Are there "racist" arguments in favor of the proposed Park51 Islamic rabat/mosque at Ground Zero? There are, indeed. This one comes from Deval Patrick, Governor of Massachusetts.
Governor Candidates Debate Mosque
GLEN JOHNSON, AP Political Writer
BOSTON (AP) ― Gov. Deval Patrick recalled Thursday being harassed by police officers as he bought candy as a youngster in Milton, saying it buttresses his belief in racial tolerance and religious freedom that extends to supporting the construction of a mosque near ground zero.
GROUND ZERO MOSQUE
In the second Massachusetts gubernatorial debate of the week, Republican Charles Baker and independent candidate Timothy Cahill disagreed with the governor, saying the area around the focus of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks is sacred territory and should not become a rallying ground for extremist Muslims.
"I don't want to put them through what I went through," Patrick said of common Muslims, after recalling his experiences as a 14-year-old transplant from Chicago's rough South Side to the tony grounds of Milton Academy.
He said he was stopped regularly by Milton police as he walked to a local convenience store in a community where blacks were then rare.
The governor later said the officers wanted to know what he was doing in the neighborhood and requested identification, a demand he could not satisfy until he got a school identification card as a sophomore or junior.
What other interpretation but racial resentment and a wish to "get even" can be put on this inane statement? Governor Patrick is not generally considered the brightest street light on the block here in Taxachusetts, but this response is stuck-on-stupid even for him. As noted below by Independent candidate Tim Cahill, Patrick already has a track record of pandering to the Muslim Brotherhood-linked Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center and mega-mosque (see earlier post on this mosque's role in indoctrinating children in MA public schools), and while he is perhaps careful about how much he allows himself to understand about the true nature of Islam it is unlikely that he is ignorant of the basics or that he really thinks the issue in New York City is one of "racial tolerance" or people being able to walk down the street without being "harassed".
[Republican candidate] Baker said that with the "raw emotion of the attack" still lingering, all parties have to be flexible.
He said building the mosque in New York, as well as its community center, will contribute to building anti-Muslim anger sparked by continued terror attacks or attempts.
Cahill previously criticized Patrick for meeting with 1,000 Massachusetts Muslim leaders, accusing the governor of pandering by pledging to urge employers to allow practitioners of Islam to leave work early on Friday nights so they could pray.
Cahill noted Jews begin the Sabbath on Friday nights, yet most do not get dismissed from work early to attend services.
Asked about Cahill's pandering accusation, Patrick responded: "I think it's a very unfortunate comment. It's something I'm sorry about. I think Tim is better than that comment."
Actually, it appears Cahill has a clearer grasp of the issues surrounding Islam and the stealth jihad than does the usual run-0f-the-mill political candidate. If there is any justice in the universe either Cahill or, more likely, Baker, will be chosen to replace Dhimmi Deval come November. Meanwhile, anyone who accuses opponents of the Park51 rabat of "racism" deserve a two-word response: Pot. Kettle.
Showing posts with label MA Governor Deval Patrick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MA Governor Deval Patrick. Show all posts
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Imam At Boston Mosque Called for Muslims to "Grab Onto the Gun and the Sword" and Support Terror Suspects
One of the imams who denounced Massachusetts State Treasurer Tim Cahill as a "bigot" for his charge that Governor Deval Patrick was pandering to Muslims has been unveiled* as a master of the fine art of taqiyya on the evidence of previous remarks he made in March to members of a local mosque.
May 28, 2010 6:08 pm US
Eastern Muslim Leader Raises Eyebrows At Brighton Mosque
Kathy Curran BRIGHTON (WBZ)
Local Muslim leaders are taking gubernatorial challenger Tim Cahill to task over his criticism of a meeting last weekend between Gov. Deval Patrick and hundreds of Muslims. But WBZ's Kathy Curran reports that meeting included a Boston imam whose own words have raised some eyebrows.
Muslim leaders, with Christians and Jews by their side, gathered at the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center in Roxbury on Thursday and lashed out at Cahill for his statement accusing Patrick of playing politics with terrorism by meeting with Muslim Americans at this mosque last weekend.
"His remarks were anti-democratic, anti-American, divisive and wounding," said Bilal Kaleem, a spokesman for the Muslim American Society of Boston.
[...]
Imam Abdullah Faaruuq, leader of the Mosque for the Praising of Allah who was at the meeting with the governor last week and also at Thursday's rally, was bothered by Cahill's statements.
"He wasn't talking about Muslims," Faaruuq said. "We're not terrorists. I'm not one. I was born in Boston city hospital. I have a deep and abiding concern for this country I live in."
Faaruuq said he denounces terrorism, but some people are concerned about comments the imam made at the Yusuf Mosque in Brighton in March.
He called for action and asked the Muslims gathered for his sermon to "grab onto the shovel, grab onto the gun and the sword. Don't be afraid to step out into this world and do your job."
The imam also asked for support of Aafia Siddiqui and Tarek Mehanna.
Siddiqui is the MIT graduate convicted of attempted murder for firing on American law enforcement officials in Afghanistan.
Mehanna of Sudbury was arrested on federal terrorism charges.
In an interview, Curran asked Faaruuq if his sermon sends a message that he is supporting terrorism because he supports Siddiqui and Mehanna.
"No, because I don't think they did anything to harm America," Faaruuq said. "I mean America [is] nothing but good. There are some people who have been radicalized who do crazy things, but they don't represent Muslims."
The leaders gathered at the press conference in Roxbury Thursday said they stand against terrorism and any acts of violence, and denounce politics of fear and exclusion.
They asked for an apology from Cahill.
But Cahill defended his criticism of the governor.
"My statement was not an attack on the Muslim community," Cahill said. "We have to keep our state safe from terrorism and we have to do that inside the Muslim community and outside the Muslim community and I don't think the governor's done that. I'm not a bigot. I'm not racist. But I do think we have to address the real problems we face."
* intentional
May 28, 2010 6:08 pm US
Eastern Muslim Leader Raises Eyebrows At Brighton Mosque
Kathy Curran BRIGHTON (WBZ)
Local Muslim leaders are taking gubernatorial challenger Tim Cahill to task over his criticism of a meeting last weekend between Gov. Deval Patrick and hundreds of Muslims. But WBZ's Kathy Curran reports that meeting included a Boston imam whose own words have raised some eyebrows.
Muslim leaders, with Christians and Jews by their side, gathered at the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center in Roxbury on Thursday and lashed out at Cahill for his statement accusing Patrick of playing politics with terrorism by meeting with Muslim Americans at this mosque last weekend.
"His remarks were anti-democratic, anti-American, divisive and wounding," said Bilal Kaleem, a spokesman for the Muslim American Society of Boston.
[...]
Imam Abdullah Faaruuq, leader of the Mosque for the Praising of Allah who was at the meeting with the governor last week and also at Thursday's rally, was bothered by Cahill's statements.
"He wasn't talking about Muslims," Faaruuq said. "We're not terrorists. I'm not one. I was born in Boston city hospital. I have a deep and abiding concern for this country I live in."
Faaruuq said he denounces terrorism, but some people are concerned about comments the imam made at the Yusuf Mosque in Brighton in March.
He called for action and asked the Muslims gathered for his sermon to "grab onto the shovel, grab onto the gun and the sword. Don't be afraid to step out into this world and do your job."
The imam also asked for support of Aafia Siddiqui and Tarek Mehanna.
Siddiqui is the MIT graduate convicted of attempted murder for firing on American law enforcement officials in Afghanistan.
Mehanna of Sudbury was arrested on federal terrorism charges.
In an interview, Curran asked Faaruuq if his sermon sends a message that he is supporting terrorism because he supports Siddiqui and Mehanna.
"No, because I don't think they did anything to harm America," Faaruuq said. "I mean America [is] nothing but good. There are some people who have been radicalized who do crazy things, but they don't represent Muslims."
The leaders gathered at the press conference in Roxbury Thursday said they stand against terrorism and any acts of violence, and denounce politics of fear and exclusion.
They asked for an apology from Cahill.
But Cahill defended his criticism of the governor.
"My statement was not an attack on the Muslim community," Cahill said. "We have to keep our state safe from terrorism and we have to do that inside the Muslim community and outside the Muslim community and I don't think the governor's done that. I'm not a bigot. I'm not racist. But I do think we have to address the real problems we face."
* intentional
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