Anti-Islam demonstrators at Boston mosque opening

[doodlebugg 10]

Look at the lovely anti-muslim demonstrations at the opening of the beautiful mosque that has been hounded by people like Charles Jacobs. Disgusting to ####### on what should have been such a beautiful moment.

Warning: if you get angered easily don't read the assanine comments to this article that slam Islam to pieces.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachus...thering/?page=2

At mosque opening, tensions permeate interfaith gathering

By Michael Paulson, Globe Staff | June 28, 2009

The controversy over the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center in Roxbury Crossing has posed one of the biggest challenges to interfaith relations in Boston in years, and the tension was readily on display during the Friday morning opening ceremonies for the new mosque.

Inside the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College, mosque backers hosted an interfaith breakfast whose honorary cochairmen included an Episcopal bishop, a Catholic priest, and the heads of the Black Ministerial Alliance, the Unitarian Universalist Association, and the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization.

Critics have accused the mosque’s backers of being extremists and radicals, but much of the mainstream Christian leadership, as well as the political leadership, in Boston appears to have rejected the allegations. On the way in to the breakfast, I encountered Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, the Episcopal bishop of Massachusetts and asked him why he was there. He noted that about 400 Muslims who work downtown regularly worship in St. Paul’s Cathedral, and said he wanted “to honor them,’’ he also called the new mosque “much needed for interfaith dialogue.’’

Harvard Divinity School dean William A. Graham, a scholar of Islam, gave the keynote speech and sharply rebuked the mosque’s critics, saying, “the mindless attacks in recent years from so-called religious people will soon be forgotten as the center proves itself a center for good people.’’

Governor Deval Patrick had to cancel his appearance at the breakfast at the last minute to attend the funeral of a soldier from Massachusetts who was killed in Afghanistan, but sent along a video greeting that made his support for the project quite clear. Patrick opened his taped remarks with the Arabic phrase, “Assalamu alaikum,’’ meaning “peace be upon you’’ and called the mosque opening a “wonderful milestone.’’

Later, at the ribbon-cutting, Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who was greeted as a hero, told the crowd, “I am so proud to stand with all of you.’’

A string of local religious leaders offered greetings at the breakfast. Among them, was the Rev. Raymond Helmick, a Jesuit priest who teaches theology at Boston College, who said, “You’ve had a very rough ride here in Boston, where you were confronted by a great deal of bigotry and rejection.’’ Helmick compared the response to the mosque to the bigotry that previously greeted Catholics and Jews in America, and he called the mosque a “beautiful monument.’’ Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley’s liaison to the Muslim and Jewish communities, the Rev. David C. Michael, also attended.

Interestingly, the mosque chose one of its more controversial trustees, Walid Fitaihi, to recite from the Koran. Fitaihi has been a lightning rod for criticism because he wrote an essay in an Arabic-language newspaper calling Jews “murderers of prophets.’’ He has since apologized, and the mosque said it had reprimanded him.

Much of the criticism and suspicion of mosque leaders has come from the Jewish community, although the new organization criticizing the mosque, called Americans for Peace and Tolerance, is led by an Episcopal layman, a Muslim scholar, and a Jewish activist. None of the major Jewish organizations in Boston were represented at the interfaith breakfast or the ribbon-cutting that followed, but there were Jews present, including two Hebrew College officials who agreed to be named as honorary cochairmen of the inaugural breakfast. In fact, there may have been more Jews at the interfaith breakfast than at the protest outside the mosque, where about a dozen people gathered holding signs reading “Prayer, Yes. Extremism, No!’’

“At long last, Islam has taken its rightful place as a full partner on the American scene,’’ said Rabbi Sanford Seltzer of Hebrew College, who spoke at the breakfast. And Enid Shapiro, who attended the breakfast, e-mailed me to say, “I was very disappointed that representatives of the established Jewish Community (CJP) were not represented. The demonstration outside the Reggie Lewis Center was appalling and certainly did not represent me or in my mind the Jewish Community.’’

Later, at the ribbon cutting, I ran into Rabbi Moshe Waldoks of Temple Beth Zion in Brookline, who told me he counted six local rabbis at the celebration. “For those in the Jewish community who have been involved in dialogue with the Muslim community, we celebrate what our cousins are doing by establishing this symbol in the community for many years to come.’’

Michael Ross, the first Jewish president of the City Council, greeted celebrants at the ribbon-cutting in Arabic and Hebrew and said he was present “to honor this very important day.’’

Several Jewish community leaders I contacted for comment about the mosque opening simply declined to speak; many have privately made it clear they’re uneasy about the allegations but reluctant to join in the criticism.

The mosque’s critics have argued that interfaith leaders, as well as the news media and the political leadership, have allowed political correctness and an emphasis on tolerance to blind them to legitimate concerns about the mosque, and they cite as evidence for their concern offensive remarks by mosque backers and a mosque speaker, as well as the high number of Saudi contributors to the mosque project.

“We have let sensitivity trump truth,’’ said Charles Jacobs, the leading critic of the mosque, while Boston College political science professor Dennis Hale, said, “Our political leaders are failing us by embracing the radical leadership.’’

[100% Al Ahly Fan 53]

This just is sad. Really why can't we all just respect each other and get along. Seriously!

[UmmSqueakster 54]

More pictures of the opening - http://www.masboston.org/isbcc/v2/ - the masjid looks absolutely gorgeous

Hasn't this conflict been going on for years? Ah yes - http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0105/p13s01-lire.html

[Mrs.Bayoumi 0]

Ignorance and fear breed Hate, that in turn breeds Violence. inshalla there will be no violence.

I am amazed by the amount of hate towards such a LARGE religion, its sad in the land of the free, a country BASED on religious rights that we are shunned like this

[Ahmeds Girl 0]

Interestingly, the mosque chose one of its more controversial trustees, Walid Fitaihi, to recite from the Koran. Fitaihi has been a lightning rod for criticism because he wrote an essay in an Arabic-language newspaper calling Jews “murderers of prophets.’’ He has since apologized, and the mosque said it had reprimanded him.

Offensive comments from a Muslim trustee like the one above hardly help build community relations. Ignorance and hatred breeds ignorance and hatred, whether it stems from so-called Christians, Jews or Muslims.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

Warning: if you get angered easily don't read the assanine comments to this article that slam Islam to pieces.

whoa!

[Ahmeds Girl 0]

Edited June 29, 2009 by Ahmeds Girl

[doodlebugg 10]

Interestingly, the mosque chose one of its more controversial trustees, Walid Fitaihi, to recite from the Koran. Fitaihi has been a lightning rod for criticism because he wrote an essay in an Arabic-language newspaper calling Jews “murderers of prophets.’’ He has since apologized, and the mosque said it had reprimanded him.

Offensive comments from a Muslim trustee like the one above hardly help build community relations. Ignorance and hatred breeds ignorance and hatred, whether it stems from so-called Christians, Jews or Muslims.

I don't know all of the details of what he wrote, though I did read a few articles about it. Bottom line politics, like it or not, is included in all religions and all have their black sheep that unfortunately still get to be in the leadership positions. Take Cardinal Bernard Law from Boston for example. Here's a guy who knew that the priests were sexually abusing the altar boys and did nothing but switch them from one parish to another, thereby allowing more altar boys to be sexually abused. In the end he was promoted to the Vatican and played an important role in selecting Pope Benedict. It's all politics but still doesn't at all warrant the comments about the little girls in hijab or all of the other hateful comments.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

That is so wrong

[Ahmeds Girl 0]

Interestingly, the mosque chose one of its more controversial trustees, Walid Fitaihi, to recite from the Koran. Fitaihi has been a lightning rod for criticism because he wrote an essay in an Arabic-language newspaper calling Jews “murderers of prophets.’’ He has since apologized, and the mosque said it had reprimanded him.

Offensive comments from a Muslim trustee like the one above hardly help build community relations. Ignorance and hatred breeds ignorance and hatred, whether it stems from so-called Christians, Jews or Muslims.

I don't know all of the details of what he wrote, though I did read a few articles about it. Bottom line politics, like it or not, is included in all religions and all have their black sheep that unfortunately still get to be in the leadership positions. Take Cardinal Bernard Law from Boston for example. Here's a guy who knew that the priests were sexually abusing the altar boys and did nothing but switch them from one parish to another, thereby allowing more altar boys to be sexually abused. In the end he was promoted to the Vatican and played an important role in selecting Pope Benedict. It's all politics but still doesn't at all warrant the comments about the little girls in hijab or all of the other hateful comments.

You don't need to kow all of the details to see that a Muslim trustee made an offensive comment that he was reprimanded for.

Ignorance and prejudice isn't exclusive to any one religion. It's sad that some people in Boston see the need to campaign, but it's also sad that some Muslims make offensive remarks about Jews. Balance is important when tackling haters.

[sandinista! 1,816]

Interestingly, the mosque chose one of its more controversial trustees, Walid Fitaihi, to recite from the Koran. Fitaihi has been a lightning rod for criticism because he wrote an essay in an Arabic-language newspaper calling Jews “murderers of prophets.’’ He has since apologized, and the mosque said it had reprimanded him.

Offensive comments from a Muslim trustee like the one above hardly help build community relations. Ignorance and hatred breeds ignorance and hatred, whether it stems from so-called Christians, Jews or Muslims.

I don't know all of the details of what he wrote, though I did read a few articles about it. Bottom line politics, like it or not, is included in all religions and all have their black sheep that unfortunately still get to be in the leadership positions. Take Cardinal Bernard Law from Boston for example. Here's a guy who knew that the priests were sexually abusing the altar boys and did nothing but switch them from one parish to another, thereby allowing more altar boys to be sexually abused. In the end he was promoted to the Vatican and played an important role in selecting Pope Benedict. It's all politics but still doesn't at all warrant the comments about the little girls in hijab or all of the other hateful comments.

You don't need to kow all of the details to see that a Muslim trustee made an offensive comment that he was reprimanded for.

Ignorance and prejudice isn't exclusive to any one religion. It's sad that some people in Boston see the need to campaign, but it's also sad that some Muslims make offensive remarks about Jews. Balance is important when tackling haters.

on what basis is walid fitaihi a 'hater'? he apologized for the comments over 2 years ago, and expressed regret at having made them. what more does he need to do? submit to a public flogging? spend a couple days in the pillory? the comments were made over 9 years ago. by apologizing and publicly expressing regret over making the comments it would appear that he has a repentant attitude towards the incident. harping on about comments made almost ten years ago that have since been apologized for and regretted by the speaker doesn't seem to be a very good way to improve community relations either. it looks more like grasping at straws to me. balance indeed...

[HLM 1]

Masha Allah it is one gorgeous masjid! I hope things calm down and people move on.

[Ahmeds Girl 0]

Interestingly, the mosque chose one of its more controversial trustees, Walid Fitaihi, to recite from the Koran. Fitaihi has been a lightning rod for criticism because he wrote an essay in an Arabic-language newspaper calling Jews “murderers of prophets.’’ He has since apologized, and the mosque said it had reprimanded him.

Offensive comments from a Muslim trustee like the one above hardly help build community relations. Ignorance and hatred breeds ignorance and hatred, whether it stems from so-called Christians, Jews or Muslims.

I don't know all of the details of what he wrote, though I did read a few articles about it. Bottom line politics, like it or not, is included in all religions and all have their black sheep that unfortunately still get to be in the leadership positions. Take Cardinal Bernard Law from Boston for example. Here's a guy who knew that the priests were sexually abusing the altar boys and did nothing but switch them from one parish to another, thereby allowing more altar boys to be sexually abused. In the end he was promoted to the Vatican and played an important role in selecting Pope Benedict. It's all politics but still doesn't at all warrant the comments about the little girls in hijab or all of the other hateful comments.

You don't need to kow all of the details to see that a Muslim trustee made an offensive comment that he was reprimanded for.

Ignorance and prejudice isn't exclusive to any one religion. It's sad that some people in Boston see the need to campaign, but it's also sad that some Muslims make offensive remarks about Jews. Balance is important when tackling haters.

on what basis is walid fitaihi a 'hater'? he apologized for the comments over 2 years ago, and expressed regret at having made them. what more does he need to do? submit to a public flogging? spend a couple days in the pillory? the comments were made over 9 years ago. by apologizing and publicly expressing regret over making the comments it would appear that he has a repentant attitude towards the incident. harping on about comments made almost ten years ago that have since been apologized for and regretted by the speaker doesn't seem to be a very good way to improve community relations either. it looks more like grasping at straws to me. balance indeed...

Balance requires that all aspects are looked at when wondering why criticism is sometimes levelled at Muslims. If some Muslims make hateful and untrue statements, is it surprising that an apology is met with cynicism? Too often I see religious people complaining about tolerance when some appear to show little respect or tolerance themselves.

[CnT4ever 1]

Balance requires that all aspects are looked at when wondering why criticism is sometimes levelled at Muslims. If some Muslims make hateful and untrue statements, is it surprising that an apology is met with cynicism? Too often I see religious people complaining about tolerance when some appear to show little respect or tolerance themselves.

Muslims aren't the only people who have called jews "prophet killers" or whatever the term they used. Mel Gibson had a similar debate about jews killing Jesus and they also tried to attack him for that. He stood by his statement and referred to the Bible when defending himself. I don't see people harping on him about it, till this day...

[doodlebugg 10]

Has anyone even read what he wrote that was so offensive? I just keep seeing the quote that he said jews were prophet killers but I don't see the rest of what he wrote. What I did read that it was during the year 2000 when a lot of tempers were flared over something Israel had done (I didn't look to see when it was exactly). Who here hasn't said something out of anger? Who here isn't human and doesn't make mistakes. Why ruin a beautiful Ecumenical (sp?) moment at the opening of such an amazing mosque like that?

BTW the mosque is truly amazing but it's in the worst possible crime area in Boston. It was put there for that very reason, to try to get the gangs off the street.