As the Man With No Eyes would say, You know, some men you just can’t reach. In “Lodi, California Series Part II – Bad Faith Exchange With Islam,” at PipelineNews (thanks to Mackie), William A. Mayer and Beila Rabinowitz detail how two of the non-Muslim religious leaders who signed a Declaration of Peace a few years back along with the ice cream jihad imam still haven’t awakened to the fact that they were just pawns in his game.
June 27, 2005 — San Francisco, CA — PipeLineNews – On March 24, 2002 six religious leaders signed a Declaration of Peace in Lodi, California.
That declaration read in part:
“We are six people gathered for a common purpose. Among us are a Jewish Rabbi, a Christian Minister, a Muslim Imam, and a believer from each faith. We acknowledge that fanatics and extremists have, throughout history, committed acts of terror and inhumanity against us all. Together, we repudiate these acts, and declare then to be contrary to our Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths.”
Although the full import of the Lodi, California terror related prosecutions is yet to be determined, at least two of the signatories on that document – who seem to have been exploited by members of the tainted Lodi Mosque and Farooqia Islamic Center – are in full and total denial.
To the contrary, they are seeking more of the same, as their correspondence with PipeLineNews indicates:
Rabbi Jason Gwasdoff, of Temple Israel, Stockton.
“I do not feel that I was taken advantage of in any way. I think the sentiments expressed in the declaration of peace were sincerely held by everyone who signed it. I do not assume the Imams are guilty of anything, and have yet to hear anything that would convince me otherwise. They are being held on immigration charges, and truthfully, if it weren’t for the investigation of the Hayats I doubt they would be in jail today.
I think it is very important that we continue the interfaith dialogue with the Muslim community. We have much to learn about each other, and I have found that by talking and establishing relationships we dispel a lot of ignorance, and build important bridges.”
Pastor Norm Mowrey, formerly of First United Methodist Church, Lodi.
“I feel very positive about the Muslim Community in Lodi. It was wonderful journey with Jewish, Muslim and Christian friends that bought about the Declaration of Peace. That journey continues. We reject violence and terrorism now even more than before. If ever we needed to support each other it is now. I pray for my Muslim brothers and sisters in Lodi. I absolutely do not feel like I was taken advantage of in any way. Interfaith dialogue must continue. I am working here on the Monterey Peninsula to bring together Muslims, Christians (both Protestants and Catholics) and Jews. The journey will continue. We need to walk with each other during this most difficult time. This experience only points up the need for continuing understanding, trust, and friendship.”