Obama's special Message to Hajj

Los Angeles Times Article

President Obama sent out a special message to all the people who were performing Hajj this year, and to the Muslim's in the United States and all around the world who were celebrating Eid-ul-Adha. Even with the scare of H1N1 flu, many traveled to perform the Hajj with such dedication and love for there God. Many of the white-robed men who went out to perform Hajj, came prepared with masks to protect themselves from any viruses. The Department of Health Services warned the whited-robed men to stay away from large crowds, but many still showed. The department had set up many stations and thermal cameras to ensure they safety of all the people. The government had helped a religious event, to make sure that millions of men wouldn't not get sick and return to their homes and endanger there communities. The government and religious groups work together more often then thought because of the large amounts of people traveling for religious purposes or for celebrations.

Rebuliding the Economy

Article

As our economy keeps getting worse, many people are turning to religion as something that they can count on, something that is consistent. Many charities are losing money since many are not able to donate because of the tight leash we are all on this holiday season. Many understand that this will no be a quick recovery but they are worried that they will not be able to within stand this economic recession. For example the article discuss that donations to the nation's largest nonprofits, including prominent universities, hospitals and foundations, are expected to fall 9% this year, according to a survey by The Chronicle of Philanthropy last month. This is the steepest drop the publication has reported in 17 years of surveying the 400 largest charities in the United States. The countries richest people had met in New York for a secret meeting to discuss this downfall and how they could help these charities survive since they help hundreds of American citizens. Countries are looking to religious groups to help out there charities, they are looking to religious groups to volunteer and to donate money to their organizations.

Hate Crimes Spike

Article

The article discuss the recent hate crime spikes within religion, race, and sexual orientation. In October when the federal legislation expanded federal hate crime laws to include protections for homosexuals many of the conservation religious leaders were the biggest opponents of these laws. Many of these religiously motivated hate crimes were racially against African American, in 2008 there was an 8 percent increase. As the rise in anti-black crimes increased the attacks against whites decreased from 2007 to 2008. The article discusses the 208 survey, on data about more law enforcement agencies than ever, but just 15% of them had been reported a bias crime and nearly and 85% reported no hate crimes in there areas.
These crimes are against different religions and races, and the lawmakers have to make laws to ensure that these people don't get killed. As the economy goes down and many more people will be unemployed, hate crimes will spike even higher.

Religion-based Hate Crimes

Article

In Washington a "Report finds religion-based hate crimes on the rise", people being attached because for their religious views has been increasing since 2001. The article discusses the number of crimes that are targeting Jews or Jewish institutions has increased in 2008. There were a reported 1,013 hate crimes just against the Jews last year, which according to statistics is two-thirds of all the religious hate crimes last year. This past year has been the highest percent of hate crimes since the 9/11 attack in 2001. From 2007 to 2008 hate crimes had rose slightly, but this years the attacks aimed at ethnicity and sexual orientation accounting for much of the balance. The religious attacks seem unreal in a country that is based on freedom of religion, the fear factor in the hate crimes account for most of the damage. Since many of us don't understand other religions other than the ones we follow there is a constant misunderstanding and prejudice against one another. The saddest part is that people are not curious enough to just understand and respect each other religious views but are afraid and want to challenge one another.

Indian Celebrities Speak Out

Article

A year after the attacks in Mumbai, bollywood celebrities, politicians, sportsmen, and man more gather to remember those that were lost that day. Actor Shah Rukh Khan spoke about the many "rakshas" in every religion causing terror. Many of them spoke on how the city had united in this time of difficulty and how the city had grown tremendously because of it. The reminded everyone that terror had no religion and that these people were just causing harm by corrupting what is supposed to pure and holy.
The message was clear that terror has no part in religion, though it seems to affect every country. In America, terrorists crashed into the beloved Twin Towers, in London terrorists bombed the underground railway system which is used many thousands of residents, and in India these grand hotels were held hostage and killed. Though there are many terrorist attacks I didn't not mention, the occurrence of terrorist attacks are becoming more frequent. Even though President Bush called a war on terror, nothing has changed since these terrorists find Americans not in the United States but in other countries to kill to send America a message that they won't stop. But in this article they call on people to unite, to understand that terrorism is not a religion and if we stay together they can do no harm.

So Much Jumble with Religion and Politics in the Swiss Land

Article

The article focuses on Swiss voters who backed minaret ban. Many Swiss voters have approved a right-wing backed proposal to ban construction of new minarets, initial projections showed on Sunday, a surprise result that could damage Switzerland's economic ties with Muslim states. Both the Swiss government and parliament had rejected the initiative as violating the Swiss constitution, freedom of religion and the nation's cherished tradition of tolerance. The United Nations human rights watchdog has also voiced concerns. In Geneva, home to United Nation humanitarian agencies, voters appeared overwhelmingly to have rejected the initiative by nearly 60%, according to Swiss television. The United Nations need to step in the voting issues in Switzerland, shows how interconnected the world government and sate governments are connected.

Religion Dictates Politics

Article

The Manhattan Declaration was a propaganda stunt sponsored by conservative right wing Christians intent to portraying Christians as victims of a secular America. The Declaration is in actuality an attempt to hi-jack American culture, and force a theocracy upon an unsuspecting and unwilling American public. In America, we dont have to bow to the ignorance and supersition of silly pretenders thumping their magic book, no matter how important those pretenders might think they are. The Manhattan Declaration represents the greatest threat we face as a species, the threat from religious ignorance and superstition. The article discuss how people use think their belief in the bible will just automatically give them power in America. That people will listen to them because they believe they are connected to a high power and the rest of us are not.