Vandalism hits close to home.

[PsychoDad]

This is the Mosque my family attends.;(

Bloomington, Indiana -- This morning when Muslims of Bloomington came to attend the early Morning Prayer, they were shocked and dismayed to discover vandalism to the Bloomington Mosque. A window was broken and a fire had to be extinguished. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, although the fire could have caused extensive damage to the mosque if left to burn. The Bloomington Police Department and the FBI are investigating the incident as a hate crime.

We do not believe that such acts of hate are representative of the Bloomington community at large, and we commend the City of Bloomington and Indiana University for continuing to educate their citizens, staff and students about hate crimes, diversity and multiculturalism.

The members of the Islamic Center of Bloomington whole-heartedly condemn any acts of terrorism, violence, and hate here and abroad, including those perpetrated only a few days ago in London. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been victimized, and we cannot help but draw parallels between those criminals who terrorized the people of London, and those criminals who sought to damage our house of worship.

The Bloomington Islamic community has been a feature of the Bloomington landscape for more than 30 years. The community has enjoyed friendly relations with its neighbors, fellow religious congregations, the city of Bloomington, Indiana University and the State of Indiana for all these years. We consider this crime not only an attack on the entire Muslim community of Bloomington Indiana, but on all decent law-abiding citizens of Bloomington as well as on all places of worship. We ask all members of the Bloomington community who may have any information regarding this incident to contact the Bloomington Police Department or the FBI.

From CAIR
FBI PROBES INDIANA MOSQUE FIRE

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/9/05) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said today that the FBI is investigating an apparent arson attack on an Indiana mosque as a possible hate crime.

Local Muslim leaders and law enforcement officials told CAIR that a rock was thrown through a window of the Islamic Center of Bloomington sometime last night. Liquid "accelerant" was then poured through the window and ignited. The fire was extinguished before if could do major damage to the facility. A burned Quran, Islam's holy text, was also found outside the mosque.

Investigators from the Bloomington police and fire departments are working with FBI agents to apprehend the perpetrators.

"We thank the FBI and local law enforcement agencies for their swift and professional response to this disturbing incident," said CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. "We can only hope that the vandalism and fire were not prompted by the tragic events that occurred in London on Thursday."

May God guide all of us to Wisdom and tolerance.

[Maru Kitteh]

1. Our condolences to you, you'll be in our prayers

and I will ask our church to pray for your Mosque today. I'm sorry this happened. Peace be with you.

[PsychoDad]

2. And peace be to you.

And thank you. :yourock:

This has been a pretty quiet community. It's a shame that this sort of thing has to happen to anyone anywhere.

[Maru Kitteh]

3. Unfortunately I believe your misfortune is overshadowed today on DU

I am sure more people would be chiming in on this and giving you thier positive thoughts were it not for so many news items breaking right now.

Our pastor is a lovely man born in India, and our congregation a liberal haven in Red America. The same GOD made us all my friend, you will have our prayers.

[TheGoodCitizen]

11. This makes me sick....

I live in Bloomington as well.

Bloomington is a VERY diverse community, we're an island of peace and reason surrounded by REDneck HATE. I hope the FBI finds the person(s) responsible for this.

If you EVER need anything let me know! :pals:

[ET Awful]

4. Sorry to hear it PD, here's to hoping they catch the bastards who

did it.

[shoopnyc]

5. Bayh (D) and Lugar (R) need to know about this...

...I'm SURE they don't in their world of isolation.

[soup]

6. What a world we live in.

I'm so sorry, PsychoDad. Your last sentence says it all- 'May God guide all of us to Wisdom and tolerance.' Unfortunately and obviously, we're not there yet.

[noamnety]

7. I'm so sorry

Words fail me.

[peacefreak]

8. I am so sorry for you & the people of your community.

My heart is breaking for the amount of hate that is so prevalent right now. Sooner or later those that preach love, but practice hate will have to answer. Freedom of religion is suppose to mean ALL religions. Peace to you & yours.

[Cerridwen]

9. Words escape me.

The hate being perpetrated in the name of God is beyond my comprehension.

And to use your words since mine seem so lacking right now:

"May God guide all of us to Wisdom and tolerance" and I will add, May God guide all of us to compassion, as well.

May you and yours stay safe during this insane time in our history.

:hug:

[hiley]

10. PsychoDad

I am so sorry about this hateful, vile hate on your Mosque and the Holy Quran.
These acts are going on all over the world and I am so ashamed of the way Arabs and Muslims are being treated and have been.
All that I am able to do is try my best to help stop it, I hope and pray it will work...
Peace to you and your community.
hiley:cry:

[Tsiyu]

12. Sorry to hear of this

There is no excuse for this vandalism.

:hug:

[Horse with no Name]

13. Nominated. I am sorry for your loss.

I'm sure it is in retaliation to the bombers--and the misguided idiots who believe that all terrorists are Muslim.
I remember the Father getting shot getting gas after 911.
I just don't understand.:cry:


"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome, her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient cities, your storied pomp!" cries she
With Silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-lost to me.
I lift my lamp by the golden door!"

[cally]

14. You'll and your family will be in my prayers

I too hope that God guides us to Wisdom, peace, and tolerance. I'm thankful that noone got hurt. :grouphug:

[hiley]

15. CAIR sent me the Holy Quran..

Ordered just a short time ago when the Church in North Carolina had the shameful sign and CAIR promptly sent me a much appreciated copy of the Holy Book.

It is possible to still order one, if anyone would like one or
perhaps sponsor a Quran in PsychoDad's name...

To sponsor a Quran or recieve a free copy:
http://www.cair-net.org/

Muslime Prayer Hall Burned To Ground In Calif.

(ANAHEIM, CA, 6/3/05) - The Southern California office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today called on the FBI to investigate a fire at a Muslim prayer hall in that state as a possible hate crime. CAIR-LA was contacted by the director of the United Islamic Youth Organization who said the prayer hall, located at an Islamic cemetery in Adelanto, Calif., was burned to the ground early this morning. That official told CAIR-LA that the 2,000 square foot prayer hall was used for funeral services and other religious activities. The same cemetery had been targeted by vandals in 2003. Local law enforcement authorities and the FBI were notified of the incident. "We urge the FBI and other law enforcement agencies working on the case to investigate this incident as a possible hate crime,” said CAIR-LA Communications Director Sabiha Khan.

“We pray that the perpetrators, whatever their motive, are caught and brought to justice." Khan said a series of similar incidents has been reported in recent months by Muslim individuals and institutions nationwide. Last weekend, CAIR's Florida office reported that vandals threw a large rock through a glass door of the Islamic School of Miami's prayer area. Just last month, a brick was thrown through a window of the Fort Collins (Colo.) Islamic Center.

snip---
http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1605&theType=NR

[Ariana Celeste]

16. I saw this on the news last night.

Such a terrible thing to happen. I don't think there is any question that it is a hate crime- and it pissed me off when the news said "alleged" and "possible" hate crime. When we are at war on a country whose majority is Muslim; when we have so many ignorant people in America who equate all Muslims with extremism; how could one possibly think it was anything but a hate crime?
I am upset for all of you and only hope some sort of good can come from this. This is Indiana; while there are many ignorant people here (as with all states, not Indiana alone), I have never been to a state with such a strong sense of community as this one. I hope people can come together on this, and find who is responsible.

:hug: to you and yours.

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. What a horrid thing to do. :^(

[understandinglife]

18. I request that the DU mods place this post on the DU Homepage.

We all recognize how hateful and wrong and un-American such actions are.


Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[hiley]

20. I do too, that is a great idea DU mods what about it ?

and we need more awareness and to promote understanding.

[Mythsaje]

19. Very sorry to hear about this...

I'm just glad it didn't turn out any worse. Be vigilant, and hopefully the police and feds will be able to catch the perpetrators before anything worse happens.

[salin]

21. I read about this in the local paper this morning

this is only a mile or so away from my family's home. Once again the fingers of hatred touch our community. Sadly this is not but a block or so from the church where Benjamin Smith shot to death a Korean grad student who was simply walking outside up to the church. Smith, an accolyte of Matt Hale, brought his deadly shooting rampage right through the middle of the city.

This act, from what I have read, was intended to burn down the Mosque. Had it gone in another window, and had someone not been in the building in prayer, this act of hatred could have destroyed the Mosque.

The Mayor of Bloomington (former state house majority leader) Mark Kruzan spoke of the incident - as one that is in support of terrorists/terrorism. The local paper requires paid subscription to read online (grrr) - or I would link to it. I thought the Mayor's response was good.

My deepest regrets to the Muslim community - may rebuilding and healing occur quickly. My deepest regrets to Bloomington, where once again we are forced to face a rabid form of hatred that bubbles under the surface of some of our neighbors.

[Ikonoklast]

22. Crimes such as this can be laid

directly at the feet of those on the so-called "Christian" Right that preach hate and intolerance of others. This is a symptom of the sickness that permeates our society that is fostered by the current group of criminals that hijacked our country and those that shill for them.


I hope that those responsible are brought to justice, but my gut feeling is that this will be "forgotten" by the FBI, as they are much too busy chasing their tails and boogeymen to catch real criminals.

[MountainLaurel]

23. Indeed . . . a similar crime here in VA

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=183&topic_id=1775&mesg_id=1775

[Inland]

24. This fine gentleman says you had it coming, and more.

In a letter to the editor of Chicago's second largest daily.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/letters/cst-edt-vox10a.h...


It's Islam or us

The only good that will come out of the tragic bombings in London is that it will seep away the complacency that has infected the American public, and drive the Dick Durbins of the nation back under their rocks. It will also serve to underscore the fact that we, and the West in general, are imperiled by a barbaric religion and no amount of appeasing actions on our part will satisfy the demented followers of Islam.

The only solution is to strangle the growth of Islam in the West. It may well be that Islam will be the first religion that will have to be outlawed in the United States and, if it is not suppressed due to ''religious freedom,'' the U.S. Constitution could become Islam's ally and our death warrant.

We have to realize that Islam is the enemy and the Quran is the guidebook to the ending of our Western civilization.

Kenneth L. Bird,
Woodridge

[Hello_Kitty]

27. Real nice Kenneth

Substitute Dick Durbin for Dick Cheney, Christianity for Islam, and Bible for Quran in that odius little tirade and send it back to him. See how he likes it.

[Garbo 2004]

29. And no doubt this guy would be highly offended if someone suggested

his screed could be mistaken for something from Nazi Germany with just a few edits, including substituting "Judiasm" for "Islam" and the "German people" for the "American public."

And people wonder how Nazi Germany came to exist. Step by step, from a republic.

[Mnemosyne]

25. So sorry PD,

What a world!

Stay safe now.

V

[Vladimir]

26. I am very sorry for this act of thuggery n/t

[EFerrari]

28. I am so sorry. We have to do everything in our power

to retrieve this country from the mindless haters.

:grouphug:

[Garbo 2004]

30. I've never understood the vandalization/destruction of churches, mosques,

synagogues. Especially since it seems never to be atheists who are attacking someone else's house of worship. An irony of course the perpetrators simply cannot grasp or comprehend.

[roguevalley]

31. This is appalling. I am so sorry. I don't understand how these things

can happen. Please express to your friends and family that people in Alaska are with you.

RV, in Alaska

[ls317]

32. Bloomington Fire

I can only hope that the FBI will catch these assholes that did this to your mosque.

[hiley]

33. Kick because more DUer's need to see this

My thoughts and prayers go out to you PsychoDad and all of the community you live in.
Hiley

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Martin Luther King Jr.,
Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4067177


I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.
Martin Luther King Jr.,
Accepting Nobel Peace Prize, Dec. 10, 1964

[rockymountaindem]

34. That's terrible.

Houses of worship should be respected, no matter what. They are places where people go to be close to God, and the way I see it, at least half of that connection belongs to God, and not us. I have my religion, but I realize that others connect to God in other ways. No matter what, that should be respected.

I hope whoever did this gets caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law. I would expect nothing less. I can imagine how this must feel as 40 headstones in the Jewish cemetary were vandalized here recently. Fortunately, all of my relatives who have passed on are buried in other states.

Our religion teaches that God is slow to anger and quick to forgive, but I think there's some serious trouble in store for these types.

[FreedomAngel82]

35. I'm sorry

people have such hatered in their hearts. :( :hug:

[FreedomAngel82]

36. Do you have a link?

I'd like to share it.

[hiley]

37. Hello This thread should be HUGE !

hiley

[hiley]

38. Mods, could this thread be on the front page ?

Please, maybe combine with this link below.
Thank you,
Hiley

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1615115