An invite to Mecca...in America

Always dreamed of going to Mecca, but didn't have the time, the money or the spiritual inclination? starts the article..! hinting at the exciting assortment of pleasures that await you in Sacramento courtesy of the Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims (SALAM, of course!).

Of course there is nothing wrong with holding a religious exhibit promoting your faith to others. But talk about being loaded with nonsense....

SALAMs imam gushes:-

"Above all things, hajj celebrates the diversity of human beings," Azeez said. "No place on Earth has 3 million people, men and women, young and old, rich and poor, saying the same stuff, sleeping in the same places, wearing the same clothes (a simple white gown), worshipping the same God."

Celebrates diversity? How? By forbidding non muslims, segrating women from men? Lets be at least honest.

Indeed he goes on to confirm this in a very roundabout sugar coated fashion:

"It's perhaps the only place on earth where non-Muslims -- who are forbidden to visit the real Mecca -- can experience a bit of hajj, which celebrates the tradition of the prophet Abraham, revered by Muslims, Christians and Jews alike, Azeez said"

The irony is subtle. It is less so more generally:

"....Even non-believers were moved by the virtual hajj. " the artcile continues. "After 9/11, I wondered, 'Why are they attacking us,' but they (Muslim Americans) didn't attack us, crazy people attacked us," said Jim Hulcy, who built the Ka'ba and the mountains while his wife, Ladonna, made sure they met fire and safety codes. "I'm an atheist," said Ladonna Hulcy. "I believe in my community, though. We're the human race."

These crazy people (above pic) who cant stand even the smallest criticism ( and havent since the days of at least the Rushdie affair) dont believe in the essence of an equal community though - and they are willing participants to the easy manipulation of Koranic texts to fuel extremism at worse or trumpet Shari'a at 'best'. There is no such thing as atheism in Islam without consequences ...and real equality, women's rights? Forget it. If there are going to be these exposes on 'Islam' such as here in the US or at IslamExpo in the UK then Islam needs to at least face its own demons first and accept its faults FIRST-any responsible 'unbeliever/islam fan' who insists 'islamophobia' is the real modern issue should be promoting the merits of proper debate with some of Islams critics - from amongst its own - if there is any true concern for society's views. Not brushing the issues under the carpets (at Virtual Mecca ) and hinting at the blame elsewhere. Its depressing to think that in sections of America, the proud modern champion of enlightenment values, they can't see that.