A citizen of Saudi Arabia, saying "We don't have a problem with other religions"? Sure -- as long as they stay out of the Kingdom.
From a puff piece entitled "Students, envoys and tongue-tied" in the Times Leader (thanks to News4U), about Saudi students at Wilkes University:
For Saudi rulers, the program is a way to repair their kingdom’s image in the U.S. with person-to-person contact. In April 2005, President Bush and then-Crown Prince Abdullah issued a statement in support of more interaction between the two countries, including a pledge to “increase the number of young Saudi students to travel and study in the United States.”...Although the Saudis admit they were a little nervous about American attitudes toward Muslims before they came here, Hussain said everyone has been “very kind, very lovely so far.”
From a lounge in the basement of the school’s library, Yami and Hussain talked about adjusting to life in the U.S. Behind them hung a white board that said “Wilkes Masjid” and had prayer times listed under it. Because they must pray five times a day in between classes and studying, the men have been using the lounge as a makeshift mosque.
Blanchard said she sees the Saudis’ presence as an opportunity to clear up some of the misconceptions about their country. “Part of the excitement of getting to know them is to see their culture in a new light and a more accurate and truthful light — to meet people as individuals.”
Hussain, the oldest of the group, has been giving presentations on campus to educate American students about his country. One troubling misconception, he said, is the idea that many Saudis support terrorism. “We don’t hate Americans; we don’t have a problem with other religions and other countries.”
Yami added that many Saudis despise al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden. “We have been attacked ourselves,” he said, referring to a May 2003 al-Qaida bombing in Riyadh that killed westerners and Saudis.
“Osama has killed people from my tribe, with my family name,” Yami said. “Most people in my country hate him.”
Oh, well then, I guess most people in Saudi Arabia reject the ideology of jihad and Islamic supremacism, eh?
"How doth the little crocodile
Improving his shining tail;
And pour the waters of the Nile
On every golden scale!
How cheerfully he seems to grin,
How neatly spreads his claws,
And welcome little fishes in
With gently smiling jaws."
-Lewis Carroll's only known poem about Islamic evangelism.
"Blanchard said she sees the Saudis’ presence as an opportunity to clear up some of the misconceptions about their country.
Misconceptions? Who knew? Apparently we've all been fooled. I know I have. Sure hope that Yami and Hussain clear everything up real soon so we can all get back business. Thanks guys. I'm sure that we will all sleep better once you two boys clear up those pesky "misconceptions." Hats off to the brave folks at Wilkes University for saving Western Civilization.
Yeah right.
http://xfiles.wearehere.net/believe.htm
Well, I've never had that happen before. The correct link....
http://www.littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=8070_Apartheid_Mecca
Pluralistic Arabia? No Islamic supremacy? Hmmmm
They have been well prepared for this.
These young Arabs know where to go for 'spiritual guidance' and they will use their time in the US well to make da'awa. Perhaps some of them will have infidel (unsuspecting) females fall in love with them, for few western kids are ill prepared to deal with cunning Mohammedans who sucked the hatred in with the mothers-milk, and for whom lies and deception are a way of life...
Like us Aussies who are obsessed with giving everybody 'a fair go...'
All of it to end, inevitably, in disaster...
The Bush government should have learned a lesson after 9/11, but they didn't.
It seems all is worse then its ever been...
Ah well, whats wrong with a little cultural exchange, a bit of 'inter-faith-dialogue...'
O Prophet, strive hard [fighting] against the unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be harsh with them. Their abode is Hell, an evil refuge indeed.
--- God's commandment in the Koran 9:71
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.
--- God's commandment in Koran 8:59
No problem with other relgions? These young Saudi students are apostates, and their heads are to be sawed off with steak knives! For this is the Koranic God's commandment.
The Prophet said, "If a Muslim discards his religion, kill him."
--- Mohammed's command in Bukhair Bukhari V4B52N260
This reporter up in eastern PA, he should crack a book.
To sheik yer'mami'
I have an idea for another good user name - sheik yer' bhutti.
I guess they love us the same way OJ loved nicole.
What else can they say when asked stupid questions like "how do you like America?" "Is everyone treating you like a leper, or do you feel right at home?" I'm sure these guys and the other 9,998 who were chosen for this spy and espionage mission to the Great Satan were well indoctrinated by the Saudi government before they left home. They are all agents of the Saudi government. I wonder how many female students came? I wonder why we aren't doing an exchange program so Americans can go to Saudi Arabia and partake of its magnificent culture and superb educational system.
This is just another way for the Saudis to infiltrate our universities and gather more intelligence to use against us. They've been doing it for forty years. My God, you would think we had enough Saudi filth festering in America already in the hundreds of mosques they have erected, manned with rabid Wahabbi clerics and devoted congregations. How much more Wahabbi do we need?!
I wonder how many of our college age kids are waiting in line to study in Saudi Arabia? I wonder how many would have a basement given to them for church services?
Not many I'll bet.
Actually I am a bit confused here.
Even if a muslim says "we don't hate America"...you don't belive him.
If we say we hate Al-Q..you don't belive him.
If we reserve university places for you in Islamic countries you don't want to go.
If we try & explain Islam to you don't believe us. We want to add Islamic studies to your school cirriculum so that lack of knowledge can be removed.
We still have tribal loyalties. It is true that you cannot join these unless by birth...but this can be solved somewhat by marrying non-muslim womens....conversion and childrens will make them part of the tribe.
So...I am a bit of a loss as to what this thread is asking for ...muslims are complying & more.
Naseem:
The post is not "asking for" anything. It is keeping readers at the site up-to-date both with the public relations tactics that are being used by Saudis and with the to-say-the-least uncritical attitude of many in the Western media to developments that require more awareness, caution, thought, and analysis than they are customarily given.
If you are interested in reasoning, as you indicated earlier, you might like to have a look at this:
http://www.gbt.org/Theatetus.html
The movement of the discussion - the consideration of different suggestions for a definition and the problems that are seen to arise with each in turn - is what is of interest here.
Of course they were thoroughly screened and briefed before being selected to come to the USA. No surprise there.
Note also that they now pray in the lounge--is it still available for general use, or is it now the unofficial Saudi prayer room, and none other may use it? Where did the previous users go? Do kufr studying in the lounge have to pack up and leave during prayer times? Let them pray in their rooms.
Actually I am a bit confused here.
yes naseem, we already know you are confused.But we are not.We don't care what you say,we just don't give a rat's a** what you say,its all Lie's.islam is as islam does,its not gunna change.Sugar coat it anyway you want,but will just laugh in your face.
Hey maybe the NBC NightLine show could send some Christian students to Saudi Aradia to explain the Christian faith on campus or on the street corners. Then they could film the results. I mean if they wanted to see racial and religious hatred at Nascar races they could sure see some in saudi arabia.
OK, let me spell it out for you. Admittedly, we Americans have views that seem strange to the rest of the world. When we see the American flag burned and thousands of people shouting "Death to America" we tend to think that means the people hate America. When we see our citizens murdered and the images sold for profit, we tend to think that the people hate America. We're funny that way. When airplanes are flown into buildings and we see millions of people first cheering, then denying it happened, claiming the organization that did it doesn't even exist, and coming up with all sorts of mindless alternative conspiracy theories, are we not supposed to take it personally? Most of us do. When we send aid to victims of natural disasters, what are we supposed to think when the people show up wearing Osama T-shirts, threaten those bringing the aid, and blame America for causing the disaster in the first place. When we see people carrying pictures of a Muslim flag over the White House, what are we supposed to think? When we hear calls to replace the Constitution with Sharia law and have Islam as the only tolerated religion, are we just supposed to roll over and play dead? Maybe a few spineless types will, but most won't.
Those exchange students are not in a situation where they'd be in any sort of danger. Just look up the statements by various professors if you don't believe me. And as far as not going to universities in Muslim countries, even the most brain-dead of students want to keep their limbs attached. If those exchange students really want a challange, try going to a New York City firehouse.
Yes, these views may seem strang to the rest of the world, but we Americans are a strange people.
I live in the area of the Times Leader and just sent them another very nasty letter about the religion of bullshit. I will say this though, they always publish my anti-islamic letters; they have been very good about that. The problem is not enough of us are writing letters to our respective editors and speaking publically about the threat to our civilization!
The "Through the looking Glass" author will forgive me for the first posting above, I hope, for changing his "e" to and "ing" in the verse, because my memory, upon checking, distorted his rhyme -which should read:
"How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining scales"
(I'm improving.)
Re-reading this work, it is almost a vision of a world under Sharia Law. E.G.- "Off with their heads!" etc., etc.
We prefer the word "detest". We don't be hatin'.
Saudi Arabia has 4 priests for the over 1 million Catholic laborers, waiters, waitresses, maids etc. who do the "grunt work" for the kingdom. These priests cannot leave the foreign worker compounds or they will be arrested. I think the only place you will hear about stories like this are here and at CatholicReport.org Mr Spencer does an excellent job and I believe we were the first Catholic website to interview him. In this situation, I wish Mr Spencer and I had more competition but no one seems interested in reporting on stories like this.
DAVE-
We should start a faux protest to:
GET THE 4 PRIESTS OUT OF SAUDI ARABIA NOW!
NO OTHER RELIGIONS IN ARABIA!
Which would clue the MSM in to their paltry number, and the core intolerance of Islam at its central point.
Profitsbeard:
It couldn't hurt. By the way since my initial post, I received word here at CatholicReport.org from someone who was in the Kingdom. A brave Christian soul tells me that he was stunned as to how fearless some folks are in the underground movement for spreading the Faith. I assume this person to a "guest worker" but I don't know for sure. Dare I mention, that there were Christians in the Kingdom since the Apostolic Era. How else did Mohammad find those early stories of Jesus found in the Koran. There were Christians in the Arabian Peninsula and even some Gnostics. However, as bad they were treated by the pagan tribes, I doubt the Christians were threatened with beheadings if they preached the faith outside the walled compunds as they are threatened with now. I see the Italian government has permitted the construction of a large mosque within eyesight of the Vatican. I don't think I am going to hold my breath to see if the Saudi Royal Family will allow a nice Catholic cathedral to be built in Mecca, Medina, Riyadh etc for all those Filipinos who are serving the Royals their food, cleaning their toilets and washing their cloths.
A troll fantasizes:
"...If we reserve university places for you in Islamic countries you don't want to go..."
What can our kids possibly learn from a university, (most of which don't deserve the name), in an Islamic country? Apart from the physical insecurity that an infidel in an Islamic institution must endure, what could possibly be gained from such an undertaking?
"...If we try & explain Islam to you don't believe us. We want to add Islamic studies to your school cirriculum so that lack of knowledge can be removed...."
Islamic 'explanations for Islam' are always indoctrination and da'awa. We prefer that 'Islamic studies' on our school-curriculums are of the Robert Spencer & Hugh Fitzgerald-variety, and no longer those Esposito/Koran Armstrong 'studies' that perpetuate this 'lack of knowledge,' which this Mohammedan poster so pretentiously wishes upon us...
sheik yer'mami,
"Islamic 'explanations for Islam' are always indoctrination and da'awa. We prefer that 'Islamic studies' on our school-curriculums are of the Robert Spencer & Hugh Fitzgerald-variety, and no longer those Esposito/Koran Armstrong 'studies' that perpetuate this 'lack of knowledge,' which this Mohammedan poster so pretentiously wishes upon us... "
You are spot on in your opinion. The truth is that the best studies is what folks who are not Muslim such as Robert Spencer and Hugh Fitzgerald present. They present it from the reasearch that they have put into, the sucess being both DW/JW. Also they bring an objective effort to what is presented.