"Fitna" Condemned by World Council of Churches

Article from ChristianToday.com
Global ecumenical body the World Council of Churches (WCC joins 349 churches in 100 countries) has condemned a provocative new film released by a Dutch parliamentarian in which he accuses the Koran of inciting violence. The director of the WCC’s Programme on Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation criticised Geert Wilders’ short film “Fitna” [link to view film] as "a clear case of Islamophobia".
The word ‘fitna’ is an Arabic term that is sometimes translated as ‘strife’. "Through graphic images the filmmaker depicts violent extremism without any attempt to distinguish it from mainstream Islam. Extremism is a problem for most religions and needs to be countered through interreligious dialogue," Dr. Shanta Premawardhana said.
Wilders, who is leader of the anti-immigration Freedom Party, launched his short video on the Internet last Thursday to the outcry of Muslims around the world. In the film, images of the September 11 attacks on the US and bombings by Islamic extremists appear alongside quotations from the Koran. European Union foreign ministers condemned the film and expressed their support for the Dutch Government, which has distanced itself from Wilders’ film.
"The film equates Islam with violence and this view is sharply rejected," the 27 ministers said in a statement. The EU said, however, that the film did not surpass the boundaries of freedom of expression and that those offended by its content should not react violently. "Feeling offended is no excuse for aggression or threats," the ministers said.

EDITORIAL: It looks to me like "the ministers" are talking out of both sides of their mouth. On the one hand, they say a movie depicting Islam as violent is untrue. On the other hand, they call on Islam not to react violently because of the movie. Odd, huh?
Are the ministers tripping over themselves to call for calm because they KNOW Islam is a violent religion? Of course, they are. Everyone with any good sense knows that Islam is a very violent religion built on the premise of conversion or death. Why do you think so many converts from Islam to other religions are MURDERED by their own families?!? Why? Because ISLAM IS A VIOLENT RELIGION. It's a simple fact.
Fortunately, not all Muslims are violent people. However, the Koran (Qur'an) speaks of violence throughout its text -- and anyone who doesn't see Fitna as at least partial truth has their head in the sand. While the WCC is trying to make peace, violent Muslims are killing innocent people EVERY DAY -- in the name of the Qur'an and Allah. Geert Wilders is not someone I particularly admire, but I do support his telling of the truth about the violence within Islam.

Poll: 1 in 4 U.S. Young Muslims OK With Homicide Bombings Against Civilians

Article from FOXNews.com

One out of four young U.S. Muslims believe homicide bombings against civilians are OK to "defend Islam," according to a new poll. The poll by the Pew Research Center also finds some Muslim Americans seem to be separating from mainstream America in their attitudes toward the War on Terror and U.S. Mideast policy.
The study found that among the nation's younger Muslims, 26 percent say homicide bombings can at least rarely be justified "in order to defend Islam from its enemies." "It is a hair-raising number," said Radwan Masmoudi, president of the Washington-based Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, which promotes the compatibility of Islam with democracy.
The poll briefly describes the rationales for and against "suicide bombing and other forms of violence against civilian targets" and then asks, "Do you personally feel that this kind of violence is often justified to defend Islam, sometimes justified, rarely justified, or never justified?" Younger U.S. Muslims under the age of 30 are much more willing to accept homicide bombing in the defense of Islam than are their older counterparts, the study found. While 69 percent of Muslims under 30 say homicide bombings are never justified, 2 percent say they're often justified, 13 percent say bombings are sometimes justified and 11 percent say they are rarely justified. Only 9 percent of older U.S. Muslims said homicide attacks are at least rarely justified.
In addition to young Muslims' attitudes towards homicide bombings, the study found that only 40 percent of U.S. Muslims believe that Arabs carried out the Sept. 11 attacks. Another 28 percent said they don't believe it. Since the Sept. 11 attacks, 53 percent said it's been more difficult to be Muslim in America. The Pew poll also found that almost half of the nation's Muslims are more likely to identify themselves as Muslims first and then Americans, with 47 percent placing religious affiliation above nationality. Three out of four people surveyed said the decision to go to war in Iraq was wrong, and 48 percent said using force in Afghanistan was wrong. Five percent of those surveyed had a "very favorable" or "somewhat favorable" view of Al Qaeda, while 58 percent had a "very unfavorable" opinion of the terror group. But the study also found that most of the nation's Muslim community is "largely assimilated, happy with their lives, and moderate with respect to many of the issues that have divided Muslims and Westerners around the world."
The poll also found that U.S. Muslims reject Islamic extremism by larger margins than do Muslim minorities in Western European countries. In Pew surveys last year, support in some Muslim countries exceeded 50 percent, while it was considered justifiable by about one in four Muslims in Britain and Spain, and one in three in France. "We have crazies just like other faiths have them," said Eide Alawan, who directs interfaith outreach at the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Mich., one of the nation's largest mosques. He said killing innocent people contradicts Islam.
The survey included more than 1,000 of the nation's estimated 2.35 million Muslims and was conducted in English and several foreign languages. Andrew Kohut, Pew director, said in an interview that support for the attacks represented "one of the few trouble spots" in the survey.

The Sope-Bocks: There is troubling information in the Pew Research poll results. It is estimated that there are upwards of 3 millions so-called U.S. Muslims -- though some groups' estimates are double that figure. If the Pew poll results are truly indicative of the Muslim population in America, that means that nearly 1 MILLION "Muslim-Americans" believe it's acceptable to kill civilians in order to "defend" their religion.
Couple that with the fact that Islam is hellbent on ridding the world of infidels through voluntary or forced conversion -- and the result is America is in a very dangerous predicament.
Why? Well, Islamists consider themselves to be Muslim ahead of being American. Therefore, they would put their religious fervor above the health and well-being of their fellow non-Muslim American neighbor. IOW, they would kill or allow the killing of other Americans because of their Muslim beliefs before they would defend the country they live in.
Americans may be subjected to a new definition of "melting pot" if we aren't careful in how we handle the radicals among us. Political correctness has NO PLACE in defending our nation against the extremes of Islamo-fascist element.

TOPIC: Christians Told to Convert to Islam or Die!
Christian residents of Charsadda in the Northwest Province of Pakistan received a threatening letter with an ultimatum of 10 days to convert to Islam or face dire consequences and bomb explosions. The deadline of the ultimatum expires on May 17, 2007. According to All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA), copies of the letter are being distributed among the Christians in Charsadda, a town in NWFP where Islamic militants have a heavy presence and are attacking video, audio and barber shops.
APMA says the militants are harassing women to veil themselves and not to attend schools and threatening barber shops to stop shaving beards and mustaches. Charsadda is a town where Federal interior minister of Pakistan, Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, narrowly escaped a suicidal attack last month that killed 28 people and injured several. More than 50 Christian families are residing in a Muslim Majority area of Charsadda. Police officials were informed about the letters and security is being stepped up. An e-mail from APMA obtained by ANS [ASSIST News Service] says:

"Over the past years, the influence of religious extremist groups has increased in NWFP and other parts of Pakistan. These pro-Taliban extremists are committing violence in the name of religion to impose their own radical and Taliban style concept of Islam by force, which is worrisome particularly when these elements are taking law in to their own hands, blowing themselves as suicidal bombers and policing the society."

APMA says the ultimatum has further aggravated the sense of insecurity and fear among the Christians of Charsadda as they are spending their days and nights in fear and many are thinking to vacate the area due to threats and possible attacks. "Christians of Pakistan are already facing victimization and discrimination; many innocent Christians are incarcerated and killed and many become targets due to the misuse of blasphemy law by the extremist elements," the organization says. APMA also says:

"Attacks on Churches, Christian schools and other institutions have been experienced by the Christians of Pakistan in the past few years and now the uprise of vigilante groups and the threats have further aggravated the situation. In these circumstances, the government is unable to control the violent activities of militant organizations in Pakistan or provide protection to its citizens. It is noteworthy that Northwest province is ruled by Muthaida Mjlis -e- Amal, MMA (Coalition of pro-Taliban Islamic parties)."

An APMA team visited Charsadda to express their solidarity with the Christians of the area and higher authorities are being informed and asked to increase the security measures and provide protection to the lives and properties of innocent Christians. Christian residents of Charsadda told the APMA team that although they fear for their lives and are mindful that the militants can kill them, they trust God for their protection and cannot succumb to the demands of the Islamic militants.
APMA asks that concerned Christians kindly pray for the protection and safety of Christians of Charsadda, who continue to remain in siege, but undefeated spiritually and continue to uphold their faith in these difficult times. Please also pray for government of Pakistan that God may provide them wisdom and courage to make sincere efforts to control the situation and violence.

From Islamabad, AsiaNews.it reports the same threatening letter was sent to Christian communities in Charsadda and Mardan, ordering the closure of churches and conversion to Islam within 10 days on pain of execution. The police are treating it as a joke. The bishop of Islamabad has expressed deep fear and called for the support of the government the world. The AsiaNews report says: "Convert to Islam within 10 days and shut down all the country's churches: the ultimatum was delivered in a threatening letter that Muslim fundamentalists sent to Christian communities in Charsadda and Mardan, in northern Pakistan. If their orders are not obeyed, 'all Christians will be executed.'" AsiaNews says the letter was sent on May 7 to local churches, who immediately took it to the police. Feroz Shah, district inspector of Charsadda, said he had investigated the matter. "For him," says AsiaNews "'it's a 'joke', and so 'there is no need to make any arrests'. Christians, he added, 'are safe and well-protected in the area.'"
Mgr Anthony Lobo, bishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, does not share the inspector's view. He told AsiaNews: "This letter is not a joke, but a threat that needs to be taken seriously. It has left the Christian community of Pakistan very frightened. We have already appealed to higher powers in the country to ask for help and we will continue to do so." According to AsiaNews, the bishop said it was important "to understand that even jokes, if aimed at minorities, could become reality. Even if this letter is the work of an isolated madman, it's possible that he may commit some atrocity against Christians."
The bishop added: "Now we must pray, but we cannot stop at that. We have already protested against this situation of fear and uncertainty and we will continue to do so. In the meantime, I appeal to the world to help us in this dangerous struggle against fundamentalism."

The Sope-Bocks: I wonder if the hate crimes pundits in the US will speak out against the letter and the group that sent it. Let me guess -- NO, they will not say a single word in support of Christians in Pakistan.

Article from christiansunite.com

TOPIC: Read My Lips... We Are Going to Get What We Deserve From The Midterm Elections!
The votes are in -- and the Democrats are claiming that the results are a referendum on a failed Iraq policy and an evil administration full of nitwits and sluggards. Mark my words -- We, as a nation, are going to reap what we have sown in this election.
The mere fact that Nancy Pelosi will become the Speaker of the House is extremely dangerous for anyone who doesn't consider "conservative" a vulgar word. Pelosi's intent is to radically force the darkest aspects of the gay agenda on America, along with the continued and uninterrupted murder of millions of unborn children (through abortion, partial-birth abortion, the morning after pill and embryonic stem cell research) and open borders where all aliens, criminals and derelicts can easily enter the US. Groups like NARAL, NOW, NAMBLA, HRC, the NEA, Planned Parenthood and Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) must be peeing their pants with excitement over the Democrats win last night.
Pelosi will also likely push for trumped-up impeachment charges against George Bush, as well as criminal prosecution of Donald Rumsfeld. She is secretly, but definitely, trying to work her left-wing liberalism into the White House, where she can openly promote her nazi-esk feminism to Americans.
Barring some scandal that runs her out of office, Nancy Pelosi alone will set into motion events that will hurt this country for generations to come. Add to the mix, the likes of Howard Dean, Charlie Rangel, Hilary Clinton, John Murtha and other far-left extremists. It hurts my heart to know that the mass media accomplished its goal. Conservatives should be ashamed for not showing up at the polls and voting their beliefs and values. We will indeed reap what we have sown.