Posted by
cehwiedel on Saturday, December 30, 2006 9:02:35 AM
Earlier this month, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) put out a
press release announcing that one of its local directors in California had received recognition from California's junior Senator:
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 12/18/2006) - CAIR-Sacramento
Valley (CAIR-SV) Executive Director Basim Elkarra recently received an
award from Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA). Elkarra received the
"Outstanding Service" award in recognition of his efforts to protect
civil liberties and to build bridges among diverse communities in
California.
"The CAIR-California team congratulates Basim
Elkarra on this well-deserved award for his work to promote harmony
between communities and protect civil liberties," said Fouad Khatib,
chairman of CAIR-California.
This was noticed by such folks as Jihad Watch and Americans Against Hate:
As Executive Director, Basim Elkarra has defended someone who trained
for jihad in a Pakistani terrorist camp; he has defended an imam who
urged a Pakistani crowd to wage attacks on America; and he has defended
an imam who was attempting to build an Islamic school for the purpose
of teaching children how to commit violent acts against Americans.
Also, Elkarra has described Israel as a "racist" and "apartheid" state,
and he has moderated an event that featured a Hamas operative who spent
five years in an Israeli prison and who is currently on trial in the
U.S.
Much to everyone's surprise,
Senator Boxer has now rescinded the award, saying that her staff took the initiative in giving it to Elkarra and that she knew nothing about it until afterwards.
It says something about the junior Senator from California that her staff would think Basim Elkarra worthy of such an award. At least "diversity" and "tolerance" did not trump common sense in the long run in this particular incident.
[You are invited to visit
www.cehwiedel.com, where I write on many topics other than the members of the California delegation to the United States Senate.]