Community Angered Over American's Slaying (Paul Johnson)

[UpInArms]

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20040620_883.html

EAGLESWOOD TOWNSHIP, N.J. June 20, 2004 — Backlash over the beheading of a U.S. contractor in Saudi Arabia was as clear as a sign in the town where he was born.

"Stamp out Islam," read a cardboard sign that also depicted a hand-drawn boot over a crescent and star. Phil Galasso posted it on a utility pole near his house in Eagleswood Township.

"I'm getting a little fed up with the mindless violence against civilians who had nothing to do with the war in the Middle East," Galasso said Sunday. He called Islam a "vile, bigoted faith" that subjugates women and uses force to spread its message.

Authorities had not received any reports of violence against the area's small Muslim population since Paul M. Johnson Jr. was killed by Muslim extremists Friday, but anger in the community was evident, not just over just the terrorists but also their religion.

"Last night I wasn't a racist but today I feel racism towards Islamic beliefs," read a white laminated sign hung on the mailbox of the house next to that of Johnson's sister, Donna Mayeux, minutes south of Eagleswood Township in Little Egg Harbor Township.

...more...

oh my...

"mindless violence"? Yes, as is the "mindless violence" that our US gunships wrought upon a family of 20 in Fallujah.

We are all tired of the "mindless violence" that this mal-administration has unleashed by pitting our military against the world.

[Fenris]

1. "[V]ile, bigoted faith" eh?

Oh, how lovely! America the Beautiful!

:eyes:

[daleo]

2. He is fed up with mindless violence

So he advocates genocide. As Spock would say "illogical".

""Last night I wasn't a racist but today I feel racism towards Islamic beliefs," read a white laminated sign hung on the mailbox of the house next to that of Johnson's sister, Donna Mayeux, minutes south of Eagleswood Township in Little Egg Harbor Township."

I am inclined to think that nothing really changed between last night and today for the writer of this sign.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. I was afraid this would happen

I doubt if the man who put up the sign even knows any Muslims. I know he doesn't know Islam. He'd probably be very surprised to know that it is as diverse as Christianity-would he like people around the world to think that all Christians are like Jim Jones, who murdered a Congressman and then told his followers to commit mass suicide?

He would also be surprised to find out that within Islam itself there is a war between progressive and fundamentalist factions. Since Islam teaches tolerance and understanding, progressives have been slow to confront their fundamentalist brethren. But as fundamentalists, backed by Saudi money, have tried to go around the world and take over mosques and teach intolerance and hatred, progressive Muslims have stood up and are fighting back-not with weapons, but with non-violent actions.

I find it very sad that the average Muslim knows more about Christianity than the average Christian knows about Islam.

[DemocraticEnigma]

4. To be honest

I'm a Muslim, yet I think it is very inaccurate to say that the average Muslims knows more about christianity than the average Christian knows about Islam. I doubt the majority of Muslims not living in the US know a whole lot about Christianity.

About the statements in this little town, they are extremely troubling, but somewhat expected. The fact is, i don't have a whole lot of faith in the average American to be able to discern true Islam from what is presented in the media. i think it is incumbent upon us Muslims to take the initiative and save our religion before it is hijacked by these extremists. The fact is, violence perpetrated by those claiming to be "Muslim" is only going to escalate in the near future most probably, and people's attitudes towards Muslims are going to sour. I say it's time we take the fight to those who choose to distort the teachings of a peaceful and pluralistic faith.

[UpInArms]

8. welcome to DU DemocraticEnigma!

:hi:

glad to have you here!

[KittyWampus]

10. It Is Also Incumbent Upon Christians To Take The Initiative

and save their faith from being hijacked by extremists...

Actually, it's up to ALL peoples of faith to do so... and to join together.

Isn't it past time that ALL Religions recognize that at their hearts lie the same Truth.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. Amin!

If you have a chance, and it is held in your area, go to a Dance of Universal Peace meeting. The Dances are moving meditations honoring all the world's spiritual traditions, and are practiced all over the world. They have been used to promote peace and understanding among peoples since their inception in the late 1960s by Murshid Samuel L. Lewis, a Sufi master living in California.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. As Salaam

I am only going by the Muslims I know in this country, who are either immigrants or converts. But you must agree that the Qur'an does talk of Jesus as a prophet, and tells about Jesus's life. In that way, Muslims know more about Christianity than Christians do Muslims, because many of them have read nothing about the Beloved Prophet.

One of the ways I help promote peace and understanding between faiths is to promote the interfaith dialog started by my Pir and by Murshid Samuel Lewis. The Sufi Order International has a Universal Worship practice which I have found to be a bridge between faiths.

[sandnsea]

13. It just takes thinking

I don't know much of anything about Islam. I know about people though. All I have to do is apply what I know of Christianity, Jim Jones is a great example, historic Catholicism another, and then apply that knowledge to the Muslim world. Categorizing people is ignorant, there's all kinds of groups within any one organization that can cause havoc. Unfortunately, the small number of "havoc makers" seem to be in control the world over, including the fundamentalist US Christians.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Trajan]

17. AS one who rejects ALL abrahamic faiths ....

I say: a pox upon ALL three houses of Abraham ....

Faith systems lock societies into superstition and ignorance; ... at one time: Islam was a magnificent propagator of intellect and philosophy, but that time is long past ....

When a faith system divides men into 'holy' and 'sinner', then the battle for humanistic action is already lost ....

Mind you: the exegesis of the canon, IE the current interpretation of specific passages that are twisted to proclaim the latest faction as 'true and holy', and declare the latest pariahs as 'apostate and heterodox'; this has always been the case in the monotheistic civilizations ... each has had their moment of extreme weakness, finding support for committing inhumanities in so many suras or biblical verses ....

One says 'savage', the other says 'unbelief', yet another says 'heretic' .... and suddenly the swords are flying, the blood is flowing, the cries go unheeded, and the flames climb ever higher ...

Myself ? .... as an atheist ? ... I am HUMAN ....

Apostate ? ... heretic ? ... UNbelief ? ...

I am HUMAN .... and Human alone .... I have NO 'sinner', cept those who commit vile acts agains their fellow human beings, they whom I call 'criminal' ....

AS I said: a POX upon all houses that declare their approval of inhumanity that accords with the twisted exegesis of their own theologies .....

As far as Im concerned: the only 'true' theology worth adhering to is Secular Humanism, in that it seeks to promote DECENT respect for HUMAN BEINGS without considering the ignorant mores of 3000 years of supertition which formed the basis of the abrahamic faiths ....

[devinsgram]

16. Totally agree

I have been taking a college course this summer on World History beginning with the Roman Empire and leading up to sixteenth century. We are now up to the seventh century and time when the Islamic faith had its beginnings.

At first I was very hesitant to study this, but now I am thoroughly enjoying studying this part of World History. Having a chance to learn and educate myself about the religion helps me understand a lot more of what is happening right now.

The poster is right on the money when he says that Muslims know more about Christianity then Christians know about Islam.

It is not an evil religion, it is a beautiful religion and that comes from someone who is basically not into religion at all. My belief is; had it not been for organized religion, we would not have half the problems in this world that we have today. I came from a Baptist background, so maybe some of you can understand where I am coming from.

With saying that, I totally agree, it is the not the religion itself, but is the weird wacko fundamentalist elements that sic their teeth into a religion and turn it into the violent uprisings we see in the world today.

So my motto is: Unless you really know what you are talking about, please don't say anything at all. Education is the key to understanding.

[NixMyDog]

26. Speaking of tolerance

How free are those of the Jewish faith to practice their religion in Palestine? Is it even tolerated?

[JohnyCanuck]

5. Iraqi Civilians Killed by Americans in Fallujah not seen on US TV

Neither were the 10,000 or so Iraqis killed during the illegal invasion.

Let me also condemn the U.S. media and the U.S. government for never allowing the American public to see the brutal killing by the U.S. military of over 700 innocent civilians in Fallujah in the attack by General Kimmit’s forces a few months back.

Both the kidnapping of Johnson and the killings in Fallujah were wrongs and must be condemned by all moral human beings.

This has been part of the problem with our public being kept in the dark on some things, then being bombarded with others. Some of this imbalance was reduced when the photos and videos of Abu Ghraib were shown to the US public by CBS and then by others. But, to this day, it is not enough.

Yes, torture is very bad and should never have happened. But the killing of over 700 civilians, and the maiming of over a thousand in Fallujah, a city that General Kimmit and his colleagues threatened to “level” was never shown on American TV. The US would have leveled the city—but were stopped by the international outcry—this dastardly deed has never been seen by the U.S. public to this day. Yet, we know that American media people did see some of the corpses and major devastation. Al Jazeera offered the tapes to the US, but none of our media and our “courageous” media moguls wanted to show these tapes. If they had, perhaps the American people could better understand why there is so much hatred and fear of America in Iraq—especially hatred for Bush and for the American military.

700 Iraqi Civilians Killed by Americans in Fallujah Were Never Seen on American TV

[sampsonblk]

6. Don't misunderestimate these people...

they really believe this stuff. They really think that selling Apaches to this corrupt Saudi regime has nothing to do with the war in the middle east. They really think that bombing a house full of women and kids is okay (for us). They really think our torturing Iraqis is no big deal. And they really think that one American life is a catastrophe worth being racist over, but that 20 dead Iraqis is nothing but collateral damage. WOW.

[Forkboy]

7. Fuck 'em

I'm angered over thier ignorance and stupidity.

[wildwww2]

9. My religion is better than your religion. Just don`t wash with me.

I`m from a country that touts freedom of religion. But the leadership of said country is trying real hard to shove Christianity down the rest of the world`s throat. It does not compute. And calling ourselves a Christian nation. Just makes freedom of religion an oxymoron.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[Solly Mack]

14. Now that's the real Mission Accomplished Bush was going for

Play on the prejudices of the masses...fire up their hate...and then just stand back and reap the benefits of their ignorance

[Karenina]

22. And reap the benefits of their ignorance...

Hallo!!! :hi: :loveya: :hi:

So einfach ist das. :cry:

[Postman]

15. The corporate media is failing the country....

We get ironclad news-reporting of American civilians (who had to travel 6000 miles) getting their heads lopped off but when it comes to the high-tech American weaponry beheading children in Fallujah we get reporting that casts doubt on those types of stories.

The people in that town are ignorant (not unintelligent) of US foreign policy and its implications.

If they are not ignorant and still react this way, then I'm at a loss for words as to the "evil" that Americans withold in their hearts.

[Disturbed]

18. Scary!

I bet that there are million of American who feel that way. This is one of the main reasons that 67% of Americans still believe that Saddam and Al Q. had a "relationship". This is why BushCo gets away with War Crimes. This is why BushCo could stay in power.

[Swamp Rat]

21. Yes

This is why I say that certain journalists and the owners of corporate media are complicit in these war crimes.

[Snazzy]

19. Hate crimes laws?

If that sign, on public property, read stamp out Jesus, wouldn't the guy be in jail instead of being interviewed?

Not a rhetorical question--wondering what the law is.

[Dogmudgeon]

20. This isn't about religion at all

Those people who are spouting off about Islam are frightened, horrified, and grief-stricken. They are not making reasonable statements about politics and philosophy. They are people in pain.

--bkl

[Swamp Rat]

23. Talk about "mindless"

"Stamp out Islam?"

What does Galasso know about Islam? Unless he wants to become ONE with his own misrepresenatation of a philosophy.

"I'm getting a little fed up with the mindless violence against civilians who had nothing to do with the war in the Middle East?"

How Orwellian!

Galasso called Islam a "vile, bigoted faith that subjugates women and uses force to spread its message."

Unlike Christainity I suppose... not counting all those pesky, historical facts.

"Last night I wasn't a racist but today I feel racism towards Islamic beliefs," says Donna Mayeux.

Ok, that means you've learned how to flip flop. I guess tomorrow you will become a Hindu and learn to hate the ethnicity of some other religion.


I'm gonna look for a freeper, anti-Islam hate mail sent to me by my aunt whom also drank the koolaide.

[are_we_united_yet]

24. Pure emotion

People are being let down by our media indeed.

[keithyboy]

25. Sorry, but Paul was a part of the violence in the ME. His job made him a

part of it. I am sick and tired of all the violence on both sides. I am even more tired of America playing the macho role and not even attempting to negotiate with the insurgents to save Paul's life. Had it been one of the "elite" Americans, I bet we would have negotiated.