Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Law and Order / Media / Woods After Sensationalized TV Report, Vandals Strike Nashville Mosque
Posted by Jeff Woods on Wed, Feb 10, 2010 at 4:30 PM
Vandals spray-painted insults on a mosque overnight and left a hate-filled letter to Nashville's Muslims. Islamic leaders blame Channel 5's sensationalized two-night report about a crackpot organization's unfounded accusations of terrorist ties against a Middle Tennessee Muslim community.
"Muslims Go Home" and a Crusade-style cross were scrawled across the front of Al-Farooq Islamic Center on Nolensville Road, says Salaad Nur, a spokesman. He says the mosque, which primarily serves members of the Somali community, has contacted the police and the FBI.
"They also left a letter at the youth center that says Muslims are friends of Satan and we are here to destroy the United States and to destroy Israel and things of that nature," he says. "We're a little bit shaken up. I hope this is just a scare and things don't get any worse than this."
"It's unexpected," he adds. "The only thing I can think of is the sensationalized reporting [by Channel 5] over Sunday and Monday. That's the only thing I can think of. Even after 9/11 we have never had any vandalism."
We've asked Channel 5 for comment but haven't heard back yet. In an email to the media, Elias Feghali of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition says:
"This event is particularly troubling as it comes on the heels of a sensationalist report by News Channel 5 this past weekend about a long-time Muslim community in Dover, TN, who they initially insinuated as having links to terrorists (link). The Muslim community in TN has faced what seems like an onslaught of hatred and violence since 9/11, from individuals and groups determined to enforce their rigid worldviews on a peaceful Muslim Americans. It's vital that news organizations like your own remind Tennesseans that when it comes to hate speech and violence, Muslims in TN are on the receiving end. The majority of people in Tennessee want to welcome our new neighbors with open arms. Unfortunately, based on the rhetoric of hate groups, extremist radio personalities and sensationalist media, you would think exactly the opposite."
Update: Channel 5 just devoted all of 20 seconds to this vandalism in its 6 o'clock newscast. Rory didn't mention how Muslim leaders are blaming his station for it. "The weather is brisk to say the least," Vicki said, changing the subject as soon as Rory finished his little report. News director Sandy Boonstra never phoned back to tell us whether she thinks Channel 5 is guilty of inciting this vandalism.
Update II: Aunt B says, "It makes me almost feel dizzy, to know that people are doing this kind of stuff in the name of Christianity, and there seems to be little other Christians and the rest of us can do to put the brakes on this. I feel like every pastor needs to denounce this on Sunday."
Update III: Channel 4's report. And Channel 2's. Again, no mention of Channel 5's possible culpability. TV peeps gotta stick together, you know. Hey, it's sweeps week.
Update IV: The City Paper's Sherry Phillips reports on the community pulling together after the hate crime.
Comments (49)
Showing 1-49 of 49
Well, since most of the people who attend Al-Farooq live in Nashville, they don't have far to go when being told to "go home."
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Incitement to violence and defamation. I think these folks are due punitive damages.
The moment I saw that report on Sunday night, I thought three things: How unfortunate for Muslims, how unfortunate for Christians, and how unfortunate for relations between them.
Channel 5 took a tape from an extremist Christian organization hellbent on painting all Muslims as terrorists and treated it as actual news. As a Christian, that infuriated me. If I wanted to watch The 700 Club (and I do not), I would. I tune into the four local stations and expect news from reputable sources. Channel 5 has lost my some of my respect.
I should say, I didn't see the second half of the report. Then again, the vandals probably didn't either.
The use of the right-wing video, the interview of a convicted murderer (Maury Davis), and the sensational ads were totally irresponsible.
The web version of Channel 5's story has run today with ads from the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Saint Thomas Health Services and the Tennessee Valley Authority, among other entities.
There are people in leadership positions with those organizations who might be very interested to know what their (and their donors') money has gone to support. If people in the community were to ask them polite but pointed questions about what they are funding on Channel 5, it just might think twice the next time a producer suggests doing something completely poisonous to our community in order to goose ratings.
A handwritten letter on one's personal stationery is always the proper form. Seriously, it should be obvious to all that only a courteous approach to such people will have any chance of getting favorable attention.
A few possible recipients:
Kathleen W. O'Brien
President and CEO
Tennessee Performing Arts Center Management Corporation
P.O. Box 190660
Nashville, TN 37219
PHONE: 615-782-4000
FAX: 615-782-4001
kobrien@tpac.org
Emanuel J. Eads
Chairman of the Board
Tennessee Performing Arts Center Management Corporation
President and Chief Executive Officer
Central Parking Corporation
2401 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 297-4255
eeads@parking.com
Farzin Ferdowsi
Board Member
Tennessee Performing Arts Center Management Corporation
Chairman of the Board
Reliant Bank
1736 Carothers Parkway, Suite 100
Brentwood, TN 37027
Phone: 615.221.2020
Toll free: 1-877-221-2050
Fax: 615.221.2021
[in case you wonder, Mr. Ferdowsi is from an eminent Bahai family in Iran and is not a Muslim]
The Tennessee Performing Arts Foundation gives TPAC roughly $1 million a year.
John W. Eakin, Jr.
Chairman and President
Tennessee Performing Arts Foundation
CEO
Eakin Properties
Roundabout Plaza
Suite 600
1600 Divison Street
Nashville, TN 37203
Work: 250-1803 (101) Fax: 250-1805
John@Eakinproperties.com
E. Warner Bass
Board Member
Tennessee Performing Arts Foundation
Partner
Bass, Berry and Sims
315 Deaderick Street, Suite 2700
Nashville, TN 37238-0002
Work: 742-6210 Fax: 742-2710
wbass@bassberry.com
From Saint Thomas Health Services:
William F. Blaufuss, Jr., CPA
Vice Chairman
Saint Thomas Health Services
409 Sunnyside Drive
Nashville, TN 37205
Phone: (615) 297-2900. Fax: (615) 297-2901
wblaufuss@comcast.net
DeCosta Jenkins
Board Member
Saint Thomas Health Services
CEO
Nashville Electric Service
1214 Church Street
Nashville, TN 37246
Shirley Zeitlin
Board Member
Saint Thomas Health Services
CEO
Shirley Zeitlin & Co Realtors
4301 Hillsboro Pike
Nashville, TN 37215-3345
(615) 383-0183
Perhaps others will want to add further possible contacts.
After watching the second night's video (and please do watch both before leaving comments), I believe Channel 5 was not irresponsible in its reporting, but in the decision to stretch such a possibly volatile story over two nights and in its sensationalized sweeps-driven advertising of the story (I mean, come on, they advertised it during the Super Bowl and made it the top story when the game was over).
While the promotion of the story was definitely sensationalistic, the story itself was seemed pretty decently balanced to me. But because it was aired over two nights, it seemed very much less so.
Ultimately, despite journalistic integrity or lack thereof, News Channel 5 can not and should not be held responsible for the hateful act of vandals, any more than the Nashville Scene should be if someone were to respond to one of its stories in such a way.
@Eric:
"Ultimately, despite journalistic integrity or lack thereof, News Channel 5 can not and should not be held responsible for the hateful act of vandals, any more than the Nashville Scene should be if someone were to respond to one of its stories in such a way."
That's a load of crap. NC5 wanted nothing more than to play the ratings at the expense of a convenient target.
History has tons of examples of this. Don't make excuses.
And we wonder why there is so much hate in this country!?! Channel 5 should be ashamed!
Eric,
Your post reads like a WTVF press release. NewChannel5 showed exceedingly poor judgment in peddling yellow journalism targeting a minority population during a time when terrorism fears are being stoked among the ignorami. There have already been incidents targeting the Muslim population in Middle Tennessee, and I'd say the odds that this kind of "reporting" would lead to a hate crime were not just possible but entirely predictable.
Yeah, I just don't believe you can yell "Terrorists in Middle Tennessee!!!!!???" for three days at least (I saw promo ads Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday and read a story on their site on Monday) and then whisper "no" at ten o'clock on a Tuesday night and think you've committed balanced journalism.
And if we are actually at war with real terrorists, NewsChannel5 may very well be guilty of war profiteering since they manipulated and took advantage of local concerns about terrorism in their advertising to maximize their audience share.
C'mon Aunt B. Let us not be naive. Although it would be nice otherwise, it doesn't seem that any attempt whatever exists to commit 'balanced journalism' on the part of WTVF. They are simply market driven: pursuit of favorable demographics being the only objective. Any thought of responsible reportage disolves in the lusty, foggy mist of competition for 'market share' and projected advertising revenue. The buck reineth supreme. 'Tis the way of our world.
I bet video footage of the Channel 5 News Director washing that stuff off the mosque with soap, water and a scrub brush and then apologizing to that congregation personally would make for some excellent sweeps month news footage.
Don't you all?
Eric, we don't tease our stories days ahead of time and insinuate a potential terrorist threat where there is none. And we sure as hell wouldn't make the reader wait until the next segment to see that the threat is nothing but a byproduct of the fevered imaginations of intolerant scaremongers and convicted murderers. http://www.nashvillescene.com/2009-06-18/news/a-grieving-son-finds-no-justice-on-rev-maury-davis-path-to-redemption/
I don't know how legally culpable NewsChannel 5 is, but I intend to hold them responsible by never watching another one of their newscasts. Dicks of the Year as far as I'm concerned.
When you're covering a breaking story, sometimes the news one night will contradict the news from the previous night - because the best-obtainable version of the facts sometimes changes while the story develops.
But when you're shooting a sweeps series in advance (necessary to do the promos), you KNOW what part two is going to say before part one ever airs. This means Channel 5 KNEW part two of the Islamville story was going to contradict the unsubstantiated allegations in part one - in advance.
What Channel 5 did violates the Randy Quaid rule from "The Paper": "We run stupid headlines because we think they're funny. We run maimings on the front page because we got good art. And I spend three weeks bitching about my car because it sells papers. But at least it's the truth. As far as I can remember we never ever, ever knowingly got a story wrong, until tonight."
lol well since I'm from the United States and I'm Muslim. I'm already home. Most muslims consider the US their home. People should educate themselves instead of automatically throwing hate crimes left and right. If those people who did this were SMART they would know that Muslims worship the same God that Christians do. Google wakeupproject and learn!
Guess there was never any vandalism on Muslim gathering places until after Channel 5's story.
But I'm sure Jeff Woods doesn't want to talk about those little things -- what are they called? -- oh, yeah -- facts!
Correlation is not causation; just because Event B follows Event A, it does not mean that Event A caused Event B.
There's no evidence that there was any connection whatsoever!!!
Jeff Woods is a left-wing opinion hack who is no different from the right-wing opinion hacks that he likes to attack (in the guise of "journalism."
Update II: Aunt B says, "It makes me almost feel dizzy, to know that people are doing this kind of stuff in the name of Christianity, and there seems to be little other Christians and the rest of us can do to put the brakes on this. I feel like every pastor needs to denounce this on Sunday."
***********
Aunt B: How do you feel about jihadists killing nearly 3,000 people on US soil in the name of Islam? Or if you are an America hater, how do you feel about jihadists killing their Muslim brothers and sisters in their homelands?
I hope the ACLU will defend the right to free expression of those who left words and images of protest at this mosque.
@ Remember 9/11:
Two bits of info for you:
1) This spray painting is not "protected speech" under the Constitution. Rather, it is considered vandalism under the Tennessee Code. You obviously misconceive what is legally protected speech. Please learn a bit about the 14th amendment and the need for state action in a constitutional claim prior to attempting to wax eloquent on a message board. If you love America, you will learn her laws.
2) Please also be aware that just because someone is a muslim doesn't mean that they are a terrorist. You seem to forget that.
I smell a rat.
Why would your average TN redneck know what a Crusader Cross looked like?
Over here in Britain, there have been several cases of mosques being vandalised by Muslims themselves to get sympathy and publicity - until they were caught out by CCTV, that is.
I understand it happens in Australia, too.
Luddy: Thats a freaking lie. Back up with links? Im a european myself. Today, 3000 muslim workingclass protested peacefully against defamation of their holy symbols through newspapers.
Crusader crosses are common among the more inteligent "christian" supremacists. Its those who sit and search the internet for symbols to relate to. The common mistake is believing thart the hate-spreaders are stupid. If you build up a wave of hate, it will have results. Just saying.
Oh, please. The Muslims did it themselves. The eternal "victims," the mass-murdering Mohammedans.
But, I agree with the Muslim vandals. Get out of our country and go back to your Islamic Crapistans. Good Riddance, you mass-murderers. And take your mass-murder god "allah," with you:
"Kill non-Muslims wherever you find them. Lie in wait and ambush them, seize and capture them using every stratagem of war." - Qur'an 9:5
And
"Fight then against them till strife be at an end, and the religion be all of it Allah's." - Qur'an 8:40
Get out of our country you mass-murdering Barbarians. REMEMBER 9/11, REMEMBER 11/5, FT HOOD, REMEMBER FLIGHT 253.
I agree with the Muslim vandals that defaced their own mosque for "victimhood status."
Oh, please. The Muslims did it themselves. The eternal "victims," the mass-murdering Mohammedans.
But, I agree with the Muslim vandals. Get out of our country and go back to your Islamic Crapistans. Good Riddance, you mass-murderers. And take your mass-murder god "allah," with you:
"Kill non-Muslims wherever you find them. Lie in wait and ambush them, seize and capture them using every stratagem of war." - Qur'an 9:5
And
"Fight then against them till strife be at an end, and the religion be all of it Allah's." - Qur'an 8:40
Get out of our country you mass-murdering Barbarians. REMEMBER 9/11, REMEMBER 11/5, FT HOOD, REMEMBER FLIGHT 253.
I agree with the Muslim vandals that defaced their own mosque for "victimhood status."
"I smell a rat.
Why would your average TN redneck know what a Crusader Cross looked like?
Over here in Britain, there have been several cases of mosques being vandalised by Muslims themselves to get sympathy and publicity - until they were caught out by CCTV, that is." - Luddy
Exactly. There have been MANY instances of Muslims defacing their own mosques for "victimhood status" in the U.S. Look them up on the 'net. This is another one. Hello - that's a no-brainer. You stupid PC suckers buying into the Muslims' deceit!
Mohamet said "War is deceit."
Wake up, People. Stop believing the "War is deceit" Islamic Barbarians who are trying to take over the U.S., just as they are doing in Western Europe. It's called "Demographic Jihad."
"And we wonder why there is so much hate in this country!?! Channel 5 should be ashamed!" - posted above
The Muslims are the Haters. Haven't you noticed? There are no mass-murdering Jews or Christians.
The mass-murdering Muslims are the Haters.
Bravo Channel 5 for reporting on this obvious deceit from the Mohammedans.
"If those people who did this were SMART they would know that Muslims worship the same God that Christians do." - Nichole, a Muslim
That's a total and complete lie.
You think Jesus said this:
"Kill non-Muslims wherever you find them. Lie in wait and ambush them, seize and capture them using every stratagem of war." - Qur'an 9:5
Of course not.
You think Jesus said this:
"Fight then against them till strife be at an end, and the religion be all of it Allah's." - Qur'an 8:40
Of course not.
You think Jesus said this:
"Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs in return is the garden of Paradise: they fight in his cause and slay and are slain." - Qur'an 9:111
Of course not.
And MANY more examples from the KKKoran of what Jesus DID NOT SAY.
Jesus is God, who preaches love, compassion, and forgiveness. Read the New Testament.
"allah" is an Arabian pagan moon deity that commands hate, violence, and mass-murder of "Infidels," - anyone not Muslim. There is no 'allah" - "allah" is Warlord Mohamet, 7th century AD Mass-Murdering Psychopath.
WAKE UP PEOPLE - STOP BELIEVING THE LYING MUSLIMS SUCH AS "Nichole" ABOVE. LIAR NICHOLE - YOU LIAR, AND YOU KNOW IT.
"There have already been incidents targeting the Muslim population in Middle Tennessee" -
Southern Beale
Oh, really? What are they? Please provide examples.
"It's unexpected," he adds. "The only thing I can think of is the sensationalized reporting [by Channel 5] over Sunday and Monday. That's the only thing I can think of. Even after 9/11 we have never had any vandalism."
You did it yourselves, and you know it. Liars.
"War is deceit." - Mohamet
And:
Qur'an 9:73 - "O Prophet! Strive against the Disbelievers and the Infidels! Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey's end."
"Kill non-Muslims wherever you find them. Lie in wait and ambush them, seize and capture them using every stratagem of war (for example, political, economic, propaganda, population explosion). If they convert to Islam and pray and contribute to the cause of Islam (Jihad), let them go." (Koran 9:5)
"Non-Muslims MUST convert to Islam or they will be killed." (Koran 48:16)
"Fight the people of the Book (Jews and Christians) and extort money from them." (Koran 9:29)
"Mohammed, the messenger of Allah, and those who follow him (Muslims) are merciful to one another but harsh to the infidels (non-Muslims)." (Koran 48:29)
"Do not make friends with inferior people (Jews, Christians and all non-Muslims)." (Koran 3:118)
Hey - Great "religion" you've got there. You Haters. Oh, the poor "peaceful" Mohammedans!
"Aunt B: How do you feel about Islamic Jihadists killing over 3,000 people on US soil in the name of Islam? Or, if you are an America-hater, how do you feel about Islamic Jihadists killing their Muslim brothers and sisters in their homelands?" - Remember 9/11
Remember 9/11 - "Aunt B" is an ignorant idiot, don't bother. But, you already know that.
She doesn't give a crap about the 3,000 incinerated Americans on 9/ll, or the 13 shot soldiers on 11/5, Ft. Hood, or the almost-300 dead on Christmas Day, Flight 253. All mass-murders' perpetrated in the name of "allah," the Mohammedans' mass-murder pagan moon god:
"Kill non-Muslims wherever you find them. Lie in wait and ambush them, seize and capture them using every stratagem of war." - Qur'an 9:5
Our government can't even say, "Islamic Jihad," even though THAT'S WHAT THEY ALL WERE. ISLAMIC JIHADS. WE HAVE PC COWARDS IN OUR GOVERNMENT. THEY CAN'T EVEN SAY "ISLAMIC JIHAD," THE PATHETIC COWARDS.
They cannot speak the truth. "Political Correctness" has crippled and paralyzed them.
I hate to say this, but that is not a normal american-style cross. That's a highly stylised cross most commonly seen in old christian communities in Africa and the middle east - and I find that more than a bit suspicious. Has it occurred to anyone that this event may be a fabrication to garner sympathy and deflect criticism? I looked a round a bit and it turns out that it wouldn't actually be the first time. Here's a story about a couple of recent incidents(and just coincidentally, the debunked Dayton "incident" ALSO happened after the airing/distribution of a documentary that was critical of some members of the islamic community):
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=29137
Wow. Seven posts in just under one hour. Must be the truth. You can tell by the capital letters.
so you "looked a round a bit" at the website of an extremist, anti-muslim conservative rag and found an article the reinforced your baseless hate-fueled speculation.
wow, what a surprise.
These right wing extremists are doing more damage to our country than any Muslim or Somalian "terrorist". The TV station, just like FOX news, was simple going for the ratings, making accusations without investigating. Oh, that's right "they were filming their investigation." How convenient. Seems like James O'Keefe did the same thing: how's that filmy-truthy workin' out for you folks?
Gee, Palerobber, was that comment directed at me?
I simply pointed out that spray can weilding yobs and dolts from Nashville don't usually sign their work with ancient stylised crosses that also bear a striking resemblance to those found in Ethiopea . . . (and yeah, that would be the SAME Ethiopea that's right next to Somalia, the target of islamists/al Shabab rage everywhere for its "crusading" assault into Somalia last year.Hmmmmm
http://www.ethiopiancross.com/
Gee, Palerobber, was that comment directed at me . . . ?
I simply pointed out that spray can wieilding yobs and dolts from Nashville don't usually sign their "work" with ancient stylised crosses - a cross which, btw, bears a striking resemblance to those elaborate African crosses found in Ethiopea - the mortal enemy of Somali islamists everywhere since its "crusading" invasion of Somalia last year to help oust Al Shabab?
Hmmmm.
http://www.ethiopiancross.com/
Caps or no, Mark - everything I said in my substantive comments is the truth.
Now, your comment? What did you add to the subject matter here? Answer: Nothing.
There have been many incidents here in the U.S. in which Muslims have fabricated being the targets of "hate." Yes, of course, they're trying to get "sympathy" - Boo-Hoo! The Poor Muslims! Oh I feel so sorry for the poor put-upon Muslims! That's sarcasm.
The irony of course is that it's Muslims who are killing "Infidels" (non-Muslims), and not the reverse.
I bet you 20 bucks the Muslims drew those crosses, and the "hate-filled letter" should be published. Anyone could tell in 2 seconds whether the Muslims wrote it or not. Where's the "hate-filled letter?" Let the public take a look at it. Then, we'll know.
The poster above is right:
The cross is an Ethiopian Orthodox cross that would be common in Eritria and Ethopia. Funny how it ended up on a Somali mosque, and Somalia right next door to the aforementioned countries.
It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that: Somalis would be most familiar with East African Christian symbols. Anyone still think a Nashville redneck did this thing? lol!
The reason Muslims don't get away with their fabricated "hate-crimes" is because they're not smart enough. A 10-year-old could see through this obvious hoax.
Now, let's have that "hate-filled letter" published! We'll be able to tell instantly who wrote it by the syntax and spelling.
Of course the "Mohammedans" did it themselves. And Israel sponsored the controlled-demolition of the World Trade Center. And the Holocaust never really happened. And FDR allowed the bombing of Pearl Harbor. And Custer killed all his own men.
If you're going to make up an off-the-wall theory with no evidence to support it, why not make up a really interesting one: Elvis and Michael Jackson boarded black helicopters provided by Barack Obama and the Illuminati in order to vandalize the Islamic Center, thereby spiking Channel 5's ratings, so the station could increase its advertising rates, thereby acting as an economic stimulus...
Mark:
Maybe it's a hoax and maybe it isn't (and btw, even if a Somali muslim painted it, that doesn't make the imam or anyone else who reported it necessarily complicit). All I know is that a cross with internal repetitions similar to those shown is indigenous to the old Coptic Christian communities in Ethiopia and Eritrea. . . . As for indigenous rednecks of Tennessee? Well, not so much.
there are several interesting points in this case.
1. A video camera trained on the mosque “was being repaired”, per one news story. So far, no one has suggested the vandals shimmied up the pole to take out the camera in a previous act of vandalism.
Who would have known the camera was not functioning that night?
2. The cross is not like a cross the average redneck would have dreamed up. It looks more like a cross someone from the middle east would have drawn if told “quick, spray a Christian cross on that wall”.
who would have drawn a cross like that?
3. the local Muslim community is under pressure for not so great PR in last 3 weeks. It needed a change of story.
You know about the channel 5 report , but even more important and damaging was this event at Vanderbilt (see youtube link below) - never reported by the local media.
The vanderbilt professor and chaplain affirms death for gays will be the rule in a Muslim dominated society; this is the second time vanderbilt has sponsored an event where a call like this went out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAW743OXC8o&feature=PlayList&p=45573975C885C048&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=52
read the koran and then ask yourself if anyone who believes what is written there should be trusted. as for muslims who are u.s. citizens, well folks non muslims are going to have a serious problem with them in the future
Ooops, forgot to turn off the security camera!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DKEOLDmuoo&feature=player_embedded#
Also, for your viewing pleasure, "Undercover Mosque - part 1"
(the justification for child marriage is in part 2)
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ee2_1208691530
Dang, not again!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1211011/Muslim-community-leader-arrested-making-BNP-story.html
The cross used in the grafitti was also the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Jerusalem... It's used pretty frequently by many self-styled latter-day anti-Muslim 'Crusaders.'
Anonymous:
" . . . It's used pretty frequently by many self-styled latter-day anti-Muslim 'Crusaders.'"
Huh? I've had a pretty good look around jihadwatch and religion of peace and a few other supposedly islamohobic sites and I've never seen one. Maybe it's a European thing? As far as I can tell, muslims are the only ones obsessing about the crusades these days. In fact, in the muslim hate material I've read, it's perhaps the single most common insult/charge (running a close second behind various iterations of "filthy jew").
I think one of two things happened:
1. a muslim got on line and looked up "cross" and "crusades" to try to implicate those crusading christians dogs - which narrative plays a dominant role in his world view (but noone else's), or
2. a muslim from East Africa used the christian symbol with which he was most familiar: an stylised Ethiopean coptic cross.
