A Word from the Pastor

Like many of you, I'm concerned about the nature and focus of an event planned for the Court Square Theater at 3 pm on the tenth anniversary of 9/11 as described below. Having heard Del Rosso's presentation at Dean Welty's home a number of months ago, I debated whether to accept my friend Dean's strong invitation to have folks like me attend the event this Sunday, and expressed my wish that he had chosen a more moderate and less incendiary speaker for the occasion. But it's their program.

After some reflection, I've decided to attend to simply be a part of a respectful, alternative presence, and to use much of the time to silently pray for a spirit of "peace and goodwill toward all" to fill the room. So I invite you to join me and others in this kind of quiet demonstration of shalom/salem. There is to be an open mic time for comments and questions in which those of us who wish can respectfully express our convictions and concerns.

I'm also suggesting we all wear something black as a sign of mourning for the terrible devastation and loss of life that happened ten years ago, as well as our mourning the hatred, animosity and violence that has followed on the part of so many on all sides. All of this is entirely up to you, of course, as I am not speaking officially as a member of any group in urging this "pray-in." I do however feel the support of many in my church, in the local FOR chapter of which I am a part, and from many other good friends and colleagues like you.

My personal appeal, for whatever its worth, is to leave all placards, literature or any other demonstrations of protest (or heated arguments) outside the door--or for another venue.

For some background reading, here's a link to my op-ed on the editorial page of the DNR Monday. I also strongly recommend your reading Jewish writer Eliyahu Stern's 9/2/11 piece on sharia law in the New York Times entitled, "Don't Fear Islam's Law in America."

And please don't miss the "Turning Toward Peace" event at Harrisonburg's Court Square this Saturday evening at 7 pm, and check out the events set for EMU at http://www.emu.edu/l/september11/

Harvey Yoder

http://harvyoder.blogspot.com

Invitation  ---  In Remembrance of 9-11  ---  Free Admission

“Target America:  Why Did It Happen & Can It Happen Again?”

3:00 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 11, at Court Square Theater

“Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant.  … The Quran should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth.”

Omar Ahmad, Founder and former Chair of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations)

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Please join us for a special 10th anniversary commemoration of the 9-11 attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. The event is free and open to the public.      

The Program:  “Shariah – The Threat to America”

We will remember the victims and their families, and we will also honor representatives of the heroic first responders.  Most importantly, however, we will look at lessons learned since that time.  Specifically, is there something in Islam that has declared war on America and on our freedoms?  If so, what is it, who is leading this “jihad” – including efforts to impose Shariah law on America and into our courts, and what can we do to protect ourselves?  In that regard, what is our government doing – or not doing -- to block these efforts?

Finally, how can we help authentic Muslim moderates and reformers face the difficult task of standing up to and opposing Shariah-adherent Muslims who exert overwhelming pressure, financial resources, threats, and violence to gain and maintain support for their jihadist campaign for global domination – including in America?  

Keynote Speaker:  Michael Del Rosso

Mr. Del Rosso is a Research Fellow in National Security Policy at the Claremont Institute as well as a Senior Fellow for Homeland and National Security at the Center for Security Policy in Washington, DC.  He is also co-author of a recent book entitled Shariah: The Threat to America.  Other contributors include former CIA Director James Woolsey and Frank Gaffney, founder and president of CSP.  Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the theater.

The event is co-sponsored by the Valley Family Forum, the Shenandoah Valley TEA Party Patriots, and ACT for America.

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P. S. The entire report, Sharia: The Threat to America, can be read as a PDF file on line. Also, ironically, I find the Omar Ahmad quote above to be strikingly similar to statements expressed by members of the Dominion Theology movement endorsed by many on the conservative right today (including some presidential candidates). Just substitute the word "Christianity" for "Islam" and the "Bible" for "Quran," and you'll see my point. Harvey