This diary has been cross posted to my blog, where I've posted a photo of Dubya announcing the placing of the Koran in the library, along with links mentioned below.

Tired of fielding inquiries about Obama's "muslim" upbringing?  Are flag pin questions driving you bonkers?  Are the constant trips to Wikipedia and Project Vote-Smart to dig up all the great legislation Obama has sponsored giving you jet lag?

Now you can just send those inquiring minds here.

Someone took the time to put the answers to all of the most common (and obnoxious) questions about Obama's candidacy in a three and a half minute presentation that even the most low-info denominator could sit through and comprehend.

So if you feel like one more question about Obama's connection to the Weathermen is going to make your head explode, link them up and send them on their way.  If they're still convinced Obama was sworn in on a copy of the Qur'an, there's probably not much more you can say to convince them.

News Item:   U.S. soldier in Iraq used Koran for target practice

I look at some of the unbelievably short-sighted replies to Mash's diary about the so-called soldier who used the Quran for target practice, and I'm left wondering if we've learned anything at all from what happened at Abu Ghraib.  It's obvious now that we haven't ... and this is yet another disgrace that can be laid squarely on the feet of the most incompetent Secretary of Defense we've had in recent memory.

They scrawled the words "Fuck yeah" on the pages of the Holy Koran and then they shot it full of holes. Last week a few American soldiers in Iraq thought it would be cool to use the Koran for target practice. The US commander on the ground, Major General Jeffery Hammond, has quickly apologized to try to repair the damage. I hope it will be enough, but I seriously doubt that fallout from this act of stupidity by a few soldiers can be contained.

This ought to really raise the ire of condemnation within the Fundamentalist Christian Community,
especially as practiced in the U.S..

Dialog already started
at site of this report, Story of Jesus Through Iranian Eyes

New Movie By Iranian Filmmaker Tells Story of Christianity From Muslim Perspective

You can watch a short video report
of this movie.

Entitled Is it ignorance, evil, mental illness. . . or all three?

Regarding claims in a recent forwarded email that Obama is a radical Muslim who will not pledge allegience to the flag and was sworn into office with the Koran, the author states these allegations are confirmed on Snopes.  

Check it again:

http://www.snopes.com/...

The creator of these claims should be deeply ashamed, or if he is incapable of shame, should be scorned by all who encounter his email containing the false and inflamatory accusations.

Those who forwarded it to friends and family should alert them that it is wrong, and that they regret having passed such  

Even though Obama is NOT my candidate of choice, I am sickened by the mean-spiritedness of this attack on his character.  I will preserve this as a powerful example of free spech which violates both Christian values and American ideals, and which paradoxically must be tolerated to preserve Constitutional freedoms.

A few days ago, several Oklahoma state lawmakers have shown their true colors by refusing to accept a copy of the Koran. It was given in the spirit of friendship and peace. Oklahoma State

Rep. Rex Duncan, R-Sand Springs, refused a copy of the Quran earlier this week, saying, "Most Oklahomans do not endorse the idea of killing innocent women and children in the name of ideology."

You know what Mr. Duncan, you need to tell Bush and Cheney that you do not endorse the idea of killing innocent women and children in the name of ideology, but I suspect the bloody irony would be lost on you.

Not only did he refuse, 24 out of 149 state lawmakers in all refused. Gov. Brad Henry (D) and Rep. Dan Sullivan (R) both Christians accepted. nanoboy has diaried the refusal. I also felt it important I chime in too.

Oh, ignorance.  Sadly, there is so much of it my state that even the legislators can be incredibly crass and downright intolerant.  Apparently, when a group of people interested in educating people about their religion offer free copies of the Koran to such legislators, that group is automatically labeled as terrorists.  It only makes sense, right?

I have this information from a well connected, very wealthy. ex-army, diehard republican from ultra rich Southern CT. It has to be true. My sister got this scoop from him. My sister is a staunch democrat, Always has been. A complete dove, who might even believe John Lennon’s "Imagine" is possible.  Wonderful thought but deluded.

I know what you are thinking. Why the hell is this fool telling us about his sister and what has it got to do with the wonderful news of troop withdrawal? I promise I will soon get to that after a "little" more ground work. My sister’s name is Kelli. About 15 years ago, Kelli got shafted (like many) by big business. She was a manager of a national children’s toy/clothing store chain when she hurt her back on the job and couldn’t work any more. Like usual, they weaseled their way out of it being on the job and screwed her. She got nothing.  

With a recent article, "The List: The World's Stupidest Fatwas," Foreign Policy, of all publications, manifests a lack of political correctness that's not only surprising, but borders on the giddy. In the process, it provides us with a glimpse into how difficult it is to convince Americans that Islam is not the black sheep of religions.

A fatwa, of course, is a legal ruling issued by an Islamic scholar. An example of one singled out in the byline-less Foreign Policy article is banning the polio vaccine on the grounds that elements in the West had tinkered with it to sterilize Muslims. (Hey, don't give our intelligence agencies any ideas.)

Others include outlawing Pokémon to banning sex while naked. Of course, Muslims themselves often laugh at what might be called the lighter side of Islam. (Yes, it exists. Nothing can ever take away from the wonders of the Mulla Nasrudin, as made famous by Idries Shah.)

I know all the conservatives are up in arms over this, but why not the liberals? As one with a foot in each camp, I'm seriously disappointed that, while liberals will champion free speech in other countries (Kareem Amer, for example) they stray away from doing so in the USA (Stanislav Shmulevich, anyone?).

Jihad: Holy War.  This is meaning of the word Jihad as it is interpreted by most Americans and non-Muslims, and rightfully so.  The events of the past few years, or even the past decade, make it easy to draw conclusions about other cultures and religions.  While most Americans have heard the word jihad broadcast on one of the uncountable news bulletins from Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Iran, or any other hot bed of Islamic violence, the vast majority do not know anything about the Islamic culture, let alone the true meaning of jihad.  We are trained by the media to associate the word jihad with bloodshed, terrorism, and suicide bombings.  It is not really trickery on behalf of the media, but rather the fundamental stretch of application that is employed by the Islamic extremists.  Before we delve into this, let’s take a look at the meaning of Jihad.

I am always wary when religion and politics are mixed. I am especially wary when the politics of religion is disguised as charity. As a Muslim in America, and as a blogger, I have always attempted to raise the warning flag when I have seen a dangerous politicization of Islam, or when I have seen attacks upon Islam motivated by hate only. In the post-9/11 world I think it is important as a Muslim to explain the religion to non-Muslims in an attempt to foster understanding and hopefully some sanity.

So earlier today, I posted about how I love America.  It was in reference to Keith Ellison, the new Congressional Representative from Minnesota, being sworn into office.

There was a great stink, wailing, and gnashing of teeth from many folks in the right-wing blogosphere about Ellison having the unmitigated nerve, the gall, to be "sworn in" while holding his hand on a copy of the Koran.  Ellison, you see, is a Muslim, and the Koran is the holy book of the Islamic religion.

I wrote about this "controversy" a while back when it was first going on.  One of the worst offenders of the bigoted crowd was a guy named Dennis Prager, who wrote a column insisting that Ellison should not be allowed to be sworn in while using the Koran.

It's so wonderful that Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to be elected to Congress is going to use Thomas Jefferson's copy of the Koran, brought over from the Library of Congress, to get sworn into Congress, especially after all the silly hullabaloo about the whole Koran thing.

At least they aren't using Jefferson's Bible.  

FLASH
PRIORITY
FROM - DNI/DC
TO - ALL POSTS, ALL NIC AGENCIES

Subject T. Jefferson has a substantial DHS file and is the subject of ongoing counter-terrorism investigation by British authorities.  He is known to have consorted with domestic and foreign organizations advocating the violent overthrow of established governments.  

Subject has authored numerous written works advocating armed resistance and is known to have been the architect and leader of a revolutionary separatist group planning attacks on the British government and its territories.

New development in case:  NSA confirms report that T. Jefferson keeps Islamicist materials in a substantial library that contains chemistry books and other technical works that might be referenced by and be of use to terrorists.  Ref. cable: http://www.dailykos.com/...

Directors Homeland Security and Central Intelligence recommend Extraordinary Rendition of this High-Value Individual.

Action Line - DETAIN & RENDER.  Director National Intelligence concurs.

J. Negroponte
DNI
03JAN2007

Reprinted from The Satirical Political Report http://satiricalpolitical.com/

On the first day of the War on Christmas
My multi-cultural enemies gave to me . . .
A Muslim Congressman swearing on the Koran

On the second day of the War on Christmas
My multi-cultural enemies gave to me . . .
Two lesbian moms
And a Muslim Congressman swearing on the Koran

On the third day of the War on Christmas
My multi-cultural enemies gave to me . . .
Three French Kerrys
Two lesbian moms
And a Muslim Congressman swearing on the Koran