The peace train doesn't stop here anymore
Pop singer/songwriter Cat Stevens got off the peace train when he converted to the religion of peace back in the '70's and changed his name to Yusuf...Jslam. Deborah Solomon interviews Mr. Islam in today's New York Times Magazine. Solomon notes that Tony Blair appointed Mr. Islam to advise him on education for Muslims in Great Britain. Here Solomon gamely attempts to elicit Mr. Islam's view of Hamas:
For all your devotion to education and good deeds, government officials in various countries have tried to link you to extremist groups, including Hamas. What do you think of Hamas?Anyone into pattern recognition may note that Mr. Islam sounds remarkably like Nihad Awad, Awad's colleagues at CAIR and Islamists elsewhere. (Courtesy of Lucianne.)That’s an extremely loaded question.
Can you try to answer it?
I have never supported a terrorist group or any group that did other than charity and good to humankind.
O.K., but many of us here in the States would like to see moderate Muslims make more of an effort to denounce the extremist fringe of the faith. Very few mainstream Muslims have publicly criticized their radical brethren.
If I am not an example of that, then tell me, Who is?
So would you say you have contempt for a terrorist group like Hamas?
I wouldn’t put those words in my mouth. I wouldn’t say anything on that issue. I’m here to talk about peace. I’m a man who does want peace for this world, and I don’t think you will achieve that by putting people into corners and asking them very, very difficult questions about very contentious issues.
