Myth vs Fact-Part 189

Myth	Fact
Islam: Religion of peace.	Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 143: Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet said to Abu Talha, "Choose one of your boy servants to serve me in my expedition to Khaibar." So, Abu Talha took me letting me ride behind him while I was a boy nearing the age of puberty. I used to serve Allah's Apostle when he stopped to rest. I heard him saying repeatedly, "O Allah! I seek refuge with You from distress and sorrow, from helplessness and laziness, from miserliness and cowardice, from being heavily in debt and from being overcome by men." Then we reached Khaibar; and when Allah enabled him to conquer the Fort (of Khaibar), the beauty of Safiya bint Huyai bin Akhtab was described to him. Her husband had been killed while she was a bride. So Allah's Apostle selected her for himself and took her along with him till we reached a place called Sad-AsSahba,' where her menses were over and he took her for his wife. Haris (a kind of dish) was served on a small leather sheet. Then Allah's Apostle told me to call those who were around me. So, that was the marriage banquet of Allah's Apostle and Safiya. Then we left for Medina. I saw Allah's Apostle folding a cloak round the hump of the camel so as to make a wide space for Safiya (to sit on behind him) He sat beside his camel letting his knees for Safiya to put her feet on so as to mount the camel. Then, we proceeded till we approached Medina; he looked at Uhud (mountain) and said, "This is a mountain which loves us and is loved by us." Then he looked at Medina and said, "O Allah! I make the area between its (i.e. Medina's) two mountains a sanctuary as Abraham made Mecca a sanctuary. O Allah! Bless them (i.e. the people of Medina) in their Mudd and Sa (i.e. measures)."
Tafsir

Sphere: Related Content

Gabrielle Giffords' Tunnel Enforcement Act

I received the following email from Gabrielle Giffords and thought it was worth posting for all to see. While I have stated many times she and I don't see eye to eye on many issues, there are several things I do appreciated from her. One of those efforts of hers is her on-going efforts to stay in touch with her constituents, even when they don't agree with her.

On this issue, what she's communicated to me sounds good--I will qualify this, though, as something I have to delve into deeper to make sure I'm understanding it correctly. On the surface, it appears she is indeed serious about not only enforcing our laws but tightening them up as well with stricter penalties. Here, then, is her email to me:

December 21, 2007


Dear [Redacted],


This week the House passed the Fiscal Year 2008 Appropriations package and it is now going to the President for his signature. I thought you might be interested in hearing about a provision that I included in that legislation to toughen our border security.


I first introduced this legislation as a stand-alone bill, called the Tunnel Enforcement Act (H.R. 4326). My legislation, as passed in the appropriations package, will ensure that the federal government can prosecute smugglers who tunnel into the United States .


This provision criminalizes the construction of tunnels under the U.S. border and adds this prohibition to the federal criminal code. It also creates criminal penalties for using tunnels to smuggle illegal aliens, goods, controlled substances, weapons, or terrorists.


Specifically, the Tunnel Enforcement Act established the following federal crimes and corresponding sentences.


--Any person who knowingly constructs or finances the construction of a tunnel or subterranean passage that crosses the international border between the United States and another country, other than a lawfully authorized tunnel or passage known to the Secretary of Homeland Security and subject to inspection by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for not more than 20 years.


--Any person who knowingly or recklessly disregards the construction or use of a tunnel or passage described in subsection (a) on land that the person owns or controls shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for not more than 10 years.


--Any person who uses a tunnel or passage described in subsection (a) to unlawfully smuggle an alien, goods, controlled substances, weapons of mass destruction, or a member of a terrorist organization shall be subject to a maximum term of imprisonment that is twice the maximum term of imprisonment that would have otherwise been applicable had the unlawful activity not made use of such a tunnel or passage.


Securing our border is my highest priority in Congress, and I have consistently been an advocate for strengthened border security by supporting these measures in Congress:


--Border Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (H.R. 2542) to fund enhanced law enforcement operations, as well as the detention and transfer of illegal aliens to federal authorities (cosponsor),


--To provide for the next generation of border and maritime security technologies (H.R. 3916) by deploying UAVs and Advanced Tunnel Detection on the U.S.-Mexico border and study additional border security needs (cosponsor),



--Motion to Recommit on the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2007 (H.R. 1851) to prevent illegal immigrants from receiving housing assistance,


--Alien Smuggling and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007 (H.R. 2399) to increase penalties for smuggling an illegal immigrant into the U.S. (H.R. 2399), and


--Department of Defense Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2008 (H.R. 3222) to support $247 million for the continuing National Guard operations along the U.S.-Mexico border.


Additionally, I launched a vigorous campaign in Congress to add $55 million in much needed funding to the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP). This program reimburses our county and state law enforcement agencies for the costs of incarcerating illegal immigrants. Other members of Congress and the President proposed cutting this essential federal program. As a result of my added funding, Congress included a total of $410 million in SCAAP funding in the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations bill that passed the House as part of the FY 2008 Omnibus Appropriations package. The Omnibus funding package is going to the President for his signature which is expected promptly thereafter.


I always appreciate hearing from constituents, like you, who are informed and interested in issues of important to Arizona and the nation. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if you require assistance. My job as your representative is to assist you with federal agencies, access services and get your policy questions answered thoroughly. Feel free to sign-up for e-news updates on my website at www.giffords.house.gov.


Sincerely Yours,
Gabrielle Giffords
Member of Congress

Good job, Gabrielle. THIS is the kind of stuff your constituents want to see progress made on, not appeasement.

Sphere: Related Content

Teddy Roosevelt-1907 View of Immigration

Although I've seen this before, it finally came (from Bonnie) with a picture I liked.

The text beneath the picture reads (NOTE: all emphasis mine):

In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.'

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

Do it legally or don't do it at all.

Sphere: Related Content

Stop the ACLU! Weekly Roundup 12/16-12/25/2007

More great finds from Jay at Stop the ACLU! and a new look as well! Spend some time checking out the new look and reading the other great articles there.

Articles:
Send the ACLU a Christmas Card (a yearly tradition--check the links in the article)

Its become a popular yearly tradition now to send the Anti-Christian Liars Union grinches a Christmas card. I personally think its ineffective, and that the money you waste on a stamp for the organization to toss in the shredder would be better served towards a good cause. So, I encourage you to save that money, dig a little deeper, and contribute to an organization that fights the ACLU and defends Christmas. The Alliance Defense Fund, and the ACLJ are both great organizations that defend Christmas each year. The Alliance Defense Fund does it for free. Why not help groups like that out this year?

ACLU Praise New Jersey's Ban on the Death Penalty
They actually claim to believe it is a shift in public opinion, though polls we have say something very different

Surrendercrats Surrender: Senate Approves War Funding
Democrats surrender on surrendering!

Oklahoma Attorney General Bans Christmas (Update: or not)
This is no joke. Oklahoma Attorney General, W.A. Drew Edmondson sent a directive to Southwestern Oklahoma State University telling them not to use the word Christmas. We are sending out a call to action to get people to call him and let him know just how ridiculous this is.

ACLU Upset Over Common Sense Ruling Denying Terror Advocate Visa
A common sense ruling denying a VISA for terror advocate, Tariq Ramadan, has the ACLU quite upset.

Are Conservatives Cracking Up?

I'd like to get some reactions to this. Can I get some comments?

Jim Geraghty wonders: on this question. I've put together my thoughts on it.

Huckabee's Pro-Life Principles Questionable

There is a whole lot of that comes into question with some shady fundraising that has been revealed. Some of the things while he was still governor....Huckabee used campaign funds to pay himself as his own media consultant. raked in tens of thousands of dollars in gifts, including gifts from people he later appointed to prestigious state commissions. Inauguration funds were used to buy clothing for his wife."

Most noteworthy however, is the $35,000 he accepted as a speaking fee from Novo Nordisk. He opposes embryonic stem-cell research, but guess what this company does? Stem cell research.

Rush vs. Huckabee Continues
For anyone still following politics so close to Christmas. Just in case you haven't heard about this

From CatHouse Chat: Carnival of Christmas 2007
A yearly blogosphere tradition.

Videos:
Romney on Gun Control
I thought you might be interested in this.

Fredmania, Fredmentum, Whatever You Want to Call It
Fred's momentum continues....a Thompson surge just may be on the way.

Fred Thompson: Huckabee is No Conservative
This is great! Hannity asks Fred if he thinks that Huckabee has been unfairly characterized as a conservative. Fred laughs, and repeats that Huckabee is no conservative. Great stuff!

[Audio] Rush Limbaugh Goes Off About Huckablunder
Since I am late on covering the big Huck-up! Or as Michelle Malkin puts it, the Howard Dean moment....I have put together a HUGE list of reactions from other blogs.

Fred Thompson's Awesome Holiday Message
I'm haven't hiddent the fact that I'm a Thompson fan, but I think even those of you rooting for another candidate will agree that THIS is the most classy holiday message of ALL the candidates. Check it out.

ACLU Nativity Scene
Dug this up from last year, in the spirit of the season! The popular ACLU nativity built by the Young Conservatives of Texas.

The Twelve Days of Huckabee
Merry Christmas! I hope you enjoy this gift!

Reagan's Christmas Message of '81
Merry Christmas message from 1981!

Sphere: Related Content

Myth vs Fact-Part 188

Myth	Fact
Islam: Religion of peace.	Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 127: Narrated 'Aisha: the mother of the faithful believers, I requested the Prophet permit me to participate in Jihad, but he said, "Your Jihad is the performance of Hajj."
Tafsir

Sphere: Related Content