Thursday, November 18, 2010

Sign of the times... again

I once again apologize for my continued absence, whenever I get round to writing something I'm either not in the mood any more or something pops up again. However, I'd like to share this with you, I think you'll be as concerned as I am. Read on:

Church in Arizona protested because it looks like a mosque


Tuesday, November 16th, 2010 -- 9:22
2
churchdome3 Church in Arizona protested because it looks like a mosque

Islamophobia may have reached a point in this country where people condemn Christians that they suspect are Muslims without ever checking the facts.
In Phoenix, Arizona, a new Christian church has residents fearing that it is an Islamic mosque.
The Light of the World multidenominational church is being built just off of Interstate 10 and features a dome-like structure.
"Since the distinctive dome shape went up, church leaders said they have received phone calls from concerned neighbors who've mistaken the building for an Islamic mosque," KPHO reported.
"I heard many people, they came over and they say, 'Is this a Muslim temple?' No, it's not," church member Juan Calixto told KPNX.
"It is unfortunate that people are so intolerant to differences that they aren’t willing to see that the place of worship is not a mosque," said Tayyibah Amatullah of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Arizona chapter.
Church officials have hung a sign to let people know they aren't Muslim. "If you think we are different you are wrong," the sign reads. "We are building a Christian house of prayer."
"We're trying to let people know that we're Christian and our churches are modern," Uzieo Martinez, a church official told KPHO.
Officials are trying to avoid the type of backlash received by the Park51 Islamic center that is planned near Ground Zero.
The cultural center was largely ignored when The New York Times first reported about it in December 2009.
The project received wider notice in May 2010 when a community board considered the construction plans. Conservative bloggers Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer dubbed the proposed center the "Ground Zero Mosque" which started a national controversy.
"But with so many high-profile figures selling unfounded, anti-Muslim fear to the public, is it any wonder that all many Americans can see in Islam is a phantom menace?" asked Tanya Somanader at the liberal blog Think Progress.


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Words fail me, is this what the world is coming to? Where even looking 'different' or in this case 'Muslim' is dangerous and can lead to harassment? This is an all to regular occurance, people looking as if they are Muslim are attacked, even though they are not. Even at the 'Ground Zero Mosque' 'protest' organized by Loony in Chief Pamela Geller this happened, two Arab Christians who turned up to protest were attacked by the crowd and had to be protected by the police. It is a sad world where hate is getting to a level that it is dangerous to stand out or look like a certain group of people, where you have to, as this Church does, hold up a sign effectively saying 'Not Muslim, please don't hurt me!'. I know you are all intelligent people and I don't have to go on for to long about the dangers this sort of thing. However, I would like to make two main points.


First of all, this rise in what can only be called tribalism, where one has to fit in and all others are 'enemies' to be hated, is extremely dangerous. I don't really need to go into to much detail, but we all know what happens when hate is allowed free range to grow. And a close freind of mine said, hate is a seed sown by someone by the devil, if it is allowed to grow then it will soon take over that person. We cannot let this hate grow.

I would also like to share something the Buddah once said:

"Words have the power to create and destroy, when they are both true and kind, they can change our world"

This is very true and it is the case with these so called blogger like Geller who are peddling their hate, and making huge profits out of it. We need to take the Buddah's words to heart, not allow our words to destroy and make the true and kind to change this world for the better. These hate mongers need to be taken to heel and stood up to. Because, as I related in the story of Martin Niemöller in an older post, who knows when these people will turn on you?

I will leave this here, it is a depressing subject and I don't want to go to much into it right now, but I think you can all see the danger we are facing.

Peace

Jack

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

For your urgent attention UPDATED V

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY
Wednesday 10th November, 2010

23.15 GMT - LONDON...UK AID WORKERS (INCLUDING 2 MAVI MARMARA SURVIVORS) HELD HOSTAGE ON GREEK-OWNED SHIP, AFTER SHIP OWNER ARGUES WITH EGYPTIAN BROKER

DERNA PORT, LIBYA

"Strofades IV" has broken its moorings, without port permission, and is heading out of Derna Harbour.

The rear door of the ship is half closed, with convoy vehicle B7 stuck on it precariously. It is extremely dangerous.

In the lower deck of the Ro-Ro (rollon rolloff) ship are held hostage:

3 Libyans - (2 port authority policemen, with Colonel Salahuddin Rashin, Manager of Derna Port)

1 Moroccan

1 Algerian

2 Irish

6 UK nationals

The violent Greek owner who is also its captain of "Strofades IV" has just disembarked (as at 22.50 GMT) through a side door of the ship, onto a speed boat. His speed boat has made for another cargo vessel in Derna the harbour - "Odin Finder".

None of our guys now know who is in charge of Strofades IV, or where it is destined to go.

The ship is empty, apart from the hostages and single convoy vehicle jammed in the doorway. It is making rapid headway to get out to sea.

The matter is a serious breach of every maritime law possible.

We have asked all relevant Embassies to supply urgent, immediate, consular assistance.

We are EXTREMELY concerned for the safety of all the nationals on board.

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Please can you spread the word, I will keep you all updated as and when I receive new information. Thank you.

Peace

Jack


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 UPDATE


According to one of the hostages, they have been told the ship is heading towards Greece. Currently the 3 Libyan policemen are believed to be negotiating with the captain but they are refusing to alter course. The rear door of the vessel remains unsecured. Also, pressure is being put on Libya to stop the vessel. As of
3.05 GMT we remain very concerned for the safety of the vessel and hostages.


As of yet no major media outlet has run this story, please keep spreading the word.

Will keep you posted.

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 UPDATE II

Sketchy reports coming from the vessel at the moment, but it is being said that 4 Libyan vessel supported by fighter jets are attempting to have the 13 hostages removed from the vessel and taken back to Libya. $75000 worth of donations that were on the vessel at the time have been secured but the captain appears to be trying to extort money in exchange for the hostages despite already have been paid $75000 for use of his ship. We have no contact with any of the hostages at this time since they are too far out to sea.

One again, the mainstreem media is refusing to cover this story, please continue to spread the word


As always, I'll keep you informed.

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UPDATE III

Still no direct contact but it is believed that the vessel is heading towards Crete. Libyan, British, Irish, Maltese and Greek authorities are working together to try and detain the captain who is believed to be unhappy about how he was being paid. 

The media are finally picking up on the story, thank you to all of you who contacted your local media.

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We now have sporadic contact with the hostages via SMS. One reports that around 6 hours ago they commandeered a VHF radio and sent a distress message on channel 6 which was picked up by a NATO warship. They still believe they are heading towards Crete.

You can follow the vessel's progress here:

http://marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=215593000

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 A few more details for you. To begin with it appears that there are more Libyans on the ship than previously stated three, 7  include customs inspectors, border police and the harbor manager for Derna Port.  The Libyans are being treated better than the aid workers, seem to have separate cabins, have more freedom of movement and are in contact with Libyan authorities by radio and mobile phone. A full list of the other hostages is as follows:

Mustapha El-Guerbouzi (46) - UK National, resident in West London
Kieran L Turner (38) - UK National, resident in Liverpool
Raheal Parveez (25) - UK National, resident in North East London
Aziz Mekkati (43) - Algerian National, resident in Algeria
Yunus Malik (23) - UK National, resident in London
Nagib Elgarib Elbarrami (32) - UK National
David T Callander (35) - Irish National
Tauqir A Sharif (23)- UK National, resident in North East London
Kenneth O'Keefe (41)- Irish National
Khalid Mohamed Omar Ali (21) - UK National

It has been confrimed that the hostages did at one point manage to contact NATO warships, P492 and F452, via the tanker OCL Oakland. These warships promised assistance but none came for reasons unknown.
Ken O'Keefe added: "They said they would help, but no one has come to rescue us.  That was some hours ago."

Kieran adds: "At first we were made to stay in the loading bay area at the rear of the ship, which was really dangerous once the ship got out to sea - the ship's loading door is still open at a 45degree angle!  They didn't give us any life jackets. And that was when the weather was still calm.  The weather is rough now - you can just imagine..."

Kieran further adds: "Initially we were stopped from moving around the ship and had to stay in the bottom of the lower deck. Eventually we just walked through to the crew quarters, and they've let us occupy their small smoking room.  At least we are safe and in the dry, and it has a couch so we can try to sleep. We've been given one meal, of sorts, since the ship left Derna.  We've got access to water, but it's not drinking water."

Ken O'Keefe has tried to talk to the Captain on a number of occasions.  At first he succeeded in talking to him, but since then the captain has blanked him. Ken has also stated that it is everyone's intention not to let their mission fail and to return to Libya as soon as they can.

Currently we are awaiting footage from the vessel which will be uploaded to this site as soon as it is received from the hostages. Stay tuned.

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Sunday, November 7, 2010

Upcoming 'serries', Islam ABC

Firstly, I would like to apologize for my absence. Again. I have no excuse other than, well, nothing really...

Anyway, I have an upcoming series of articles in the pipeline, my 'Islam ABC'. I'm going to try and cover a wide range of topics about Islam and Islam related things, most of it my own writing but with some borrowed pieces kindly contributed by other writers. The purpose of this will be to answer some of the most asked questions as well as give a bit of clarification on what Muslims think and believe, mixed with a few of my own 'idealistic' ramblings for you to laugh at.  Below is a mostly complete list of the topics I will cover, there are a few gaps which I will, God willing, have filled by the next time we meet (someone help me find articles for X, Y and Z!!). See you there!


A = Apostasy, rejection of faith
B = Bombing, the suicide kind
C = Christians, our friends in faith
D = Dogs, and other creatures
E = Earth, for which we must care
F = Fundamentalism, taking it too far
G = God, to whom everything is due
H = Halal, all that is lawful
I = Islam, and what it means
J = Jesus, messenger supreme
K = Ka'bah, that black cube thing
L = Life, and it's purpose
M = Money, distraction from God
N =
O =
P =
Q = Qu'ran, the revelation
R = Religion, corruption of faith
S = Sharia, much misunderstood
T = Taquiya, a false concept
U = Us, inhabitants of the creation
V =
W = Worship, connecting with God
X =
Y =
Z =

Peace
Jack