In Iowa -Muslim prayer at Legislature challenged
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080207/NEWS10/802070398/1007/NEWS05
Muslim prayer at Legislature challenged
February 7, 2008
A Muslim imam's opening-day prayer at the Legislature has sparked controversy over statements he made that some say are similar to terrorists' calls to harm Americans.
But Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad said the imam's words were being taken out of context. The Des Moines Democrat asked his colleagues on the House floor for tolerance, compassion and a renewed understanding of other cultures.
"We're as much against those who use religion to harm people as anybody else is," said Abdul-Samad, a member of the Islamic Center of Des Moines. "I didn't want individuals who were pushing this to use this as a distraction for all of us working together."
The prayer, from Imam Mohamad Khan of the Islamic Center, was partly in Arabic.
The statements causing the controversy include: "I seek refuge in God against the accursed Satan," and "You are the pardoner, supporter and protector; and give us victory over those that disbelieve."
Legislators at the time did not say anything publicly about the Jan. 14 prayer. But some lawmakers have received e-mails and phone calls from people who say the statements are similar to those of jihadists who believe the United States is the "great Satan."
Some lawmakers gave Abdul-Samad a standing ovation after he spoke, but others asked to speak about the issue. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Des Moines Democrat, quickly shut down the public debate by calling for a conference with at least four legislators who indicated they wanted to speak about the issue.
Rep. Gary Worthan, a Storm Lake Republican, asked lawmakers to be sensitive to people's concerns about the prayer.
"I'm just asking for the tolerance to go both ways," Worthan said. "We are tolerant of their views. Be a little tolerant of our perception of that one phrase."
Muslim prayer at Legislature challenged
February 7, 2008
A Muslim imam's opening-day prayer at the Legislature has sparked controversy over statements he made that some say are similar to terrorists' calls to harm Americans.
But Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad said the imam's words were being taken out of context. The Des Moines Democrat asked his colleagues on the House floor for tolerance, compassion and a renewed understanding of other cultures.
"We're as much against those who use religion to harm people as anybody else is," said Abdul-Samad, a member of the Islamic Center of Des Moines. "I didn't want individuals who were pushing this to use this as a distraction for all of us working together."
The prayer, from Imam Mohamad Khan of the Islamic Center, was partly in Arabic.
The statements causing the controversy include: "I seek refuge in God against the accursed Satan," and "You are the pardoner, supporter and protector; and give us victory over those that disbelieve."
Legislators at the time did not say anything publicly about the Jan. 14 prayer. But some lawmakers have received e-mails and phone calls from people who say the statements are similar to those of jihadists who believe the United States is the "great Satan."
Some lawmakers gave Abdul-Samad a standing ovation after he spoke, but others asked to speak about the issue. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Des Moines Democrat, quickly shut down the public debate by calling for a conference with at least four legislators who indicated they wanted to speak about the issue.
Rep. Gary Worthan, a Storm Lake Republican, asked lawmakers to be sensitive to people's concerns about the prayer.
"I'm just asking for the tolerance to go both ways," Worthan said. "We are tolerant of their views. Be a little tolerant of our perception of that one phrase."
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The ACLU and all the atheists would be screaming separation of chruch and state if a catholic preist did the opening prayer at the legislture, why not against this. Damn hypocrits!! 0 -
It is clear to me that the Imam thought he was sneaking in a prayer against America and non-Muslims and that the prayer would not be noticed or cared about by non-Muslims.
For example, we all know that the Koran instructs Muslims to either convert or kill non-Muslims. So because of that, I was especially unhappy with the part of the prayer about God bringing victory over "non-believers". I assume that would include each and every Christian, Jew, Buddhist, aethtist, etc. What else could it mean?
Only in America would a nation clasp a poisonous serpent to our neck, pet and stroke that serpent, and verbally defend, explain and justify that serpent when other people tell us we have a poisonous snake clutched at our neck.0 -
Prayers before the legislature? Take all of the holy books, Koran, Bibles, Book of Mormon, you name them, out of the statehouses and lock them in some closet. When that is done then begin every session of every legislative body in the United States with a reading of the US Constitution! No elected offical in this country needs help from Jesus or any of the rest of 'em in order to cast his/her vote. Our elected officials only need to read the law of the land in order to do the right thing! 0
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