This is a grand gesture, to be sure, but just one question: when has any Muslim group ever changed its activities, or moved their date, or done anything differently at all, out of respect for the United States? Obama has spoken many, many times of “mutual respect” between the U.S. and Muslim countries. But where exactly now is that respect really mutual? The gestures of respect are always made by non-Muslims to the Muslims — never, ever the other way around.
“US Embassy celebrates 4th of July earlier out of respect for Ramadhan,” by Dylan Amirio, The Jakarta Post, June 5, 2015 (thanks to Patrick):
The United States Embassy enjoyed its annual 4th of July celebration on Thursday, June 4, one month early, in order to respect the upcoming Ramadhan month, which will begin on June 17 and last for one month.
US Ambassador to Indonesia Robert O. Blake and US Ambassador to ASEAN Nina Hachigian presided over the festivities, which involved brass band renditions of the Star-Spangled Banner and the Indonesian national anthem, Indonesia Raya.
Blake explained that the theme of the event leaned toward “green” development, which supported the US’ focus on building and promoting a green economy and more environmentally sustainable development.
He also praised Indonesia’s performance as a fully functioning democracy, aiming for further collaboration between the two countries in the years to come.
“The US will continue to support Indonesia in the future through its democratic achievements. Democracy is an American value which we have championed since [the country’s birth in] 1776,” Blake told the crowd during the festivities at his residence near Taman Suropati, Central Jakarta, on Thursday.
He added that moving the 4th of July celebrations to June 4 was one done out of respect for the upcoming Ramadhan month, which will last from June 17 to July 17.
The event also showcased a number of American products and businesses, including the Zero FX Electric Motorcycles, which Blake explained were an environmentally friendly vehicle used by the California Highway Patrol.
Several high-level Indonesian officials attended the festivities, including Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan, Coordinating Economic Minister Sofyan Djalil, Deputy Foreign Minister AM Fachir and Industry Minister Saleh Husin. Other figures such as Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie were also in attendance….
Jaladhi says
Disgusting dhimmi US government always”respects” Muslims no matter how disrespectful it is ti her own citizens!! We are well on our way to become slaves of Muslims or maybe we already are!!
mortimer says
BUT WAIT A MINUTE! Indonesia is not a Muslim country, but a PLURALISTIC country.
I agree with Richie. BO had something to do with it.
Draki says
I bet our Ambassador in Indonesia is smarter than Chris Stevens.
Sabri S. says
….and what is wrong with this?..it is called respect and
Admiration for a great religion…now, let’s stop the bombs
And drone attacks and the world might actually improve.
I guess the bigots can’t complain about Indonesia as it is
A “moderate”…
gravenimage says
The appalling Sabri S. wrote:
….and what is wrong with this?..it is called respect and
Admiration for a great religion…
…………………………….
Note that this Mohammedan doesn’t believe Infidels are showing Islam proper respect unless *they themselves* submit to Shari’ah. The American embassy celebrating July 4th during Ramadan would not prevent pious Muslims from fasting—but this is not enough for Islam.
And further note that that “respect and admiration” is all one way. What is Sabri S.’s own view of the respect due non-Muslims?
He has many times lauded the Islamic State, which far from respecting Infidels uses them as sex slaves.
More:
now, let’s stop the bombs
And drone attacks and the world might actually improve.
…………………………….
In other words, we should stop resisting Jihad in any way—then we can “enjoy” the genocide and slavery of Islam for ourselves…
More:
I guess the bigots can’t complain about Indonesia as it is
A “moderate”…
…………………………….
Actually, Indonesia oppresses and frequently brutalizes Infidel citizens—but since it is not (so far, at least) mass beheading them, we are supposed to regard them as “moderate”. *Ugh*.
Carole says
Stupid Muslim, what’s wrong with it is, 4th of July is the Anniversary of the Birthdate of America and needs to be celebrated on the exact date out of respect for a Great Country.
Keith W. Jordan says
I hope when you call Islam a “great religion”, you are only using the word great to mean big. There is certainly nothing good about Islam.
Jeff Sanders says
Sabri, we’re done taking this s**t from people like you, who keep telling us that Islam is “peaceful” and Muslims are “moderate”, etc.
Terrence Truax says
I was stationed at the Us Embassy in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 1980-1982. We moved our national day, 4/7, to President’s Day in February. It was just too hot in July to stand around in suits and Class A uniforms. We didn’t change anything for the moslems, and we were only about 30 miles from the Belly of the Beast. Mecca.
Aardvark says
I suspect this was just to avoid irritating the incredibly hypersensitive and crotchety mohammedans.
No respect involved whatsoever…
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
So much for the embassy constituting sovereign property in a foreign land. Yes, I’m sure Indonesia (President Barack Hussein’s homeland) respects the privacy of the building itself, but where is the intellectual and moral sovereignty?
Oh, and then there’s the question of exactly what Ramadan celebrates. Is that deserving of respect according to American values?
@:-}>...MoMeetsAisha says
Abject cowardice and defeatism. Another deliberate signal sent by Barry Soetoro, an Indonesian citizen (your prez in case you didn’t know *1) – to the Muslim world that America is weak. Its a signal for the Ummat to RISE UP. The 6th Caliphate is beginning (no not ISIS, what comes after…*2).
* 1 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPKo9IXRl5g
* 2 – http://tiny.cc/ucz2yx
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
Boy, I bet it was one hot sex scene when Mo first laid down in bed with 6-year old Aisha the day they were married. Yeah, Mo claims he didn’t do her until her ninth birthday, but that’s hard to believe. And anyway, there are many definitions of “sex” in a statement like “I did not have sex with that girl until the night of her ninth birthday party when there were balloons floating all over the tent.”
Just ask ex-Prez Bill, he’ll tell you.
AJW Liverpool says
Barry Soetoro is your prez. https://youtu.be/cPKo9IXRl5g. He’s signalling to his real nation (Indonesia the largest Muslim nation in the world) and his real people (Muslims), that America is weak and now is the time for the 6th Caliphate. Once this ISIS charade is over, the real fu begins with Turkey and Iran. http://tiny.cc/ucz2yx
Angemon says
I hope they at least barbecue some pork in the open before closing the store…
Richie says
I suspect SCROTUS obama ordered this to happen- what a POS
abad says
Hope they were all fed pork and beer.
JamesonRocks says
Part of me is disgusted and part of me is surprised POTUS didn’t change the date here state-side…
Anthony says
i’m Indonesian kuffar, maybe your POTUS should also move 4th of July celebration earlier to respect CAIR, etc….what a dhimmi !
David, Thailand says
Could be embarrassing for Obama, if anyone dares to ask him why his ‘respect’ for Islam is limited to a single embassy, when there are literally millions of other US government agencies and employees around the world, both in and out of America, that could be bullied into showing ‘respect’?
The thin end of the wedge is getting thicker.
Jonathan Swifter says
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Muslims are created equal, and all Christians, Jews, and infidels must either submit or pay a tax to them. Or they will be endowed by their Allah with a beheading.”
http://www.amazon.com/Patriots-America-Things-American-Should-ebook/dp/B00655SO9S/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1415975803
More Ham Ed says
One-way “respect.”
Gamaliel says
How is celebrating the fourth of July disrespectful of Islam? Is it because the 4th of July celebrates independence of the Kafir and Islam is about dominance?
Mirren10 says
Partly, I expect, but far more to do with the fact pious mohammedans can’t bear to see anyone drinking and eating in front of them, while ‘fasting’ during ramadanadingdong.
Except they don’t actually *fast*, they just skip lunch, then pig out between sunset and sunrise. Numerous studies have shown these fools actually *put on weight* during this ridiculous farce.
Just another mohammedan twisting of Christian and Jewish fasting rituals.
But as you note, it’s also very much about forcing the infidels to submit to their meretricious nonsense.
Lioness says
One giant step towards sharia compliance.
Edward Cline says
I can’t decide which was worse: “Respecting” a Muslim holiday, or celebrating “green development,” which is as much a scam as celebrating the “Religion of Peace.”