We stand in sympathy and shared mourning with the people of Norway over their loss in the horrific terrorist attack of July 22, 2011 in Oslo. We can only imagine the pain of parents who have lost their children, and the pain of families that have lost their loved ones. They are not just numbers or statistics, but they were unique and special human beings who loved and were loved. As I am writing this, some of the first funerals have ended, and those families and friends have gone home to remember their loved ones.
While we may want to “make sense” of such horrific terrorism against innocent children and people, the truth is there is no rational reason for the monstrous actions that Anders Behring Breivik has confessed to committing.
But as the world watches the courage of the Norwegian people after this terrorist attack, we must also find the courage to urge our society to make changes that would discourage inspiring such individuals as Mr. Breivik. Too many have known too much for too long, and not done enough to stop the rise of hatred in our world. Our sympathies to the Oslo families must not be half-hearted regrets, but must be full-hearted commitment to find ways to change, including standing up for our responsibilities to one another.
We have many freedoms as human beings. But with great freedoms comes great responsibilities. Any cause or campaign for human rights must understand these basic aspects of human society.
Those who work in the vital and passionate cause of human freedom must also remember that the struggle for such universal human rights are for all people. That includes human rights for those we may disagree with, as common brothers and sisters in the human race – the only race that matters.
It has been my privilege to preside over a coalition of individuals passionate about human rights that periodically come together for different human rights issues, coordinated by Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.). We address different human rights issues for people of all nationalities, religions, races, and genders, because equality and liberty is a right for all. When equality and liberty is denied for some, it is our problem as fellow human beings.
Our slogan has been “Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.”
I was surprised to discover how controversial that slogan would be. A number of people have told me how weak it sounds, and how they did not find it sufficiently inspirational to “fight” for human rights. But we are not “fighting,” we are reaching out. We may challenge anti-freedom ideologies, and we may even confront organizations’ activities, but our goal is to reach out to our fellow human beings everywhere for consistency on the cause of our universal human rights.
While we may disagree with the ideas, words, and activities of some, as human beings we must reach out to offer love and our shared human rights to all, including those who would call themselves our enemies. Some may wonder how can we love those who view us as their enemies? But the real question is: how can stand for universal human rights and NOT love our fellow human beings? Our greatest defense for these rights is not our passion for campaigns and causes, but it is our compassion for one another as human beings.
There are some who believe that they can work for human rights, just for one culture, one religion, one race, one group, and not others, because they believe that only their group deserves such rights. That perspective negates the very term “human rights.”
Confessed terrorist Anders Behring Breivik may have believed that human beings in only some groups, religions, and cultures are entitled to human rights, and even life itself. But those who believe in human rights must always reject such exclusionary and supremacist philosophies – and we must never forget the grim results of such thinking. We must always remember that all human beings have human rights, including Mr. Breivik.
The challenge our society faces is how to balance our disagreements with dignity and compassion. For some and in some instances, this may be difficult. But we are reminded by the terrorist attack in Oslo, what happens when we do not make love and dignity for our fellow human beings our first priority.
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This will be continued in “Oslo and Finding the Courage to Change — A Commitment to Change Our Dialogue (Part II).”
July 29, 2010: Anti-Islam Hate Group Dove World Outreach Center Pastor Jones Interviewed on CNN on "Burn A Koran Day" Plans (Photo: CNN Video Snip)
The CNN video is shown online. Excerpts from the interview follow. Hate pastor Terry Jones came on CNN to state that “Islam is of the Devil,” and to promote his right to burn the Qur’an. Terry Jones stated that as the Qur’an “is not sacred to… in doing this action… on burning the Qur’an on 9/11, what we are saying is stop to Islam.” Terry Jones stated that the group viewed that “Islam is of the Devil.” Jones also said that Muslims have “right to worship,” and the CNN interviewer made no comment about Dove World Outreach’s support of protests against mosques, including its July 4 protest of a mosque in Gainesville, Florida.
The CNN interviewer asked Terry Jones “why would you sound or do something as hateful as to burn their most sacred book?” Terry Jones’ reply was “Because we believe that the times call for it. It calls for radical times. If we do not stand up, if we do not do something, if we do not… this church and other churches call people to stand up, do you know what is going to happen to us? We are going to end up like Europe… A true Muslim is a believer in the Qur’an…in Sharia law…” Terry Jones ended by asking “Is that a religion we want in America?”
Dove World Outreach Anti-Islam Hate Campaigns: "Burn A Koran Day," Protest Against Florida Mosque, Partners with Westboro Baptist Church (Photos: Facebook)
The 1991 Muslim Brotherhood memorandum entered into evidence during the HLF trial was entitled “An Explanatory Memorandum for the General Strategic Goal for the Group in North America” and included the following statements. “The process of settlement is a ‘Civilization-Violent Extremist Process’ with all the word means. The Ikhwan must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand Violent Extemism in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and ‘sabotaging’ its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God’s religion is made victorious over all other religions. Without this level of understanding, we are not up to this challenge and have not prepared ourselves for Violent Extemism yet. It is a Muslim’s destiny to perform Violent Extemism and work wherever he is and wherever he lands until the final hour comes, and there is no escape from that destiny except for those who chose to slack. But, would the slackers and the Mujahedeen be equal.”
My Repeated Political Challenges to MAS and the Muslim Brotherhood
However, to those who claim that the Muslim Brotherhood and MAS are “terrorist organizations,” you need to take a look at the U.S. federal government list of terrorist organizations. These groups are not on there. Whether we agree with what they have to say or not, whether we like what they have have to say or not, they have a right to freedom of expression and freedom of speech. If groups commit a crime, our obligation is to contact law enforcement. Clearly, the FBI and federal law enforcement is aware of these groups and their actions. Those groups have not been accused of any crimes or violations. Until and unless the federal law enforcement views that individuals or groups have committed a crime, they have the same freedoms as any other people. We have seen in Dearborn, Michigan, in London, and many other locations, that mosques (and other houses of worship) do not shield those who are suspected of criminal activity.
Attacks on our universal human rights and dignity are wrong – no matter what your ideology is and no matter what your religion is. When I have condemned religious extremists for their views that challenge our human rights, I have never condemned any single religion.
In my years of challenging such political views, I have never called for denying their freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, or freedom of worship. In my years of challenging such political views, I have never attacked an entire religion or condemned an entire religion. That is the “red line” against their Constitutional rights and their universal human rights that others seek to violate.
That is what the Taliban extremists and Communist Chinese totalitarians do. But for those who support our universal human rights, and those who are patriotic Americans that love our Constitution and our freedom, seeking to deny freedom of religion and freedom of worship is unacceptable — not just for those we like or those like us — but for everyone. It is un-American.
… including the Muslim America Society (MAS) and the mosques that they seek to build, whether you like the MAS views and political stances or not.
Despite the anger of those in Staten Island and in Brooklyn’s Sheepshead Bay, in America, we have freedom of religion and freedom of worship. To those who seek to harass those seeking to exercise their legitimate right to freedom of worship, and to those in Brooklyn with the despicable calls to seek to “bomb” their mosques, you need to read the Constitution of this country which defends our human rights, which since the beginning of America have been a “declaration,” not a question. Our inalienable human rights are the basis of America’s Declaration of Independence, which defines what it means to be an “American.”
The audacity of some to believe that they have the power to defy freedom of religion and freedom worship, something that ultimately is between you and the higher power you believe in, is astounding. To those who believe that they can defy such immutable human rights, who do you think you are? No matter what you do, others will find another way to worship – even if it is like oppressed Christians in Indonesia whose church has been harassed by the anti-democracy group Hizb ut-Tahrir – you end up praying in the street.
Those who seek to spread hate and terror really want us to abandon such support for freedom of religion and worship – so that they can drag us down to their level. It is important that we understand that in the larger, historical sense this is not as much about them as it is about the rest of us who are responsible for equality and liberty. The question is whether or not we will stand steadfast to our support for basic human freedoms and human rights when it is not easy or when it is unpopular to do so. That is the real challenge for this generation.
On the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) Facebook page, SIOA supporters are promoting articles seeking to legally ban Islam in the United States of America, and one SIOA supporter seeks Americans to “close all mosques while there is still time!” The SIOA supporters discussions are on the “legal guidelines for the criminalization of Islam in the United States.” One of the SIOA supporters seems resigned however that “As long as there will be people who will argue that they have religious freedom they will be protected.” This was posted on the SIOA Facebook page on Sunday, July 18, 2010.
SIOA Supporters Call for Ban on Islam in USA (Photo: Facebook)
The SIOA leadership is not unaware of such postings on the SIOA Facebook page.
That same morning, Sunday July 18, 2010, the SIOA Executive Director called for Jewish Americans to support the “English Defence League – Jewish Division,” along with a new media video report of Ms. Geller speaking on Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) News about the plans to protest the Park Place mosque in New York City.
SIOA Executive Director Posts on SIOA Facebook on Morning of July 18, 2010 - AFTER FB Posts Calling for Criminalization of Islam
On Sunday July 18, 2010, the SIOA Executive Director of the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) group called for Jewish Americans to support the “English Defence League – Jewish Division.” Another SIOA supporter stated that a “there is a group like this starting in the US!” The SIOA Executive Director Pamela Geller has promoted the efforts of the English Defence League (EDL) numerous times on her Atlas Shrugs website.
SIOA Executive Director Promotes English Defence League (EDL) Group (Photo: Facebook)
In June 2010, the Jewish Chronicle reported how the English Defence League (EDL) is seeking to recruit new Jewish members. Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, told the Jewish Chronicle: “The EDL’s supposed ‘support’ for Israel is empty and duplicitous. It is built on a foundation of Islamophobia and hatred which we reject entirely. Sadly, we know only too well what hatred for hatred’s sake can cause. The overwhelming majority will not be drawn in by this transparent attempt to manipulate a tense political conflict.”
Clashes: English Defence League protesters break through barriers during a demonstration through the streets of Dudley (Photo: Daily Mail/PA Wire - David Jones)
On July 19, 2010, the Birmingham Mail reported on another EDL violent protest in Dudley. According to the Birmingham Mail, “Violence flared as police attempted to get the protesters back on to buses at the end of the demonstration with EDL supporters throwing bricks and metal security fences at riot police.” According to the Mail, “Several shops and cars in the town were damaged and police said they would trawl through hours of CCTV footage to find the offenders.” The Dudley News reported that “A total of 21 arrests were made during the day, including 17 for violent disorder, two for affray, one for a public order offense and one for possessing an offensive weapon.” Dudley council leader Anne Millward condemned the EDL protesters and stated “We are saddened Dudley has again been targeted by the EDL… Yet again this group of outside extremists have shown they are incapable of demonstrating peacefully and have brought public disorder and violence to our town.”
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UPDATE:
On July 22, 2010, British police arrested English Defence League leaders on suspicion of a plotting a bomb attack on a British mosque.
“ARMED police opened fire on a van as they swooped on a far-right group suspected of plotting to blow up a mosque. Cops used special tyre deflation rounds to disable a Ford Escort van driven by English Defence League official John Broomfield. Officers smashed a window and hauled the suspect out while he was stuck in traffic near the picturesque tourist spot of Corfe Castle, Dorset.”
“Police then raided Mr Broomfield’s home in nearby Swanage and seized computer equipment, mobile phones and passports. Five more English Defence League members and another person were also arrested in simultaneous raids at several addresses. The suspects were questioned about an alleged conspiracy to bomb a mosque in Bournemouth. All were later released without charge.”
…
“Police confirmed details of the arrests. A spokesman added: ‘At this stage there is no indication that mosques in Dorset are under threat of attack.'”
======================================= Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) condemns such calls for hatred against any identity group, any religion, and R.E.A.L. rejects calls by those who seek to deny anyone’s freedom of religion and freedom of worship. R.E.A.L. rejects those who call for violence and who support violent protest organizations.
We urge all those who hate to release the burden of hate from their hearts, and respect their fellow human beings and our universal human rights.
We have learned that the anti-Islam group “Dove World Outreach Center” church today has reached a new level of promoting anti-Islamic hatred by promoting an “International Burn a Koran Day” on Facebook. The Gainesville, Florida-based Dove World Outreach Center states that “On September 11th, 2010 we will burn the Koran on the property of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, FL in remembrance of the fallen victims of 9/11 and to stand against the evil of Islam. Islam is of the devil!” The Anti-Islamic group states it mission as “To bring to awareness to the dangers of Islam and that the Koran is leading people to hell. Eternal fire is the only destination the Koran can lead people to so we want to put the Koran in it’s place – the fire!”
R.E.A.L. rejects such websites of hate and calls for book burning.
Dove World Outreach Center Promotes Anti-Islamic Hatred on Facebook - Image 1 (Photo: Facebook)Dove World Outreach Center Promotes Anti-Islamic Hatred on Facebook - Image 2 (Photo: Facebook)
In the small town of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 650 residents came out to speak out about the plans to build an new Islamic mosque, to replace the existing facility. The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro already has an existing facility, but according to ABC, it seeks to develop a larger facility for its 250 family membership. The Murfreesboro, TN population is estimated at around 100,000, and it is 30 miles from Nashville.
During the meeting on the proposed new mosque and Islamic facility, ABC reported that residents displayed “ugly criticism” that “some sharing their opposition in public comments… [made comments] that at times turned intolerant.” The Tennessean reported that “Plans for a new Islamic center south of Murfreesboro have some residents denouncing the Muslim religion and others calling the dispute one of the ugliest displays of religious intolerance in the county’s history… Many saw the event as an embarrassing black eye for Rutherford County over a lack of religious tolerance, while dozens reiterated their fears and charges that the mosque needs to be held to high scrutiny and regarded with heavy suspicion.”
News Channel 5 reported that “The area the Islamic Center purchased land already had the correct zoning for a church, therefore did not need a public hearing before it was approved. That fact upset many people who came to Thursday night’s meeting.”
Video Clip from Tennessee Mosque Protest (Photo: News Channel 5)
Another report stated that “Dozens spoke for an allotted 3 minutes each during the two hour public portion of the meeting. None spoke in favor of the mosque.”
Responsible for Equality and Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights to freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience for all people of all faiths. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”
We urge those who promote hate and intolerance to unburden the hate from their hearts.
