Obama: 'Islam Has Been Woven Into the Fabric of Our Country Since Its Founding'

[bonnie]

 

Obama: 'Islam Has Been Woven Into the Fabric of Our Country Since Its Founding'

February 19, 2015 - 10:57 AM

By Susan Jones

 

That's what the president told a White House conference on "countering violent extremism" on Wednesday.(CNSNews.com) - We hear a lot about the United States' Judeo-Christian heritage, but according to President Obama, "Islam has been woven into the fabric of our country since its founding."

Obama has said similar things in the past: 

"I also know that Islam has always been a part of America’s story,” Obama said in a June 2009 speech in Cairo, Egypt. "Islam has always been part of America," he said in a 2010 statement marking the start of Ramadan. And in a 2014 statement marking Eid, Obama said the holiday "also reminds us of the many achievements and contributions of Muslim Americans to building the very fabric of our nation and strengthening the core of our democracy."

In his speech on Wednesday, Obama was making the point that Western nations must show that they "welcome people of all faiths," at a time when "extremists" are saying that Western nations are "hostile to Muslims."

"Here in America, Islam has been woven into the fabric of our country since its founding. Generations -- (applause) -- Generations of Muslim immigrants came here and went to work as farmers and merchants and factory workers, helped to lay railroads and to build up America. 

"The first Islamic center in New York City was founded in the 1890s. America's first mosque, this was an interesting fact, was in North Dakota." (It was established in 1929).

Both of those milestones happened well after America's founding, however. In fact, the new nation's first dealings with Islam were tense and unpleasant. 

According to a Heritage Foundation paper, shortly after America's founding, the United States "was dragged into the affairs of the Islamic world by an escalating series of unprovoked attacks on Americans by Muslim pirates, the terrorists of the era," who looted American ships and captured American sailors, holding them for ransom or selling them as slaves.

The paper notes that America's struggle with Muslim pirates from the Barbary States (modern-day Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya) began soon after the 13 colonies declared their independence from Britain in 1776 and continued for roughly four decades.

In his remarks on Wednesday, President Obama said Muslim Americans now serve as police officers, firefighters, soldiers, "and in our intelligence communities and in homeland security."

He said Muslim American heroes are buried at Arlington National Cemetery, "having given their lives in defense of all of us."

"And, of course, that's the story extremists and terrorists don't want the world to know -- Muslims succeeding and thriving in America. Because when that truth is known, it exposes their propaganda as the lie that it is. 

"It's also a story that every American must never forget, because it reminds us all that hatred and bigotry and prejudice have no place in our country. It is not just counterproductive. It doesn't just aid terrorists. It's wrong. It's contrary to who we are."

So-called hate crimes against Muslims escalated in this country after the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 -- attacks perpetrated by Islamic radicals -- but they have never reached the level of hate crimes against Jews, according to the FBI's annual Uniform Crime Reporting statistics.

In 2013, for example, 62.4 percent of hate crime victims were attacked because of anti-Jewish bias, while 11.6 percent were victims of anti-Islamic bias.

Compare that with the year before the 2001 terror attacks: In 2000, of the1,699 victims of anti-religious hate crime, 74.6 percent were victims of an offender's anti-Jewish bias; and only 2.1 percent were victims of an offender's anti-Islamic bias.

President Obama on Wednesday stressed that U.S. is not at war with Islam:"We are at war with people who have perverted Islam,"  he said.  

He also said the West and Islam are not in conflict; and that Islam is not incompatible with modern life, although in the same speech he urged other countries to invest in the education of both males and females -- "because countries will not be truly successful if half their populations, if their girls and their women, are denied opportunity."

In a speech to the same summit on Thursday, Obama noted that many Americans don't personally know a single Muslim, and they form a distorted impression about Islam by what they hear on the news.

 

 

 

 

[Gregory Matthews]

And, just maybe, President Obama was correct.

 

By the way just because certain pirates were Islamic does not make Islam responsible for their activities.

 

In the history of the United States, there have been major criminals, who did awful deeds, who came from a SDA background.  That did not make the SDA  denomination responsible.

[whbae]

This is one more reason why I believe that Obama is a Muslim or a sympathizer of Muslim. 

I am a foreigner and when I studied American history I never heard of Muslim being a fabric of American society.  I learned this in 1955.  I guess time does the strange things. As time goes by the history changes too, I guess Harvard history teacher told Obama differently .

[bonnie]

It is interesting the constant praise for Islam. Reading history I think you will find many races and religions are woven into the fabric of the founding of this country. Even here the disdain for christians is frequently shown. Instead of being thankful many Muslims are finding a love for Jesus "it is  to bad we can't say same for christians". Never a "few christians" but christians in general. I am sure Islam being woven into the fabric of the founding of this country was "comfort" to those being beheaded and burned alive and their families. That has what to do with the barbaric behavior of this peaceful religion? Those same that Obama could not bring himself to call christians dying for their faith at the hands of followers of Islam.I  wonder if we will ever hear with the same disdain "those Muslims cling to their Korans and swords"? If that had been a group of Muslims beheaded for their faith he would not have referred to them generically as citizens.

Obama,  as on this forum is very selective in his use of history and it always is in favor or sympathy with Islam. Seems a very crucial background to those nasty christians of the Crusades,  an "unimportant" detail was left out. As he did blaming "christians" not a few but christians in general for the slavery issue. Of course again,leaving out critical details to that evil practice. Muslims bought and sold more slaves than anyone else.

I, for one would not want to live in a country that used such peaceful,loving actions to "convert" others.

How many have to be burned to death,beheaded or killed in other gruesome manner by a "few" around the globe?

I think I learned a different meaning to the word "few" 

[JoeMo]

I respect Obama's honesty in admitting the influence of Islam on our American history. I have 3 specific examples (with my own "twist" on history, but what the heck!)

 

1.  In the late 15th century, Islam conquered Constantinople; and closed off all main trade routes between Europe and Asia.  As you can imagine, this had an adverse impact on the economy of Europe.  Columbus set out to find an alternate trade route to Asia, based on his theory that the world was round; and that European merchants could get to Asia by sailing west.  So, thanks to Islam, America was discovered!

 

2. A century or two later, Islam had conquered most of North Africa; and was practicing their way of dealing with infidels by killing them, making them pay a tax, or being sold into slavery.  Islamic slave traders to a significant extent participated on the African side of the slave trade, selling them to the "shippers" of slaves to North America.  So Islamic slave traders helped institute the slave trade in North America, which eventually led to the civil war; and in a way, to the ongoing civil rights movement.

 

3. At about the same time as the slave trade was thriving, a group of North African pirates (the Barbary pirates - a majority of whom were Islamic) were raiding ships and coastal communities and kidnapping people for ransom.  A few American merchant ships were captured; and America paid over $1 Million ransom for the safe return of the ships and people.  In 1801 when Jefferson became president, he refused to accede to the pirates' demand. Instead, he built a formidable military armada to confront the pirates and their sponsoring Ottoman governments.  When the pirates saw the awesomeness of the U.S. armada, the raids stopped.  So, partially thanks to Islam, the U.S. became (and remains) a formidable naval power.  The opening line to the Maine Corp anthem "From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli" commemorates American victory over the Barbary (Ottoman) pirates.

[whbae]

Chapter 9, Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith tells the story of Muslim.

[phkrause]

I respect Obama's honesty in admitting the influence of Islam on our American history. I have 3 specific examples (with my own "twist" on history, but what the heck!)

 

1.  In the late 15th century, Islam conquered Constantinople; and closed off all main trade routes between Europe and Asia.  As you can imagine, this had an adverse impact on the economy of Europe.  Columbus set out to find an alternate trade route to Asia, based on his theory that the world was round; and that European merchants could get to Asia by sailing west.  So, thanks to Islam, America was discovered!

 

2. A century or two later, Islam had conquered most of North Africa; and was practicing their way of dealing with infidels by killing them, making them pay a tax, or being sold into slavery.  Islamic slave traders to a significant extent participated on the African side of the slave trade, selling them to the "shippers" of slaves to North America.  So Islamic slave traders helped institute the slave trade in North America, which eventually led to the civil war; and in a way, to the ongoing civil rights movement.

 

3. At about the same time as the slave trade was thriving, a group of North African pirates (the Barbary pirates - a majority of whom were Islamic) were raiding ships and coastal communities and kidnapping people for ransom.  A few American merchant ships were captured; and America paid over $1 Million ransom for the safe return of the ships and people.  In 1801 when Jefferson became president, he refused to accede to the pirates' demand. Instead, he built a formidable military armada to confront the pirates and their sponsoring Ottoman governments.  When the pirates saw the awesomeness of the U.S. armada, the raids stopped.  So, partially thanks to Islam, the U.S. became (and remains) a formidable naval power.  The opening line to the Maine Corp anthem "From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli" commemorates American victory over the Barbary (Ottoman) pirates.

Interesting JoeMo, thanks

[phkrause]

Chapter 9, Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith tells the story of Muslim.

Unfortunately I don't have my book here. Its still up in your state and with the weather the way its been up there, I might not be able to come and get the rest of our stuff until August.

So maybe you could quote some passage's from the book!! Oh you know what, maybe my Mom has that book. I'll check that sometime this week.

[whbae]

Peter, 

I tried to paste some here from the book, but unable to do it. If you  give me your email add I will forward to you.

You might be able to get a used copy from Amazon.com at a very low price.  Get the hard copy not the paper which is very fragile.

My email is whbae1@verizon.net

[lazarus]

This is one more reason why I believe that Obama is a Muslim or a sympathizer of Muslim. 

I am a foreigner and when I studied American history I never heard of Muslim being a fabric of American society.  I learned this in 1955.  I guess time does the strange things. As time goes by the history changes too, I guess Harvard history teacher told Obama differently .

 

I took a quick look. Muslims fought in the civil war. One was a captain. A good proportion of the slaves bough over to the US were muslim !! Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has been in the US since the 1930's. Of course your have heard of the nation of Islam. I'm not surprised you were not taught this.

[whbae]

Yes, but it was not at the time of founding this country.  At time of founding this country was established by Christians(christians only) who were fleeing persecution      from their countries. The Muslims came to this country during the slave trades.

[LifeHiscost]

Whenever they started, there's only going to be One Who finishes for eternity, despite the best effort or sincerity of any other.

 

…4who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.…1 Timothy 2

 

And that is why the ferocity of the enemy of souls.

 

…11"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. 12"For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time."...Revelation 12

 

The means used to further the ends of one lies juxtapositionally in contrast with the other as can be seen by this description.

 

http://answering-islam.org/Hahn/jihad.htm

 

1. Islam is a total way of life. It knows no separation of church and state, of sacred and secular.
2. Islam condemns all polytheism and idolatry, affirming that God alone is God. It is the culmination of all God’s previous revelations (Judaism and Christianity included), it supersedes them and virtually renders them obsolete. Islam is now God’s sole revelation and religion for all humanity, Muhammad is God’s final prophet and the Qur’an is God’s final book. World sovereignty is the sole prerogative of Islam.

God is Love!  Jesus saves!  

[Tom Wetmore]

Time for a short pop quiz...

True or false - The first Muslims to come to America were slaves.

What was the year the first Muslims came to America?

a.) 1732

b.) 1178

c.). 1530

d.). 1492

[Gregory Matthews]

1492 is alleged, but it is in dispute.

1528 is documented in a shipwreck that deposited an Islamic on land that now is a part of the U.S.

Other dates are alleged, but in dispute.

[Tom Wetmore]

What about the true/false question?

[JoeMo]

From Wikipedia:

One of the earliest accounts of Islam's presence in North America dates to 1528, when a Moroccan slave, called Estevanico by his Spanish captors, was shipwrecked near present-day Galveston, Texas.^[17] He and four survivors subsequently traveled through much of the American southwest and the Mexican interior before reaching Mexico City."

 

Based on this, I would guess "true".

[Tom Wetmore]

An additional source suggests evidence of Muslim explorers arriving in the New World centuries earlier. http://www.islam101.com/history/muslim_us_hist.html

That puts the first Muslims in North America as early as 1178 according to Chinese documents. They were not slaves.

An additional source suggested even earlier exploration by Muslim explorers perhaps as early as the 9th Century.

It is also suggested that many of the later Western explorers of the Americas relied on maps made by the Muslim map makers and explorers.

Here is an interesting take on the topic of Islamic influences on America - http://lostislamichistory.com/how-muslims-helped-cause-the-american-revolution/