"Little by little, the Lord is seeping into Howard Dean's presidential campaign." So says the New York Times. But which Lord? "In South Carolina the other day," the article says, "an invocation preceded the political speeches, and David Mack, a state legislator, closed the rally with 'God bless you and keep you.' In Iowa last weekend, Dr. Dean referred to the New Testament. On Friday in New Hampshire, he invoked a Muslim phrase, 'inshallah,' God willing, to make a point about Americans believing they control their destiny."
Shades of Bishop Chane -- apparently, any Lord will do if He will get Dean votes. Now, many Arabic-speaking Christians also use the phrase "inshallah," but I think the Times is most likely correct that in using it, Dean was trying to appear Muslim-friendly. But as President, will the man who wasn't sure that Osama bin Laden is guilty also be friendly to those of whatever creed who are trying to resist Islamic terrorism?
What a jerk! Will he win the Democratic nomination? Inshallah - NO!
Sorry, but this news item is a joke. I'm no supporter of Dean, but it is ridiculous that you suggest he might be sympathetic to militant Islamists simply because he said "God willing" in Arabic. As you mentioned, Arabic-speaking Christians use the term, as well as all 'moderate' Muslims.
If you don't like Dean, then that's fine because I don't either. And it may well be the case that Dean IS sympathetic to terrorists. However his use of the word "inshallah" is no grounds for suggesting such an idea, so please, let's not take things out of context. I use the term 'inshallah' all the time; I hope you don't accuse me of being sympathetic to terrorists.
Sir: I hope that, inshallah, you will understand that my objection to Dean's use of the term comes in the context of all his statements about terror, the war against it, and related matters.
Cordially
RS
RS: Yes, he may have said many other things to support your claim. However it is still far-fetched to try and read into his use of the phrase "inshallah" what you have suggested. He was merely trying to win over Muslim votes. To claim anything further that is very much out of context.
On a more general note, I think the work being done by this website is commendable. However, little unprofessionalisms like this reduces the site's credibility. I urge you to maintain the high standards so that all people (regardless of their political views) will be encouraged to learn from the important information provided here.
Best,
jc
Sir, I absolutely agree that he was only trying to win over Muslim votes. That is the only point I was trying to make -- along with the suggestion that besides this pathetic pandering he might also try to win over Muslim votes by being soft on the war on terror. American Muslim advocacy groups are constantly trying to make indifference and lassitude in the terror war the price for Muslim votes. They will not succeed, inshallah. RS
Robert Spencer is absolutely right. While the use of the Arabic greeting by you or me has little in the way of a far-reaching effect, when it is used by a politician to gain Muslim votes, it must be regarded with great wariness.
Politicians not only seek to gain votes--they seek to retain them. When you review all the programs which have been established by politicians in the past to buy/keep votes, you can see that should Dr. Dean actually be elected, his attempt to acquire the Muslim vote now would be followed by further, more dangerous, attempts to retain them later.
The seemingly insignificant use of a greeting by someone in Dr. Dean's position should be seen as having a "pebble in the pond" effect should he gain office.
i just want to make one point here:
'allah' and the God of the Bible: the God of Israel,
are not the same deities.
one shouldn't be careless about invoking a pagan
deity, whose followers want to kill you.
A clarification: Dean may have been invoking the God of Islam, but I was not. "Inshallah" means "God willing" and is, as noted above, a term used by Christian Arabs.
Hey, why the hostility?
1. Allah is the Arabic word for God. Muslims and Christians pray to the same God. Muslims show how Jesus is in the Quran. The Pope agrees that Muslims pray to the same God. Famous Christians such as Thomas Aquinas have agreed on that point. If you are going to still be stubborn and deny that truth, then I should remind you that Muslims and Jews pray to the same God, according to both Imams and Rabbis. Try proving that Jews and Christians don't worship the same God, you're in for a serious uphill fight.
2. So what, Dean said an arabic word, in an attempt to be NICE to muslims. That doesn't show that anybody is "soft" on terror.
3. Did we all forget that Islam does not support Terrorism? Every Imam worldwide condemned 9/11, did you even listen to a single one of them? Look around Google.
4. Insulting Muslims' religion only makes them angrier. Do you really want to piss off more people, the ones you're trying to win over in Iraq?
the truth is that the god of islam 'allah'and the
god of israel 'Jehovah' are NOT, (let that soak in),
take a deep breath exhale... repeat: NOT the same
deities.
the dhimmis may agree that 'we all pray to the same god' but it is simply not true.
John 14.6:
Jesus said: i am the way the truth and the life,
no man cometh unto the Father but by me.
take it or leave it