'Politicians should resolve the problems in their own country,' says Muslim Daisy Kahn. She believes Geert Wilders should not travel to New York to protest against the building of an Islamic centre close to Ground Zero.
And Secretary of State Hillary Clinton opposes an announced Qur’an burning on 11 September. Tension is rising in the United States as the commemoration of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 approaches.
Hillary Clinton is furious with the Reverend Terry Jones in Florida, who says he plans to burn copies of the Qur’an on Saturday, 11 September. At a Ramadan meeting in her ministry, she said:
"I am heartened by the clear, unequivocal condemnation of this disrespectful, disgraceful act that has come from American religious leaders of all faiths, from evangelical Christians to Jewish rabbis, as well as secular US leaders and opinion-makers. Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation."
Safety in Afghanistan
The reverend’s plan has led to fierce protests in Afghanistan, where US General Petraeus is concerned about the safety of his troops. In the United States, government and religious leaders have held meetings to discuss the increase in anti-Islamic sentiments in society with the commemoration of the 9/11 attacks coming up.
Dutch politician Geert Wilders will give a speech in New York on Saturday at a protest rally against the building of an Islamic centre close to Ground Zero, the site where the twin towers of the World Trade Centre once stood.
Daisy Khan is one of the people behind the Islamic centre on Park 51. She stresses that it is not a mosque, but a community centre where all Manhattan residents can come together. She calls herself a bridge builder, who works for harmony against extremism. There will also be a prayer room in the building, she says.
Challenge
Ms Khan thinks that Geert Wilders and other foreign politicians should not interfere with internal US matters:
“Each community has its own challenges. If there is a problem in the Netherlands, that challenge should remain in the Netherlands and should be resolved by Dutch people and the Dutch Muslim community. It would be prudent for other politicians to also just... Try to resolve the issues in their own backyard.”
Dishonest
Daisy Khan is aware of Mr Wilders ideas and his right-wing populist Freedom Party (PVV)
"Several years ago he spoke to the Congress. I thought that was intellectually dishonest, because you cannot stand for the freedom of expression and the freedom of speech and than call for a ban of the Qur’an, which more than one billion people adhere to"
Geert Wilders is participating in difficult negotiations to form a government coalition in the Netherlands. Nevertheless he is determined to speak at the protest rally in New York on Saturday.
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Borderline Geert Wilders is a 21st century model of Avraham Stern, a Nazi-programmed Judenrat-type zombie who led the Stern Gang cult, created by the Nazis to stir up trouble and cause confusion that worked out to their advantage. Why the Dutch people don't see this, I don't know -- it's so obvious that he is an automaton, a pathetic bobble-headed puppet -- we don't need him fostering any more ignorance and ideological confusion in the United States. We love you, Holland, but please don't send your cult zombies here to create even more problems than we already have from last 10 years of trickle-down stupidity we are struggling to rectify.
Battling anti-Islam sentiment with anti Semitism? Your conpiracy theory is laughable.
Wilders is no puppet. He's a clever strategist. He, like Sarah Palin, knows that his rhetoric can increase support from his base. So he speaks as loudly, frequently, and offensively as he can. It doesn't matter that what he says is illogical. Nor that many of his proposed policies could never be practically implemented. It's enough that he hates Islam. Judging by the results of the recent election, so do 15% of Dutch voters.
There's nothing the remaining 85% can do to stop him from speaking. He's a free person. Offensive though he is, the world will need to tolerate his antics for the time being. Eventually voters will tire of his single issue politics and start paying attention to the Netherland's actual problems.
“Each community has its own challenges. If there is a problem in the Netherlands, that challenge should remain in the Netherlands and should be resolved by Dutch people and the Dutch Muslim community. It would be prudent for other politicians to also just... Try to resolve the issues in their own backyard.”.......If each community has it's own challenges and politicians should try to resolve their own "backyard' problems, then why does the EU and the Netherlands get involved with Iran's and Israel "backyard" problems? Why does the Netherlands get involved with an Iranian citizen who has been arrested for crimes against Iran? It's Iran "backyard", right? As to the quote "'Politicians should resolve the problems in their own country,' says Muslim Daisy Kahn.".....Mr. Wilders has an opinion and he should be able to voice his opinion. In fact, he is trying to resolve the problems in his "backyard" when he travels to otheer countries and speaking-out against the terrorism. Terrorism affects all nations and Wilders is right. As to Muslim Daisy Kahn: She lacks tolerance for those who believe different and do not accept her belief system. I wonder how and where she learnt her belief system of no tolerance for individuals for people like Wilders?
"I am heartened by the clear, unequivocal condemnation of this disrespectful, disgraceful act that has come from American religious leaders of all faiths, from evangelical Christians to Jewish rabbis, as well as secular US leaders and opinion-makers. Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation."......Our commitment to freedom of speech and expression also goes back to the to the very beginning of our nation; otherwise, the US Supreme court would not have allowed the burning of the American flag in public, burning of crosses by the KKK, interfering with private funeral services for soldiers who died for their country, and numerous other acts of insensitivity. Now, those previous mentioned acts are extreme acts of "insensitivity" and so is the burning of the Quran. Question: Is the building of a Mosque at or very near to the site where thousands died at the hands of Islamic terrorists also an act of insensitivity? Tolerance! Welcome to the US and don't get offended in what you see or hear!
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