Shouting Christian protesters surround, threaten praying Muslim man at White House

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Run time: 14:07 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Abv5vhe4tUs   Posted on YouTube: March 04, 2011 By YouTube Member: ebecker2000 Views on YouTube: 94   Posted on DU: March 04, 2011 By DU Member: Amerigo Vespucci Views on DU: 4429

 

Christian protesters surround Muslim man at White House

Posted on 03.4.11
By Stephen C. Webster

Conservative media and particularly Fox News has been keen in months past to gin up stories about Islamic tribal laws being implemented across the United States. While this is in fact not happening anywhere in the US, it has become a point of intense concern to some religious fundamentalist Christians, who take the media spin seriously.

In this video, a group of anti-Muslim protesters take their concerns about Sharia law to the White House, only to find a Muslim man in prayer. The begin shouting at him and insulting him, and one man even threatens his life. Later, as the Muslim man bowed again in prayer, the protesters begin praying back at him, uttering Christian chants in response.

At the end, a woman who claimed to have spent years in the Middle East informed the protesters that while they mocked him, the man had prayed in Arabic that each of their families be blessed.

http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/03/watch-christian-protesters-surround-muslim-man-at-white-house/

[thereismore]

1. Look ma, a man who believes in a different imaginary friend! nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. And the Constitution allows him to worship that imaginary friend

just like everybody else gets to worship theirs, or not.

[AtheistCrusader]

13. I'm glad I wasn't there.

These faux christians wanted an argument, and I would have given them one.

[obxhead]

3. Freedom of religion, as long as you're Christian. nt

[JoePhilly]

25. And unsaid, you need to be a very specific flavor.

[thecrow]

4. This is why I no longer belong to a church

My faith is personal, between me and my higher power.
These people are not Christians.
They are an embarrassment with their hatred and nationalism.

[AsahinaKimi]

5. Sometimes its seeing things like this that makes

me feel ashamed to be an American. The worst part is once people like this, start on the Islamic religion, than it makes it okay to start harassing Buddhists, Hindus, Jews and every other religion that people bring with them, as immigrants to this Country.

The GUY who was shouting "USA! USA! USA!" may have thought he was using his freedom of speech, but he was showing the world JUST HOW UGLY AMERICANS can be.

SOMEONE said it earlier, to these people, Freedom of Religion only applies to CHRISTIANITY and no other religion. This video only shows a bunch of ignorant, uniformed and scared people who might even be the first, though their HATRED, to burn down a temple or cause harm to a fellow American because their faith is different.

[lumpy]

6. Speaking of fear and intimidation, the anti-Muslim group is using

exactly what they claim is the basis of Islam. My god, I am so tired of the bullying ignorance that is displayed by so many of our fellow humans. When it comes to conscience and intelligence, humanity has not evolved to the point of rising above our common Simian ancestors. I have more faith in the innocence of the lower animal and insect world.

[truth2power]

7. I see that Terry is wearing a fur coat. Ugh! n/t

[lumpy]

8. Pimp wear

Pimpin' for Christian whores.

[Jokinomx]

9. A few years ago some of the Buddists Monks from Tibet visited West Michigan....

The created a absolutely outstanding sand creation.... and were to chant in a library. So called Christians protested the library and wouldn't stop their jeering while these Monks demonstrated their chanting. Which for those that haven't heard is quite impressive.

I felt ashamed as an American that we couldn't show them the respect we should have. These fanatics have zero tolerance for any other way of thought, other than their own.

Of course the Monks were gracious and showed no ill feelings. They spoke of love and appreciation of all things.

[tblue37]

10. Did you notice the part toward the end, when the Christianists were scattering

little crosses on the ground where the man had been praying? He was shocked and asked them why they would put the symbol of their own religion on the ground for people to walk all over. He said they should respect their own religion too much to do that. In other words, he was showing more respect than they were for the crosses that represented Christianity.

That "USA" shouting guy is obviously the sort of person who would have been the loudmouth show-off "class clown" in the later years of grade school, the one who would do anything, no matter how absurd or obnoxious, to call attention to himself, all the while being totally oblivious to the revulsion he provoked in most people.

The videographer alternated the film segments to show, on one hand, either the bearded Christian guy or the group around Randall Terry and the Qu'ran-burning idiot spouting off about all the "bad" things about Islam, and then on the other, the "Christian" group around the praying Muslim man doing all the awful things they claim are hallmarks of Islam.

The contrast is striking for anyone not blinded by hatred and prejudice, and it does not favor the Christianists.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

18. I did and you are correct.....the muslim man had more respect for the cross then the shouting demon

[Jokinomx]

11. I forced myself to watch the entire video.... and all I can say is

These so called lovers of Jesus, have no idea what Jesus actually was teaching.


I can imagine if the real Jesus walked up to this group ... and saw what they were doing... he Himself would kneel with this Muslim and pray with him. I know if I had walked up and saw this group of hate filled people...showing no respect to a peaceful praying man... I would have joined him and I don't adhere to any system of beliefs.

That is my humble opinion.

[K8-EEE]

16. Does anybody really have any idea what Jesus was teaching?

I'm all for the beatitude type Jesus but in other passages he sounds like Jim Jones. "hate your mother and father and follow me" etc. No wonder there are so many Jesus cults.

[K8-EEE]

17. The guy with the Israeli flag is so *AHEM* when the Jesus chants start...!

LOL, that will teach him to hang out with RW rednecks!

[Jokinomx]

51. Yep... agreed....

I think your point of view is sound. However, I think you just showed that Jesus was a man... a brilliant man, his awareness was lightyears ahead of the people he spoke in front of. Yet as brilliant a man that he was... he did make mistakes as all humans do.

and if you didn't catch it a year or so ago... I believe parts of the dead sea scrolls talked about how Judas actually was just helping Jesus set up his own crucifixion. I thought this new information made much more sense. I once read a book from a philosopher from India that claims that Jesus never died on the cross. That he was taken down near death and he escaped from the tomb and disguised himself to get out of the region. That he actually escaped and lived a life in a small town in southern India.

This version also makes much more sense that he "arose" from the dead. However, the bible does confirm that he "disquised" himself as his own disciples didn't recognize him as he "appeared" to them following his so called resurrection.

[lumpy]

52. Jesus didn't say" hate your mother and father".

x

[tblue37]

20. Same here. I am an agnsotic. The only reason I don't say I am an atheist

is tht I knwo I don't know everything there is to know about everything, so there is always a possibility that I am wriong and there really is a self-aware intelligence operating the universe. I strongly doubt it, but I don't know for sure, so I won't make any absolute statements about the issue.

Nevertheless, I would have gotten right down on my knees and bowed in prayer with him, too.

[Jokinomx]

50. I understand where you are coming from....

I have had some real interesting conversations with "believers".

The other week a Jehovah's Witness came to my door. He was obviously retired, very well dressed and his opening question was if I belong to any religious organization. I told him I do my best to stay away from them. He was a little surprised and then asked me if I thought the world was becoming more violent. I said actually I don't ... I said I thought the middle ages in Europe were probably the most gruesome the world had ever known. Really no police to protect people from roving gangs of thugs that raped and pillaged thousands... not to mention the horrors of the Catholic church perpetrated on the people or ruthless kings and royalty that really did whatever their hearts desired with little or no consequences. Yes we have had some very terrible wars over the last 100 years...but for the most part most people can walk down the street without fear of being attacked. Not saying that it doesn't happen. It's just I don't live in fear of my life everyday as some peoples have had to do over the the last few thousand years.

He asked me if I believed in God. I responded did he mean the God in the old testament that slaughters men, women and children without remorse...or the loving God in the new testament. He tried to explain that the old testament God had reasons.... and yet I told him if I had done the same thing I would be condemned to Hell for eternity. Do as I say and not as I do comes to mind.

When it comes to believing in something, I believe the weatherman..when he says it's going to be nice tomorrow, he is generally correct but I don't know that for sure so believing in something doesn't make it true.

I said that I am not smart enough to say if there is a "God" or not. I do the best I can with what I know not what I believe and I know very little really. "I know I am alive and conscious" I don't believe that I know it, it starts with that.

He then opened his bible and started reading some scripture.. I said stop...that I had several books that could discount his so... really his bible doesn't hold weight with me other than a few words of wisdom that have nothing to do with religion but good advice on how one could live his life.

I also know that I will not ever be able to change this persons point of view. However, I am sure that he left me thinking about things a little differently than he did before he talked to me.

Anyway... I generally never see them again... although I always say they are welcome back to discuss things further.

Peace,

[ElsewheresDaughter]

12. this is so sad....these so called christians are the evil that they condemn

[Jokinomx]

14. I agree... well put.

:toast:

[madmom]

15. That showed me which was the peaceful religion.

[nolabear]

19. My heart breaks.

[jemelanson]

21. The God of the OT ordered his followers the Hebrew Children to

Kill any they came across on their way who did not convert to the worship of the God of the Hebrew Children. Not only to kill them, but to kill their livestock, to burn their villages, and even cut down or otherwise destroy their trees. Except for the young women which they could rape, then take as second or third or fourth wives, or make them their sex slaves. The Bible lists many many peoples whom the Hebrew Children slaughterer in their God's name. when the Christian who came later, did the same, spreading their religion of a loving God by the point of a sword. Islam is nothing more or less than the younger brother of the Christian religion, and offshoot of Judaism. All three come from the same root and all bear the same tainted fruit.


Look up Pagan in the Dictionary.

Pagan: pertaining to the worship or worshipers of any religion that is neither Christian, Jewish, nor Muslim.


All of the world's religions that are not either Christian, Jewish or Muslim are Pagan religion. The fools in this video, are ignorant of their own religions roots and its Dark History. They have no room to complain. They are just showing just how stupid they are and in the process insulting that which they profess to hold dear.

[Politicalboi]

22. Wow!

What a bunch of assholes. They showed him about the violence in "his" religion. LOL! "I can't hear you" USA USA USA USA.....

[Plucketeer]

23. It wasn't until I was in my 40s that I realized

how VERY FORTUNATE I was as a kid, that my folks didn't press some stupid "faith" into me. I am SO GLAD I can objectively watch these fruticakes judge and sentence others and not be caught up in it.

If, by chance, there IS a God, I think folks like myself have a better chance of being rewarded by him, her, it - than ANY of these demented knotheads!

[Raoul]

48. Well said my friend

and I agree with you a million percent!

[RBInMaine]

24. Another silly band of right wing whackos. What else is new?

[sulphurdunn]

26. All I saw in that video

was a group of crazy people confronting a crazy person with whom they had a theological difference of opinion about the nature and will of a being who most likely exists only in their minds and consequently manifests himself into reality with often bloody consequences because they are culturally and genetically predisposed to be violent and intolerant themselves. :hippie:

[CrawlingChaos]

32. the Muslim man does not deserve to be called a "crazy person"

He was behaving respectfully and reasonably. You do not share his religious beliefs - fine - but to attach derogatory labels to someone merely for their religious affiliation is a gateway to harassment and hate crimes. You are lumping the Muslim man in with the Christians who bullied him - very unfair.

[sulphurdunn]

49. Why not?

I attached no labels, derogatory or otherwise, to anyone because of religious affiliation. I merely said that all of them are crazy, a condition not unique only to religious zealots but common. Muslims and Christians have been behaving like that group and much worse towards each other for 1500 years. I am not persuaded that making a public spectacle of your religious affiliations is some how more respectful or reasonable because the fool is a Muslim rather than a Christian.

[CrawlingChaos]

53. an attitude of derision towards an already persecuted group

It should be obvious why this is a bad idea. And it's based on stereotypes that unfairly smear the vast majority. How do you know that man is a "zealot"? He was just praying, and behaving respectfully towards the Christians who bullied him.

There's a wave of anti-Muslim hysteria being whipped up in this country, and I'm sure I need not spell out where that leads. Instead of name-calling, how about thwarting the right-wingers by fostering a climate of mutual respect and understanding? Otherwise innocent people are going to suffer, even more than they are now.

[sulphurdunn]

54. You need to understand that derision

aimed at individuals for their public behavior is not derision aimed at an entire group for its religious beliefs. I have no more respect for Islam than I do Christianity or Judaism for that matter, but I do respect people who hold to those beliefs. I am also sworn by oath of allegiance to the US Constitution to defend their right to make fools of themselves. That old man and that bunch of crusaders didn't just accidentally find themselves in front of the White House. They were all there to proclaim their god as the one and only true god. I think it's a real stretch to refer to American Muslims as a persecuted minority. Persecution is always sanctioned by or acquiesced to by the majority, and I don't believe that political posturing or occasional acts against Muslims by individuals constitutes persecution, nor do I believe a majority of Americans would tolerate such acts. Bone head Christian fundamentalists like to think of themselves as a persecuted group too. You may rest assured that I will resist by force if necessary any attempt to persecute any of them, or attempts by any of them to persecute each other, so help me God. :patriot:

[CrawlingChaos]

55. So saying a prayer in a public square make him a 'fool' & 'crazy'?

But if he said the prayer at home, you could potentially respect him? I'm having a hard time following this line of reasoning.

I also did not see him "proclaim his god as the one and only true god" as you put it (THAT is what the Christian bullies were doing). He was simply saying a prayer. In fact, he was unwilling to make a gesture of disrespect toward the Christians by walking on the crosses they were throwing on the ground. Why be so unfair and lump him in with the people behaving so horribly?

I can't believe you would say Muslims are not a persecuted group. Just look at the first page of this subforum alone and you'll see no less than three videos of outrageous harassment of Muslims. You can't have missed the hysteria over Obama being a secret Muslim and the growing irrational hatred. These are not isolated incidents.

I have no religious beliefs whatsoever but I can see that Martin Luther King's message of mutual respect, tolerance and good will is the only way forward to peace. And that does not happen through name-calling and derision.

[sulphurdunn]

59. Persecution is the systematic

denial of rights by one group toward another. That is not happening. "There is only one God and Mohamed is his prophet" was written on the back of the old guy's jacket. Dr. King's message was essentially that if people abstain from acts of violence towards one another the rest will take care of itself. I would hope that American Muslims are as disinclined to tolerate being the new pets victims of liberals as they are to be the punching bags of conservatives. You see, respect and good will are fine things, but tolerance and equality before the law are essential. The laws does not demand you love your neighbor, only that you do him no harm.

[Uncle Joe]

27. That was most depressing, some idiot screaming about

"Give me liberty or give me death!" while he was trying his best to deny liberty to a man; just trying to pray.

Thanks for the thread, Amerigo Vespucci.

[BobbyBoring]

28. If you put the total IQs of these "Christians" together

You'd come up a little short of a half wit

[SkyDaddy7]

29. Religion is such a wonderful human idea!! nt.

[BobbyBoring]

30. I learned everything I need to know about Islam

From Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh.

I bet there's not ONE in this whole crowd of riff raff that knows that Islam, Christianity, and Judaism all have the same root in the big fairy tale

[CLANG]

31. Ugly, UGLY, Americans. I feel ill from watching that.

[WiffenPoof]

33. And People Wonder...

why people like me reject the very notion of religion. Absurd...truly absurd.

-PLA

[Courtesy Flush]

34. If there were a god lightning would have struck about a minute unto that.

They make me proud to be an atheist.

[Charleston Chew]

35. Religious Fundamentalism, Impact On Everyday Life

Sam Harris Talks About Religious Fundamentalism And Its Impact On Everyday Life

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=526277&mesg_id=526277

[CrawlingChaos]

42. Fighting Islamophobia with Islamophobia?

Sam Harris spouts many of the same bogus, hate-mongering talking points as the mouth-breathing Christians bullies in the OP's video!

[Charleston Chew]

58. question

Is everything black and white in your little world?

[CrawlingChaos]

60. sincere question for you

Doesn't it bother you to see atheism hijacked by a right-wing, warmongering agenda?

Doesn't it bother you that Sam Harris openly supports torture and harassment of an ethnic group? If not, why not?

[lunasun]

36. Muslim dude Jesus luvs you but his followers hate you+ they need clothing consultations also

[WhoIsNumberNone]

37. Where do I start with these knuckle-draggers?

Hey al-Qaeda- You need a recruiting film? Here it is, brought to you by our own right-wing Christians. Way to turn the other cheek you neanderthals!

[Divine Discontent]

38. they may call themselves whatever they call themselves, but they're ignorant! they don't behave

like any compassionate believer I know. I don't hang with violent types like that. That is scary. Smell the extremism... I'm probably correct in stating they know very little about Christ's teaching at the Sermon on the Mount, and turning the other cheek, being the "salt of the earth", the "light of the world" and understanding they shouldn't be all over this man doing his own things, and that they should, "judge not, lest ye be judged."

[Spiderzumbie]

39. "He's a Oddball"- Guy wearing DAVY CROCKETT HAT, JESUS LEATHER VEST, AND HARLEY DAVIDSON WINDBREAKER

:D

[Buddha2B]

40. A showcase of the worst America has to offer

As an Australian (Foreigner), I refuse to believe this is typical of most Americans.

I can't believe the country is dominated by such ignorant knuckle dragging hate filled goons who invoke the name of Jesus, yet act in a very devilish way.

[MisterGamut]

41. The ending

Where they were singing a hymn they didn't even know the words to as their neglected holy flags toppled over in the wind. THAT was perfect.

[Tx4obama]

43. K & R n/t

[Tx4obama]

44. Well we all know that the 'crazies' can't spell correctly on signs, BUT

did ya'll notice that the gut at the 3:15 minute mark got the date/numbers on his sign wrong?

Instead of 3/3/11 it says: 3/3/011

I've never seen it that way before!

[bengalherder]

45. These are REAL Christians:

[ReggieVeggie]

46. What is it they say? Islam is the religion of hate?

These Christians need to go back to sunday school.

[LuckyTheDog]

47. Somebody has to say it

What's with the fur coat?

[Skip_In_Boulder]

56. You just knew that Turd Terry Jones had to show up again sometime

and if I am not mistaken, and I'm not, Randell Terry has been suspected in a couple of murders.

Also of interest. Who knew? Terry Jones and Rush Limbaugh were high school classmates

[Charleston Chew]

57. JONATHAN MILLER'S BRIEF HISTORY OF DISBELIEF

In this first ever television history of disbelief, Jonathan Miller goes on a journey exploring the origins of his own lack of belief and uncovering the hidden story of atheism.


__________
Atheism:
Jonathan Miller's Brief History of Disbelief
- Shadows of Doubt
Jonathan Miller visits the absent Twin Towers to consider the religious implications of 9/11 and meets Arthur Miller and the philosopher Colin McGinn. He searches for evidence of the first 'unbelievers' in Ancient Greece and examines some of the modern theories around why people have always tended to believe in mythology and magic.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2250104590805018608#

Atheism:
Jonathan Miller's A Brief History of Disbelief
- Noughts and Crosses
With the domination of Christianity from 500 AD, Jonathan Miller wonders how disbelief began to re-emerge in the 15th and 16th centuries. He discovers that division within the Church played a more powerful role than the scientific discoveries of the period. He also visits Paris, the home of the 18th century atheist, Baron D'Holbach, and shows how politically dangerous it was to undermine the religious faith of the masses.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3162184064060187674#

Atheism:
Jonathan Miller's A Brief History of Disbelief
- The Final Hour
The history of disbelief continues with the ideas of self-taught philosopher Thomas Paine, the revolutionary studies of geology and the evolutionary theories of Darwin. Jonathan Miller looks at the Freudian view that religion is a 'thought disorder'. He also examines his motivation behind making the series touching on the issues of death and the religious fanaticism of the 21st century.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=502247489673453933#

__________

[NuclearDem]

61. The Quran is not a book of peace?

Oh, sorry, I thought they were talking about the Old Testament...