“Mainstream” American Muslims attend a rousing hate filled, homophobic, Jew bashing convention for the Islamic Society of North America

This serious convention proved a model for “interfaith dialogue”, diversity, tolerance and deeper understanding of the complex problems facing American Muslims and their brothers and sisters elsewhere: “The Intergalactic Jewish Conspiracy to Subdue and Enslave the World’s People” (I made that part up).

Or, if you prefer it in their own words: The panel was described by the members as “an interactive session which provides a wonderful platform to learn, share ideas, and provide literary contributions to society.” 

But wait until you see the topic of the evening. And the substance to those “ideas.”

A member from the Obama administration was on hand to give the keynote address to the Islamic Society of North America. Senior Advisor for Public Engagement and International Affairs, Valerie Jarrett, gleefully noted that she was the first from any administration to address the ISNA. Oh how progressive we have become! And while she was there she laid on the praise for the group’s “diversity and ideas.” Ideas like supporting Hamas, the heroics of the 9/11 hijackers and their uncontrollable hatred for Jews. Diversity like showing support for other radical Muslim organizations in having direct ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. 

Investigative Report Project | “Mainstream” Islamist Convention Features Hate Speech and Hezbollah Defense

While many panels featured criticism of U.S. policy and law enforcement, one stood out for its hate-filled rhetoric, and ISNA officials should have seen it coming a mile away. During a “meet the authors” session, Imam Warith Deen Umar, former head of the New York state prison chaplain program managed to:

• Argue that key Obama aides are “Israeli,” proving Jews “have control of the world.”
• Malign the motives of Jews active in the Civil Rights movement.
• Portray the Holocaust as punishment of Jews for being “serially disobedient to Allah.”
• Insinuate that Hurricane Katrina was a result of tolerance for homosexuality.

Umar’s radicalism is no secret. He previously hailed the 9/11 hijackers as martyrs who were secretly admired by Muslims. He has called for violent jihad. In a January 2004 speech, he urged people:

“Rise up and fight. And fight them until turmoil is no more and strike terror into their hearts.” You think there is no terror in Quran? It’s called [word unclear] read it in the 56th Surah of the Quran. There’s no lack of translation, there’s no mistranslation There’s not one Sheikh says one thing, no, it’s very clear. ‘When you fight, you strike terror into the heart of the disbeliever.’”

He has a website promoting a past book, Judaiology, which features an excerpt describing “the inordinacy of Jewish power.” Jews, he wrote, are “an amazing people who can steal you blind as you watch. If you discover the theft, they can put you to sleep. If you wake up to them, they can put you back to sleep with mind games, tricks of fancy, smoke screens, and magic. Henry Ford almost uncovered them.”

Umar’s ISNA appearance Sunday afternoon promoted his latest book, Jews for Salaam: The Straight Path to Global Peace. In discussing it, Umar first thanked ISNA for inviting him to speak.

He then described a distinction between “holy Jews,” who are devout, apolitical and poor, and “unholy Jews” who are greedy, conniving and all powerful. He looked to the White House for an example (hear the clip here):

“You need to know that Obama, the first man that Obama picked when we were so happy that he was the President, he picked an Israeli – Rahm Emanuel – his number one man. His number two man – [David] Axelrod – another Israeli person. Why do this small number of people have control of the world? You need to go back into your history and find out about France and Germany and England and America got together and offered the Israelites, who became the Israelites, they offered them Ghana, the plains of Ghana. Why don’t you take Ghana since we beat you down so badly? That’s what the Holocaust was all about. You need to read my chapter on the Holocaust and the anti-Holocaust movement. There’s some people in the world says no Holocaust even happened. Some of their leaders say no Holocaust even happened. Well it did happen. These people were punished. They were punished for a reason because they were serially disobedient to Allah.” [Emphasis added]

ISNA described the author’s panel as “an interactive session which provides a wonderful platform to learn, share ideas, and provide literary contributions to society.” Remarkably, ISNA included Umar in that platform despite a very public record of anti-Semitism, advocacy for jihad, and praise for the 9/11 hijackers.

Yes, yes — big ideas, a shared intellectual platform and further literary contribution to society no doubt. What’s more, it is fun for the whole family. Maybe the President himself will attend the next one? Maybe even Jeremiah Wright or David Duke? 

Why on earth would any sensible human being — Rick Warren and representatives from the U.S. Government — attend such a convention? There are fine lines between tolerance, capitulation and endorsement. Tolerance doesn’t mean to submit. And certainly there is not anything beautiful about tolerating such nonsense as that. In America? I have my doubts about this country as long as people are willing to turn a blind eye to hatred, violence and insanity for the sake of seeming tolerant, open and diverse. There is something far more noble about confronting evil, engaging what is wrong, and prevailing with better ideas and way of life. Have we lost the ability and the will to do so? If we have and if we continue along that path then we can stop pretending that America is a unique place in the world. A representation to the world of grand ideals backed by human capital and sacrifice. Because to do so would be a lie and a disservice to those who meant it and fought for it. As a nation, we are becoming weak soulless and fast approaching defenseless. And only because we chose not to confront what is clearly wrong. We freely buried our ideals and principles so as not to seem hostile to others.