My colleague Kola sent me this piece of disturbing news:
A bomb scare inside a mosque north of Centralia, Illinois, yesterday is now being investigated as a hate crime.
Central Illinois’ WJBD radio reports that a church member found a box in the bushes outside the center and brought it inside thinking it was a donation for the food bank. Soon other church members grew suspicious of the package and called authorities who, in turn, called in the bomb squad.
Some 25 nearby residents were evacuated from the scene as the bomb squad used a water cannon to blast open the package. It’s contents? Burned Qurans, anti-Islamic propaganda and newspaper clippings.
The members of the mosque (which newspaper accounts keep referring to as a “church” for some strange reason) had organized a food bank to help needy people in an economically poor area to get through difficult times. And this was what they got in return from some bigots in the community.
This kind of hatred is disgusting and it pains me to live in an area where something like this is possible. Whenever I mention Islam or the Quran in my lectures, I have to answer endless and very ignorant questions from my audience. I’m not any sort of an authority on Islam but some things really need to be addressed.
No, Islam is not a religion of hatred and violence. No, terrorists are not praised in the Quran. No, the Quran is not calling for the destruction of all Christians and Jews. Quran is the word of God as revealed to Prophet Mohammad through Archangel Gabriel, and who’s to say it isn’t? (At this point, people often start scoffing and rolling their eyes, and I have to stare them down.)
I so hate this smug ignorance and stupid sense of superiority towards people of other religions that it makes me want to barf.
Clarissa's Blog 
“No, Islam is not a religion of hatred and violence. No, terrorists are not praised in the Quran. No, the Quran is not calling for the destruction of all Christians and Jews.”
But Clarissa, that is just what was being taught at the FBI Academy for the past decade. I wonder what our NYU Medievalist and Arabist collegue would say about that.
It is unfortunate that these Christian bigots can’t see themselves as they see the Muslim bigots they imitate.
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Have you actually read the entire Koran? What do you do with the suras that call for the annihilation and.or subjugation of all non-muslims in the world?
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The Koran is a work of poetry. It is highly metaphoric and can be translated and interpreted in many different ways.
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Reminded of this great post about Terrorist Strategy 101:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/11/10/72151/-Terrorist-Strategy-101:-a-quiz?detail=hide&via=blog_671598
It was written by Doug Muder of The Weekly Sift.
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Clarissa is right. I have read the entire Koran and it is no different than the bible that most christian’s read. Many passage’s of the bible have also been “translated” to beat or sacrifice your children, commit crime’s against other’s who do not believe the way they do and much more.
The Koran, like the bible, is an instrument for peace and love and understanding.
I do not particular favor one religion over another, but do believe in God with all my heart.
These extremist’s would like to eliminate the muslim’s, just like they will eliminate your right’s and you when the muslim’s were gone. Don’t fool yourself.
Hate begets hate. Love begets love. And peace begets peace.
I regret that this happened in my town of Centralia, Illinois, but truly believe that most people here, do NOT believe this was proper.
Signed a citizen of Centralia, Illinois who wishes the Muslim’s in the area, and all other religious view’s be respected!
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Great to have a fellow Southern Illinoisian on the blog! The enlightened open-minded people of our area need to stand united in our opposition to bigotry and hatred.
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