Saturday, April 12, 2008

Pat Robertson on Islam

"I want to say it again, and again, and again: Islam is not a religion, it is a political system meant on -- bent on world domination, not a religion. It masquerades as a religion, but the religion covers a worldwide attempt to exercise power and to subjugate the world to their way of thinking."

Robertson added: "They want a caliphate as they had once before; they want all people to be subjected to Sharia and to live under their rules and their domination. It is every bit as insidious as communism, perhaps more so. But to say, 'Well, it's a religion, and you should leave a religion alone,' that's just not the way it works."

Then he warned 'those weak of faith' that:"[L]et me tell you what they're going to do to you will be more horrible than anything you can imagine. And you better understand that Christianity is the way to freedom and not to slavery. This other thing is the way to slavery, not freedom."

I know Pat Robertson is a fundamentalist racist, sexist, and hatemonger who once called for the assasination of President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. I also know that his recent comments are not new but an ongoing diatribe against Islam and Muslims.

What irks me is that Robertson's comments are not being condemned by John McCain or any of his supporters. Does McCain support Robertson's views of Islam and Muslims?



What about McCain's spiritual advisor, Rod Parsely, does he support Parsley's fiery call for the destruction of the "false religion" (Islam)?



This is some of what Parsley thinks about Islam:

"I cannot tell you how important it is that we understand the true nature of Islam, that we see it for what it really is. In fact, I will tell you this: I do not believe our country can truly fulfill its divine purpose until we understand our historical conflict with Islam. I know that this statement sounds extreme, but I do not shrink from its implications. The fact is that America was founded, in part, with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed, and I believe September 11, 2001, was a generational call to arms that we can no longer ignore."

McCain has lobbied hard for Parsley's support, and that of Robertson. As it stands now, I believe that McCain must support their hatred.

I suspect that there will be quite a few Mccain supporters, and others, who will want to believe the nonsense that Robertson and Parsley are saying.

This is a shame because all of what they spew is nothing short of flagrant hatemongering that is blatantly ignorant of what Islam is, and what Muslims believe about the West and Christianity, in particular.

What Robertson and Parsley won't tell their followers is that Christianity has more in common with Islam than it has differences. They won't also point to the numerous places in the Qur'an where Christians and Jews are proclaimed believers.

If they were to highlight the fact that Islam traces its origins through Judaism and Christianity it would weaken the nonsense that Islam is bent on world domination and, therefore, a threat to Christianity.

Islam does not advocate conversion or the kind of evangelical outreach that characterize Robertson and Parsley's brand of fundamental Christianity.

The Qur'an is emphatic in its declaration that there can be no compulsion in religion in any terms.

But Robertson and Parsley are less misguided than they are purposeful in scapegoating Muslims.

It is striking to note just how much Robertson and Parsley's anti-Muslim sentiments and advocation evokes Nazis beliefs about Judaism and Jews.

Just like the Jews under the racist Nazis, Muslims are being portrayed as agents of evil who exist for no other reason but to contaminate the lives of their believers (herrenvolk).

I don't think any thinking people should lose sleep about either one of these bigots. But I do think we should be asking McCain some tough questions about his hatemongering bedfellows.

Thanks to Angryindian for making me aware of Robertson's comments.

Onward!

11 comments:

Dade Cariaga said...

Robertson's quotation at the beginning of your post should be applied to him and his followers. But substitute "the 700 Club" for Islam, and it comes much closer to the truth:

"I want to say it again, and again, and again: [the 700 Club] is not a religion, it is a political system meant on -- bent on world domination, not a religion. It masquerades as a religion, but the religion covers a worldwide attempt to exercise power and to subjugate the world to their way of thinking."

Robertson is all of those things that he accuses others of being. A demogogue, a hate monger, a vile human being.

And, as you point out, Ridwan, McCain is playing up to the ignorant mass that hang on Robertson's every word. McCain needs them.

Frightening.

Great post, my friend.

Ridwan said...

You are absolutely on-point Dade. The 700 Club and Robertson is exactly what you say.

He is a "vile human being" for sure. I am also reminded of him slanting his eyes and making "vile" comments about the Chinese.

Yeah brother, this is all "frightening"!

Peace to you Dade,
Ridwan

nunya said...

The last time you commented on my blog there was a possible McCain supporter commenting also.
http://politickybitch.blogspot.com/2008/04/10-things-you-should-know-about-john.html

The US is full of talking point spewing Neanderthals.

Oy.

(hanging head in shame)

Ridwan said...

Hello Nunya thanks for looking in here. I trust you are well.

Hey I had to look at that comment again and again.

Obama and Hillary are socialists?

Damn my head hurts!

Be well Nunya :0)

Ridwan

nunya said...

You too love :)

nunya said...

ps, you are correct, Pat Robertson is vile.

Ridwan said...

Oh my goodness Nunya I did not know about Pat Robertson and the brutal dictator Mobuto! And Charles Taylor too!

Huh? This man is even more Vile than I thought.

Thank you for the link. I was struck reading the following paragraph and recommend clicking on Nunya's link above:

"Back in 1994, during the infamous Rwandan genocide, Robertson used his 700 Club's daily cable operation to appeal to the American public for donations to fly humanitarian supplies into Zaire to save the Rwandan refugees.

The planes purchased by Operation Blessing did a lot more than ferry relief supplies.

An investigation conducted by the Virginia attorney general's office concluded in 1999 that the planes were mostly used to transport mining equipment for a diamond operation run by a for-profit company called African Development Corp.

And who do you think was the principal executive and sole shareholder of the mining company?

You guessed it, Pat Robertson himself.

Robertson had landed the mining concession from his longtime friend Mobutu Sese Seko, then the dictator of Zaire.

Investigators concluded that Operation Blessing "willfully induced contributions from the public through the use of misleading statements ..."

Thanks again Nunya you have schooled me today :0)

Peace to you,
Ridwan

nunya said...

and you, sir Ridwan teach me many things also :)

nunya said...

Ridwan, do you ever read or listen to Greg Palast? He connected some ugly dots between a
Canadian gold mining company and Poppy Bush and miners buried alive via bulldozers.
Quite a sickening story. If anybody can ferret this stuff out is Palast. That's why a nice Jewish boy from LA has to work in England :(

So you see, "Forensic Economist" , turned reporter is useful in a Democracy.

Ana said...

Tena Koe Ridwan

What absolute racist hate speech against Muslims. Anglo settlers kind of forget that millions have be killed in the process of genocide that established their colonial settler states, back then it was under the guise of white supremacy and christianity 'saving the savages'.

Its seems to me that this clowns racist speech & the whole bullshit war on terror is just an excuse for racism to cover the genocide and theft of lands and resources from our Muslim brothers and sisters in the Middle East.

Mauri Ora
Sina

Ridwan said...

Thank you kindly for your on-point and sane comment Sina.

I can't tell you how much it means to me to read you here tonight.

If you look at my latest post you will understand why.

Peace and struggle to you my sista!

Ridwan