VALLEY CHARACTER ORGANIZATION
Mr. Rasoul has been on what is called the “Interfaith Committee” for several years with the above organization. In fairness to the organization, I think they have good intentions as an ecumenical, religious group for liberal thinking religious people to promote positive ethics from the perspective of many different faiths. The website reads in part;
“The purpose of the Interfaith Committee is to affirm and promote civility and compassion among the diverse faith communities of the Roanoke Valley as the foundational requisites for interfaith peace, harmony and cooperative endeavors. Civility is witnessed in extending respect for and acceptance of the religiously diverse citizenry of the Roanoke Valley, while being respectful of their belief systems and religious practices....”
http://www.valleycharacter.org/committee.php
Here is where I laughed loudly and practically fell out of my chair. Islam and Christianity? This is an oxymoron. Islam DOES NOT accept “interfaith” or “diverse” faith convictions.
Rasoul even tries to demonstrate his tolerance of "Christians" by telling us had once walked into Sunday school as if this changes the core beliefs of Islam. My question is why didnt the Sunday school class evangelize Rasoul? Where was "thus saith the Lord, Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God and you must repent of your moon God worship!" Instead, the Sunday school was probably so fascinated that a Muslim would enter there building that they forgot why they were there. The American Arab Institute records Rasoul as saying; “Even though we were Muslims, my open-minded parents sent me for many years to Sunday school at Peters Creek Church of the Brethren with our dear friend Mrs. Tyree. My attendance in Sunday school led me to joining the Cub Scout Troop at that same church.” Rasoul recounts.
www.aaiusa.org/arab-americans/3597/sam-rasoul-young-arab-american-democratic-nominee
But, in the book by Serge Trifkovic, Serge quotes an example of how a devout Muslim dealt with the issue of “interfaith” matters;
An example of the Muslim attitude to interfaith dialog was provided by the 1980 conference of the society for the study of theology in Oxford. The delegates were told that one Abdus-Samad Sharafuddin of King Abdul-Aziz University in Jeddah, while unable to attend in person, requested the organizers to distribute his paper, entitled 'about the myth of God incarnate'.....Sharafuddin started his study by declaring that the Christian worship of Jesus as Lord is an open act of idolatry.
“The Sword of the Prophet, pg 85”
Non Muslims, are considered “kafiroon” and “mushrikoon.” Infidels and idolaters. What does the Quran teach about relationships with “Christians and Jews and disbelievers? We already read the Quranic directive. Islam does not believe nor accept Christianity as a valid religion. If elected, Rasoul will not be in Congress to see evangelical agendas pushed forward. Listen to the words of the one respected Muslim who spoke here in the US;
It was said in 1998 by Omar Ahmad, the Chairman at that time of CAIR. (Council on American Islamic Relations) Chairman Omar M. Ahmad told a crowd of California Muslims in July 1998,
"Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran . . . should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth."
http://www.danielpipes.org/394.pdf
Let that sink in!
On a side note, I want to deviate a bit because I remembered CAIR. I want to introduce campaign contributions to Rasoul's cause. Is it any surprise as we put these pieces slowly together that CAIR popped up in relation to Rasoul? As I was looking at the campaign donors to the Rasoul campaign, I did see a donation made by Nihad Awad, the Executive Director of (wait for it.....) you guessed it, CAIR. Now follow me here; Who was Nihad Awad? You are going to love this.
In the 1990s, Awad studied civil engineering at the University of Minnesota and worked at the University of Minnesota Medical Center. As he developed into an increasingly outspoken advocate for the rights of Palestinians, Awad was named Public Relations Director of the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP), which functioned as a front for the terrorist organization Hamas. In 1994 Awad, along with fellow IAP officials Omar Ahmad and Ibrahim Hooper, founded CAIR. www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=755
CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad also addressed the meeting. Awad has a long history of association with extremists, both in this country and in Bosnia. He once worked for senior Hamas political leader Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook’s Islamic Association for Palestine. Awad has removed all doubt about his inclinations, telling a crowd at Barry University in 1994, “I am a supporter of the Hamas movement.” Awad helpfully told the outraged crowd in Sterling: “This is a war against Islam and Muslims. Our administration has the burden of proving otherwise.” www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=7FC60722-9DA4-438D-81E4-1610B747D96C
See also http://www.investigativeproject.org/profile/113
Other Muslims to show their support by opening their checkbooks were Jamal Barzinji www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/jamal-barzinji.asp?cycle=08
And the Huffington Post records 2000.00 was contributed to Rasoul by a man named Yaqub Mirza, CEO of Sterling Management Group. www.fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=Mirza
Has anyone looked at the history and profile of these men? In fairness to Rasoul he is not responsible for who gives to him, but it is my contention that these donors are giving because they believe in his cause. If elected he will meet their needs down the road. Of course, these men have given to other politicians, but think of it as a trip to Vegas or playing the lottery. Does the average person throw money out because they are stinking rich or because they hope to gain something? Investing in a particular politician is not only financially rewarding, but it is also also agenda rewarding. You scratch my back and i'll scratch yours! All these men are Muslim and have Palestine on the brain disease, an obsession that they will not stop until Israel is bye bye. Mirza's hobbies were exposed and taken before the Senate; www.senate.gov/~gov_affairs/073103emerson.pdf
Mirza has been publicly linked to the alleged financing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad; www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-epstein052103.asp
Barzinji also has a reputation in the public eye; "Far more disturbing to national-security analysts are Saffuri's long-standing ties to Jamal Barzinji, an Iraqi who heads a network of investment companies and nonprofit groups that have been targeted by the Greenquest task force investigating terrorist-related fund raising. Barzinji's Marjac group of investment companies and the various charities he heads share office space, accountants and interlocking boards. They sometimes are referred to by federal prosecutors as "555 Grove Street," an address they used in suburban Herndon, Va. Money financing the 555 Grove Street network has been traced back to big-name Saudi investors." www.jihadwatch.org/archives/000968.php
See also; www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/congress/9-11_commission/030709-emerson.htm
The point I am trying to stress is that the contributors you see above are not the kind of people you want your kids to hang out with after school. Drug dealers are mild in comparison to these who murder Jews and innocent lives in the name of Allah.
Again, as I return to the so-called "interfaith" convictions of Islam, read again another text from the Quran spoken in the mosques and the "interfaith" tolerance they want us to believe;
In the mosques today, in the Friday sermons, there are increasingly frequent citations to the following verse of Quran:
“And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first attack you there, but if they attack you there then slay them. SUCH IS THE REWARD OF DISBELIEVERS. (Quran 2:191)
www.gamla.org.il/english/article/2000/nov/ber2.htm
What gets me is that some (not all) liberals always try to sidestep these passages from the Quran and replace them with some notion that the Muslim is walking down the sidewalk hand and hand with a Christian or Jew humming Barney tunes like "I love you, you love me." The Quran is quite clear on the matter and does not teach such dribble;
“Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low....And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah, and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah. That is their saying with their mouths. They imitate the saying of those who disbelieved of old...
Allah (Himself) fighteth against them. How perverse are they!... O ye who believe! Lo! many of the (Jewish) rabbis and the (Christian) monks devour the wealth of mankind wantonly and debar (men) from the way of Allah. They who hoard up gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah, unto them give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom”
Sura 9:27, 29-30
“Fight against those who have been given the Scripture.” What??
“A painful doom for the Jew and the Christian.” Hey...wait a minute. Thats me and many others their talking about!
Rather than ask Mr. Rasoul if he “personally” tolerates other beliefs (as he may in deed, have sat around and had a nosh with those of other religions and discussed religious ethics) ask him what Islam (his faith) teaches about those outside of Islam in light of the above Quranic texts! He may even say he disagrees with the Quran. So what! Ask him if he believes Sura 9 in the presence of a devout Caliph from the Middle East? We all have personal views we keep inside, but, if he is a Muslim, he must represent the religion and not his personal views.
Let me give one more statement regarding the fate of a Jew in light of this “interfaith committee.”
"Verily," said the late King Ibn Sa'ud to a British guest, "the word of God teaches us, and we implicitly believe it, that for a Muslim to kill a Jew, or for him to be killed by a Jew, ensures him immediate entry into Heaven and into the august presence of God Almighty." This view still obtains everywhere in the Arab world. www.gamla.org.il/english/article/2000/nov/ber2.htm
You may ask “how can Mr. Rasoul be identified with the Valley Character Organization?” Very simple. Keep in mind, many people seeking to be involved in politics will spend time building their resumes. Even if people have to tolerate other people and beliefs, they will do what they can to “fit in.”
THE SPIN FACTOR
When I did an article on Mr. Obama I pointed out that Muslims are permitted to lie under Islamic Law. Listen closely! I am in no way insinuating Mr. Rasoul is a liar!! Do not go away from reading this article assuming any such nonsense. However, it must be pointed out that certain lies are permitted toward the Muslim cause. Take the time to review the website documenting the reasons permitted to lie or not lie if you are a Muslim.
www.answering-islam.org/Index/L/lying.html
Why do I bring this up? I am pointing out that Islam affords Muslims the opportunity to lie and they are entitled to mislead others as Muslims if the reason meets the criteria for lying. Consider what the respected Muslim Imam Ghazali says;
“Imam Abu Hammid Ghazali says: "Speaking is a means to achieve objectives. If a praiseworthy aim is attainable through both telling the truth and lying, it is unlawful to accomplish through lying because there is no need for it. When it is possible to achieve such an aim by lying but not by telling the truth, it is permissible to lie if attaining the goal is permissible." (Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri, The Reliance of the Traveller, translated by Nuh Ha Mim Keller, amana publications, 1997, section r8.2, page 745)
www.answering-islam.org/Index/L/lying.html
More to follow...