tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524934.post6073098194704698573..comments2023-10-07T23:38:41.904+08:00Comments on An American Expat in Southeast Asia: Laohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06746323559308496625noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524934.post-1479439549755042522009-09-26T04:07:57.674+08:002009-09-26T04:07:57.674+08:00President Obama, in my opinion, is neither Muslim ...President Obama, in my opinion, is neither Muslim or Christian. If he were Christian, he would realize that the killing of helpless, innocent babies in the womb and newly born is a great sin in the eyes of God. He would also recognize that homosexual choices are condemned by the Creator: "He created them male and female" "A man is to leave his mother and father and cling to his wife", etc. As a Christian and an American, I do not hate peaceful Muslims, I pity them because of the few radicals that have murdered thousands of innocent Americans. With one voice, the peaceable Muslims need to CONDEMN VERY LOUDLY & worldwide these insane killings by the few radical Muslims. They also need to step forward to help capture and end their murderous schemes. President Obama is proving to be one of the worst presidents our nation has ever had - not because of the color of his skin, but because of his complete disregard for the sacredness of life and the greatness of this once-blessed nation who throughout our history honored God in every aspect of public and private life and which has extended the hand of help to millions world wide. Our citizens desire peace on earth much more than you can ever imagine, but not to the detriment of our national security. God bless and forgive America and God help you who embrace liberalism & hatred of our country to first seek God's truth and then seek to really understand who we are.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524934.post-79418664229588032652009-02-06T14:43:00.000+08:002009-02-06T14:43:00.000+08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524934.post-58348756385013101072008-02-09T17:56:00.000+08:002008-02-09T17:56:00.000+08:00lets not forget Obama was a CHILD when all this ha...lets not forget Obama was a CHILD when all this happened...his mother or step father handled the paperwork and CHOSE for him...duh.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642615796003185649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524934.post-78264443632580337472008-01-27T11:27:00.000+08:002008-01-27T11:27:00.000+08:00i am with you bung Winang. I now live in Japan as ...i am with you bung Winang. I now live in Japan as IR student, i speak japanese well but in english just 785 TOEIC score and its bad for me, even it looked so high from my japanese mate. So sorry if my english not good.<BR/><BR/>I am a moslem, moderate and also fundamentalis. I love hero, not murderer. I like Dr. King and also Malcolm X. I like Kennedy and also Lincoln. <BR/><BR/>I love Obama, and wanna hope from him thats i beleive his hope will not only american, but also for the world, and also my growing country.<BR/>I wanna emphasize that we didnt get a lesson to hate you, but we badly have to respect you, we must respect the other religion said Prophet Muhammad PBUH. <BR/><BR/>Moreover the moderate religious indonesia people, should more respect the other religions due to our nation diversity, and Mr. Obama even he was just six, he had got that respect lesson. <BR/><BR/>thats all buddy, i love obama, and we should think for human beings, not just for a bordered state. Human beings should be united again, not by weapon or armed forces, but by hope from obama as the awakening sign.<BR/><BR/>i didnt said, multipolar state system or unipolar state. i just agree with obama that a pity americans that controlled by a few bad groups, had changed the kennedy american became a state that being hated by people all over the world.<BR/><BR/>i like america that had helped my country free from colonialism and imperialism, l love obama liked my Bung Karno love Kennedy, or maybe more.<BR/><BR/>Thats all, Justice for all.wicaksono isa agunghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06217822094285488025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524934.post-69437236007229544832007-01-26T01:36:00.000+08:002007-01-26T01:36:00.000+08:00OK, one more thing. The detiknet article actually...OK, one more thing. The detiknet article actually said "Dia juga sering bermain ke mushala dengan memakai sarung", which means in English that Barack "often played to the Musholla wearing a sarong". So, it's "PLAYED", not "PRAYED", which is also common in Indonesia since mushollas can also become informal social gathering points. Now this makes a lot of sense and it's very likely to be true. Actually, I don't doubt that Obama probably did some praying in there as well, but you have badly exaggerated the reality of the situation.<br /><br />Another thing, the simple act of wearing a sarong does not mean you are a Muslim. I am a Catholic and I wears sarongs all the time, as did my father and brothers. It is a normal casual garment in Indonesia.Winanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07507263420544384465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524934.post-19420795840315882432007-01-26T01:30:00.000+08:002007-01-26T01:30:00.000+08:00I have now read the Poskota article with the quote...I have now read the Poskota article with the quotes from Emirsyah Satar as well as the detiknet article and now am in a much better position to provide comments. Apologies for not having done this earlier.<br /><br />Firstly, Emir said that he has not contacted Barry at all since he returned to the US (at age 10), so there is no way for him to know that Barack "converted" to Christianity when he married Michelle. Also, it was not Emir who made this statement. The statement that "Obama changed his religion when he married Michelle" is made solely by the writer of the article (probably from inference from the fact that he was a Muslim then and a Christian now). It is NOT a direct quote from Emir.<br /><br />The detiknet article had a quote from Rony who said that "they often asked Barack to come with them to the musholla (prayer room). He looks funny wearing a sarong". This means that as children Barack's friends often took him along to the musholla. This is very different from saying that Barry himself is a devout Muslim.<br /><br />Your quote that Barry was "previously quite religious in Islam" is not found anywhere in the article. You have misquoted both men badly. You also quoted Emir as saying "All the relatives of Barry's father were very devout Muslims". Again he has said no such thing. It was only the writer of the article said that "all of Barry's father's siblings are muslims." That's it, full stop. This is information that we already know. You have manufactured and inserted the words "very devout", out of thin air. <br /><br />Your assertions that Emir said that there was "a very religious 'Barry Soetoro', one that was well versed in Islam and liked to recite his prayers" is false and again not stated anywhere in the article. <br /><br />Please explain why you are doing this? I am currently assuming good faith in that you either misunderstood the articles or had someone translate the articles for you incorrectly.Winanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07507263420544384465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524934.post-5583803826881160752007-01-26T01:03:00.000+08:002007-01-26T01:03:00.000+08:00I do not agree with your suggestion that Obama has...I do not agree with your suggestion that Obama has tried to "hide" his Islamic past or your other suggestions that he was probably "insincere" when he "converted" to christianity.<br /><br />I am an Indonesian so I have firsthand knowledge of Indonesian public schools. Let us examine the facts. Senator Obama's father was a Kenyan Muslim, although in practice he is an Atheist. His Indonesian stepfather was a Muslim who practiced a moderate brand of Islam common among Indonesians. This is true and Senator Obama himself has pointed this out in his autobiography. While he was six, in Indonesia, being the son of a Muslim stepfather, it was quite likely that his official registered religion would be Islam. This is why, as an Associated Press article pointed out, Senator Obama's religion in the school records as a child in Indonesia was Islam. There is nothing wrong with this.<br /> <br />Indonesia is a secular nation, but not secular in the sense of complete separation of religion and state as in the US. So in essence you have to pick a religion when filling in forms to enter the school. I have to remind you not to get the wrong impression here. This does not mean that students in Indonesia are forced to be religious. It is just that Indonesians are a religious people, and the accepted practice is that religion should be taught in public schools. Remember that in all public schools in Indonesia, religion is taught (twice a week) to the students, according to his/her own religion , this includes Islam, Christianity, Catholicism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. For the Christian classes, a priest may actually be called on to teach. Since Senator Obama registered as a Muslim, it is also likely that he attended the Islamic classes and was taught basic Islamic teachings, prayers, etc. Again, there is nothing wrong with this and this possibility should be openly acknowledged. Obama's former classmates assertions that Obama prayed and went to the Mosque was also most probably true, because he was living in a Muslim environment, both in school and with his stepfather at home. Remember that he was only six years old, a child at the time. And before that he also attended a Catholic school, where he would probably studied the cathecism.<br /> <br />There is no way that Indonesian teachers at the school would teach six year old students to hate the west or hate people of other religions. Since he was only six, doubtless he has forgotten most, if not all, of the things that was taught in his religion class. However, this experience would still be positive for him because it exposed him to a welcoming environment of Muslim kids who are his friends and classmates. This would allow him, on a personal basis, to be more tolerant and understanding toward Muslims around the world.<br /><br />To summarize, Senator Obama was raised in a non-religious household and is now a committed and practicing Christian. There is no reason to believe that he was ever a devout muslim as an adult, or that his becoming a practicing Christian is insincere or calculated. He was baptized long before he entered politics, even before entering the state senate.<br /><br />After returning to Hawaii at age 10 he was raised by his mother and grandparents, none of whom are Muslim. It would be a stretch to think that young Barry would stick to his Muslim teachings during that period. He does have Muslim ties as explained above, in addition to an international experience that not many people can claim. All of this should magnify people's estimation of him, not diminish it. I myself am a Catholic born and raised in Indonesia, and my outlook towards Muslims is very different from that of many Americans. To me they are simply friends and family.Winanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07507263420544384465noreply@blogger.com