#1: "The recent beheadings of two American businessmen in
the Middle East have added fuel to the angry backlash against
Arab-Americans and Muslims that began after the 2001 terrorist
attacks.
"The murders of Paul Johnson and Nicholas Berg triggered
hate mail, verbal attacks and anti-Muslim signs. Muslims
received death threats and their mosques were vandalized."
And this is *EXACTLY* what Al-Qaeda wants.
It'll just make it that much easier to recruit U.S.-born
Muslims who can carry out whatever death and destruction OBL
and his bunch have planned for us in the future.
"Following Johnson's death, anti-Islam signs surfaced
around the rural New Jersey neighborhood where he once lived.
One read 'Stamp Out Islam' next to a drawing of a boot over a
crescent and star. Another, hung on a mailbox next door to
Johnson's sister's home, was more detailed.
"'Last night I wasn't a racist, but today I feel racism
towards Islamic beliefs,' it read. 'Last night Islamics had a
chance to speak up for Paul Johnson, but today it's too late.
Islamics better wake up and start thinking about
tomorrow.'
"The day after Johnson's death, a coalition of Muslim
groups held a rally to condemn the killing in Paterson, the
heart of New Jersey's Arab-American community.
"A few days later, vandals tossed empty liquor and beer
bottles at a mosque in Union City as congregants inside
mourned a teenager who died in a car crash.
"Two mosques in Florida were vandalized in the days after
Johnson's killing. In the Tampa suburb of Lutz, someone broke
into the Islamic Community Center and scrawled 'Kill All
Muslims' on the mosque's interior walls, then smashed windows.
In Charlotte Harbor, someone vandalized a mosque's sign and
left threatening phone messages.
"In the St. Louis suburb of Ballwin, Mo., vandals painted a
swastika and the word 'Die' on the wall of the Dar-Ul-Islam
mosque.
"In Texas, dead fish were dumped near the entrance sign to
a mosque under construction in a suburb of Houston.
"And in the Chicago suburb of Orland Park, residents urged
officials this past week to reject a mosque's building
application. A Baptist pastor told a public hearing he feared
it would attract Islamic extremists and violence. The center
was approved over boos and catcalls from the audience.
"'I believe the time is coming when Muslims will not be
safe inside the U.S. borders,' one man wrote to the
Washington, D.C.-based Council on American-Islamic Relations.
'I see nothing wrong with us doing the same things to them
that they are doing to innocent people.'
"'It is high time you people wake up and smell the blood,'
another man wrote to Assaf's group in New Jersey. 'Turn in the
terrorists. They are your relatives, in a lot of cases. Cousin
Omar. Uncle Mohammad. You know what I mean. Until you come
forward to help us stamp out this vermin, you are as bad as
they.'"
What a bunch of bigots, suckers and morons...
