This was before the Iraq invasion, btw. And the name “Osama” rose in popularity throughout the ME after 9/11, as I recall. In addition, there were celebrations and cheers all over the middle east on 9/11. To this day, there are muslim organizations that ‘celebrate’ the anniversary of 9/11, including an extremist muslim organization in London of all places. And the Palestinian suicide bombers had plenty of support throughout the ME, as have other terrorist groups.
Ask yourself this: If a sect of Christianity suddenly began murdering people and blowing up things in the name of Christ, how fast do you think other Christian leaders would run out to denounce them and point out that they do not represent all Christians and are perverting the gospels? It would be mighty fast. And the rank and file of Christianity would be doing the same at every opportunity. We should expect no less from Muslim leaders when it comes to al-Qaida, but they’ve fallen far short of that.
Well, depends of the times, from the time of the crusades to colonial rule, muslims had to wait hundreds of years for denounciations to come. Of course many Christian churches of today denounced the Iraq war… mmm… you do like the progress of many Christian churches regarding Iraq right?
You know, I was going to say that I agree, but I remembered the nastiness the right wing elements of the Catholic and Protestant churches showed when supporting the repression in Central America, and the rank and file even said that it was ok to kill a commie for Christ. It was nasty in El Salvador since a good number of the dead were not even communists. While religious leaders did complain, excomunication for dictators was not considered, and public condemnation for the repression was weak. Or when it happened, the preachers died.
He’s created himself a good niche. There’s lots of money to be made in selling outrage. Besides there are not nearly enough semi-repentant war shills trying to feign balance.
I disagree. I tried googling for news of church leaders denouncing Fred Phelps. I found no mention of any major, minor or magic church leader doing so, although I don’t doubt that many do. Also, zero hits on “Fred Phelps” on the WSJ and two on Foxnews.com, neither of which was about church leaders denouncing him.
Not that I would blame them entirely. The guy is a crackpot and I imagine he simply wouldn’t be on most normal people’s minds.
I disagree. They haven’t fallen short. I think Muslim leaders are doing an excellent job of widely and forcefully denouncing terrorism and even, as has been shown, of denouncing OBL. Most certainly they’re doing a much better job than Christian church leaders in analogous cases! Just google or read Islamonline.com. The only problem I see is that somehow (right-wing) commentators can’t be bothered to notice this fact.