POPE BENEDICT IS NOT ISLAMOPHOBIC

The Turks greeted Pope Benedict today.

Amid heavy security, Pope Benedict XVI brought a message of peace and brotherhood to Turkey.

How sad that a holy man bringing a message of love and reconciliation must risk his life to deliver it!

ANKARA, Turkey -- Pope Benedict XVI began his first visit to a Muslim country Tuesday with a message of dialogue and "brotherhood" between faiths, and Turkey's chief Islamic cleric said at a joint appearance that growing "Islamophobia" hurts all Muslims.

Benedict also said guarantees of religious freedom are essential for a just society. His comments could be reinforced later during the four-day visit when the pope meets in Istanbul with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians.

Religious freedom is about as foreign in some places as tolerance.

..."The so-called conviction that the sword is used to expand Islam in the world and growing Islamophobia hurts all Muslims," Bardakoglu said at a joint appearance.

Here's the problem:

ME, ME, ME.

Why is it always about Muslims? Why must they play the victim card so readily?

Religious tolerance is NOT a one-way street.

True, Islamophobia hurts all Muslims.

Judeophobia hurts all Jews.

Fear of Christians hurts all Christians.

Theophobia in general is a problem when it promotes violence and hate.

Here's some relevant questions:

Why aren't Muslims expected to be held to the standards that others are?

Why aren't they required to reflect on the reasons some people exhibit from Islamophobia?

I think a little personal responsibility is in order rather than whining about being victimized.


A small group of about 20 people, one holding a sign reading 'blood in the past, blood in the future, blood in the Vatican', protest the visit of Pope Benedict XVI in Ankara, Tuesday Nov. 28, 2006. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Gee, I wonder why there's a rise in Islamophobia.

...The comment appeared to be a reference to Benedict's remarks in a speech in September when he quoted a 14th century Christian emperor who characterized the Prophet Muhammad's teachings as "evil and inhuman." Those remarks triggered a wave of anger in the Islamic world; on Sunday, more than 25,000 Turks showed up to an anti-Vatican protest in Istanbul, asking the pope to stay at home.

People hold placards comparing Pope Benedict XVI to the devil during an anti-pope demonstration outside Turkey's religious affairs directorate in Ankara, November 28, 2006. (Yves Herman/Reuters)

The Pope is the devil.

What a peaceful message from the anti-Christian crowd! Can you feel the love?

"Peace is the basis of all religions," Benedict told Bardakoglu.

The Vatican said the speech was an attempt to highlight the incompatibility of faith and violence, and Benedict later expressed regret for the violent Muslim backlash.

"All feel the same responsibility in this difficult moment in history, let's work together," Benedict said during his flight from Rome to Ankara, where more than 3,000 police and sharpshooters joined a security effort that surpassed even the visit of President Bush two years ago.

"We know that the scope of this trip is dialogue and brotherhood and the commitment for understanding between cultures ... and for reconciliation," he said.

Too many Muslims don't want understanding. They don't want brotherhood. They don't want reconciliation.

That's a tragedy.

I admire Pope Benedict for stressing the incompatibility of faith and violence.

The 25,000 anti-Pope protesters in Turkey should put down the placards, take off the headbands, stop shotting ugly slogans, and listen to what Pope Benedict has to say.