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| Amid anger over beheading, U.S. minister pleads for tolerance |
| 2004-06-20 |
| Backlash over the beheading of a U.S. contractor in Saudi Arabia was as clear as a sign in the town where he was born. "Stamp out Islam," read a cardboard sign that also depicted a hand-drawn boot over a crescent and star. Phil Galasso posted it on a utility pole near his house in Eagleswood Township. "I’m getting a little fed up with the mindless violence against civilians who had nothing to do with the war in the Middle East," Galasso said Sunday. He called Islam a "vile, bigoted faith" that subjugates women and uses force to spread its message. Authorities had not received any reports of violence against the area’s small Muslim population since Paul M. Johnson Jr. was killed by Muslim extremists Friday, but anger in the community was evident, not just over the terrorists but also their religion. "Last night I wasn’t a racist but today I feel racism towards Islamic beliefs," read a white laminated sign hung on the mailbox of the house next to that of Johnson’s sister, Donna Mayeux, minutes south of Eagleswood Township in Little Egg Harbor Township. "Last night Islamics had a chance to speak up for Paul Johnson but today it’s too late," the sign read. "Islamics better wake up and start thinking about tomorrow." The owner of the house where the sign was hung, Danny Pomponio, took it down Sunday morning and said he didn’t know who had put it up. He added that he didn’t know anyone in town who felt that way. About 100 miles north of Eagleswood Township in Paterson, about 25 people gathered Saturday at a rally where Arabs and Muslims condemned Johnson’s killing. Aref Assaf, president of the New Jersey chapter of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, urged Americans not to "castigate the entire community for the acts of a few." Joe Giberson, a police detective in nearby Stafford Township, said he was dismayed when he saw news reports of the sign in Little Egg Harbor. "I hope it’s not the feelings of the people. We can’t be the same way like what happened to Mr. Johnson," Giberson said. A minister at the church where Mayeux worships was among those urging tolerance Sunday. Pastor Gene Huber noted Johnson’s family’s grief and struggle in the face of cruelty, but said turning to faith would "enable them to become champions of grace in a world of wickedness." Mayeux did not attend the service at the nondenominational Greentree Ministries Church, about 30 minutes south of her home. The family has remained in seclusion since Johnson was kidnapped just over a week ago. Senior Pastor Kyle Huber, Gene Huber’s son, who has assisted the family throughout the ordeal, said they are "doing well in what is something no one can be prepared for." |
| Posted by:TS(vice girl) |
| #14 Uh huh. I gotcher tolerance right here. |
| Posted by: Quana 2004-06-21 1:12:00 AM |
| #13 Sadly, I think I've resigned myself to there being at least two more mass death attacks in the US before people have had enough. One more won't do it because the Democrats and the media will go into overdrive to blame Bush for both inciting these animals by fighting back and also for not "doing enough" to protect us. |
| Posted by: Laurence of the Rats 2004-06-20 11:11:27 PM |
| #12 Tolerance is a two way street, my Islamo friends. Suggest you realize that soon, because the sand is running through the hourglass. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-06-20 11:04:10 PM |
| #11 The problem is not so much Islam as it is a bunch of sick bastards that are hiding behind religion to feed their own delusions of importance. That's true to a point as it's always the boots on the ground the implement the goals of the ideology they follow but it's not entirely accurate. Pretty much everything these asshats are doing is sanctioned verbatim in the Qur'an. The rub lies in the fact that much of it is proscribed by the Qur'an as well. Therein lies the real problem: Islam is so self-contradictory that it's always going to be subject to interpretations ranging from pacifist to utterly malignant and evil. No one's hiding behind Islam, they're merely finding within it things that are actually there. Isn't Islam a faith and political ideology? Far more actually. It seeks to control religion, governance, warfare, economics, and nearly every other facet of life/society imaginable. I don't think we'll ever see sincere heartfelt condemnation of Islamist terrorists by a significant majority of the Muslim world because a Muslim's highest duty seems to be to Islam and their fellow Muslims no matter the circumstance. Don't get me wrong, we're going to hear torrents of words, but when the chips are finally down I believe the overwhelming majority of Muslims will stand with the enemy. |
| Posted by: AzCat 2004-06-20 10:41:31 PM |
| #10 I am growing so frustrated with this PC attitude regarding Islam and my country. Permit me to remind you and all the folks back home that it is not just the ridiculous influence of PC (read: Orwellian "newspeak") mentality that breeds this. Consider how the White House actually came out in favor of Moqtada Sadr being quietly co-opted into the Iraqi political process, despite our own military commanders declaring that this terrorist Islamic cleric must face apprehension. Zealots of every stripe and their constant overemphasis upon religiosity instead of actual freedom are the real problem right now. Few people seem to realize this. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-06-20 10:01:25 PM |
| #9 Isn't Islam a faith and political ideology? With in our own country we have Muslims that do not speak out against the actions of their Islamic Soldiers. This, to this day boggles my mind. Could you imagine if some Christians murdered in "God's" name and danced around a butchered human body? Do you not think there would be global out rage? Or a Jooooooo dancing around some paleo? If that small Mooslims community were true Americans, should they not be saying something about what happened to there neighbor? Are we supposed to ignore the truth of what goes on day after day and let this cancer of denial eat at our core as a nation? Our voices being suppressed by political correctness? Does anyone think for a minute American Mooslims care what happens to their infidel neighbors. Islam. I am growing so frustrated with this PC attitude regarding Islam and my country. |
| Posted by: Long Hair Republican 2004-06-20 9:45:45 PM |
| #8 The problem is not so much Islam as it is a bunch of sick bastards that are hiding behind religion to feed their own delusions of importance. The terrorists are the same sort of people that Himmler recruited into the Gestapo and that through the years have flocked to organizations that needed souless ghouls to torture men, women, and children for amusement. History shows us the only solution is to hunt them down and kill them all. On the other hand, the tolerance for childish outbursts and claims that everything they touch is holy is wearing very thin. Much more of this and the next terrorist that shoots from a mosque is going be ushered to meet God's judgement in a flash of light as the mosque vaporizes around him. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-06-20 9:14:06 PM |
| #7 Rob and CrazyFool, I'm not as "crazy" about it, but I agree with you all. |
| Posted by: Edward Yee 2004-06-20 8:43:06 PM |
| #6 Amid anger over beheading, U.S. minister pleads for tolerance Like any theory, it looks better on paper than it works in reality. Believing that turning to faith will "enable them to become champions of grace in a world of wickedness" isn't going to stop militant Islam. Much to the contrary, since they subvert Western freedom of religious practice to their own illicit ends. Islamic militants are quite successfully polarizing world opinion regarding Islam. They neglect to remember who holds the nuclear weapons which may be necessary to simply eradicate an enemy who will not reform or moderate their assaults. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-06-20 8:17:57 PM |
| #5 REad carefully. Firstly note that the rally, attended by 25, count them, 25, that condemned the killing was 100 miles north of the community where the TWO SIGNS were hung. An attempt to conflate the "small Muslim population" 100 miles away with the typical feeble rally? We point out, you decide. Also note that it is the reporter, not the Pastor, who claims the pastor urged tolerance. There's no quote, merely a statement that God's grace would help them in the face of their tragedy. I'm sure the liberal reporter or his equally liberal editor decided that that was good enough to declare it a call for tolerance, but to me, that's not close. The sign hung on Danny Pomponio's mailbox was Two thirds right and two thirds questionable. Only liberal hypocrites would take issue with feeling racism for Islamic beliefs, then they have no problem practicing their bigotry against those who adopt Christian beliefs. But it's squirrely, because beliefs don't have skin color. Right on about today being too late to speak up for Paul Johnson. The last sentence is too vague, and thus open to vicious interpretations. Better to say, "Islamics should prepare themselves today to speak up tomorrow". |
| Posted by: Ptah 2004-06-20 8:14:12 PM |
| #4 Am I the only once who is sick and tired of hearing that not 'tolerating' radical Islam is racist? No. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-06-20 7:55:48 PM |
| #3 "Last night Islamics had a chance to speak up for Paul Johnson but today it’s too late," the sign read. "Islamics better wake up and start thinking about tomorrow." That about sums it up. The Muslim community had a chance to condemn the kidnapping and threats of death but only a few took it. I do not want to condemn the many for the actions of the few, so let us say that I do not trust Islamic people. There is no basis of trust. When there is, then all will be hunky dory. Call it a survival instinct. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-06-20 7:54:16 PM |
| #2 I hope more people get the message that this is what's in store for the world if we don't stop the fanatics here and now. |
| Posted by: The Doctor 2004-06-20 7:34:37 PM |
| #1 "Last night I wasn’t a racist but today I feel racism towards Islamic beliefs," Umm.. sorry but you still are not a racist. Islam isn't a race but a religion. Am I the only once who is sick and tired of hearing that not 'tolerating' radical Islam is racist? |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-06-20 7:22:04 PM |