Jesus of Mesopotamia

(11 pm – promoted by ek hornbeck)

There are two major classes of falsehoods the U.S. government uses to justify its incursions into the Middle East and occupation of Iraq.

The first is a contrived threat to the U.S., like Saddams’s cache of WMD’s or links to Al-Qaeda, desgined to invoke fear and patriotism in mainstream Americans. Though much discussed and long ago debunked in the liberal blogosphere, it’s being dusted off and reused for Iran.

The second class of lies is aimed at a different group – the Christian right-wing of America. This catergory of lie says that the U.S. must invade and occupy the Middle East because America’s Christian way of life is threatened by “Islamo-Fascists.” (Any liberal who objects is fascist too.)

The standard m.o. for this class of lie is to denigrate Islam by equating it with terrorism and to paint a picture that shows Muslims hate America for its Christian beliefs. This 2nd class of lies is designed to rally the Christian right to support war and the Republican party – and is the focus of this diary.

Like the first, it allows them to kill with impunity.

Photo Collage © 2007 BentLiberal



Shortly after September 11, 2001, George Bush stated:

“This crusade, this war on terrorism is going to take a while.”

He was widely criticized in Europe and elsewhere for raising “fears that the terrorist attacks could spark a ‘clash of civilizations’ between Christians and Muslims, sowing fresh winds of hatred and mistrust.”

Former press sectretary Ari Fleischer tried to diffuse the situation, but whether Bush meant it or not (who knows what the hell he means at any given moment), the right has kept this rhetoric up ever since as a way to curry favor with their fundamentalist Christian base.

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Mary (Maryam)Isa ibn Maryam

If there’s one thing the blogosphere has taught me, it’s that the way to fight the rhetoric and propaganda of the Bush administration and right-wing fanatics is with information.

In that vein, here’s some information on Islam:

    Sura Maryam is the name of the 19th Chapter (Sura) of the Qur’an.

    One of only 8 chapters (out of 144) named after a person, the Sura Maryam tells the story of a woman called Maryam, Umm Isa.

    Maryam is a Semitic name which means Mary in English.

    Christians know her as Mary, Mother of Jesus.

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Here’s a study in contrasts:


“Islam, at its core, teaches violence.”…the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, was “an absolute wild-eyed fanatic … a robber and a brigand.”…”It’s amazing how the Muslims deal with history and the truth with violence. They don’t understand what reasoned dialogue is….” 

– Pat Robertson, 700 Club

In Islam, Jesus (known as Isa in Arabic, Arabic: ????), is considered one of God’s most-beloved and important prophets…
In Muslim traditions, Jesus lived a perfect life of nonviolence, showing kindness to humans and animals (similar to the other Islamic prophets), without material possessions, and abstaining from sin.

On college campuses across America this week, conservatives are gathering together to listen to right-wing luminaries such as Ann Coulter and former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) as part of David Horowitz’s Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week.

In the Qur’an, Jesus Christ is called Isa ibn Maryam: Jesus son of Mary. Islam holds that Jesus was born of Mary and had no biological father. The Qur’an states that the virgin birth of Jesus was due to the will of Allah. Neither Mary nor Jesus are considered devine by Muslims, but they are both held in very high regard.

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Bush vs. Bush (on God)

I often think the best way to neutralize the President is simply be to let him debate himself:

“I don’t bring God into my life to be a political person; I ask God for strength and guidance; I ask God to help me be a better decision. The decision about war and peace is a decision I made based upon what I thought were the best interests of the American people. I was able to step back from religion, because I have a job to do.”

-Interview with Tom Brokaw aboard Air Force One, April 24, 2003

“President Bush said to all of us: ‘I am driven with a mission from God’. God would tell me, ‘George go and fight these terrorists in Afghanistan’. And I did. And then God would tell me ‘George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq’. And I did.

–Nabil Shaath, Palestinian foreign minister, speaking of his meeting with Bush at a summit in 20003 after the Invasion of Iraq.” YouTube

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Mr Bush went on: “And now, again, I feel God’s words coming to me, ‘Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East’. And, by God, I’m gonna do it.”

Guardian UK. Special Report: United States of America

“I’m also mindful that man should never try to put words in God’s mouth. I mean, we should never ascribe natural disasters or anything else, to God. We are in no way, shape, or form should a human being, play God.”-Appearing on ABC’s 20/20, Washington D.C., Jan. 14, 2005


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News Item:

Mon Oct 22, 4:14 AM ET

BAGHDAD – The U.S. military said its forces killed an estimated 49 militants during a dawn raid to…(blah blah blah blah….etc…)

An uncle of 2-year-old Ali Hamid said the boy was killed and his parents seriously wounded when helicopter gunfire pierced the wall and windows of their house as they slept indoors.






Photo Collage © 2007 BentLiberal

“The body of Ali Hamed…is prepared to be washed for burial in the Shiite holy city of Najaf…on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007.”

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2  years  old.

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Epilogue:

President Bush said…that he senses a “Third Awakening” of religious devotion in the United States that has coincided with the nation’s struggle with international terrorists…

“A lot of people in America see this as a confrontation between good and evil, including me.”

WaPo


Wonder if the Virgin Mary would agree?

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This diary was inspired by and is dedicated to Ali Hamed, 2, who deserved a longer chance at life.

6 comments

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  1. …then Cheney and Bush are going straight to Hell.  Congress would be wise to take appropriate steps to ensure they reach a different destination.

    (Originally posted in Orange: http://www.dailykos….)

  2. Bush is batshit crazy if he thinks this is what God wants.  Well, he’s crazy. period.

    Powerful essay BL.  Good to see you here!

  3. I’ve been lurking around. Will try to post more often too.

  4. … its one of those punctuation typos, which are hard to catch … and given Bush’s odd phrasing at times is entirely understandable … but it is an important correction.

    President Bush said…that he senses a “Third Awakening” of religious devotion in the United States that has coincided with the nation’s struggle with international terrorists…

    “A lot of people in America see this as a confrontation between good, and evil including me.”

    WaPo

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