Misery Index

According to Razi Hashmi, the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ executive director, America should take immediate steps to end Israel’s “illegal and immoral” offensive against the Gaza' Strip’s Hamas rulers. “We as Oklahomans and as Americans should be concerned about this conflict because our taxes are going towards Israel,” Hashmi said.  “We should not allow our government to give Israel a blank check to allow the destruction of hopes for peace in the Middle East.”  However in a rather confusing statement, Hashmi also said as an American citizen, he agrees with the U.S. description of Hamas.

During the demonstration, one protestor held a sign that showed a swastika inside the Star of David.  According to Hashmi, the man carrying the sign, identified only as a college student from OK City, was asked to leave and the sign removed a “couple of minutes” after the demonstration started.  Also according to Hashimi, the man has been banned from future protests organized by the organization.  According to Hashmi, the organization distributed rules before the demonstration that no offensive signs or banners would be tolerated.  “The Star of David is a sacred symbol of faith and Muslims are stressed by Islam to respect all symbols of faith and I apologize,” Hashmi said.  “This [sign] does not reflect our personal views.”

However, unless the video below was taken within the first few minutes of the protest, the sign is seen during the demonstration.  But then what do you expect from a group who defends Hamas?

Michael Barlow, past president of the Jewish Federation of Greater OK City watched the protest commenting, “War is unfortunate, but the question is:  What is Israel to do, with scores of missiles being shot into Israel population centers daily?”  “How long do you allow missiles to be shot into your country from another country?”  Barlow added that it is difficult for Israel to negotiate with Hamas leaders when they do not recognize Israel’s right to exist.

United Methodist minister Rev. Andres Tevington of the Church of the Servant in OK City said the Israelis and Palestinians should quit “illegitimately calling on the name of God” in this fighting.  “We call upon the U.S. to help both sides see there is a different way to do this,” he said.

Rev. Kristen Brown, a United Methodist minister attended the protest saying, “I saw that this isn’t really a religious issue, this is an issue about people who are living under military occupation for 40 years and they’re in a very desperate situation,” she said.

RANT ON

What irritates me more and more, is the use of children in these protests.  How can a child, who is aged 2-7 years old, have a mental ability to understand the protest, and understand the purpose of these signs, or the babies swaddled in bloodied cloth they carry?  How can these children make a voluntary choice at their age to make a voluntary consent to participate in these protests.  Any child who is a minor, should not be allowed to participate in these protests, if they are a credible organization, who is looking out for a child’s best interest.  These children do not have the mentality to make an informed consent to voluntarily participate in these protests.  This is nothing more than encouraging racism.

And how can you call for the end of an “illegal and immoral” offensive against a terrorist organization and still say you support the U.S. designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization?

Well, the man in the video is Mahdi Bray. After media attention on the above video, Bray claimed he was just having a bit of fun, and not approving Alamoudi’s words in a Northern Virginia Daily news article.

The majority of the people they were kind of raising their hands, and kind of cheering, and so on because this was so uncharacteristic of al-Amoundi.  We didn’t know he had a problem with law enforcement.  He was considered the pillar of the American Muslim community.

You saw me pumping my fists.  You didn’t see me raising my hands.  If they had shown the audience, you would have seen people in the audience raising their hands and falling out laughing.  For him to come and make these kinds of radical rants, no one took him seriously.

Mahdi Bray has worked with International ANSWER, a group who has recently organized over 50 Anti-Israel protests in the United States in the past week, a group who was founded by members of the Workers World Party (WWP) and members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation(PSL).  I recently blogged about ANSWER who has been accused for a few years of anti-Semitism, and supporting Hezbollah and Hamas.

Bray is also involved with:

• Muslim American Society – Executive Director. Group has been reported to be a front group for the Muslim Brotherhood.
• National Coalition to Protect Political Freedom – Founding Board Member.  Group has been reported to have lobbied and litigated against U.S. counter-terrorism laws, provided legal counsel to terror suspects, and works to overturn terrorist convictions.
• American Muslim Council (AMC)– Advisory Board.  This groups claims to fame are, The Chairman of this group was imprisoned for terror-related convictions in 2003.  AMC was a part of the National Coalition to Protect Political Freedom.  AMC created the National Islamic Prison Foundation below.  AMC was a longtime supporter of Sudan’s National Islamic Front, which was and still is on the State Dept.’s list of terrorist organizations.
• Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)– Advisory Board.  Formed a coalition to repeal and amend the Patriot Act.  MPAC asserts that Hezbollah “could be called a liberation movement.”  Found and executive director Salam AL-Marayati justified the existence of Hamas as a political entity and a provider of social programs and “educational operations”.  MPAC justified the 1983 bombing of the American Marine barracks in Lebanon as a “military operation” rather than a terrorist attack.  Claims Israel was established by terrorism and that they are the “worst terrorists in the world.”  And a lot more.
• Interfaith Alliance Foundation – Advisory Board
• Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations – President
• National Islamic Prison Foundation (NIPF) – Head.  Created by American Muslim Council.  A Saudi-supported outreach program seeking to convert US prison inmates to the Islamic faith.  Tells them when they are released from prison, they will be able to find food and shelter, as well as assistance in finding employment, in virtually any mosque or masjid.  The indoctrination of American inmates is a strategy described in al Qaeda training manuals.
• Imam Jamil Defense Fund – National Mobilization Chairman.  Organization provides legal aid for Jamil Abudullah Al-Amin (aka H. Rap Brown), who was twice on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitivies” list and is now serving a life sentence for murdering a police officer.
• “The Crescent Report” – Host of the Muslim-oriented radio talk show, sponsored by Wahhabi Saudi Arabia.
• “Activist Training Seminars” – A project of his whose objective is to train at least 1,000 people in the “skills necessary for effective activism.”
• Lots more damming information at “When Islamists Get Caught:  MAS Edition”, “Leader of Muslim Brotherhood Front Group Appointed to Virginia Commission on Immigration”, “The Mendacity of MAS”

Muslim American Society and ANSWER Anti-Israel Protest in Washington

This protest was held this past Friday at the Israeli Embassy in Washington and then headed to the Egyptian Embassy.  Brian Becker, who heads ANSWER also made an appearance which can be seen in video 3 below.

These crimes could not be committed [against Gaza by Israel] and would not be committed without the explicit consent and support and financing provided by the Bush Administration.  And so in that sense we are here to say, that this is a US backed Israeli atrocity and justice demands that the United States Government cut all aid to Israel today, otherwise and because of it the US is guilty of war crimes too. 

[Oh okay, so I guess it didn’t matter that Bush just gave $85 MILLION dollars to the UN for Gaza and the West Bank right?  No aid for Israel, no aid for Gaza.  An eye for an eye.]

Bray, meanwhile, had to say, “We’re here to say the violence must stop.”  “And we’re here to say that there must be a ceasefire, a truce and that basically the sanctity of life is important.”  He also had to say in one of the videos, that the people were there to represent the Muslims.  [Wait, isn’t this SUPPOSE to be anti-war, and not about anti-Semitism?]

Once again, just that, kind of a layout of what we want to do here today.

First of all, we’re here to protest the occupation of Palestine.  We’re here to protest the slaughter in Gaza.  We’re here to protest the 18 months of siege that has taken place in Gaza, before the bombs dropped, people were dying because they couldn’t get food, medicine, medical attention, clean drinking water, etc.  So, that’s why we’re here.

[Sure, I’ve given my own terms for a ceasefire and truce.  Gaza stays the way it is, Israel stays the way it is.  However, if a rocket comes from Gaza into Israel, that means that Israel can send a Hellfire missile back across to Gaza.  If two rockets come from Gaza, then two Hellfire missiles go back across to Gaza.  Fair deal.   But if Iran sends anything over to Israel, then that’s a whole different ballgame.]

One angry protestor spoke against Barack Obama wanting to know why he was silent and why he wasn’t president now. But pointed out when Georgia was attacked by Russian, Obama spoke on that issue against Russia. That Obama doesn’t seem to represent “Change”.  

And that “President Obama, despite all he said on television, that is illegal.  That is immoral. That is inhuman. And reason for him to make a decision now.”  And additionally said that Obama is a subservient to the current Administration. 

[Can be seen and heard in the first video below.  Obama has in the past stated that Israel has the right to defend itself.  And obviously, these protestors want the United States to start a war with Israel.  NOT GONNA HAPPEN.  If these people want help to defend Gaza, then they can just take the next plane over there, and join Hamas.  But instead, they choose to stay safely here, and whine, instead of paying homage to their country, and serve the country they seem to show more allegiance to than the United States.]

More Pictures Here, and Here.
Additional Videos Here1, Here2 and Here3.

No, it was not Obama, although he has pushed “change” and “sharing the wealth”.  It was Rev. Wright, the pastor of the church that Obama went to for 20 years, as noted on an archived version of the Trinity United Church’s website from 2004 via the Internet Archive.

On Obama’s website “Fight The Smears” under “The Truth About Barack’s Faith” it states, “Barack Obama is a committed Christian.  He was sworn into the Senate on his family Bible.  He has regularly attended church with his wife and daughters for years.”  I have to show you a cached copy, because the website “Fight The Smears” seems to have disappeared now, from yesterday to today, with a message of “Database unavailable.”  I’m curious to see why this has happened, especially in light of the entire Obama/Biden agenda “disappearing” within four days of the site going live with the explanation that it was being “revised” and then appearing missing a few things.

But for about 20 years, Obama and his family attended Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ.  This is the same church that Obama states he “found” his Christianity, where he was married, where his daughters were baptized, and whose pastor, the Rev. Wright, gave him the title of his book, The Audacity of Hope.  In a 1995 Obama interview, Obama states that Rev Wright represents “best” black church has to offer. 

At the church’s website, at one time which has now been removed, but brought back to light via the Internet Archive from Jan 2007 (and archived as far back as 2003), contained the “Black Value System” written in 1981.

“We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologically Christian… Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent.  We are an African people, and remain “true to our native land,” the mother continent, the cradle of civilization.  God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism.  It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation.”

“We believe in the following 12 precepts and covenantal statements.  These Black Ethics must be taught and exemplified in homes, churches, nurseries and schools, wherever Black are gathered.  They must reflect on the following concepts:

1.  Commitment to God
2.  Commitment to the Black Community
3.  Commitment to the Black Family
4.  Dedication to the Pursuit of Education
5.  Dedication to the Pursuit of Excellence
6.  Adherence to the Black Worth Ethic
7.  Commitment to Self-Discipline and Self-Respect
8.  Disavowal of the Pursuit of “Middleclassness”
9.  Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the Black Community.
10.  Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting Black Institutions.
11.  Pledge allegiance to all Black leadership who espouse and embrace the Black Value System
12.  Personal commitment to embracement of the Black Value System

Also on the church’s website at one time, was their “mission” page, which again has come back to light thanks to the Internet Archive, from 2004.

Trinity United Church of Christ has been called by God to be a congregation that is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that does not apologize for its African roots! […]

We are called out to be “a chosen people” that pays no attention to socio-economic or educational backgrounds. 

The fortunate who are among us combine forces with the less fortunate to become agents of change for God who is not pleased with America’s economic mal-distribution!

W.E.B DuBois indicated that the problem in the 20th century was going to be the problem of the color line.  He was absolutely correct.  Our job as servants of God is to address that problem and eradicate it in the name of Him who came for the whole world by calling all men, women, boys and girls to Christ.

But when certain sermons that were given by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright came to light, such as one in from 2003, when Obama was regularly attending the church, when Wright made statements [VIDEO] such as “God Damn America” and “…and they will not only attack you, if you try to point out what’s going on in white America, US of KKK-A”, has referred to Condoleezza Rice as “Condemnesia” and stated that 9/11 was America’s fault with their chickens coming home to roost.  Rev. Wright retired in April of 2008.

Obama at first defended the church saying “I don’t think my church is particularly controversial” and “Rev Wright was like an old Uncle, who sometimes says things I don’t agree with.”  Then due to the negative media, also in April of 2008, Obama’s family resigned their membership with the church.

It has been reported that Obama was an infrequently churchgoer on the campaign trail, though he did make a series of appearances in the pews and pulpits of South Carolina churches ahead of that heavily religious state’s primary.  And during the campaign, on Father’s Day, Obama chose to attend the South Side’s Apostolic Church of God to give a speech aimed at the black community on the importance of fatherhood and family.

Now, since Obama’s election he has opted for Sunday morning workouts three weeks in a row over attending church, much unlike his predecessors. 

According to Politico, when a transition aide was asked about this, the person “noted that the Obama’s value their faith experience in Chicago but were concerned about the impact their large retinue may have on other parishioners.”

“Because they have a great deal of respect for places of worship, they do not want to draw unwelcome or inappropriate attention to a church not used to the attention their attendance would draw,” said the aide.

Politico notes that “Both President-elect George W. Bush and President-elect Bill Clinton managed to attend church in the weeks after they were elected.”

“In November of 1992, Clinton went to services in Little Rock, Ark., on the three weekends following his election, taking pre-church jogs on the first two and attending on the third weekend a Catholic Mass with the Rev. Jesse Jackson,”.

“In the weeks after the contested 2000 election, Bush regularly attended services at Tarrytown United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas, and Al Gore was frequently photographed arriving at and leaving church in Virginia.”

For some reason, the word hypocrite is suddenly coming to mind.  And now I know where Obama gets his “change” from.  The “wonderful” Rev. Wright, who was Obama’s pastor for 20 years, as it is stated on the church’s old Mission page from 2004, “The fortunate who are among us combine forces with the less fortunate to become agents of change for God who is not pleased with America’s economic mal-distribution!”  Hmm.. change and “share the wealth” suddenly come to mind.

And is not a church racist if it only caters to blacks?  And is it not racist if it reinforces that there are differences between whites and blacks using God’s house, scripture and name?  And if it is a church for all as with the statement of “who came for the whole world by calling all men, women, boys and girls to Christ, “ would a white person be welcome in that church?  Because I thought God didn’t care what color your skin was, last time I checked.  Sounds to me more like a suicide mission than a pilmigrage.