Of Cats and Kids
Shouldn't Muslims have the same right to be intolerant that Christians have?
Posted by: Carol Lombardi
Saturday, October 21, 2006 10:43 PM
My fellow N-G blogger has written about Muslim cab drivers in Minneapolis who refuse to transport customers carrying alcohol, because it is in violation of their religious beliefs.Does anyone else see the parallel here with another recent news story about a religious group refusing to do their jobs? How about pharmacists who refuse to fill a prescription because it violates their religious beliefs?
No one is asking the Muslim cab drivers to actually consume the alcohol. They are asking them to transport people (which is their job) who are carrying a perfectly legal substance to be consumed in a place other than the cab. And no one is asking Christian pharmacists to take birth control or Plan B or whatever they are against. They are asking them to do their job (dispense a perfectly legal substance) so someone else can consume that substance in some body other than the one belonging to the pharmacist. At least the Muslim cab drivers aren't still getting paid when they refuse to do their job.
Why is the concept of Muslim cab drivers bringing us closer to a Muslim state any more scary than Christian pharmacists bringing us closer to a Christian state? They are equally terrifying to me.
Rhonda asks: "With the new multicultural philosophy, are we allowing people to come, and not expect that they embrace American ideas of freedom?"
Why would that be a problem, I wonder, since we don't actually expect the people who already live here to embrace the American ideas of freedom? I mean where are the Muslims going to learn this skill? From conservative Christians?
She further refers to an article on the Muslim Brotherhood.
The article she refers to warns that: "Still, the U.S. Brotherhood has had a significant and ongoing impact on Islam in America, helping establish mosques, Islamic schools, summer youth camps and prominent Muslim organizations.
Just like conservative Christians.
Also from the article: "Indeed, because of its hard-line beliefs, the U.S. Brotherhood has been an increasingly divisive force within Islam in America, fueling the often bitter struggle between moderate and conservative Muslims"
Just like conservative Christians, who have the audacity to tell other Christians that they are not actually even Christians at all.
And: "Many moderate Muslims in America are uncomfortable with the views preached at mosques influenced by the Brotherhood, scholars say."
Just like moderate Christians, who cringe at the messages of intolerance embraced by some conservative Christians.
But unlike conservative Christians, the Muslim brotherhood stresses "that they do not believe in overthrowing the U.S. government, but rather that they want as many people as possible to convert to Islam so that one day--perhaps generations from now--a majority of Americans will support a society governed by Islamic law."
Wow. At least the Muslims want people to make their own choices. Maybe the conservative Christians could learn something from them.
Comments
This country was founded by Christians, not Muslims. Why must we bend over backwards to accomodate the beliefs and customs of every race and religion that wants to take advantage of the freedoms we have in America? We certainly would not be treated that way in most of the countries they come from.
I am so tired of this word "tolerance", when it is used as a weapon against conservative Christians. They are supposed to tolerate behaviors that God does not. The God that I believe in is full of grace for people who want forgiveness for the sinfulness in their lives, but he has never been tolerant of the sin, itself. The term moderate Christian to me, is a merely a person who tries to manipulate the way society interprets scripture, so that all lifestyles will be accepted and "tolerated" by that society, whether God does, or not. God doesn't change, just because our morals do.
Posted by FofR on October 24, 2006 at 1:46 PM
WOW! That's a laugh. "Muslims want people to make their own choices!" Try going to a Muslim nation and speaking freely about your religion (if it is anything other than muslim religion). Then, if you're really brave, send a woman in to speak her mind! How free do you think they'd be then. NOT VERY. I won't even delve into the conservative vs. moderate christian since there is no such thing. You either are christian or you're not. It is sort of a pass/fail thing. There is no level of christianity just individuals morals that give way to ridicule by people who loosely call themselves "Christians".
If "Conservative Christians", as you call them, tell other Christians that they are not Christian they fall into the sin of judgement, because there is only One true judge. Christians are not perfect, we sin just as everyone does. We make mistakes by judging others sometimes but the good news is we won't behead you for it! You quoted "then someday maybe America would support a society governed by Islamic law". America stands for freedom. That's why we are in Iraq. I can't believe there are people over there fighting for the YOUR freedom and liberties and here you are crying about wanting to live under Islamic law. If you want to live under Islamic law try moving to Iraq. As a matter of fact I'm sure there are a lot of people here who would help you. But before you go I would suggest you do a little research and find out what it's really like living under that law. Ask Arab women. Ask someone who has served our country over there. Ask someone who actually KNOWS what it's like. Then if you want to stay in this beautiful nation that WAS ORIGINALLY founded on Christian principles (do your research, it's true) we'd be glad to have you. But, no whining about the grass on the other side.
Posted by keld on October 26, 2006 at 6:46 AM
This post was initially in response to Rhonda's most recent blog, but I feel that is fitting here as well, especially in response to keld's comment.
1. Whether or not the country was founded by Christians is irrelevant. The people who formed the constitution did so in order to protect the rights and opinions of all people: Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, atheists and agnostics all have the right to believe what they want. Our government will never be allowed to legislate religion.
2. What both Rhonda and FofR fail to remember is that they, and all other people in this community, are entitled to their rights as American citizens they can be angered by the Roe v Wade decision, they can be disgruntled by the recent decisions to keep science and religion in separate classes but they are expected to obey the laws (and maybe try to understand why they are instead of crying Liberalism! ). If the Muslim cab drivers that have caused you such a tizzy are told they have to allow all people to ride in their cabs regardless of religious differences then they too will be expected to uphold the laws. But dont let us forget Muslims are allowed as much an opinion as Christians are. Every citizen in this country deserves their opinion even if you dont like what they have to say.
Posted by ThinkMore on November 1, 2006 at 6:53 AM
