Nelson has got to be kidding. Jihad didn't have the same connotations before 9/11 as it does today? That's a measure of American ignorance, not of any shift in the actual meaning of jihad. And what's this about the government misinterpreting this appendix? It says to use missiles, planes and ships against the enemies of Allah, but that's supposed to refer to a spiritual struggle? Maybe Muslims are supposed to use missiles, planes, and ships against the devil, the way they throw rocks at the Great Satan in Mecca? Tell me another, Nelson. From the Mail Tribune of Southern Oregon, with thanks to Cindy:
ASHLAND — Pete Seda and his former Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation passed out copies of what the federal government considers to be a radical version of the Quran that includes a call to jihad, or holy war, against those who do not believe in Islam.The book, called "The Noble Quran," includes a chapter, called "Appendix 3," that tells readers to "race to jihad" and to include weapons such as missiles, planes and ships against the enemies of Allah.
Tom Nelson, the Portland attorney licensed as the Al-Haramain agent here, acknowledged the appendix’s presence Saturday, saying that he believes government misinterprets it and uses it to paint the group as terrorists.
"That’s the one that’s driving people nuts," Nelson said....
This version of the Quran was printed before the Sept. 11 attacks, when jihad did not have the same holy war connotations as today, Nelson said.
"I can see how Americans can be upset about it after 9/11," Nelson said. "I don’t think they would have pre-9/11."
Despite the appendix’s many references to violence and war, Nelson prefers to consider jihad as a "struggle" and that Islam teaches that "death is better than oppression."
That's a quote from the Qur'an (2:191), which brings to mind the fact that while everyone seems to be in a lather about this appendix, there are plenty of things to cause concern in the book itself. But of course, pointing that out will just get you called a lot of names.
"A call to jihad means (something) completely different to a Westerner than an Easterner," said Nelson, who is a practicing Muslim."There are all kinds of jihads," he said. "It can be a violent struggle. It can be a non-violent struggle."
Yes, I can see how the struggle to avoid sin would readily call for use of missiles, planes and ships.
Nelson said parts of the appendix are "somebody’s opinion of what the Quran said," though it has become a focal point for making Muslims "appear as disparaging individuals," Nelson said."Frankly, I think everybody wishes ‘Appendix 3’ was never written," Nelson said.
All right, Nelson. But do any Muslims in Oregon or elsewhere believe what is written in Appendix 3? Would you yourself have had any problem with it if it hadn't started receiving bad publicity?
It would seem that conversion to the religion of peace automatically makes you a lying liar.
Once you decide that freedom is not for you and one prefers submission, why then, of course everyone else should become a fool like yourself .
Maybe this guy should do a duet album with Cat Stevens.
The version of the Qu'ran I'd like to check out is the Zionist forgery the usual suspects were complaining about a few months ago to see how it differs from the approved versions that are distributed in North American mosques. (Were the complainants suggesting that someone was trying to make them out to be even more bellicose, beligerent and imperialistic than they show themselves to be?)
As Sam Harris points out in "The End of Faith", having read the Qu'ran himself, anyone of normal intellect who isn't suffering from a variety of personality disorders could not help but to conclude that much of it is repugnant, measurably more than either the O.T. or the N.T.
By pre-9/11 does he mean the first attack on the WTC, the attack on the USS Cole, the embassy bombings, numerous hijackings, the Barbary Pirates, the murder of over 200 Marines in Lebenon, the Iran Hostage crisis, the Munich Olympics? Or perhaps he means real Islam, the beheading of 900 Jews in Medina? I really wonder.
That is because they are now informed about islam.
Nelson apparantly prefers an ignorant population rather then an informed one.
Allah may be 'oft-merciful' and 'oft-forgiving,' but he sure knows his ordnance.
A modern, non-dhimmi, Monty Python could make a career out of Islam.
...anyone of normal intellect who isn't suffering from a variety of personality disorders could not help but to conclude that much of it is repugnant, ...
Yes, wouldn't you have to be mentally ill to actually believe and act upon the Koran? If you weren't before isn't it possible that the Koran could induce what you would have to call mental illness in a person?
Authoritarian belief systems cultivate personality and mental disorders and are very attractive to people who already have those problems for a variety of reasons. While the body of world scripture contains many insightful and life affirming observations, even the most jaded religious student must admit they also contain the ravings of obviously mentally unbalanced individuals who heard voices, hallucinated wildly, and/or made outrageous claims about themselves that would get you locked away or given your own television show today.
Isn't it amazing that the human race has given so much significance to these fantastic tales of invisible beings with incredible powers doing impossible things? So much so that people actually kill other people in arguments over these tales which are hallucinatory at best and simply bald faced lies at worst.
There are plenty of mentally ill people spewing out all sorts of new religions every day. Some claim to be channeling ascended masters, some claim to be God himself, all of them are dangerous. Many are on the internet and television peddling their wares to a host of gullible seekers. There should be a law requiring honesty in religious broadcasting. Of course if there were there wouldn't be much if any religious broadcasting.
If Mohammad were alive today and spouting his “new” message from God in today's media he would be identified and branded as the lunatic that he was and be jailed or hospitalized. Why does the cloak of religion allow mentally ill people to be revered as holy persons rather than the dangers to society that they are? Why aren't the more negative aspects of Mohammad's actions and character getting equal press time with the religion of peace? Dishonesty, fear, and out right ignorance in the media is the answer I'm afraid.
Tom Nelson is also apparently defending Soliman Buthe (officer of the al Haramain Islamic Foundation in Ashland) indicted on a fraud charge related to funding the jihad in Chechnya.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36678-2005Feb18.html
Tom Nelson said "Frankly, I think everybody wishes ‘Appendix 3’ was never written...I wish it wasn’t there. But it is."
I know what he means:
Qur’an 2:191 “And kill them wherever you find and catch them. Drive them out from where they have turned you out; for Al-Fitnah (polytheism, disbelief, oppression) is worse than slaughter.”
Qur’an 4:91 “You will find others who, while wishing to live in peace and being safe from you to gain the confidence of their people; thrown back to mischief headlong; therefore if they do not withdraw from you, and offer you peace besides restraining their hands, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them; and against these We have given you a clear sanction and authority.”
Qur’an 5:33 “The punishment for those who wage war against Allah and His Prophet and make mischief in the land, is to murder them, crucify them, or cut off a hand and foot on opposite sides...their doom is dreadful. They will not escape the fire, suffering constantly.”
Qur’an 8:59 “The infidels should not think that they can get away from us. Prepare against them whatever arms and weaponry you can muster so that you may terrorize them.”
And so on, and so on. There are so many parts of the Qur'an that I wish were not there. But they are. So, [shrug], whatchagonnado?
Pre or post 9/11 is irrelevent.
All one has to do is read the history of Mohammand
and Islam.
The "Crusades" started 400 years after the expansion of the Islamic "evil" Empire. The Christians could "turn the cheek" no longer.
The real irony is that the Islamic Empire was once greater in size than the Roman Empire. And the leftist idiots in America try to say America
is imperialistic.
Chesterton writing more than a century ago: