Muslim leaders DO speak up against terror....

[Joana]

I read an article in a German paper the other day about a speech held by the grand mufti of Syria in front of the EU parliament.
He is one of the major leaders of the Islam.

In many threads when we discuss terror etc., people complain when the "we" versus "them" pops up that Muslims do not speak up against terror. Or not enough.
In these threads I have often said that they do- and also that maybe some of those utterances just never make it to western press.

Now - this speech made it to western press as it was held in the west- and it has clear words for terrorists.
I found it wonderful to read it- esp. as it is coming from one of the high ranking leaders, so I wanted to post a link here for those interested- also to show that indeed, Muslims do speak up against terror:
link to the parliaments pages is HERE.

Some excerpts:

If a clash did exist, it was "where there is ignorance, terrorism and backwardness".

"We do not believe, in our region, in the multiplicity of religions", said the Grand Mufti. "Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohamed came with one single religion". Therefore "there is no holy war, because a war can never be holy: it is peace that is holy." Later he said it was wrong to use religion to justify killing.

[StephenB]

Originally Posted by Joana

I read an article in a German paper the other day about a speech held by the grand mufti of Syria in front of the EU parliament.
He is one of the major leaders of the Islam.

In many threads when we discuss terror etc., people complain when the "we" versus "them" pops up that Muslims do not speak up against terror. Or not enough.
In these threads I have often said that they do- and also that maybe some of those utterances just never make it to western press.

Now - this speech made it to western press as it was held in the west- and it has clear words for terrorists.
I found it wonderful to read it- esp. as it is coming from one of the high ranking leaders, so I wanted to post a link here for those interested- also to show that indeed, Muslims do speak up against terror:
link to the parliaments pages is HERE.

Some excerpts:

Thanks for the link Joana. Apparently there are those in Europe who have a completely different point of view about the grand poobah, especially when it comes to his warning to the Netherlands.

Klein Verzet: Grand Mufti speeches at the EU, warns The Netherlands

[RonH]

Mmmm.. a puppet on a string? Me thinks so. After reading the link about the Netherlands, sounds like it is blackmail. Islam and freedom of speech does not sound like a good match yet from what I read.

[StewartG]

So I guess NO one around is looking for ANY inroad to build a bridge toward peace in the world. Isn't anyone interested in at least TRYING to start a dialog?

Oh well Joana, I guess you and I will just have to buy a LOT of bullets and keep shooting until EVERY muslim in the world is dead.

That makes me sad.

[Joana]

Originally Posted by StewartG

So I guess NO one around is looking for ANY inroad to build a bridge toward peace in the world. Isn't anyone interested in at least TRYING to start a dialog?

Oh well Joana, I guess you and I will just have to buy a LOT of bullets and keep shooting until EVERY muslim in the world is dead.

That makes me sad.

I am also still simply happy that he did say the things he did- and fact is that he is high ranking, so he is being listened to.

Also I don't see him saying that he would condone it if bloodshed happened in the Netherlands after that movie- he simply states that IF it happens the moviemaker is to blame and the TV station that shows it, and that it will most likely happen....... and I am sorry, but it doesn't take a very enlightened person to see that they indeed have to reckon with reactions. So what he says there does not dampen the rest of his message.

[StewartG]

Originally Posted by Joana

I am also still simply happy that he did say the things he did- and fact is that he is high ranking, so he is being listened to.

Also I don't see him saying that he would condone it if bloodshed happened in the Netherlands after that movie- he simply states that IF it happens the moviemaker is to blame and the TV station that shows it, and that it will most likely happen....... and I am sorry, but it doesn't take a very enlightened person to see that they indeed have to reckon with reactions. So what he says there does not dampen the rest of his message.

Yes, I agree with what you say. I don't think it was necessary for him to make the statements about the repercussions of the movie, but it looks like he was speaking honestly...

My point was that it was NICE to see some dialog moving toward the direction of peace and unity... I think we need a LOT more of it on BOTH sides of this cultural divide we currently face between Islam and the west.

I just people would start to focus on and encourage the good, rather than dwell on and emphasis the negative. Not much progress going to be made, if we keep going in that direction.




P.S. Joana - did you notice the change to my sig line?

[horizon200]

[QUOTE"We do not believe, in our region, in the multiplicity of religions", said the Grand Mufti. "Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohamed came with one single religion". Therefore "there is no holy war, because a war can never be holy: it is peace that is holy." Later he said it was wrong to use religion to justify killing. ][/quote]

Thank You Thank You Thank you Thank You ThankYou!

[Joana]

Originally Posted by StewartG

Yes, I agree with what you say. I don't think it was necessary for him to make the statements about the repercussions of the movie, but it looks like he was speaking honestly...

My point was that it was NICE to see some dialog moving toward the direction of peace and unity... I think we need a LOT more of it on BOTH sides of this cultural divide we currently face between Islam and the west.

I just people would start to focus on and encourage the good, rather than dwell on and emphasis the negative. Not much progress going to be made, if we keep going in that direction.




P.S. Joana - did you notice the change to my sig line?

For me the most important part in his speech was the one where he openly condemned terror- this way there is one less leader and his words that terrorists can "rely" upon when doing their deeds. With these words he clearly told what he thinks about them- and even if he said other things that people focus on more now and stamp as negative THAT message is very positive and important.

[StephenB]

Originally Posted by Joana

For me the most important part in his speech was the one where he openly condemned terror- this way there is one less leader and his words that terrorists can "rely" upon when doing their deeds. With these words he clearly told what he thinks about them- and even if he said other things that people focus on more now and stamp as negative THAT message is very positive and important.

I agree there were positive points to the speech and that it is refreshing to see someone of high rank speaking out against terrorism. I disagree with some of the statements he made. It's a long overdue start. From my personal prospective, it's just that once I have burned my hand on a hot stove, I'm not going to touch it again until I'm positive it has cooled off! Time will tell. I am not ready to start drinking tequila with him or any of his buddies just yet, but there is hope.

[StephenB]

Originally Posted by StewartG

So I guess NO one around is looking for ANY inroad to build a bridge toward peace in the world. Isn't anyone interested in at least TRYING to start a dialog?

Oh well Joana, I guess you and I will just have to buy a LOT of bullets and keep shooting until EVERY muslim in the world is dead.

That makes me sad.

Is that what you got from my post? You need a tequila bro! Besides, we should save the ammo for the bad guys, it's just difficult to pick them out of the crowd sometimes.

[StewartG]

Originally Posted by StephenB

I agree there were positive points to the speech and that it is refreshing to see someone of high rank speaking out against terrorism. I disagree with some of the statements he made. It's a long overdue start. From my personal prospective, it's just that once I have burned my hand on a hot stove, I'm not going to touch it again until I'm positive it has cooled off! Time will tell. I am not ready to start drinking tequila with him or any of his buddies just yet, but there is hope.

Its good to see you say that. I agree with you.

As Ronald Reagan once said, "trust, but verify."

[StephenB]

Originally Posted by StewartG

Its good to see you say that. I agree with you.

As Ronald Reagan once said, "trust, but verify."

Besides, every once in awhile I feel compelled to yang your commie ying!

[roni]

We do not believe, in our region, in the multiplicity of religions", said the Grand Mufti. "Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohamed came with one single religion". Therefore "there is no holy war, because a war can never be holy: it is peace that is holy." Later he said it was wrong to use religion to justify killing.

Originally Posted by horizon200

Thank You Thank You Thank you Thank You ThankYou!

While that is good, it disrespects and implicitly condemns every religion in the world that does not worship that small group of men.

And all the religions he cited are male-dominated, violent, war-mongering, female dominating, misogynist belief systems.

I am not terribly pleased with any of them.

[StewartG]

Originally Posted by roni

While that is good, it disrespects and implicitly condemns every religion in the world that does not worship that small group of men.

And all the religions he cited are male-dominated, violent, war-mongering, female dominating, misogynist belief systems.

I am not terribly pleased with any of them.

Wiccian ho!

[roni]

Originally Posted by StewartG

Wiccian ho!

There is a wide range of religious expression that is not covered by the men mentioned by the islamic fellow, including Hinduism, Buddhism and many other large religions.

Why listen to the male poop-heads speaking for the religions the islamic fellow mentioned when you can listen to the Dalai Lama?

The only reason why is that they are an armed camp staring at and fighting with armed camps supporting others of those men he mentioned in his one religion statement.

There is a multiplicity of religions. He and others like him need to get used to it.

I freely grant that he was trying, perhaps to do something positive. The attempt was worthwhile, but his horizons are very, very limiting - probably due to the fact that he has not seen enough female skin in his live