Yet Tariq Ramadan is a member of the Charter’s “Council of Sages.” He has said this about his grandfather Hassan al-Banna, the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood:

“I have studied Hassan al-Banna’s ideas with great care and there is nothing in this heritage that I reject. His relation to God, his spirituality, his mysticism, his personality, as well as his critical reflections on law, politics, society and pluralism, testify to me his qualities of heart and mind. . . . His commitment also is a continuing reason for my respect and admiration.” (http://www.city-journal.org/2008/bc0229iw.html)

Al-Banna once said: (http://www.westernresistance.com/blog/archives/003067.html)

“For we want the flag of Islam to fly over those lands again, who were lucky enough, to be ruled by Islam for a time, and hear the call of the muezzin praise God. Then the light of Islam died out and they returned to disbelief. Andalusia, Sicily, the Balkans, Southern Italy and the Greek islands are all Islamic colonies which have to return to Islam’s lap. The Mediterranean and the Red Sea have to become internal seas of Islam, as they used to be.”

The Brotherhood’s theme: “Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. Qur’an is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope.” (http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/mb.htm)

According to the Hamas charter, al-Banna also once said: “Israel will exist and continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.” (http://www.mideastweb.org/hamas.htm)

It goes on and on.

How does Ms. Armstrong and TED explain this cognitive dissonance? How can Tariq Ramadan be part of this effort?

Ramadan is, to say the least, a controversial figure.

A few years ago, the U.S. State Department rejected his visa application. State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper said, “The consular officer concluded that Dr. Ramadan was inadmissible based solely on his actions, which constituted providing material support to a terrorist organization.” (http://www.nysun.com/national/oxford-scholar-denied-visa-due-to-alleged-hamas/40328/)

In 2001, one of Ramadan’s interfaith partners, Fr. Christian Delorme, said “One of Ramadan’s interfaith partners, Fr. Christian Delorme, said: “I am today convinced–and it took me time to understand it–that Tariq Ramadan’s thinking and actions are dangerous. I believe he is not at all a man of dialogue. He knows how to charm his audience, but in reality, he wants a total separation between Muslims and other communities. I am convinced that Tariq Ramadan deeply hates the West.” (http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/800naxnt.asp?pg=2)

In a televised debate with Nicolas Sarkozy, Ramadan was pressed by Sakozy to condemn unequivocally the stoning of women. Ramadan wouldn’t do it. The most he would do is call for a “moratorium” to facilitate a “true debate” on the subject.

But most damning, is what Ramadan has said about his grandfather, Hassan al-Banna, the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood:

“I have studied Hassan al-Banna’s ideas with great care and there is nothing in this heritage that I reject. His relation to God, his spirituality, his mysticism, his personality, as well as his critical reflections on law, politics, society and pluralism, testify to me his qualities of heart and mind. . . . His commitment also is a continuing reason for my respect and admiration.” (http://www.city-journal.org/2008/bc0229iw.html)

That kind of praise is staggering, and should certainly disqualify Ramadan from any kind of “charter for compassion,” let alone supported by an organization like TED.

For those who don’t know much about al-Banna, here’s just a taste…

From a speech of his (http://www.westernresistance.com/blog/archives/003067.html)

“For we want the flag of Islam to fly over those lands again, who were lucky enough, to be ruled by Islam for a time, and hear the call of the muezzin praise God. Then the light of Islam died out and they returned to disbelief. Andalusia, Sicily, the Balkans, Southern Italy and the Greek islands are all Islamic colonies which have to return to Islam’s lap. The Mediterranean and the Red Sea have to become internal seas of Islam, as they used to be.”

Much more about Tariq Ramadan can be found in Caroline Fourest’s devastating expose, Brother Tariq: http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Tariq-Doublespeak-Ramadan/dp/1594032157

So the big question remains. What system of checks and balances is approving the use of TED’s prize money toward elevating (and perhaps even paying) someone who has “respect and admiration” for a Muslim movement committed to Islamic conquest?

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40)

The way we treat others is how we have treated God. I have heard people say “I won’t give anything to these people. They’ll only use it to buy booze.” What they do with it is their business. I’m held accountable only for helping others.

I LOVED this.

God bless all of us.
Matthew

While each Panel Member expressed the need for an Image change of mis-perceptions resulting in mis understanding which ultimately translates via education and transparency of the local ancient Cultures, it all came down to the acute need for a WAR ON IGNORANCE at all levels of Society. And when I mentioned that no one mentioned that it should start with stopping the teaching of hate and killing in Public or Private Elementary Schools, I got a round of applauses. So what?

As a result I am now writing THE IMPERATVE OF COMMONALITY & THE BLESSING OF DIVERSITY and maybe, just maybe this could become part of the Charter whose aim, if I understand it, is to do just that: fight ignorance at all levels, for no one knows everything!!!

This was also the intent of creating YOUTH IN SERVICE FOR HUMANITY way back like a Reverse Peace Corps which froze with the Bobby Kennedy assassination. Maybe now with Obama we can restart given the Youth’s excitement that could lead to genuine Leadership in Humanity and politica structures that can deliver & sustain such desirable status!

As for one Religion? Why label it? Faith is important as a Behavioral Patterns Phenomenon healing factor. Which faith? Where is the commonality of that? The mere nature of the word Religion coming from Greek and relating to “faith or belief into something” did not
mention names or labels. It left to the people to chose their own. Only the Ignorant took advantage of that and tried to muscle in misconceptions which ultimately resulted with all those denominations that almost destroy the well being of our human society. For any other living Species do not mother with such matters. They live the way they were meant tolive and procreate without labeling or tryong to impose on others except when family territorial tresspassing may come into play.

Our so called political territories are a shamble because few recognize that the true borders are those where we come from… environmentally speaking! For those from the Mountains behave a bit different from those from the Plains, the Sea, or the Cities. But this doesn’t mean that they will kill the others because of that. Yes, Hunger is a powerful motivator! Sikness and the Elements, surely can make one’s life miserable. But to start Wars and kill to own and control pieces of land or what is under, it belongs only to the Ignorant trying to impose one way or another upon others who prefer other ways to survive the same way in happy surroundings.

COMPASSION? For sure it is needed more than ever coming from the Political and the Oligharks who don’t give a dam’ about People in general including their own! Tax credits to the already wealthy? Even to the middle business class who cry for tax cuts to do what?
Has anyone follow up where these investment tax credits go? How about family vacations, buying luxury items, “living the good life” instead of investing them in new businesses and creating new jobs. Didn’t we sign for that? Isn’t this the purpose of tax credits?

I just heard on the UA plain that the working force was asked to take cuts in their salaries for the good of the Comany, and their CEO got a US$9 MIL. bonus for doing that or something like that! SO WHERE IS THE COMPASSION & THE LOGIC OF SUCH BEHAVIOR?

In the past there were several attempts to recognize commonality from creating the ESPERANTO Universal language to WORLD CITIZENSHIP with special passports and all.
It was very intellectual and plain of humanity intent, BUT… Pls. remember: SINGING ABOUT PEACE IS NOT GOOD ENOOUGH! ONE HAS TO FABRICATE PEACE FIRST!!!

Much of the conflict in the world is the result of focusing on the “differences,” when much of what appears to be diffrent shares common ground. We all come into this world through the same process. Humans have the unique ability to mate with members of any ethnic or cultural group, giving birth to children of various hues and physical characteristics.

We all need Love, food, shelter and clothing, although it may be expressed in different ways, look and taste different.

If we all take the time to stop, look, listen and get to know one another we will find we have much in common.

To quote Ghandi: “Be the change you wish to see in the world”

Peace begins within.
Rich Dowling

I am directing a documentary film, [BeyondBeliefFilm.org], with a quite parallel sacred intention -to explore the origins and consequences of tightly held but unexamined beliefs and belief systems. It will hopefully deconstruct some of the obstacles that prevent folks from seeing past their harmful beliefs and discover new worlds of human commonality and potentiality.

The intended audience of this film project goes beyond “preaching to the choir” and aims the content and language toward the minds and hearts of “the middle” -those who might still be open to new ideas were they to hear them. While I dearly wish to, I don’t know how effective it would be to also aim for entrenched fundamentalists of any stripe. [Willful ignorance rooted in fear is tough to melt. It is probably best accomplished by sustained loving compassion and deep listening...]

The Beyond Belief project has already filmed interviews with ordinary and prominent women and men. Several clips can be viewed online at: BeyondBeliefFilm.org. [Click on "film clips"].

We are now looking to locate and film deeply compelling “against the grain” true dramatic stories that either happened in the past or are preferably unfolding in the present that show how an individual or group was/is able, against great odds to overcome habitual belief systems and discover our common humanity.

Are there ways in which your efforts and ours can synergize? We enthusiastically seek your input and are willing to share our work with you in the higher good.

Blessings,

Jim Lemkin
director@BeyondBeliefFilm.org

Collaboration, compassion and love are not exclusive to religion; atheist, agnostics and non-theist do feel and practice them too. The “Golden Rule” is in essence humanistic and not spiritual and consequently I don’t think that “compassion” should become a trademark of the religions of the word.

Like the concept of Ubuntu, we are human in the extent we are a community. Family , community and country are just social construct that define layers of different levels of collaboration, but as I see it we didn’t invented this strategy nor was revealed by god, it evolved as we did. Sharing, helping and many other altruistic activities makes you feel good partially because is an inherited strategy for survival. Through evolution humans end up being the smartest animals on earth and this required extending our vulnerable period (childhood and adolescence) more than any other primate. To be able to be smart we have made a very long term investment that required nursing and compassionate behavior to protect the community individuals through their development process.

There is no need to appeal to a spiritual realm to appreciate that the world can be a better place if we understand each other better and act in a compassionate way. The value of compassion goes beyond the popular religions. Secular organizations and individuals should be part of such exciting endeavor to make the world a better place. I hope we atheist are welcome to participate.