Last night, I attended an event in Orange County in which Robert Spencer and Pam Geller were the featured speakers. After they gave short presentations, they showed their recently-released film, "The Ground Zero Mosque- The Second Wave of the 911 Attacks." After that, they answered questions.
The film, a production of two organizations, Stop Islamization of America and American Freedom Defense Initiative, is a recount of the attempts to build a mosque at Ground Zero, why it is offensive to so many, and the questionable funding and backers of the venture. The film also shows the utter hypocrisy of the biased main stream media who bombard Geller with hostile questions during her TV appearances.
A surprise occurred when, during the opening of the event, the moderator asked one of my colleagues and I to say a few words. I had no idea that would happen but managed to "fulfill" their request. In truth, I felt honored. I was able to briefly greet Spencer and Geller at the end thanking them for coming to support us in Orange County.
I urge you to see this film. It has disturbing images of 9-11, is powerful, and will make you angry.
I can never ever watch any footage of this event without feeling a sense of rage. I don't think I am alone here. Keep up your good work.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cabbie.
ReplyDeleteGee, ya think that image might be just a little over the top???
ReplyDeleteThen they have the nerve to talk about others not showing respect.
Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteWhat??!!. Do you think 9-11 itself was a "little over the top"?
Do you think that image is doctored?
What type of respect are you talking about?
Sheeez!
The title of the film, "The Ground Zero Mosque- The Second Wave of the 911 Attacks," betrays the utter hypocrisy of those who claim that their opposition to Cordoba House is not anti-Muslim hostility, but is merely a concern over the sensitivities of people in New York, questions about funding sources, etc.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous (I wish he would at least give us a nom de plume to distinguish him or her from the other anonymouses) has a valid point, in sofar as building an Islamic cultural center is NOT analogous to bringing down two skyscrapers with massive loss of life. The two are not remotely comparable. The attempt to draw an analogy is indeed "over the top."
No matter how much rage Bartender Cabbie feels when he sees footage of the events that occured on 9.11.2001, I am a little disappointed that the author of a well-balanced presentation, on seeing a Muslim family enjoying a picnic in a park at a civic event with all their fellow-Americans, could give any respect to the lurid and hate-filled propaganda of Geller et al.
Siarlys,
ReplyDeletehave you seen the film? I suggest you do before your pass judgement. Geller and Spencer are critics of Islam as a political ideology and are fighting against those who are trying to impose sharia and Islamic accommodation on us. If you see how the media treats Geller, (in the film) you might undertand and question why you think she is some sort of bigot.
As for the event of two nights ago. Three people who spoke made it a point to state that they are not against Muslims as people, The moderator, Geller and myself.
Gary, I wouldn't mind seeing the film, but the title and the cover image is enough to sustain what I just said. If the content of the film would soften my first impression, then it has been VERY badly packaged. In fact, the title and image would be plain false advertising.
ReplyDeleteAs you know, we've agreed on this a number of times, I am firmly committed to the First Amendment, and to the tradition established by James Madison (more than Thomas Jefferson) of keeping the state free of religious domination, and preserving religious faith from "the profane hand of the civil magistrate." Breaching that wholesome separation angers me, whether it is initiated in the name of Islam, the Bishop of Rome and his minions, Dominion Protestant theology, Elohim City, or Rev. Jerry Falwell and the senile Pat Robertson.
Yes, I will say that to any Muslim apostle of government by caliphate. I will not buy into Geller and Spencer's sophistry broadsiding Islam as a "political ideology." Its not. It is a religious faith, and like any religious faith, it can be USED by political demagogues, from the Grand Mufti to Osama bin Laden. That's not Islam, any more than Timothy McVeigh was a typical American military veteran. (I'll leave aside the question whether he was a Christian.)
Cordoba house is NOT an attempt "to impose sharia and Islamic accommodation on us." While I can well believe that some of the liberal morons who share prominent media positions with their doppelganger morons, of the Limbaugh and Beck variety, would ask all the wrong questions and make asses of themselves, no idiocy they commit would move me to question why I think she is some sort of bigot. Her own publicity betrays her.
For now, I accept your word that YOU are not against Muslims as people, or even against Muslims practicing Islam. Why you would then associate with the likes of Geller is incomprehensible to me. Geller has no credibility saying that. Its not even a fig leaf. Her own words, her own headlines, her own actions, belie that statement. The entire campaign against Cordoba House was a xenophobic farce. The way she has attempted to turn it into a wave of national hysteria against Islam, which George W. Bush, to his credit, carefully refrained from doing in 2001, speaks volumes against her.