Islam: Religion of Peace?

Note: only the CAIR message got through. The other contact addresses were returned undeliverable.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mike Netherland <netherman79@gmail.com>
Date: Feb 5, 2006 1:19 AM
Subject: Re: Islam: Religion of Peace?
To: cair@cair-net.org, islam@world.net, editors@islam.com, ombudsman@washpost.com
Cc: malkin@comcast.net

Dear Islamists,

I am writing today to express my disgust at what some, despite your attempts to deny them, are doing in the name of Islam. The latest outrage seems to be the childish behavior of followers of Mohammed (pbuh) over the publication of cartoon images of Mohammed. You won't find these cartoons in the U.S. print and broadcast media which, it seems, has no stomach for desecrating politically correct religions, while happily denigrating Christianity and Christians as well as publishing the details of U.S. defense programs. It seems the liberal media, despite their claims to the Constitutional high ground, are more afraid of "peaceful" Islamists than they are of George W. Bush (aka "the world's greatest terrorist").

The link below is to Michelle Malkin's site which is carrying links to hundreds of bloggers ("infidels," "apostates," you know, free people) who are posting these images on their web sites around the world. You may recognize some the unashamed Islamists in the crowd scenes where many are carry signs of "peace." I do not believe these are "isolated" fanatics. I believe these are your firends and relaltives and are mainstream Islamists. You will have to go a long, long. long way to convince them, me, Michelle Malkin and the rest of who know what peace and freedom really mean, that they are un-Muslim, are not followers of the Koran and are not true believers of the prophet Mohammed.

A good place to start, though, if you are truly interested in wresting Islam from its fanatical hijackers (which I seriously doubt you are) is to start protesting, picketing, boycotting, etc., those in the liberal American press for NOT publishing the cartoons. You must insist that these media outlets publish for all to see the horrors of these cartoons to show the true difference between what you call the true religion of peace and that portrayed by the same media (you know, the howling mad masked gunnmen and beheaders of women). Call on the true followers of Islam to buy Danish products, to prove your solidarity with the people of that freedom-loving and tolerant land. Fly the Danish flag as proudly as you do the American flag. You should exhort the Arab Islamists with in your organizations to flood the Department of Homeland Security with applications for Arab language translation jobs.

Failure to do so is admission of your organizations' complicity and support of these people; that your organizations are merely false fronts for the terrorists and their sponsors; and that all your rhetoric about Islam being a peaceful religion is so much propaganda bunk. Do not reply to this message. Your words mean nothing. Their words, on their placards, speak volumes. Look at the pictures; do something about it.

February 03, 2006 01:14 PM

Thanks.

RE: Islam: Religion of Peace?

My responses to Mr. Hooper's replies:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mike Netherland <netherman79@gmail.com>
Date: Feb 5, 2006 4:48 PM
Subject: Re: Fwd: Islam: Religion of Peace?
To: Ibrahim Hooper <ihooper@cair-net.org>

Well, Mr. Hooper, do not delude yourselves into thinking that North American media are restraining their urge to excercise their First Amendment rights out of "respect" for Islam and its followers. They are restraining themselves out of fear; fear that Islamist organizations will incite followers to visit violence upon the property of the North American media and the people who run them.

And I put no conditions on my love for you, my fellow man, Mr. Hooper. My suggestion was not aimed at gaining my acceptance. It was meant as one way to show that you mean what you say; that those who visit violent acts on the most innocent and tolerant of societies are not truly Muslims and are not being true to the teachings of Mohammed.

Fear is no way to induce respect or understanding. I am glad that you indulge me in this dialogue, Mr. Hooper. I am truly trying to understand the many paradoxes and dilemmas pointed up by this cartoon flap.

And now I know what PBUH stands for! Peace Be Upon Him!

Mike Netherland

On 2/5/06, Ibrahim Hooper <mailto:ihooper@cair-net.org> wrote:

So to be accepted by you, we would have to defame the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)? No thanks.

At 04:00 PM 2/5/2006, you wrote:

Dear Mr. Hooper,
The "not-so-peaceful" actions of" justified concern" are being excused by the usual apologists in the West as the acts "primeval barbarians." Is that how you would like to be known and thought of? As a proto-human species of man? This is not how I see the authors of the Koran and the creators of such art and architecture. But this is how your friends in the West are defending you. By casting you in the role semi-intelligent, half evolved creatures in order to explain your unexplainable barbarism.

As a result, I add another goal for you: distance yourselves from such "friends." Embrace those in the West who assume that Islamists are human beings, too, and, as such, yearn to be free, free to feel love for their fellow man be he Christian, Jew or Muslim.

Here's a thought: Publish the damn cartoons yourselves, in your Internet and print media! Nothing will gain your organization instant respect and from and shut the mouths of people like me (and they are legion) quite like seeing CAIR itself publishing the cartoons. Of course, your "freinds" will never understand this act of primeval barbarians.

U.S. MUSLIMS REJECT VIOLENT RESPONSE TO CARTOON CONTROVERSY
CAIR to offer educational initiatives highlighting legacy of Prophet Muhammad

(WASHINGTON, D.C ., 2/5/06) - On Sunday, February 5, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will hold a news conference in Washington, D.C., to express the U.S. Muslim community's rejection of violence in response to the defamatory caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad published in European newspapers.

On 2/5/06, Ibrahim Hooper <mailto:ihooper@cair-net.org> wrote:

[Excerpts from] What Would Muhammad Do?

By Ibrahim Hooper

http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&amp;id=38841&theType=NB

[Ibrahim Hooper is National Communications Director for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil liberties group. He may be contacted at: ihooper@cair-net.org ]

"Peaceful and not-so-peaceful protests have occurred from Gaza to Indonesia. Boycotts have targeted companies based in Denmark and in other nations that reprinted the offensive caricatures. "

"We all, Muslims and people of other faiths, seem to be locked into a downward spiral of mutual mistrust and hostility based on self-perpetuating stereotypes."

"This unfortunate episode can be used as a learning opportunity for people of all faiths who sincerely wish to know more about Islam and Muslims. It can also be viewed as a "teaching moment" for Muslims who want to exemplify the prophet's teachings through the example of their good character and dignified behavior in the face of provocation and abuse. "