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Dr Kaukab Siddique | Editor-in-Chief Ramadan 26, 1432/September 6, 2010 # 35

Verses of the Week

"And among them are men who slander thee in the matter of (the distribution of) the alms. If they are given part thereof, they are pleased, but if not, Behold! they are indignant!
If only they had been content with what Allah and His Messenger gave them, and had said, "Sufficient unto us is Allah! Allah and His messenger will soon give us of His bounty: To Allah do we turn our hopes!" (that would have been the right course)." - Holy Qur'an 9:58-59

Submitted by Sis. Abigail

Africa: Next 4 items.
Latest News: Somalia: 22,000 Displaced.
September 3, 2010. The US-backed group in Mogadishu, supported by tank forces from Uganda [Israel backed] have been launching artillery barrages at al-Shabab Islamic forces. Most of these hit the civilian population where there are no al-Shabab. At least 22,000 civilians have been displaced in the last 12 days. Another 365,00 are camped in miserable conditions on the west side of Mogadishu. [UN sources.]

Uganda: Scores of Muslims Arrested.
Sept. 4: Sis. Rehema reports to New Trend from Kampala. Random arrests have been carried out to intimidate local Muslims after al-Shabab attacked drinking houses in revenge for Ugandan military atrocities in Somalia. Muslims are facing the situation well.

Ethiopia: New US-Backed Invasion of Somalia to take off al-Shabab pressure.
August 29: A large Ethiopian tank column entered Somalia at the Hirar border in an attempt to take al-Shabab's pressure off the enclave in Mogadishu which is backed by western powers.
It's a large region and no clashes are reported as yet.

Rwanda: UN Discovers 600 Acts of Mass Murder Against Hutus
Sept.3: Once again New Trend was way ahead of the curve. We had written that the story of the Rwanda "genocide" against the tiny Tutsi minority was misleading. How could a 7% minority be slaughtered and still be ruling the country while the majority Hutus have become refugees.
In the meantime, the Zionists made a movie called HOTEL RWANDA to make the "genocide" a part of African American thinking on Africa. It is taken as fact by many.
Now it turns out that a UN documents, which took 5 years to compile, reveals genocide AGAINST THE HUTU MAJORITY. At least 600 acts of MASS MURDER of Hutus have been documented in the UN report. Rwanda's Tutsi regime [backed by Israel] has reacted strongly and is threatening to withdraw its "peace keeping" force from Darfur if the UN report is published. [Israel has been hard at work, using Africans to kill Africans.]

Jamaat al-Muslimeen (News) [4 items only]
P.O.Box 10881
Baltimore, MD 21234

Press Release from Jamaat al-Muslimeen:
Florida Church could do Serious Damage to America's Future in the Muslim World: Qur'an Burning is a Thoughtless act of Bigotry
A church in Gainesville, Florida led by Pastor Terry Jones has announced that it will commemorate the 9.11 attacks this year by burning the Qur'an.
The plan to burn the Qur'an seems to be the result of a total misunderstanding of the 9.11 attacks. They were not aimed at Christianity or at Christian churches.
Mr. Jones should ask himself: What would Jesus, pbuh, say of his Qur'an burning plan? Did Jesus leave any example or teaching of such acts?
Burning the Qur'an in a church would send the wrong signal to the Muslim world. Globally people would not pay attention to the fact that this is only one church in Gainesville, Florida, hitherto unknown. This would be incorrectly seen as an American act. America gives freedom of religion and Mr. Jones' act would be a violation of a fundamental American ideal.
The Qur'an cannot be damaged by burning or by other acts of desecration such as were carried out in Guantanamo Bay. It has been memorized by millions of people around the world and has been translated into the languages of humanity.
President Obama should exercise his political acumen to isolate Mr. Jones' act of bigotry. Silence would give the wrong impression.
Pro-government Muslim groups want to distribute the Qur'an to make up for the 9.11 Qur'an burning. Here again we have a misunderstanding that the Qur'an will be burned. The issue is the CONTENT of the Qur'an. It does teach jihad under certain circumstances. It does give roles to women which are in contravention to western ideals. Mere distribution of the Qur'an can trivialize the Qur'an. It should only be given to those who want to learn.
Without open and honest discussion of the Qur'an, bigots like Pastor Jones will successfully mislead the American public and incite more hatred against Americans.

[For more info on the church planning the Qur'an burning, contact Sis. Abigail at:
abi_anthony [at] yahoo [dot] com

Outreach from an activist sister: Unite Against Zionism
Record Breaking Distribution of Jamaat al-Muslimeen Literature

September 3, 2010: At Dar al-Hijra mosque in Falls Church, Virginia, literature was given to 225 Muslims after Juma' prayers. The crowd was large owing to Ramadan and two prayers were held. Each document given to the 225 contained 8 pages. Thus 1800 pages were distributed.
The documents included reports on US Muslim political prisoners, Seifullah and Shifa, news of repression in Kashmir and Bangladesh, Dr. Siddique's article on Abu Huraira, r.a., and intro to various books including Dr. Alam's book on Israeli Exceptionalism. The center piece was two photos: One of General Kayani, butcher of Swat, getting his orders from Hillary Clinton, as opposed to a picture of top Islamic leader of Pakistan Syed Munawar Hasan using peaceful means to mobilize Muslims in Chitral, a strategic area of Pakistan.

Unite Against Zionism: US Muslims are Alive!
Yom al-Quds: Rally in Washington DC followed by Imam al-'Asi's Superb Khutba
By Kaukab Siddique

September 3, 2010: Palestinian flags, photos of Israeli atrocities, placards denouncing Zionism brought the message of Islam to Washington, D.C.'s Dupont Circle. It was an impressive gathering with powerful speakers. Here one got a glimpse of authentic Islam in America which the media work so hard to conceal by publicizing puppet groups.
Large numbers of Islamic women in full hijab participated. Some of them have consistently expressed their faith through words and actions for decades, among them Sis. Muneera and Sis. Safiya.
The quality of speeches was really good, the most memorable of them coming from Charles Carlson [from Colorado], Imam Nahidian [from Manassas, Virginia] and al-Hajj Mauri Saalakhan [Silver Spring, Maryland]. A number of very young activists too spoke well.
From Dupont Circle, the crowd marched to the Islamic Center on Massachusetts Avenue where Imam Muhammad al-'Asi leads the prayers on the pavement OUTSIDE the mosque. It was hot and humid with no shade but Imam al-'Asi's khutba was among the best I have heard in my 35 years of Islamic work in America. He is one of the very few imams in America who have not sold out to the US power structure.

Main points:
Imam Muhammad al-'Asi taught from the Qur'an as no one else in America can. He highlighted the racist, genetic concepts of Israel as highlighted in the Qur'an and the rise, the arrogance and the fall of Jewish power. He admonished the Muslim Ummah for marginalizing the central issue of Palestine. With Palestine under occupation, colonialism continues to flourish in the Muslim heartland. His analysis of SHIRK, the only unforgivable sin in Islam, is that by cooperating with and by assimilating into the contexts and framework of Zionism and Imperialism, Muslims are committing SHIRK [associating others with the power of Allah].

Imam Nahidian lamented the plan of a rogue church group in Florida to burn the Qur'an on the anniversary of the 9.11 attacks. The church has not realized that the Qur'an considers holy both Jesus and Moses, peace be on them, and teaches the truth they brought. By burning the Qur'an, the rogue church will be desecrating Jesus and Moses as well.

Charles Carlson provided a devastating analysis of Christian Zionism and the attempts to use the Bible to justify support for Israel. His eyewitness account of his visit to Gaza should help the followers of Jesus, pbuh, to understand how they have been supporting a power which is the enemy of Jesus, pbuh. Mr. Carlson's DVD on Christian Zionism was distributed after Juma'. It should be viewed by all readers of New Trend and gifted to neighborhood churches.

El-Hajj Mauri Saalakhan in his speech on Palestine included a poignant account of the suffering of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in US prisons. This highly educated Pakistani woman, graduated from the best American schools, was kidnapped by US special forces and is said to have been tortured and humiliated in US prisons, Br. Saalakhan said. The court is preparing to sentence her for "terrorism" on September 23. [He spoke so well about Dr. Aafia that I personally congratulated him after the rally.]

Kaukab Siddique: [I was not listed as a speaker and I was not sure I would make it to the rally but once there, I decided to speak as a gesture of support for the gathering.] My main points:
  1. Zionism is racism, genocide and terrorism.
  2. US Muslims must unite against Zionism regardless of differences on other issues.
  3. A Zionist is one who considers Israel a legitimate entity. In that sense, we have Muslim Zionists who should be exposed and discredited,
  4. Once Muslims unite, Israel can be dismantled even by peaceful means. We will send the Jews back to where they came from. Like Salahuddin Ayyubi, we might even give them funds to go back.
  5. President Obama's silence on Israeli genocide in Gaza and the Turkish flotilla is ominous. He was disturbed by the death of 4 Israeli settlers yesterday but not by the massacre of Palestinian children.
  6. We Muslims must go back to the unity against oppressors which Imam Khomeini wanted to bring about. He wanted us to forget about sects, nationalities and race and instead focus on Islam. We better remember his advice and stop fighting each other.
  7. Boycott all businesses which support or fund Israel.

[It was a beautiful gathering but I was turned off by the conspiracy theories about 9.11 which some speakers insisted on presenting.]

A Meeting with Charles Carlson
On September 2, 2010. New Trend's representatives interviewed Mr. Carlson in Baltimore for two hours. Sis. Abigail conversed with him about the New Testament and the authentic teachings of Jesus, peace be on him.
For years Mr. Carlson has striven to teach Christians that war is not the path they were shown. He is particularly concerned that some pastors and mega churches are supporting Israel to the extent of preparing Americans to support Israeli aggression against Gaza and Lebanon. Mr. Carlson physically went to a series of mega churches to teach them the message of peace. He was not permitted to speak but he would not give up and stood outside the churches to protest against pro-Israeli propaganda.
Mr. Carlson showed Sis. Abigail the Schofield bible in which commentary had been strategically placed to give biblical texts a pro-Israeli slant. Most of the comments scattered throughout the Schofield bible are quite mundane, in fact boring. Hence, the lay reader would find the pro-Israeli comments as if they are regular parts of the bible promising Palestine to the Jews.
Readers might remember Mr. Carlson's critique of the atrocity stories which were meant to defame Sudan. Since then he has developed his critique of Christian Zionism. He personally went to Gaza and witnessed the daily long distance Israeli rocket attacks and bombings meant to terrorize the entire population.
A very humble man, soft spoken, one only gradually finds the depth of his moral vision. Perhaps this is what the followers of Jesus, pbuh, are supposed to be like.
New Trend can send you Mr. Carlson's DVD on Christian Zionism.
Check out his web site: whtt [dot] org


Blundering American Empire succeeds
because Muslims are not Uniting on the Qur'an
by Sis. Sofia [New York city]

The Roman Republic conquered Africa, Asia and Europe and ruled their vast Empire for over four hundred years and beyond. It was the mightiest political power with an unbeatable army of soldiers known for their physical endurance and loyalty.

The United States of America has been on the world map for over two hundred years. It too has an army consisting of the latest weapons of mass destruction that has muscled its way through several continents and is now aiming to fight battles using robots instead of live soldiers.

The collapse of the Roman Empire was due to use of non-Roman soldiers, that over time corroded loyalty to the Emperor, and corruption. The rulers had to raise taxes on its citizens in order to maintain its army of many wars.

The United States has had similar problems with a wars-tab that runs in the trillions (currently the cost is 1 million dollars per soldier per year), a public display of the top army brass in the army displaying disloyalty towards their political leaders, and its senseless wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan that have all but bankrupted the nation.

All those who were considered as a threat to the Roman Republic / Empire were treated as "traitors" and dealt with accordingly. The Jews and the Christians were dealt with savagely not for their religious beliefs but for their refusal to acknowledge the power of the Roman State and its Emperors (the Romans considered Judaism and Christianity 'cults' compared to their State religion of Roman gods and their mythical lives which they considered superior, just as many Americans today claim that the 1400+ years old religion of Islam is "a cult," with a Christian priest in Florida proclaiming Islam as a "religion of Satan/the Devil" and asking Christians to burn printed copies of the Qur'an on 9/11)."

Today, the U.S. government claims that they have nothing against Islam and Muslims but only against "the Muslim terrorists" who are a threat to "civilization" namely, western powers, that is, the United States and Europe.

The Roman Empire disintegrated and collapsed as have many other "mighty" powers in world history. The Romans caused enslavement of peoples who were not Romans, misery and destruction wherever they ruled.

From the beginning of its history to the present, the Americans have been ignorant bunglers and destroyers of ancient civilizations that they had trouble finding on the map even as they went about destroying them. They have done more harm than good to humanity--period. In spite of high opinions of themselves as decent, religious and well-meaning people, History will label them as ignorant bunglers that wrecked havoc on one and all who were a "threat to their power" -- people whose only crime was that "they were not like us" namely, White/Anglo Saxon/European Christians.
These Westerners are still standing because their "enemies"--that is, the Muslims are fragmented geographically and divided socially and politically. If Muslims called themselves "Muslims" as Lord Almighty has labeled them in the Qur'an instead of the many sectarian labels that they have given themselves, then they would be able to dig themselves out of the many indignities and miseries that they have suffered for centuries at the hands of non-Muslims.

Muslims listen up! Submission to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, Lord Almighty, and violation of the Qur'an cannot co-exist

The writer teaches English in New York.

Our America
The Israeli Lobby: Declassified Documents Expose Its Influence
Stephen Lendman

.. .. America's top publications paid off to go along, now revealed by a secret document subpoenaed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (FRC) investigation into the American Zionist Council (AZC), AIPAC's parent lobbying arm .. .. Bribing major US publications and their writers helped do it, including at the Reader's Digest, Atlantic Monthly, Look, Holiday, Parade, Saturday Review, the New York Times Magazine, and various women's and business ones. Today, the entire US major media serve as Israel's PR arm, its mouthpiece, the fruition of efforts begun 50 years ago.

War News: Iraq: Daily Fighting

During August 2010, the US-installed regime in Baghdad lost 77 police and 54 soldiers killed and claimed to have killed 98 "insurgents." Three US soldiers were also killed.

War News: Afghanistan: NATO facing deadly daily-nightly Attacks

Heavy fighting is reported from Afghanistan. In August 80 elite NATO troops were killed by the Taliban. [US sources.] Taliban are using home made explosives to attack American and other NATO forces. US Defense secretary Gates says serious losses have also been inflicted on the Taliban but is unable to allow any neutral reporting or situation reports by US media itself.
In Takhar province on Sept 2, a US air strike killed 12 Uzbek civilians who were trying to prepare an election campaign in support of Karzai. The candidate himself and his relatives were injured. The US said those killed were "insurgents."

War News: Pakistan: Heavy Civilian Islamic losses.

August 23: North Waziristan. A US drone struck a Pakistani village killing 7 civilians including 4 women, injuring others.
On August 31 and September 2, Pakistani air strikes killed 60 civilians in the Khyber area. Pakistani air command says they were "militants" but in one incident alone, an eyewitness saw the bodies of 20 women and children killed in the bombing of a village.
September 3: US drones bombed two villages in North Waziristan, killing 6 "militants" in one attack and 4 "foreign" Islamic fighters in another.
September 4: US drones bombed Pakistani villages in North Waziristan killing 5 civilians who were supporters of the Taliban.
["Militants" is a term used to conceal the killing of civilians. All Muslims who support the resistance are called "militants" by the US and secular Pakistanis.]

Pakistan # 1
Whose work are the Attacks on Shi'ite Processions?
[New Trend analysis.] [Our analysis is usually correct.]

Recent attacks on Shi'ite processions in Lahore and Quetta have caused heavy civilian casualties. New Trend's analysis of the attacks indicates that anti-Taliban forces are behind these attacks. Here are the clues to understanding these tragic events:
[Even the police chief is not sure: "CCPO Quetta Ghulam Shabbir Sheikh said that still nature of the explosion was yet to be ascertained whether it was a suicide attack or some explosive device was attached to a motorcycle, which entered the rally." Pak Tribune.]

Pakistan: #2
No government agenda for flood affectees' rehabilitation 300% Price rise to pay World Bank and IMF By Shamsuddin [Lahore]
LAHORE, Sep. 2: Jamaat e Islami Secretary General, Liaquat Baloch, said on Thursday the government had not given a clear agenda for the return of the flood affectees to their homes and for their rehabilitation.
He said Prime Minister Gilani had estimated flood losses at 43 billion dollars, but arranging such a huge amount was an uphill task especially because of the world community's distrust in the Pakistani rulers. There is a big gap between the government and the world donor agencies.
He said the country was already under heavy debt of the IMF and World Bank and the entire debt burden had been passed on to the masses in the form of repeated price raise. During the PPP rule, the prices of essential goods has risen three hundred times, he said. .
He said the flood affected masses were cursing the rulers who never visited them in distress while the feudal lords had breached protective barriers to save their lands and palaces.

In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Lord of Mercy
ZAKAT-UL-FITR IS WAJIB
by Imam Ali Siddiqui
INJUNCTION
It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: "Remember! Zakat-ul-Fitr is Wajib (strongly recommended, just short of obligatory) on every Muslim, man or woman, free or in servitude, adult or child." (Hadith: Tirmidhi's Sunan)

MEANING

Literal meaning of Zakat (or Zakah) is the process of purification. Fitr is from the word Fitrah and its literal meaning is (one's) nature or natural state. Hence the meaning of Zakat-ul-Fitr is to purify one's nature.

PURPOSE
Ibn Abbas (ra) reported that the Prophet (saw) made the Zakat-ul-Fitr obligatory for the purpose of: purifying our fasting from vain talk and shameful mistakes, to make arrangements for the poor and the needy for food and clothing (for the festival of Eid). (Hadith: Abu Dawud, Ibn Maja)

WHO SHOULD PAY?
Every adult Muslim, with sufficient food for the family for a day, should pay Zakat-ul-Fitr for himself/herself and all his/her dependents. Even those who did not fast should pay it. Zakat-ul-Fitr should also be paid for the child born or the person died before the Fajr (dawn) on the day of Eid.

HOW MUCH SHOULD BE PAID?
At the time of the Prophet (saw), payment of Zakat-ul-Fitr was made in terms of weight of grain. It is one Sa for each person. One Sa approximately equals to 3.15 kg or 6.94 lbs. The Muslim jurists agree that Zakat-ul-Fitr can also be paid in cash equivalent to the cost of 3.15kg/6.94 lb. of grain including rice, wheat, lentils, corn, and dry cheese.

WHEN TO PAY?
Prophet Muhammad (saw) has said, "Whoever paid it (Zakat-ul-Fitr) before Salatul Eid, it is acceptable Zakat before Al'lah. Whoever paid it after Salat-ul-Eid, it is just a charity." The companion of the Prophet (ra) used to pay it a few days earlier. (Hadith: Bukhari)

Imam Shafi'i held the opinion that Zakat-ul-Fitr can be paid as early as the beginning of Ramadan. I suggest that Zakat-ul-Fitr should be paid early enough so it will reach the needy and the poor before the Eid day. It will enable them to use it for food and clothes and give them the opportunity to enjoy the happiness of Eid-ul-Fitr.

WHO SHOULD BE PAID?
Zakat-ul-Fitr should be paid directly to the needy and the poor. However, you can also pay it to an organization, which would distribute it in accordance with the teaching of Islam. Remember! It is still your responsibility. So, make sure before paying that the organization will distribute it according to the teaching of Islam and before Salat-ul-Eid.

There is a new concern in collection and distribution of Zakat-ul-Fitr and Zakat-ul-Maal in the Western countries. Millions of dollars have been confiscated by the government agencies. This requires additional care on our part to select an organization carefully and rationally so that Zakat is delivered to the rightful person. Best method is still the personal contact.

Year after year, Zakat is sent to deserving persons in the Muslim World by the Muslims living in the Western countries. Let's try to spend some of it in our own communities including Moaliful Qoloob, non-Muslims to turn their hearts and minds as friends of our communities. This will require knowing our own communities and friendly and deserving non-Muslims. It may be difficult at first but it will be better for us.

How to Calculate Zakat-ul-Fitr?

I heard many amounts over the years. It is a tendency to fix a higher amount by many organizations so that they may collect sufficient amount to distribute among the poor and the needy. One year it even went up to $15 per person. When specifying an amount it should be fixed at a minimum amount in accordance with the teaching of Islam so that every one can pay it with ease; however, we should encourage Muslims to pay a higher amount according to their life style.

Minimum Zakat-ul-Fitr is one Sa in weight of grain. One Sa is approximately equal to 3.15 kg or 6.94 lbs. Every person should look at the price of grain where they shop. One either pays Zakat-ul-Fitr a weight of 6.94 lbs. or 3.15 kg in grain or its cash equivalent. Additional point, if in your life style you eat top-of-the-line fancy rice, then pay in its cash equivalent

May Allah accept your fasting, Zakat-ul-Fitr, Salatut Taraweeh, recitation of Quran, Salat and your struggle for the pleasure of Allah (mirdadi(A)llah! Ameen!

Imam Ali Siddiqui, 1982,
Revised August 28, 2010

Additional information can be acquired by contacting the Imam: siddiqui[at]aol.com

About the author:
Imam Ali Siddiqui with 37 years of service, is a Friday Khatib, Islamic teacher, Muslim Chaplain, youth advisor, family counselor, educator, poet and writer with a vision who has been involved in the teaching Islam, history, comparative religion, contemporary issues to Muslims and non-Muslims. He is actively involved in the community service including spiritual/educational development, service to the sick and the incarcerated; and the interfaith work. Imam Siddiqui's work has been successfully building bridges between communities. He has been on speaking tours to the Belgium, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland, India, Iran, Pakistan, and across the USA. He frequently presents Islamic Prospective and Muslim Point of View on current affairs to Non-Muslims and Muslims. He has been very active in organizing seminars, workshops, conferences, and teach-ins to promote Islamic awareness and inter-faith understanding. He has received numerous commendations for his work, service, and scholarship. Presently, Imam Siddiqui is the President of California Muslim Institute & Center for Interfaith Studies; Imam at the Islamic Center of Petaluma, CA; an scholar with One Nation for All; associate member of Milken Institute; and member of the Sonoma County Interfaith Committee. Previously he has served as the Chair of Peace with Justice Center of the Pomona Valley; President of Corona-Norco Interfaith Association; member of the Board of Directors of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, Los Angeles; and UNA of Southern California.

For additional information about author's involvement, please Google: "Imam Ali Siddiqui"

Other publications by the author:
1431st Ramadan - the Month of Blessings and Peace
Zakat-ul-Fitr is Wajib
Zakat al-Maal - the right of the Poor
Lai-la-tul Qadr - The Night of Mercy and Peace
Eid al-Fitr - A True Thanksgiving
The Significance of Eid

Tony Blair Recognized as War Criminal by Irish Youths

AOL News. Sept. 4) - Tony Blair was pelted with eggs and shoes by anti-war protesters this morning in Dublin, where the former British prime minister held a book-signing event to promote a new memoir in which he defends his decision to help invade Iraq.

About 200 activists clashed with Irish police trying to defend a security barrier on Dublin's O'Connell Street, where Blair arrived this morning to sign copies of his book, "A Journey." Tram service in the area was suspended, and roads closed around the Eason's bookstore.

"Hey, hey, Tony, hey! How many kids have you killed today?" chanted dozens of protesters who also threw eggs, shoes and other projectiles at Blair as he emerged from a car surrounded by bodyguards. Members of his security team shielded him with umbrellas at one point, and the eggs did not hit him.
They also called him a war criminal and said the former prime minister has "blood on his hands." Blair's book chronicles his political career, and includes a passionate defense of his policies, including the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Our America
Glenn Beck, What's the Point?
By Dr. Wilmer J. Leon III

Depending on the source that is used, tens of thousands to between 87,000 - 96,000 people attended conservative commentator Glenn Becks "Restoring Honor" rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Saturday. Why were they there? What was the point?

I went to Glenn Beck's web sitein an attempt to get a clear understanding of the message of the rally, the objective; the point. What I found was a poorly written collection of thoughts that spoke to understanding who we are and how we find heroes. "Tomorrow that's what this is about really, reflection of who we are, where we are, where we're going, what each of us have to do. How do we get our way out of this? ...It's time we find heroes again. ...What is it we trust? Who is it we believe in?"

Glenn Beck claimed that this rally would pay tribute to the Rev. Dr. King and "...reclaim the civil rights movement. It has been so distorted and so turned upside down. It is an abomination." These are interesting words from a man who continuously fans the flames of bigotry and hatred. He recently said that President Obama has a, "...deep seated hatred for White people, or the White culture. I don't know what it is. This guy I believe is a raciest." Is Glenn Beck inferring that President Obama hates his own mother and maternal grandparents? Glenn Beck's hypocrisy and bigoted diatribes are the abomination.

The "Restoring Honor" rally took place on the 47th anniversary and at the site of the 1963 March on Washington where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Unlike the vague and ambiguous "Restoring Honor" rally the complete name of the 1963 march was the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. It is estimated that close to 200,000 Americans of various ethnicities and backgrounds came to Washington to demand that the Kennedy administration pass Civil Rights legislation, integrate schools, provide unemployment assistance, and pass the Fair Employment Act. As a result of this historic march, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed as well. The 1963 march was based in the principles of the American Dream and made America a better place.

Sarah Palin spoke at Beck's event stating, "We must not fundamentally transform America, as some would want. We must restore America and restore her honor." Restore America to what and how? Has America's honor been damaged more by the election of its first African American president or by former President Bush 43' misleading America into war with false claims of WMD's, former VP Cheney's "yellow cake uranium" hoax, and the illegal release of the name of former CIA operative Valerie Palme as an attempt to silence critics of the Bush administration?

These words of restoring honor are spoken by the same woman who recently came to the defense of Dr. Laura Schlessinger, the talk radio host who used the N-word on the air 11 times in 5 minutes. According to the Huffington Post Palin Tweeted, "Dr.Laura:don't retreat...reload! (Steps aside bc her 1st Amend.rights ceased 2exist thx 2activists trying 2silence"isn't American,not fair") ...Dr.Laura=even more powerful & effective w/out the shackles, so watch out Constitutional obstructionists. And b thankful 4 her voice,America!"

Be thankful for her voice America? I think the N-word on air 11 times in 5 minutes is a bit much by almost any standard except the Klan's. Also, some one should let Mrs. Palin know that hate speech is not constitutionally protected by the First Amendment.

In promoting this rally Glenn Beck stated "Great achievements in history start with one great idea, one great person." What was the great idea? Gather a group of people together to play upon their fears; continue to disseminate lies and misinformation, and drive a larger political wedge between individuals based upon contrived ideological foolishness? That does not a great person make.

On the 47th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the Rev. Dr. King's famous speech we should pay him tribute. He was a true American hero. Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, and those such as Rep. Boehner (R-OH), Senator McConnell (R-KY), and other Republicans who support them with their silence should be judged not "by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

Dr. Wilmer Leon is the Producer/ Host of the nationally broadcast call-in talk radio program "Inside the Issues with Wilmer Leon," and a Teaching Associate in the Department of Political Science at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Go to www.wilmerleon.com or email: wjl3us@yahoo.com. www.twitter.com/drwleon
© 2010 InfoWave Communications, LLC.

2010-09-05 Sun 18:08:45 cdt
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