So the President used his weekly address to speak to Christians about Easter and Jews about Passover. It's a nice gesture, right? You can go to WhiteHouse.gov and read the transcript. But I will just point out the part that struck me as odd:
The common thread of humanity that connects us all – not just Christians and Jews, but Muslims and Hindus and Sikhs – is our shared commitment to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
Umm, yeah, it's Easter. It's Passover. Why are Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs in this address? So I thought, maybe the President likes to give everyone a shout out. So I Google President Obama & Ramadan. Here's the transcript aaannnnddddd no mention of anyone else.
So, not to sound selfish, but why is President Obama talking about Muslims on our Holy Day? I'll say it. It's an asshat move.
Obama was right about including Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs, all of whom have celebrations around the Spring Solstice.
ReplyDeleteThe Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi sometime around mid-April, a harvest festival.
The Hindus celebrate Holi, the Festival of Colors of Unity. Like Easter and Passover, the days on which Holi falls varies and signifies the triumph of good over evil.
Ramadan is in January, but in the Q'uran, there is a precept to "Follow the ways of Abraham the True in Faith..." (Surah Al Nahl 16:123) Muslims observe a form of Passover through fasting.(Sahih Bukhari, Book #31, Hadith #222)
March 21 is Nowruz (Baha'i, Zoroastrian, Iranian New Year)
The address as a message of the promise of spring as a time of renewal for all to celebrate holidays from all faiths that fall around the Spring Solstice. (Religious Calendar)
It's appropriate to send a message that people find peace and unity among each other as we have (and hope we always will) between us.
I understand that there are other relevant spring holidays. And I get that no opportunity to send a message of peace should be passed up. However, I do take issue with what I see as a constant appeasement/apology/coddling of those who follow the Muslim faith. There are other faiths that have celebrations during Ramadan, but there is no reciprocal outreach. I believe that is because no one has to worry about the thin skin of other religions. No one has to worry about violent reactions from other religions. Islam is the Billy Mumy in our world's Twilight Zone.
ReplyDeleteOf course, there is no "love they neighbor " like Islamic " Love thy neighbor "
ReplyDeleteBM,
ReplyDeleteI saw this article and I thought of you...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/05/15/womans-cancer-killed-by-measles-virus-in-unprecedented-trial/?Post+generic=%3Ftid%3Dsm_twitter_washingtonpost
DefendUSA whose Typepad appears not to be working...