The Witch-Hunt Against CAIR Intensifies…

19 Comments

1. 

   Amad

   March 20, 2007 at 3:07 PM

   Here is my note to Sestak’s office for some talking points (please feel free to post your note here too):

   “As a resident of the Delaware valley, I applaud you for sticking to your principles and not backing down from your commitment to speak at the CAIR event. For a majority of mainstream, moderate Muslims, CAIR represents our ADL or our NAACP, in arguing for our rights and our freedom of religion as equal citizens of America. Disenfranchising CAIR implies for many, many Muslims, a direct threat of disenfranchisement for all of us.”

   Reply
2. 

   inexplicabletimelessness

   March 20, 2007 at 9:06 PM

   As salaamu alaikum,

   here’s my email:

   “Dear Mr. Sestak:

   In light of recent events, I want to thank you greatly for supporting the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR). As you know, although many are recently citing claims against this organization, CAIR tries to promote tolerance and peace within the Muslim and non-Muslim communities in America. Your efforts are a clear indication that justice can be maintained in our country if everyone is willing to work together and look past labels and stereotypes.

   I hope others will take notice of the innocence of CAIR, and especially in a time like this one, I hope society at large will unite against labels and personal criticisms.

   From an American Muslim, I thank you very much.

   Sincerely:

   _________ “

   Reply
3. 

   Scorpius

   March 20, 2007 at 10:29 PM

   The CAIR Witch-Hunt Intensifies…

   There are two ways to interpret that statement, the more correct one is that CAIR is conducting a witch-hunt, which is true; against anyone who even slightly criticizes Islam or Muslims they paint as “Islamophobes!!!!” and try to destroy them.

   Now, what you mean is “The witch-hunt against CAIR intensifies” which would be false, there is no witch-hunt against CAIR.

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4. 

   Amad

   March 20, 2007 at 10:54 PM

   It is amazing Scorpius that in light of the FACTS, you would state that CAIR would lead a witch-hunt against anyone, not only because that is completely unsupported, but more importantly because CAIR is not in a position to do so even if it wanted to. You would have to be blind to not see how CAIR is a target of the witch-hunt and you would have to be even more blind not to see that AIPAC and other Israeli-supporters are behind it. And in this case, they are doing so because they are in fact CAPABLE of doing so. If you doubt that, click here to see some facts.

   Of course, based on your comment history, including calling the dead children in Bronx leaches, there is no point in arguing with you. The only reason I responded was to thank you for making that little English suggestion, which I have duly implemented.

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5. 

   Manas Shaikh

   March 21, 2007 at 3:29 AM

   When I watch American television, Muslims are often asked the pet question: Do you denounce terrorism?
   The answer, predictably, is yes.

   Next question: “Do you consider Hezbollah a terrorist organisation”?
   And you have to answer in an yes or a no.

   Now, in my opinion, to answer this question to grossly under-informed American audience, it should take you two hours. You have to explain why the CIA or the Mossad, or even the US Army has to be called terrorists by the same standard. Even more so.

   You have to explain that under similar conditions, the US freedom movement, or any other freedom movement has to be called terrorist activity.

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6. 

   Rhymes With Right

   March 21, 2007 at 10:38 AM

   “the Philly Jews” — “beholden to Israel”

   Come on — why don’t you just make your bigotry plain and call them “kikes” like you want to? Especially in light of your use of the “dual loyalty” canard.

   And given CAIR’s terrorist connections — all well-documented, including staffers convicted on terrorism related charges, there are lots of good reasons for patriotic Americans to be disturbed by any government official having anything to do with CAIR.

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7. 

   amad

   March 21, 2007 at 11:07 AM

   Rhymes, welcome to MM. I take some umbrage to your unstated conclusion of anti-semitism. Calling a spade a spade is not bigotry. The inquisition of Sestak took place at a synagogue in Philadelphia, so calling these folks “philly Jews” is an entirely accurate description. Read the inquisition and all other stories related to CAIR, and clearly the hand of Israeli interests is heavily involved.
   As for CAIR’s terrorism charges, come on Rhymen, I thought you were above misinformed and tabloid-type slander? Do you really think that the Feds wouldn’t have shut them down by now if there were any proven terrorism-connections. Especially considering how they have locked up muslims for long prison terms based on a bad coice of words, let alone any actions! If you read the NY times article, you would understand the McCarthyism at play here.

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8. 

   Rhymes With Right

   March 21, 2007 at 11:34 AM

   I call it like I see it — and wonder if you would take a simmilar comment about Muslim loyalty to the Ummah to be an equivalent example of “dual loyalty” that calls their patriotism and commitment to American values into question.

   And sorry — history is history, and CAIR’s history is well-documented. Sorry you don’t like it, but while you are entitled to your own opinion, you are not entitled to your own facts.

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9. 

   Rhymes With Right

   March 21, 2007 at 11:37 AM

   Oh, and by the way, Amad, I’m sorry about the unstated accusation of anti-Semitism — it was intended to be much more explicit, as I have made it on my site.

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10. 

    ِAbu Bakr

    March 21, 2007 at 12:30 PM

    What would you have liked he called them, Hebrews?… Philadelphia’s resident Semites? … is it anti-Semitism to call Jews “Jews”?

    One of Islam’s most fundamental is to be trustworthy and to not betray the trust of others. Yes, our loyalties are to the Muslims. This I will not mince words about in the least.

    The duplicity of the Zionist agenda is that they have no problem manipulating the system to incite America into wars against nations that would not otherwise have posed any threat or concern to them. If you would open your eyes, you would see that that is what is going on.

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11. 

    ِAbu Bakr

    March 21, 2007 at 12:31 PM

    and all for the benefit of Israel*

    Reply
12. 

    Rhymes With Right

    March 21, 2007 at 12:48 PM

    So, a small group of Jewish citizens from Philadelphia constitutes “the Philly Jews”?

    Therefore, it is fair to assume that you would concede that the terrorism of a few al-Qaeda jihadis allows us to say “the Muslims” attacked America on 9/11″. That would be the equivalent, wouldn’t it?

    And the fact that those jihadis were radical Muslims intent on world domination would allow us to call into question the loyalty of all Muslim citizens of the US, right?

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13. 

    Amad

    March 21, 2007 at 7:34 PM

    Greg/Rhymes, first of all, I am somewhat disappointed by your comments/post, as I had gained a measure of respect for you in our previous engagement.

    In any case, based on your last comment, I can kind of see where you are coming from and how, with great imagination, it can be misunderstood; so, I have modified the original line. Also, I have done so because I don’t want to let you hijack the intent of this article.

    Although, I must confess that had this been an Islamic event, let’s say the CAIR event itself, I would have no qualms about stating “Philly Muslims gather to support CAIR”, none at all. I imagine you would consider that Islamophobia then? What is especially confusing to me from your comments is that while you support the CAIR-smearing, somehow it offends you that I am saying that Israelites (do you prefer this term instead?) are supporting the smear campaign!

    Finally, antisemitism carries real meaning, just like other discriminatory attitudes, greatest of which these days is Islamophobia. But, your watering-down of the term’s usage and application, and the attempt of the Israeli supporters/lobbyists to equate criticism of Israel to antisemitism is very unfortunate. In the end, it does little to help the cause and instead forces people to cast a suspicious eye on even real and valid cases of antisemitism.

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14. 

    Rhymes With Right

    March 21, 2007 at 8:27 PM

    There is a major difference between “Philly Jews” and “the Philly Jews”, as you seem to acknowledge. I respect that change.

    However, I don’t believe that I am hijacking the intent of the article. I’d argue that the latter half of the article was designed to do nothing but to smear and delegitimize members of the Jewish faith who speak on matters related to the Middle East and terrorism if they take a pro-Israel stance. You call it a conspiracy to disenfranchise Muslims — I could equally call the attempts by CAIR to label all criticism of Muslims (ad nearly every effort against terrorism) to be so-called “Islamophobia” is equally a conspiracy to disenfranchise and demonize Jews. You are, in fact, doing exactly what you denounce “the Jews” and “the Zionists” for doing — and I am calling you on it. However, if I have misjudged your intent and motive, please let me offer a warning as to the implications and effect of what you have written.

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15. 

    Hassan

    March 21, 2007 at 8:32 PM

    Rhymes With Right, I see your point, and I kind of agree with you, given you do not consider all muslims were responsible for 911, just few out of billions. So in mathematical form:

    few jews that reside in phildelphia that protested CAIR are not equal in number of all jews of phildelphia, who are not in turn equal to all jews of america who are not equal to all jews in world.

    By the way I am always curious and can not figure out, what Amad also pointed out. How does criticism of state of israel is being racist and anti-semitic? Same way I do not consider any american who consider alqaeda terrorist as racist.

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16. 

    Amad

    March 22, 2007 at 7:28 AM

    Rhymes: “However, if I have misjudged your intent and motive, please let me offer a warning as to the implications and effect of what you have written.”

    Thanks for the heads-up, and I hope that all the comments have elucidated my original intent and motive. Next time, just ask me :)

    Reply
17. 

    Moiez

    March 22, 2007 at 6:32 PM

    Asalaamualaikum,
    you two have very strong arguements but still the fact is that there are some people who are against a noble orginization such as CAIR and Mr. Sestak should be appreciated for his efforts, Amad I sent an e-mail to him im posting it here for you to see if it sounded ok.

    Dear Mr. Sestak
    I appreciate the work you are doing with CAIR and standing up for what is right, even though some are apposing the connections you are trying to make between muslim orginizations and the U.S. again myself and all the muslims dually appreciate your commitment. May the peace and blessings of All Mighty God be upon you and us.

    Reply
18. 

    Amad

    March 22, 2007 at 7:29 PM

    Reading Rhymes/Greg’s characterization of Carter as an anti-semite here (read the comments too) makes things a lot clearer in the context of his comments here. If a person can’t even spare his ex-President, a man who was “the most decent” President (according to Rhyme) until he made the grave error of actually being a just and balanced voice for the Middle East, then how can a Muslim like me be spared? It seems obvious that Greg pushes very hard the idea that the influence of Jewish/Israel interests in politics/publishing is ‘anti-semitic canard’. Obviously, the more truth something has, the harder you need to push the propaganda to cover it.

    Unfortunately for Greg, the rest of the world, and many Americans who have not pledged their allegiance to Israel (over the interests of America), see it quite differently. Of course now, according to Greg and Co., Europe is biased, of course the rest of the American continent is biased, all the Muslim countries are biased, not to forget the bias of the Russian and Chinese red-armies… only AIPAC, the beholden media and people who have been sold on their lies like Greg, speak the truth. I urge all of you, including Greg, to review this video (Click here) and see for yourself the systematic propaganda machine at work. By the way, most of the people who are in the video are Jews themselves, so at least they cannot be blamed of anti-semitism (perhaps self-hating Jews, huh friend?)

    Reply
19. 

    Amad

    May 19, 2010 at 1:35 AM

    Good news.
    Sestak beat Specter in the Democratic primary for a seat in the Senate.

    Hope he is still the same Specter from 3 years ago.

    In Congress, he urged a ban against Modi’s entry (the Gujarat massacre mastermind)

    Reply