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More on the Florida Christian school eviction, from the Orlando Sentinel:
KISSIMMEE -- Inside a church bearing a sign that reads "People of All Nations & Races Welcome Here," Pastor Lee Wasson described what he and growing ranks of supporters say is a lesson in intolerance.Wasson said his Kissimmee Christian Academy was cast out of its old home in favor of the Islamic nonprofit Universal Heritage Foundation. The reason: religious discrimination on the part of his Muslim landlord, the minister and school director says.
Property owner Super Stop Petroleum and the nonprofit say the story is not so simple. They adamantly deny Wasson's accusation, saying the reason for the school's eviction is that it owes rent and other money. Rab Masroor, a project manager, called the allegations "absurd."
As Wasson, a growing number of Kissimmee church leaders and a conservative Web pundit stand up to what they perceive as radical Islam, they take what experts say is a black-and-white stand on murky subject.
Even authorities have trouble separating real threats from alarmist claims, said Art Teitelbaum, Southern-area director for the Anti-Defamation League.
"In a microcosmic way, this is a story on how America is responding to the perceived and actual threat of Islamic radicalism," Teitelbaum said.
They're having a tough time. Americans know the burning crosses of white supremacy and the swastikas of anti-Semitism. But what does Islamic radicalism look like? Few really know, he said.
The FBI offers little guidance, referring callers to a U.S. Department of the Treasury list of charities with established ties to terrorism.
Some of Wasson's supporters admit they, too, knew little about Islam before Muslim-owned Super Stop Petroleum of Margate filed suit for eviction against Kissimmee Christian Academy in September 2003.
Wasson, the school's director, says he paid all the rent he owed and more through an $8,000 security deposit and another $10,000 he deposited in an escrow account during the eviction process. Super Stop says the school really owes $41,500. Academy enrollment dwindled from 160 to 60 after the landlord cut off power and water during the eviction dispute. The issue is still before the courts.
After the filing, Wasson learned that Zulfiqar Ali Shah, founder of the Universal Heritage Foundation, hoped to buy the property. About the same time, the nonprofit, which said it promotes interfaith understanding, stirred controversy by inviting to a Kissimmee conference Muslim leaders described by critics as radicals who hate Jews and Christians.
The pastor concluded that his school is a victim of discrimination.
"How can this group be tolerant if they invite these people to speak and don't distance themselves from them?" Wasson asked. "What happened to us is a natural outcome of what these people believe."
Read it all.
Posted by Robert at November 26, 2004 7:05 AM
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"As Wasson, a growing number of Kissimmee church leaders and a conservative Web pundit stand up to what they perceive as radical Islam, they take what experts say is a black-and-white stand on murky subject."
The liberal press has spoken yet again -- Christians and conservatives are simple-minded childen, taking hopelessly antiquated "black-and-white" stands on issues, while liberals, ever-distant from the situation provide a nuanced response through anonymous experts. Note that these "experts" are not identified in the text. When you're being evicted by people pushing jihad, it's not a matter of grey, except to people who don't know what their homeland is and don't care what it becomes. The blood of the innocents is all over these dissembling newsmen.
~NMJ
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at November 26, 2004 8:26 AM
A boycott of Super Stop Petroleum sites would be useful.
Posted by: Hugh at November 26, 2004 10:26 AM
You would expect "Fair Housing Laws" to work both ways but when comes to American PC some things are taboooo. These mossies whether going to school, running drive-thrus,carry outs or driving trucks are quite the bullies while dealing with civilians according to quaran so in order for us to be most effective we must push very hard and become quite intolerent of their lies and manipulations. Shove their hadith down their throats.
What if on a CONUS flight there happened to be 15-20 People Of Interest who were testing Cockpit Doors, Huddling in the aisles speaking in tongues trying to create hysteria or worse yet and then suddenly one of the other 60-70 passengers says " LETS ROLL" and they all procede to don SKI MASK;would they all be A)in trouble B)Hero's.
AM YISRAEL CHAI
Posted by: Chuck at November 26, 2004 11:02 AM
Dr. Shah is hitting the blogs to make sure his accusations about "back rent" get plenty of play.
No matter. Court documents tell otherwise.
The UHF has done nothing to distance themselves from the comments of their guest speakers. A couple of them have now made it to the UHF Board.
That does matter...and a growing number of local ministers here agree that it does.
By the way, we were never formally evicted. We were "constructively" evicted. We were forced to move due to interference on our utilities (illegal in Florida) and through their harassing legal actions on an almost monthly basis.
Shah's group advertised our building as "The Islamic Center of Orlando" from the first month he moved in next door...and that, while we occupied that building on a lease running to the next year.
The UHF tipped their hand even back then. We were in their way.
at November 26, 2004 1:14 PM
Pastor Lee, welcome to jihadwatch.
Posted by: sonofwalker at November 26, 2004 7:48 PM
Bro. Lee Wasson, I second the welcome. This must be a trying time for you, your church, and school.
Posted by: Kepha1 at November 27, 2004 3:02 AM
Thank you for the welcome. Thanks to the director for posting these articles and comments.
Yes, it is a trying time for us.
I first heard of the UHF through The Orlando Sentinel, but they seem to have forgotten that they were the ones to bring to light the nature of the adherents to the UHF.
Subsequent articles by them give the impression that I just don't like Muslims, although the last article was fair, it not complete. They could have referenced their own previous findings.
My question is this:
What has come to our town?
The answers are easy to find but, (so far) impossible to get into print.
Lee Wasson
Posted by: Pastor Lee Wasson at November 27, 2004 7:54 AM
Dear Pastor Lee Wasson
Best wishes and greetings to you sir. I am from England and I appreciate your frustration. I hope and pray you find the strength to have your questions answered and your case heard. Please keep us informed as to your progress. God bless you and your congregation.
Posted by: Kaffir Boy at November 27, 2004 11:57 AM
Pastor Lee Wasson
Welcome to jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch.org. I am sure you will find a lot of support here. And I am sure you will be a great addition to the list of posters.
Posted by: Sheik Canuck (swt) at November 27, 2004 5:43 PM
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