Religious Intolerance in the U.S.
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-09-09/religious-intolerance-us
The history of religious and racial intolerance in the U.S.: Diane and guests explore what's changed and what hasn't nine years after the 9/11 attacks and discuss current concerns over what some are calling an anti-Muslim frenzy.
Guests
Barry Lynn
executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State and author of "Piety & Politics" (Harmony Books)
Robert Destro
professor of law,
director, Interdisciplinary Program in Law & Religion
Columbus School of Law
The Catholic University of America
Azizah al-Hibri
professor of law, University of Richmond
founder and chair, KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights
Andrew Kohut
director of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press
Comments
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Racial/religious intolerance has always been there and would always be there. I believe its basic human nature to be comfortable with whats known, and be repulsive with what does not align with our belief / thought. Which to me is fine. However, how you react to it is what bothers me. I can not understand how anyone can be so intolerant to want to eliminate what is different.
However, I do not think the anti-muslim frenzy in US is merely because of the religious intolerance. Muslims in US are just not in that big number at present. I think it comes from the perception of muslims where their allegiance to ummah is greater than allegiance to their nation.
It comes from knowing how Islam has spread rapidly through different regions. How does religious minorities in any Islamic nation / muslim dominated region vanish? Lets not argue about superiority of islamic faith because I do not think it would justify its rapid expansion till southwest asia.
Dearpru, I would like to respectfully dispute your information regarding the religious ties and practices of Africans taken into slavery by the Portuguese during the time period you reference. Many West Africans practiced Islam as well the maintaining of indigenous practices of worship. Prior to the arrival of the Portuguese to the Azores Islands and the West African coast great African kingdoms such Ghana (not to be confused with the modern day country of Ghana), Mali, and Songhay flourished. These kingdoms are part of the medieval empires of the Sudan. The religion of Islam was very much part of the daily lives of West Africans. It is documented that the ruler of Mali, Mansa Musa, during a Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca, brought so much gold into northeast Africa that it greatly reduced the value of gold in the region. In addition, the great mosque in Djenne’, Mali was erected around the 14th century. I would invite you to read Africana: The Encyclopedia of African and African American Experience, Great Men of Color by J.A. Rogers Volume I and also research the finding the Arab historian/traveler Ibn Batuta
In response the burning of the Qu'ran. I would like for Mr. Jones to reveal to the masses where Jesus Christ (Isa, in the Qu'ran) would be absolutely okay with burning the Qu'ran. A true Christian or Muslim resepects humanity. It is obvious that burning a Qu'ran is a deliberate attempt to incite a riot which is not covered by any amendment. I suggest that Mr. Jones and his followers and financial contributors put fourth a true measure of faith and enlist in the military with a specific request to serve in an infantry capacity on the front lines in Afghanistan. Mr. Jones and his followers should come back unharmed or without injury because apparently they access to some other kind of god protections in a hour of lunacy.
One of the callers today said Muslims were not speaking out enough against terrorism, a comment I have heard enough to think the idea is being actively promoted.
I have said that they do, but what they say is not reported in the US media. I have looked a list of Islamic statements against terrorism from a great variety of sources, compiled by one C. Kurzman. By my count, it has 64 entries, the first being on 12 September 2001, and the last being on February, 2008. Only 4 of these 64 are cited as having been gathered from US newspapers...one in sixteen. It may be that the others were eventually published by US newspapers. I doubt it. As for broadcast, I cannot say from this data, but it seems reasonable to think that it's no different. I think 4 of 64 supports my point.
Why this is so I don't know. Ask Sulzsberger, Graham, Zell, Zuckerman, Murdoch, Harman, and the other publishers of major newspapers and magazines. It may be that they are too busy covering the latest celebrity scandal, or the latest greatly exaggerated environmental event. I am sure the originators of these statements are well acquainted with news conferences and press releases.
Some of the leading figures in Islam are quoted in this list, notably Abdulaziz bin Abdallah al-Ashaykh, chief mufti of Saudi Arabia at the time and maybe today, and Ayatollah Ali Khamene, supreme jurist-ruler of Iran then and now. They represent Islam's two main divisions, Sunni and Shia.
It is true that most of these statements came within months of 9/11. That makes them, to me, still binding and representative and not somehow diluted. And I see no reason the think that the prohibitions and condemnations have not continued these years since 9/11. But you'll not know it from mainstream US print (and I am sure, broadcast).
Neville Blakemore, Jr.
When is the last time you spoke to a Muslim about this? Many Muslims lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks. Many Muslim leaders have spoken out against this outrage, but the media ignores them. If you only pay attention to what your hear on TV, you will miss what is happening in the real world. Please try to open your ears and mind beyond the profit driven media, whose only desire appears to be to fan the flame of discord in this country. You will not hear about the good happening in our country from the American media.
Here in Gainesville the Koran burning preacher has called off his bonfire.
But watch, the story isn't over.
The media has shown everybody in the world that they will give billions of dollars worth of free advertising to literally anybody who threatens to burn Korans.
The Florida preacher case clearly demonstrates that it doesn't matter at all how obscure of a figure you may be.
I am a complete total nobody. I could get up from this chair right now, and go out in my front yard and start yelling about burning Korans. If I started calling media outlets, I'd have reporters here within an hour or two.
Once one media outlet covered my "demonstration" all the other media outlets would claim that they are obligated to cover the story too. And the circus, and media profits, would start rolling again.
Please be assured there is no chance I will do this. But somebody else will.
Diane, in response to the comment you just made on your Friday show.
We absolutely will blame the media for the Koran burning circus, which has endangered lives around the world.
Not your show specifically of course, but the media as a whole, including our local Gainesville media which started the ball rolling.
The media created the Koran burning story out of nothing, and keeps it rolling to maintain audience share, and ad revenue profits streaming in.
You may not be clear on this yet, I accept your sincerity.
But be assured many of your listeners are clear on who the problem here really is.
Burning the Koran is surely a hate crime. As for the pastor's freedom of speech we need to look back to Oliver Wendell Holmes' reasoning on when free speech is reasonable to curtail. Recent news coverage of Dr. Laura's claim of free speech sheds new light on that freedom.
go
I agree with what Mary Ann wrote. Diana Rehm I often listen to your show. My response to Mr. Jone's crazyness is simply this I wish the media would look at all the good that organizations of faith and people of faith do. There are ordinary people, who are best friend's with Jesus putting a halt to genocide in Darfur, ending gang violence in our cities and taking care of orphaned babies in South Africa.I would like to hear more of their stories.
Many Blessings,
Valeska Hope Chelminski