The recent furor in the Muslim community regarding John Howard’s contribution to an ecumenical prayer meeting is rather bemusing. It seems that reading between the lines that they want nothing less that the complete dechristianification of Australia. What else would explain the hypocritical stance they have taken.
The ABC reported that ” In 2004, the church was found to have vilified Muslims”, not quite true. The court found several individuals guilty of vilification, not quite the same thing. The report went on to say that “…the Victorian Court of Appeal overturned the decision last month and ruled the case should be heard again.” That is true. However , independent reading of he judgment can draw no conclusion but that the original judge was biased and that is was a serious miscarriage of justice. Most of the instances where the judge found that Muslims were vilified were either misquotes or taken out of context. Of the hundreds of instances there were only a handful where it could be considered that there may have been a case to answer.
It is interesting to note that as part of their defense they claimed that they were only quoting the Qur’an at which the judge in the origonal case said that that was no defense. In other words the judge was saying that one can be convicted of villification by doing nothing more than quoting the Qur’an. It is no wonder that his judgment was overthrown.
In a contest of tolerance Christianity wins hand over fist over the sort of intolerance and prejudice we hear from many Muslims, this latest example being a perfect example. Do you see national press p reports when The Prime Minister visits a Mosque where intollerance has been preached. Of course not.
So, what is this controversial meeting that is so upsetting the Muslims? It is a multideminational prayer meeting for Australia. Including, but not restricted to, the drought, terrorism, and overseas servicemen and women. Hardly something to get upset about.
The US have a constitutional right of freedom of association, not so in Australia. The US have a constitutional right to free speech, not so in Australia.
let us see this protest for truly what it is. A direct attack on Christianity. What are Muslims afraid of?