All of us, every single man, woman, and child on the face of the Earth were born with the same unalienable rights; to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And, if the governments of the world can't get that through their thick skulls, then, regime change will be necessary.
Very different from the 1999 open house that I attended at one of the mosques here in Northern Virginia.
Quite the contrast as I think about how things are in the 11 years since 9/11. Power makes the difference, I think. Plus, our nation's official policy of dhimmitude. That policy has served to embolden the worst elements within Islam.
The event I attended did not involve any prayers or the like. Instead, the main room had been filled with folding chairs, and a panel discussion was in progress at the dais. The panel was taking questions from the audience.
Once the discussion meeting was over -- it broke up abruptly when a heated discussion broke out on the dais. The animated argument, which was almost a riot and complete with waving arms and angry gestures, ensued as a result of an audience member who asked, "Can you explain the meaning of 'jihad?'" One imam on the dais was obviously in opposition to the dhimmi from Georgetown University, the latter yapping about how jihad never means holy war.
We in the audience were dismissed and invited to the food tables. Table after table! If I recall correctly, only the guests ate food from the tables -- typical desert hospitality! I was told that the spices had been toned down in some of the dishes. No camel roast! I asked.
Public relations pamphlets about the peace of Islam, etc., were the only materials available. Several representatives of the mosque were available to answer questions on an individual basis by those who were attending the open house.
Overall, the emphasis of the open house that I attended: how Islam isn't so different from American culture. The tone of the meeting was predominantly Western.
Other than the classroom teachers and the Muslimas at the pr table in the vestibule, I saw no women or children wearing hijabs and few men in traditional Arab garb. The only men in traditional garb were obviously imams.
There were several classes for children in session, and those classes remained in session the entire time that I was there. The classes were gender separate and obviously religious in nature (as opposed to academic in nature). The children were wearing school uniforms much like the school uniforms that we see in Catholic schools.
We were allowed to wander freely throughout the mosque and the grounds.
I went to the open house in search of some literature material for my high school class. I was told, "There is no literature except for the Quran." At the time, I had no idea of the significance of that statement.
6 comments:
Wow.
Very different from the 1999 open house that I attended at one of the mosques here in Northern Virginia.
Quite the contrast as I think about how things are in the 11 years since 9/11. Power makes the difference, I think. Plus, our nation's official policy of dhimmitude. That policy has served to embolden the worst elements within Islam.
Really? Can you describe the differences you see?
Pastorius,
Sure.
The event I attended did not involve any prayers or the like. Instead, the main room had been filled with folding chairs, and a panel discussion was in progress at the dais. The panel was taking questions from the audience.
Once the discussion meeting was over -- it broke up abruptly when a heated discussion broke out on the dais. The animated argument, which was almost a riot and complete with waving arms and angry gestures, ensued as a result of an audience member who asked, "Can you explain the meaning of 'jihad?'" One imam on the dais was obviously in opposition to the dhimmi from Georgetown University, the latter yapping about how jihad never means holy war.
We in the audience were dismissed and invited to the food tables. Table after table! If I recall correctly, only the guests ate food from the tables -- typical desert hospitality! I was told that the spices had been toned down in some of the dishes. No camel roast! I asked.
Public relations pamphlets about the peace of Islam, etc., were the only materials available. Several representatives of the mosque were available to answer questions on an individual basis by those who were attending the open house.
Overall, the emphasis of the open house that I attended: how Islam isn't so different from American culture. The tone of the meeting was predominantly Western.
Other than the classroom teachers and the Muslimas at the pr table in the vestibule, I saw no women or children wearing hijabs and few men in traditional Arab garb. The only men in traditional garb were obviously imams.
There were several classes for children in session, and those classes remained in session the entire time that I was there. The classes were gender separate and obviously religious in nature (as opposed to academic in nature). The children were wearing school uniforms much like the school uniforms that we see in Catholic schools.
We were allowed to wander freely throughout the mosque and the grounds.
Oh, and one more thing....
I went to the open house in search of some literature material for my high school class. I was told, "There is no literature except for the Quran." At the time, I had no idea of the significance of that statement.
The mosque I went to was Dar al Hijrah.
THERE HAS BEEN A HUGE UPTICK IN THE AMOUNT OF BURQAS, NIQAB, AND HIJAB IN THE AREA I LIVE IN.
YOU SEE THEM IN NEWPORT BEACH, SANTA ANA, ANAHEIM, AND BREA.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU SEE THEM AT ALL ECONOMIC LEVELS FROM THE LOW TO THE VERY HIGH.
OBVIOUSLY, THE IMAMS ARE PUSHING FOR THIS.
I LOVE THAT: THERE IS NO LITERATURE FOR THE KORAN.
SO PERFECT.
YES, I AM FAMILIAR WITH DAR AL-HIJRAH.
I AM ALSO FAMILIAR WITH THE GARDEN GROVE MOSQUE MENTIONED IN KELLY WILLIAMS PIECE. IT'S THE ONE ADAM GADAHN WENT TO.
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