Luck

Obama On Ground Zero Mosque: Rights For Muslims, Tough Luck For Americans

Celebrating at a dinner in the White House on Friday August 13, Obama followed the meeting with a statement that Muslims had a right to build a mosque even in Lower Manhattan. Polls taken across the nation indicate that very few Americans are in agreement with his assertions.

On the evening of July 27, 2010, Helen Friedman, took to a podium in a New York community board meeting and declared that building the Mosque at Ground Zero was the equivalent of America receiving a Trojan Horse from the Muslims. Such sentiment reflects the feelings of most 9/11 families of victims lost to the deliberate destruction of the Trade Towers done by Muslim radicals.

Following that event Canadian author Farzana Hassan appeared on the O’Reilly Factor, Friday, August 13, and said that the mosque was indeed a Trojan Horse because there would be no way of knowing just what kind of things would be allowed to take place inside the environs of the proposed Mosque.

If the insult to 9/11 families was not severe enough following Mr. Obama’s statements it was learned that the Imam spearheading the move to build the mosque, Feisal Abdul Rauf, was being sent on his third trip to the United Arab Emirates to raise money and speak for the project. That being bad enough, now it is known, that the State Department is footing the bill for the Imam’s jaunt to the Middle East with U.S. Taxpayers money.

Where are the crowds of “separation of church and state” folks on this matter? Can the U.S. question the 501-C status of even one single Christian Church if they are going to fund efforts to raise money for a Muslim Mosque? Is this a hypocrisy that almost everyone is overlooking? More than that, is it legal or constitutional for the government to use taxpayer funds to promote any religion?

How many of the “separation of church and state” crowd would be coming out of the woodwork to assail the government if they learned the State Department was sending the Rev Franklin Graham to Europe or Evangelist Jesse Duplantis to Russia to raise money for their projects?

Since his initial remarks were made the President has been backtracking and using everything short of doublespeak to clarify his statement. The damage has already been done since it looks like an overall endorsement for the building of the mosque. No one has yet seriously questioned the President or the State Department on the legality of using tax dollars to pay for a religious leader’s trip to the Arab world.

In what can only be described as a day of insult in hypocrisy’s finest hour in America, on the same night Obama made his remarks about the proposed mosque, EA has announced the release of its latest video game in which players can assume the role of Taliban fighters seeking out and destroying American Troops. Whether its families of 9/11 victims or America’s finest on the battlefield that are being dishonored, it is a day for shame across the land.

Days after 9/11 former President Bush announced that the people who caused the destruction of the Trade Towers would “shortly hear from us.” Just how far the tide can turn is now reflected in President Obama’s recent remarks that seem to be saying that it is time for us to hear from them, yet once again.

The sadness and pain caused to America by the events of 9/11 are not something that will be soothed or quickly forgotten but the idea of a Muslim mosque at the site of the attack is a low blow and the timing of it could not be worse. To wit;

“Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity; Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.” (Ob 1: 13,14)

By: Rev. Michael Bresciani

http:www.//americanprophet.org is the place for news, articles, movie and book reviews and many insights for life. The Website for Insight features the articles of Rev Michael Bresciani whose columns appear in major online and print publications from around the world. Millions have read his timely articles and reviews.

Tags: Americans, Ground, Luck, Mosque, Muslims, Obama, Rights, Tough, Zero

Friday, September 3rd, 2010 Grants No Comments

Grant Curses His Luck at Being Unable to Match Mourinho’s Bright Start

Salomon Kalou was clean through on goal when Mark Halsey blew the final whistle here, the Ivorian scuffing against the far post while Tottenham Hot spur players dropped to the turf in ecstasy. For some in the ranks of the runners-up it was all too much. Petr Cech, Ricardo Carvalho and Didier Drogba converged furiously on Halsey crying conspiracy, a sense of injustice pursuing the players as they trudged up to collect unwanted medals.

Chelsea are bad losers. They have had little practice at failure in recent times, after all, and the sense of deflation is utterly alien to them. Yet, even so, Avram Grant’s complaints of the referee’s decisions afterwards did him no favors. “The players were angry and I can understand that,” he said. “They were rash decisions, the penalty and then stopping the game when Kalou was through on goal. How can the referee decide whether there should be one or two seconds more? Very disappointing.”

Henk ten Cate had intervened to drag the Chelsea players from the officials at the end. Grant had merely fumed on the sidelines. The Israeli departed this arena weighed down by regret, the chance to kick-start his regime with an early trophy, as Jose Mourinho had done back in 2005 by winning this competition in Cardiff, having been passed up. The Portuguese never lost a major cup final at this club. He had won all four at his previous employers, Porto, to suggest that – semi-finals against Liverpool aside – critical occasions brought out the best in him. Comparisons with Grant are unfair and unhelpful, but they are also inevitable.

Grant has only lost three of his 35 games in charge, a fine record, though they were arguably the most significant matches he has played to date. Losses to Manchester United and Arsenal in the Premier League could prove critical as the title race looks like going to the wire. This was a frustrating way for a fine Carling Cup campaign to fizzle out, especially given the considerable achievement in steering a side shorn of key players, due to injury and the African Cup of Nations, back to Wembley in the first place.

Yet, for all his complaints of the referees Grant might also accept some culpability for this defeat. After a week in which Frank Lampard and John Terry, stalwarts of this side but absent injured in recent months, had fretted over their places, the team to which Grant had eventually turned for the showpiece had the look of a mishmash. Michael Ballack was arguably the club’s best performer when the squad was stripped of major players, yet he was relegated to the bench here. Nicolas Anelka and Drogba had never started a game together, yet they were both included, even if they were rarely employed as a partnership.

Instead, Grant stuck by his favored 4-1-4-1 or 4-3-3 formation – the distinction is dependent upon which team boasts possession – and selected his best players, even if that left him forcing square pegs into round holes. This side can rarely have looked this uncomfortable playing within the formation’s parameters. Anelka endured his most ineffective game at the club, the awkwardness of the set-up contributing to an apparent lack of urgency for long periods.

“That was the first time Didier and Nicolas have played together and I think it will be a good combination,” said Grant. “It wasn’t an easy game for them today. But if I don’t play with them, people ask me why not. When I do, people say it’s a gamble. They can play together no question. You can’t pick players of their quality and say it’s a gamble.”

It will be interesting to see whether the selection policy is repeated when Chelsea’s season, which is far from over, takes them into the latter stages of the Champions League and the FA Cup. This is clearly a squad united – Drogba’s reaction to putting his side ahead, sprinting to the bench to hug Ballack, was evidence of that – but the watching world is still seeking evidence that Grant, despite the fine league run in the new year, is the man to maintain Roman Abramovich’s revolution.

Chelsea are used to gracing major finals these days, so there was always likely to be a period yesterday when Tottenham’s urgent desire to earn a rare reward threatened to eclipse them. What was required was a spark from the bench, a tactical switch or substitution, to urge the side on. Barring that, the manager could inspire in the huddle at full-time or at half-time in the extra period. Instead, the assistant manager Steve Clarke appeared to take on the tub-thumping role, with John Terry urging his troops on in the brief reprise in extra-time. Grant may be more of a thinker than a raver but Juande Ramos out-thought him tactically here too.

There will be immediate opportunities to exorcise this painful memory. They have an FA Cup quarter-final at Barnsley to look forward to and a feisty trip to West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday.

“We can still do our best in the other competitions,” said Grant. Yet, for the first time in a while, Mourinho’s shadow hangs over those in the Chelsea dug-out once again. Grant could have done without that.

Tags: Being, Bright, Curses, Grant, Luck, Match, Mourinho's, Start, Unable