Bush: "Islam is Peace"
In response to the hatred attacks against Muslims
and Arabs in many North America cities president bush meets with Muslim
leaders in Washington, DC mosque, in a first-of-its-kind event that
included a news conference in the prayer area of the Islamic center
of Washington
At the news conference following the meeting, surrounded with the
leader of the Muslims, President Bush said:
"Like the good folks standing
with me, the American people were appalled and outraged at last
Tuesday's attacks, and so were Muslims all across the world, both
Americans, our Muslim friends and citizens, tax-paying citizens,
and Muslims in nations were just appalled, could not believe what
we saw on our TV screens. These acts of violence against innocents
violate the fundamental tenets of the Islamic faith, and it is important
for my fellow Americans to understand that. The English translation
is not as eloquent as the original Arabic, but let me quote from
the Koran itself. 'In the long run, evil in the extreme will be
the end of those who do evil. For that they rejected the signs of
Allah and held them up to ridicule.'
"The face of terror is not
the true faith of Islam. That is not what Islam is all about. Islam
is peace. These terrorists do not represent peace. They represent
evil and war.
"When we think of Islam,
we think of a faith that brings comfort to a billion people around
the world. Billions of people find comfort, solace, and peace, and
that has made brothers and sisters out of every race. America counts
millions of Muslims amongst our citizens, and
Muslims make an incredibly valuable contribution to our country.
Muslims are doctors, lawyers, law professors, members of the military;
entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, moms and dads, and they need to be treated
with respect. In our anger and emotion, our fellow Americans must
treat each other with respect.
"Women who cover their heads in
this country must feel comfortable going outside their homes. Moms
who wear cover must not be intimidated in America. That is not the
America I know. That's not the America I value."
There are an estimated seven
million Muslims in America, more then half million Muslim in Canada
and some 1.2 billion worldwide.
We are asking, "What is the Canadian
Government and media outlets doing to prevent hatred and violence
against Canadian Muslims and Arabs?"
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