Courtesy of the ever-reliable Palestinian Media Watch, here at right is a cartoon that appears in the current (25th September 2006) edition of Al Risala, the official magazine of Hamas, published weekly in Gaza. For the near-sighted or unimaginative, it depicts Pope Benedict XVI brandishing a nazi swastika while wearing a scarf made up American and Danish flags. The Danish connection recalls the cartoons published last year in Denmark, the publication of which so enraged Islamic mobs on every continent that they rioted in the name of tolerance and injured pride, causing many deaths.In a similar, peace-loving, tolerance-promoting vein, official Palestinian Authority Television, controlled by the 'moderate' Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah organization, went to air this past Friday (22nd September 2006) with coverage of the Friday sermon delivered to the faithful by Hamas religious leader, Osama Al-Mazini. The sermon calls the Pope "criminal and arrogant," "ignorant and stupid," and warns him that his punishment awaits. Allah, the preacher thundered, does not necessarily punish the wicked immediately, but waits "until a day when eyes will stare (in terror)."
"The second message is for the criminal Benedict the 16th, the Vatican Pope. For this ignorant and stupid Pope, who has no one to attack besides Islam and the Prophet [Muhammad], may the Creator have mercy on him and protect him. He [the Pope] characterized Islam as a cruel religion, and characterized Muhammad, may the Creator have mercy on him and protect him, as a cruel man, spilling blood, who strove to kill. This hostile Pope refuses to apologize to Muslims; and, instead of apologizing he blames the Muslims for not understanding, thereby adding crime upon crime. This arrogant Pope sees the Muslims as too inferior that he should apologize to them. To this arrogant Pope - criminal and arrogant - this message is from Allah the Elevated and the Exalted, as it was said: 'Think not that Allah is unaware of what the wicked do. He but gives them a respite until a day when eyes will stare (in terror).' [Sura14:42]"BBC World meanwhile leads this evening's news bulletins with a story headed: "Pope stresses respect for Muslims".
Pope Benedict XVI has expressed "total and profound respect" for the Muslim faith, as he attempts to defuse a row between Islam and the Catholic Church. He made the remarks in a meeting with envoys from the Muslim world, weeks after a speech in Germany prompted an angry reaction by some Muslims... In the space of just half an hour, the pontiff made a brief speech to envoys before greeting them individually, but there was no general discussion. Muslim leaders had been demanding an unequivocal apology from the Pope for his words. Ambassadors from 21 countries and a representative from the Arab League attended, as well as Islamic representatives in Italy... "I would like today to stress my total and profound respect for all Muslims," the Pope said in the speech. He called for "sincere and respectful dialogue", adding that Christians and Muslims alike must reject all forms of violence and respect religious liberty. Correspondents say the latter was a reference to restrictions on the church's activity in some Muslim countries. "Since the beginning of my pontificate I have had occasion to express my wish to continue to establish bridges of friendship with believers of all religions, showing particularly my appreciation in the belief in dialogue between Muslims and Christians... The inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue between Christians and Muslims is, in effect, a vital necessity, on which a large part of our future depends."Far be it from us to criticize the Vatican's foreign relations strategy, but if we were Catholics, we would be cringing with embarrassment and purple with humiliation.
But in a BBC interview, the ambassador of Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation, pointed out that the Pope had not referred directly to the speech which sparked the controversy. "We had hoped that there would have been a dialogue, but that was not the case," Bambang Prayitno said. "There was no dialogue between the Pope and the guests... In general, we were actually a bit surprised that the meeting was a short one and just like that."
...The [Pope's offending 14th Century] quote says: "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." The Pope said his real intention had been to "explain that religion and violence do not go together, but religion and reason do".
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Clifford May makes some very appropriate and clear-thinking comments on the real meaning of the thuggish anti-Pope demonstrations:
Many commentators have pointed out the apparent hypocrisy: Muslims are outraged by cartoons satirizing Islamic extremism while in Muslim countries Christianity and Judaism are attacked viciously and routinely.
Many commentators are missing the point: These protesters — and those who incite them — are not asking for mutual respect and equality. They are not saying: “It’s wrong to speak ill of a religion.” They are saying: “It’s wrong to speak ill of our religion.” They are not standing up for a principle. They are laying down the law. They are making it as clear as they can that they will not tolerate “infidels” criticizing Muslims. They also are making it clear that infidels should expect criticism — and much worse — from Muslims.
They are attempting nothing less than the establishment of a new world order in which the supremacy of what they call the Nation of Islam is acknowledged, and “unbelievers” submit — or die. Call it an offer you can’t refuse.
If you don’t understand this, listen harder. In London, Anjem Choudary — a Muslim Fascist if ever there was one — told demonstrators that Pope Benedict XVI deserves to be killed — for daring to quote a Byzantine emperor’s description of Islam as a religion “spread by the sword.”
“The Muslims take their religion very seriously,” Choudary explained as if to a disobedient child, “and non-Muslims must appreciate that and must also understand that there may be serious consequences if you insult Islam and the Prophet. Whoever insults the message of Mohammed is going to be subject to capital punishment.”
Source: http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=M2M1MTFkMTZlOWVjMzFjZjUwOTFjMDU2ZDg1OWYwMTM=
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