Battle Muslim ideology with spirituality, not just bombs

Cal Thomas

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Americans must see past their natural reluctance to paint all members of a group with a broad brush and realize our failure to act now against this clear and present danger in the ways Sam Soloman recommends will lead to a disaster for us that is far worse than our Cold War enemie s had envisaged.

Essentially, Cal espouses that we should treat all Muslims equally, as the enemy.

Whoever published this piece should be fired.

[edit/ 21 Aug.] I apologize for saying whoever published this piece should be fired. I was speaking out because I was angry. I am sorry, it is not my decision as to who gets hired or fired at the daily O.

I do however think that we deserve an explanation for how a piece of racist literature of this type ended up being printed in the paper. An apology, if not a public firing, is I feel, in order. I support freedom of speech. Even for racists. However, I don't think that the local newspaper is doing well in our community by publishing a racist and hateful, a jingoistic and lunatic, piece of war propaganda.

Building Bridges in a Global Village
Tuesday, August 22nd, 7pm
Olympia Center
222 Columbia in downtown Olympia

Misconceptions and stereotypes about Islam are normalized in our culture. What do we know about Islam? How do prejudices affect our Muslim community? What can we do to challenge Islamophobia? This forum offers an opportunity to learn about Islam, to gain awareness and for communities to come together. Speakers include James Yusuf Yee, former US Army Chaplain, Imam Mohammad Joban, Imam of the Islamic Center of Olympia and Amy Annette Winslow, member of the Islamic Center of Olympia.

President Bush recently stated, "The nation is at war with Islamic fascists". This statement fosters intolerance of Muslims while equating Islam with Nazism and totalitarianism. In response, the Muslim American Society’s Freedom Foundation said, “The misdeeds or alleged misdeeds of some Muslims cannot be used to stereotype a community of more that a billion believers.” Muslims are being profiled solely on the basis of their religion and/or ethnicity and general intolerance of Islam is on the rise since September 11th, 2001. According to the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the recent arrests of Muslims in the US and Great Britain and accusations of a terrorist plot have heightened the fear of a backlash in the Muslim community.

Imam Mohammad Joban of the Islamic Center of Olympia spoke in reference to the upcoming event at the Olympia Center, "What we need to do now is to build bridges, learn about each other's cultures and make friendships. That is the only way the negative stereotypes from the media can be broken."

This event is sponsored by Amnesty International Olympia Chapter #474, Olympians for Peace in the Middle East and the Islamic Center of Olympia.

We are holding auditions for the OCS tonight.  6 - 8pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Boulevard Rd.  More info can be found at www.olympiachoral.org  Mention Olyblog and you'll get - well nothing. But I'd like to know anyway if you found out about auditions through this blog! :)

It's all right if you love me

It's all right if you don't

I'm not afraid of you running away

Honey, I get the feeling you won't

There is no sense in pretending

Your eyes give you away

Something inside you is feeling like I do

We've said all there is to say

Baby breakdown

Go ahead and give it to me

Breakdown honey take me through the night

Breakdown now I'm standin' here can't you see

Breakdown it's all right

It's all right

It's all right Breakdown

Go ahead and give it to me

Breakdown honey take me through the night

Breakdown now I'm standin' here can't you see

Breakdown it's all right

It's all right

It's all right

No hidden meaning here. Just love Petty's Breakdown and it came up on my playlist a second ago.

Is it my imagination, or did we let OlyBlog's first birthday pass on Aug. 14th without any comment? Rick, stand up and give us a speech.

What This Town Needs...

I was at the Olympia Eastside Coop yesterday and when I went to check out, there was a new volunteer cashier. She made a minor mistake and accidentally charged me a small amount too much.

Read the whole thing.