Religious Right Throws Fit Over Islamic Prayer in Virginia
By Rob Boston
Thursday an imam delivered the opening prayer before the Virginia House of Delegates – and once again the Religious Right is having kittens.
Three Religious Right groups – the Traditional Values Coalition, the Virginia Anti-Shariah Task Force and Act for America — say the imam, Johari Abdul-Malik of the Dar al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, is tied to terrorism. But those claims are false. In reality, I suspect these groups are just angry because someone other than a non-fundamentalist Christian is reciting the prayer.
Here is the sum total of the Religious Right’s evidence against the imam: Two of the Sept. 11 hijackers briefly attended Dar al-Hijrah Islamic Center. That was in 2001, before Abdul-Malik even started working there.
Abdul-Malik has, in fact, been a vocal opponent of terrorism and appeared in ads and on news programs after the Sept. 11 attacks, condemning the terrorists.
Nevertheless, James Lafferty, chairman of the Virginia Anti-Shariah Task Force, insisted to The Washington Post, “He’s an apologist for people who commit criminal acts.” (By the way, I have to admit I was not aware that Virginia was considering adopting shariah – Islamic law – and that a task force is needed to stop it.)
Lafferty is the husband of Andrea Sheldon Lafferty, daughter of the Rev. Lou Sheldon. Sheldon founded the Traditional Values Coalition, one of the more extreme and distasteful Religious Right outfits roaming the country. This whole incident is just another example of intolerance from that clan.
Just to be clear, Americans United doesn’t think there should be any official prayers before government bodies. But the courts have allowed the practice under certain conditions, and Virginia is at least attempting to add some diversity to the mix. Constantly reciting Christian prayers is unconstitutional, and AU has won lawsuits challenging that practice.
AU doesn’t like state-sponsored prayer, but we also dislike religious bigotry. And that’s what this is. The talk of terrorism is a smokescreen. It’s an attempt to muddy the larger issue, which is the simple fact that some people in this country are absolutely intolerant of any religion other than their own. It’s highly ironic that many of these same folks constantly clamor for more religion in government – as long as it’s their faith, of course.
The Religious Right groups planned a rally outside the capitol in Richmond today. Five people showed up. The Richmond Times-Dispatch noted that the protestors were outnumbered by police.
The imam’s prayer was delivered at noon, and the commonwealth of Virginia still stands. We are left with little to do but wait for the next instance of manufactured outrage from the Religious Right.
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AUSCS until I read this piece. I like what Mr. Boston has to say. Might be worthwhile to check into supporting this group.
They describe themselves thusly, "As a non-sectarian, non-partisan organization, Americans United's membership includes Christians , Jews, Buddhists, people with no religious affiliation and others. Democrats , Republicans and independents have joined our ranks," but their only posts only attack Christian groups and efforts. While I agree in the seperation of church and state , these people seem to be trying to swing the pendulum way past mere separation into total non-sectarianism, which is just as harmful, and just as unconstitutional.
It looks like they are misrepresenting themselves, and I wouldn't think a smart person like yourself would want to be associated with such an organization. So, are you sure?
The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data'.
“They describe themselves thusly, "As a non-sectarian, non-partisan organization, Americans United's membership includes Christians , Jews, Buddhists, people with no religious affiliation and others. Democrats , Republicans and independents have joined our ranks," but their only posts only attack Christian groups and efforts.”
Can you indicate any violations of church / state separation coming from other religious groups ? Christians are the primary violators here, because it is the belief system of the majority… and is thus able to actually try and force the issue.
You are right that most are against Christians , especially by the ACLU, which tries to get the state to ignore the separation between itself and Islam, which makes sense, since the ACLU is pro-Islam/Anti-Christian anyhow.
You are wrong in your conclusion that Christians, by forcing their will, result in the most conflicts. The reason is that this nation was founded by WASPs. America still some 80%+ a Protestant Christian nation. Always have been.
The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data'.
"You are right that most are against Christians , especially by the ACLU, which tries to get the state to ignore the separation between itself and Islam, which makes sense, since the ACLU is pro-Islam/Anti-Christian anyhow"
[Citation Needed] on that one.
"You are wrong in your conclusion that Christians, by forcing their will, result in the most conflicts"
So when Christians showed up people were supposed to just surrender their lands and become Christian?
"The reason is that this nation was founded by WASPs. America still some 80%+ a Protestant Christian nation. Always have been."
Why does that mean that people who are not WASPs have to sit down and shut up?
But here you go. Citation of a court case wherein the ACLU argued against the bible , but in favor of the Quran. Go ahead, raise the bar.
I was not clear. Most conflict is not caused by Christians "imposing their will" as you suggest. It is caused by people trying to remake this nation in the image of the one they fled, always has been. This is still the case today.
Better than what Muslims demand: Convert or be killed . Do you read the news ? There is a holy way raging in the middle east and people like you turn a blind eye toward it, focusing all their energy making sure that there are no nativity scenes in the town park.
The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data'.
"Better than what Muslims demand: Convert or be killed . Do you read the news ? There is a holy way raging in the middle east and people like you turn a blind eye toward it, focusing all their energy making sure that there are no nativity scenes in the town park."
This so called 'holy war ' is a conflict between the US and radical elements... tied in with ancient tribal conflicts for dominance. It is hardly a single unified holy war... and to suggest that it is makes this conflict more important then it really is.
What do you mean by holy war ?
http://truthsavvyonline.com/courtroo.html
The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data'.
Your citation for the ACLU prosecuting Christians and advancing Muslims is the ACLU advocating that a Muslim should not be required to swear an oath on the Bible, but rather that the Qu'ran should be used?