims in NYC that are building this mosque are doing it as a celebration of the Islamic victory on 9/11. Maybe so, and?
History of Cordoba

I found this tidbit interesting. Quote from this article, "Ironically, Islam's roots in New York City are in the area around the site of the World Trade Center, and they predate the Twin Towers: in the late 19th century, a portion of lower Manhattan was known as Little Syria and was inhabited by Arab immigrants — Muslims and Christians — from the Ottoman Empire"

I like this video, the guy is a little annoying but makes a good point.



Jon Stewart had a great segment about this called "Municipal Land-Use Hearing Update". If you want to watch it you'll have to go look it up. He says one bad word that wasn't bleeped so I won't post it here.

If this were just about a mosque at Ground Zero I might sympathize. But there have been several instances when residents of cities all over the country have protested mosques being built, even before 9/11. And usually those protesting say they are christians and patriotic americans. Nevermind that the freedom of religion is in the 1st Amendment to the Constitution.

I had a lot more to say, but can't at the moment. Kids need tending to.

Religious Liberty- Does It Still Exist in America?

Got this in my inbox yesterday from World Net Daily

Patriotic American,

The time for the so called "religious tolerance" double standard is OVER! And that's why I am sending you this most important email today on behalf of ReAL Action – The citizen activist arm of Renewing American Leadership. We must act now before it is too late.

It appears that the man leading this initiative blames us for the attack on the World Trade Center.

Here is an exact quote from the Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf:
"The United States and the West must acknowledge
the harm they have done to Muslims before
terrorism can end." - See full article.

According to the New York Post, "The imam behind a proposed mosque near Ground Zero is a prominent member of a group that helped sponsor the pro-Palestinian activists who clashed violently with Israeli commandos at sea this week." – See full article.

The memories are still very fresh in my mind---but, more importantly, the minds of the families of the nearly 3,000 that were killed.

Even though there are more than 100 mosques in the New York City area, there are no churches and synagogues in the entire country of Saudi Arabia.

The time to end this religious double standard is now.

The very name "Cordoba House" tells us the true meaning behind the effort to build a mosque overlooking the site where thousands of Americans lost their lives. The name refers to Cordoba, Spain where Muslim conquerors symbolized their victory over Christianity by transforming a church into one of the biggest mosques in the world. To learn more about this, listen to a more detailed explanation from my good friend Dr. Jim Garlow, the President of Renewing American Leadership.

I believe that peaceful Muslims can have a place of worship – but my mind cannot even comprehend the audacity of trying to build a $100 Million mosque at Ground Zero. America is experiencing an Islamist cultural-political offensive designed to undermine and destroy our civilization. Sadly, too many of our elites are the willing apologists for those who would destroy them if they could.

Select here to read my entire statement on the Ground Zero mosque.

It is not only a slap in the face to the families of the nearly 3,000 9/11 victims, but to every patriotic American, like you.

This is a genuine, insensitive injustice.

I cannot understand why city officials are bowing to the demands of the American Society for Muslim Advancement to open this 13-story shrine to Islam on . . . of all days---September 11, 2011! Will you assist me in STOPPING this onslaught against the common decency of respecting the families of 9-11?

Thank you for your true patriotism to our great country.

Your friend,
Newt Gingrich"


I would ask Mr. Gingrich what "double standard" he is referring to. Here in America, per the 1st Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, all religions are free to worship and build places of worship if they choose. I would say from the rest of his letter that he is the one with the double standard. He wishes to infringe on the rights of Muslims to worship and build a mosque.

He goes on to say that there are over 100 mosques in the New York area. And his point is? NYC has a population of over 8 million. That gives a ratio of 1:80,000 for mosques to people. I'd be interested to know how many christian churches are in NYC. In my city of less than 200,000 there are over 200 christian churches. That gives a ratio of about 1:1,000 christian churches to people.

Later he gets to the "double standard" he is referring to. Saudi Arabia doesn't have any christian churches. Well... The Saudis are bigots what can we say? Does that mean we should be too? How utterly juvenile! The Christian Right people are always belly-aching about the 'persecution' of Christians here in America and then turn right around an wish to persecute people of another faith. What hypocrisy! And this kind of persecution predates 9/11. See this article.

Now I quote that pesky First Amendment;

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

I know it isn't Congress making a law in the case of the mosque near Ground Zero. The principle, however, is being violated by those who wish to keep the Muslims from building it.

~Rabbit~ The Right's pundits keep saying 'the mosque at Ground Zero' or 'the Ground Zero Mosque'. The proposed mosque will NOT be at Ground Zero. It is 3 city blocks away. Close, but not 'on' or 'at'. A nice example of how alarmist language is shaping this issue.

It was not the Islamic church as a whole that attacked us on 9/11. It was a group of radical Muslims. Most of which came from Saudi Arabia and not Afghanistan or Iraq (but that's another rabbit I don't have time to hunt and kill).

Newt says,"I believe that peaceful Muslims can have a place of worship" -- unless of course Newt doesn't like their choice of location.

This whole thing sickens me. If Christians are so concerned about Muslims taking over America why don't they get off their butts and do some soul-winning?! Live like a Christian and quit spouting hateful and bigoted rhetoric that only serves to offend and alienate those that the Christians perceive as their enemies but who they should be showing the love of Christ to bring them to the saving knowledge of his grace.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23, "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you."

As for the quote by the Imam. Bin Laden's professed reasons for the 9/11 attack and other attacks was the US' interference in Middle East affairs and occupation of their countries. Unfortunately, the US will not acknowledge her part. And she should. It does not compromise our national security or degrade us or make us less to admit, "Hey, we screwed up, Sorry 'bout that."

It is what I tell my kids all the time when one of them is in trouble and the one pipes up with, "Well, she/he started it!" or "Well, they did it too!" or whatever words they use to justify themselves and lay blame on someone else. "You are only responsible for yourself. And just because someone else does wrong doesn't make it okay for you to do it."

Those on the Right are making a big stink about this to cause division. And it seems to be working quite well. They use emotional and inflammatory language to get a rise out of people. And those people are not objectively considering what is being said.

I will close with some wise words from some of America's founding period.

"If we may openly speak the truth neither Pagan nor Mahometan, nor Jew, ought to be excluded from the civil rights of the commonwealth because of his religion." John Locke

"He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself." Thomas Paine

Richard Henry Lee, who had made a motion in Congress on June 7, 1776, that the American colonies declare independence. "True freedom," Lee asserted, "embraces the Mahomitan and the Gentoo (Hindu) as well as the Christian religion."

Officials in Massachusetts were equally insistent that their influential Constitution of 1780 afforded "the most ample liberty of conscience … to Deists, Mahometans, Jews and Christians," a point that Chief Justice Theophilus Parsons resoundingly affirmed in 1810.

A petition of a group of citizens of Chesterfield County, Va., to the state assembly, Nov. 14, 1785: "Let Jews, Mehometans and Christians of every denomination enjoy religious liberty…thrust them not out now by establishing the Christian religion lest thereby we become our own enemys and weaken this infant state.

Benjamin Rush, asserted that he had "rather see the opinions of Confucius or Mohammed inculcated upon our youth than see them grow up wholly devoid of a system of religious principles."