May 2008

ACT for America -- When we launched the 'PC (Politically Correct) Outrage of the Month', we had no idea what kind of a response we would get. We obviously touched a nerve out there, because we received dozens and dozens of submissions!

We want to thank every one of you who sent a submission our way. We received some really outstanding and outrageous examples of political correctness, which didn't make selecting a 'winner' very easy.

But we finally settled on one because, though it occurred last year, it is very timely given our national petition driving calling on Congress to review extremist materials in mosques.

So, with much fanfare and a kazoo band trumpeting the winner, this month's 'PC Outrage of the Month' award goes to Carl and Joyce for their submission described below. Carl and Joyce will receive an autographed copy of Brigitte's book, Because They Hate.

On August 24, 2007, WorldNetDaily ran a story entitled:

'Christian TV show out, Muslim pressure group blamed. Preacher says CBS `caved' to demands of Islamic organization.'

To read the entire story click on the link below:

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57310

The story quotes Bill Keller, the host of 'Live Prayer with Bill Keller', as saying he was forced off the air after complaints by the local affiliate of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations).

'It's clear what happened. CAIR pressured CBS in New York to take us off,' Keller states. Indeed, CAIR issued a press release after Keller got the boot taking credit for getting Keller sacked.

Keller's offense?

He made statements like this: 'The false religion of Islam is about hate, lies and death.' He made other statements that were blunt and that many would consider inflammatory and offensive.

So why did we choose this incident as our 'PC Outrage of the Month?' Three reasons.

First, CAIR's selective indignation and blatant hypocrisy.

CAIR's letter to CBS included statements like this:

'It is our belief that anti-Islamic rhetoric like that used in `Live Prayer with Bill Keller' is exactly the type of language that is likely to incite hate crimes against the American Muslim community.'

Where is CAIR's indignation regarding the messages contained in many mosques in America, messages that incite violence and terror against 'unbelievers'? Calling for holy war against 'infidels' surely poses a greater threat to non-Muslims than what Bill Keller said poses a threat to Muslims.

CAIR-Tampa director Ahmed Bedier stated: 'While we strongly support freedom of speech and religion, the public airwaves should not be used to promote hatred and bigotry.'

So our question to CAIR is, given the kinds of materials that have been found in American mosques that espouse hate, venom, violence against infidels, and declarations of jihad against unbelievers, if it's not okay for a non-Muslim to, in CAIR's words, 'promote hatred and bigotry,' is it okay for Muslim institutions to 'promote hatred and bigotry' - and worse? We haven't heard a peep from CAIR protesting the distribution of such materials in mosques.

And third, this incident underscores why the current ACT! for America petition drive calling for congressional hearings to review extremist Islamic materials found in American mosques is so important.

You see, we believe in the freedom of speech, even if that speech is inflammatory and offensive. That's why we oppose the efforts of militant Islamists and their politically correct allies to silence criticism of Islam.

Were a Muslim TV host to proclaim what the holy books of Islam proclaim, that all unbelievers face never-ending and indescribable torment in Hell for refusing to submit to Allah, and that all other religions are lies of Satan, our position is that such speech is constitutionally protected speech. Even speech that is inflammatory and offensive is protected by our First Amendment. That's one of the bedrock freedoms that have made America great. Unfortunately, given its actions regarding Bill Keller, CAIR does not agree when such speech might offend Muslims.

However, when individuals and materials advocate terror and violence, when they in effect declare war by calling for jihad against America and Americans, serious questions are then raised as to whether or not such speech and actions cross the line - questions that call for answers. Hence, our petition drive.

So while CAIR concerns itself with speech that offends, we are concerned with speech that kills. For as 1,400 years of history clearly demonstrates, when Islamic jihad is declared against a people, death usually follows.