Although the website "LoonWatch.com" which is an excuser and alibi'er for Muslims freely denigrates the author named Tawfik Hamid who wrote a column in Newsmax.com on August 4, 2010 titled, "Challenge to Ground Zero Mosque Leaders: Answer 3 Questions" there is much common sense in what he writes.
For starters, I will tell you that Mr. Hamid advises his readers that he is an "ex-Muslim", which gives you the first clue as to why the "Loon Watch"ers
have no great love for him. Obviously according to them, if you don't believe that 99.6 percent of Muslims are truly peace-loving and gentle souls just trying to get along in this world, then you will probably believe Mr. Hamid.
I am in that last category, believing that it may be possible that the other end of the equation Loon Watch'ers state: four tenths of one percent of Muslims are peace-loving and gentle souls. Let's face it; there MUST be a handful or so that would rather not kill than eat. Their holy book calls for killings in a dutiful way even for such a small event as an infidel (a non-believer of Islam) being not willing to convert to Islam.
Assuming that Muslims are eager to build so many mosques, even in areas where they are not wanted by a majority of others, only because of the exceedingly high number of believers in their holy book, tells me that the upper percentage (99.6%) are willing to kill rather than co-exist; supporting my theory of four-tenths of one percent as peaceful.
Anyhow, getting back to Mr. Hamid, in the article referenced above, he calls for some quality and soul-searching questions to be asked of those Muslims who are on an almost jihadic-like crusade to place an enormous mosque in the ethereal shadows of the former World Trade Center buildings that were decimated by Muslims on 9/11/2001. A project that most Americans consider to be, as Dictionary.com states, "blasphemous" or "irreverent behavior toward anything held sacred", and that is what the families of the nearly 3000 who died there and many more Americans feel.
In view of the growing sentiment of New York Mayor Bloomberg and journalist Thomas Friedman plus others that allowing the mosque to be built would be proof of American tolerance having a positive impact on the Muslim world, Mr. Hamid would first "ask mosque leaders to request that Saudi Arabian leaders reciprocally allow churches and synagogues to be built in their country.".
I think that is a superb inquiry to make, both of the mosque leaders and the Saudi Arabian leaders. A resounding reply of 'Not NO, but HELL NO!" in Arabic would come thundering across the sandy deserts. It has been my understanding that Muslims are very much like American liberal Democrats in that reciprocity means the same as bipartisanship, or "Do it my way."
No wonder why liberals and Muslims get along so well.
But Hamid has more poignant questions he would ask that would, in his words, "clarify if the mosque's proponents are truly moderates or in fact jihadist radicals disguised as moderates" answers to the following questions:
1. "Islamic law (Shariah) states that Muslims who convert to Christianity must be killed (Redda Law), women in adulterous relationships must be stoned to death, men can beat their wives to discipline them, and homosexuals should be killed.
"Are you willing to recommend that these traditional Muslim practices be banned and to condemn countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran which accept such practices as religiously mandated?
2. "Several Muslim texts declare that Jews are pigs and monkeys and that killing Jews before "end days" is a religious duty for Muslims.
"Are you willing to declare that these texts must be changed and/or reinterpreted and that Islamic teaching of such anti-Semitic values must stop?"
Just posing those questions to the imams and other spiritual leaders of the Islam/Muslims should tie their knickers in knots trying to find ways to lie while smiling through their stained teeth and hairy beards.
And what are the odds of any of those queries even being considered by the Muslim leaders? What is our national debt now? Thirteen TRILLON? That number may perhaps come close, but still no cigar.
It is almost inconceivable that the Mayor of New York could be so gullible as to believe that the intentions of these Islamists are honorable and designed only for peaceful purposes when their history not just in this country but all over the world has been so tumultuous and driven with strife.
I am convinced as is Mr. Hamid, that building this mosque just breaths away from one of their greatest jihads against America took place only nine years ago is positively wrong. Osama bin Laden was ecstatic over the 9/11 murders of Americans; he would probably go to his Islamic heaven gladly knowing that he also succeeded in mentally urinating on his victims' graves.
Mr. Hamid closes his article by saying that if the Islam leaders would agree to the questions he poses above, then the mosque should proceed; if not, those plans should be halted immediately.
I couldn't agree more, Sir.
Gerald A. “Jerry” McConnell, 92, of Hampton, died Sunday, February 19, 2017, at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill, Mass., surrounded by his loved ones. He was born May 27, 1924 in Altoona, Pa., the fifth son of the late John E. and Grace (Fletcher) McConnell.
Jerry served ten years with the US Marine Corps and participated in the landing against Japanese Army on Guadalcanal and another ten years with the US Air Force. After moving to Hampton in 1957 he started his community activities serving in many capacities.
He shared 72 years of marriage with his wife Betty P. (Hamilton) McConnell. In addition to his wife, family members include nieces and nephews.
