Cowboys didn't choose this guy for the "blessing" at the Rodeo.

There's got to be a good story over how an Islamic Iman was chosen to give a "blessing" at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

www.dallasnews.com...

FORT WORTH — For some faithful rodeo fans, the inclusion of a Muslim imam in the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo has become a burr under the saddle.

The Stock Show has become more diverse this year as officials have let more groups offer prayers before the start of events. But the Facebook page for the 23-day event lit up this week after Moujahed Bakhach of the Islamic Association of Tarrant County led the public prayer Sunday night.

While many of the comments on the Stock Show’s Facebook page were supportive of the more inclusive prayer policy, most were not.

Opposition seemed directed not personally at Bakhach or his words but at the inclusion of a member of the Islamic clergy during a time of violence involving Muslim terrorists.

a reply to: Tusks

"Outrage over Muslim prayer"
Millions have a steering wheel jammed in their back and the media is driving.

a reply to: DAVID64

How many of those cowboys are Muslim? How many of the persons purchasing tickets?

1? that 1 might be stretching it a bit..

If your audience is Christian.. which the rodeo scene has always been predominately Christians - its why prayer is offered first in the first place because its something which has always been a christian attended and participated event - then you cater to your audience..

you don't cater to stranger's who aren't even there so you can get in the local news...it's stupid and Muslims should be offended in the first place for being used as pawns in an effort to get additional free advertising.

But then, Muslims lately are never offended about the things that SHOULD by all rights offend them the most. No... just cartoons, certainly not the terrorists in their midst or being used for free advertising..

The Muslim religion is fine as far as it doesn't hurt anyone, the same as Christian, Jewish, Scientology, and other religions. But maybe offering prayers of any religion at a rodeo (maybe a prayerful PETA member should be given the microphone) is off-topic. And remember that scene from 'Borat' of Borat talking at a rodeo (that's what the thread title reminded me of)?

Texas is obsessed with starting events with a prayer. Starting government meeting with a prayer seems to be wrong but that will probably never change.

Did they have a significant portion of Muslims at the event? If not, then why did they need the Muslim to offer a prayer? Did they go out of their way to find representatives of every religious belief then just to have them to be inclusive?

I mean I guess I'm asking if they only had the guy there to feel "inclusive" or if there were actually a representation of Muslims at the event.

a reply to: OpinionatedB

As a gun owner who has been lumped together with the lunatics that shoot up schools, I try to show tolerance with groups that get the same treatment. How do you know how many were Muslim? Yeah, I grant you, it's Texas and there probably weren't many, but what if there were 5? Would you, if you were a Christian, want the same tolerance and respect for your faith in the same situation?

a reply to: DAVID64

Well then, were was the Satanist? They've also been accused of lots of crap over the years. So why didn't they get shown the same consideration? You know, so that any potential Satanists in the crowd wouldn't have to feel bad because their faith was shown respect?

Or, do you think it's far more likely that the rodeo bent over backwards to show that "See? We don't hate you?" which is really patronizing because I'll bet they didn't have representatives from all faiths there.

originally posted by: DAVID64
a reply to: OpinionatedB

Would you, if you were a Christian, want the same tolerance and respect for your faith in the same situation?

That's the problem, Christians are always forced to give in to Islam.

Name me one time, at a regular Muslim event, where they have allowed a Christian to give the prayer.

It is always one sided.

a reply to: ketsuko

So, you're comparing Muslims and Satanists? I don't know where they were, I didn't run the event. But, seeing it was about "God", I expect they weren't invited.
Maybe they were trying to show people that not all Muslims are bad guys. Not all want to chop off your head for not following their ways. I can see this is going to be a "get the Muslims thread", so I'll let ya'll get to it.
Are Radical Muslims bad? You bet. I would be the first to drop a MOAB if we could get them all in one place, but we can not let the media control our minds and perception or just like the many threads about gun owners, we lump them all in the "dangerous and crazy, just waiting for the chance" category.

Because we are tolerant of their faith and religion.

Imagine if this had been a major event at an arena in Saudi Arabia, and a Christian preacher offered prayers and blessings?

No one got lynched here, no beheadings. It's all good.

a reply to: stosh64

I have no idea. I'm not Christian or Muslim or anything else connected with worshiping a "God". I'm an Atheist on the outside looking in, just watching the circus.

Solution: enough with the damned praying all the time. If I were to go to a rodeo, I'd be there for the rodeo (substitute hockey game, council meeting, bake sale, or what have you).

Pray in the back room if you need it to get through the day. Pray in private, or even in a prearranged location with others of your ilk. Christians should not be catered to any more than the rest of the God/Gods-fearing public. I don't care what your religion is. I don't expect you to care (or have any bloody business caring) about mine.

What chaps me, though is going to any sort of outing, and having to start with someone else's idea of what their sky-leader wants... regardless of whether it's a guy in robes, a multi-armed elephant, or a flying spaghetti monster.

Instead of getting choked up but someone else's superstition/cult/religion being represented, how about we cut to the chase and recognize religion as a personal thing. I'm not saying you can't do it... just leave everybody else out of it.

originally posted by: OpinionatedB
a reply to: DAVID64

How many of those cowboys are Muslim? How many of the persons purchasing tickets?

What number would justify it, in your mind?

originally posted by: ketsuko
Did they have a significant portion of Muslims at the event?

What percentage is "significant"?

According to the 2010 Census, Texas is home to more Muslims (140,000) than any other state in the country. They are our neighbors, co-workers and leaders in various segments of our community.

Ft. Worth Stock Show Adds Religious Diversity

a reply to: Benevolent Heretic

For perspective that is 140,000 out of 26.45 million.

a reply to: ausername

I know. But Texas has more Muslims than any other state. People are claiming that the number of Muslims at the rodeo was "insignificant". I'm thinking the percentage may be small (even one person - the Imam), but representative of the people of Texas.

a reply to: Benevolent Heretic

Percentage of muslim cowboys, bronc riders, bull riders, team ropers, steer wrestlers, rodeo clown?---0.0%

Percentage of muslims in the crowd? Maybe 0.1%?

Percentage of Politically Correct Idjits on the Rodeo Board? Too high, like everywhere else.

originally posted by: DAVID64
a reply to: stosh64

I have no idea. I'm not Christian or Muslim or anything else connected with worshiping a "God". I'm an Atheist on the outside looking in, just watching the circus.

Understood

originally posted by: CrikeyMagnet
Pray in the back room if you need it to get through the day. Pray in private, or even in a prearranged location with others of your ilk. Christians should not be catered to any more than the rest of the God/Gods-fearing public. I don't care what your religion is. I don't expect you to care (or have any bloody business caring) about mine.

I agree and believe that is what I, as a follower of Jesus, am told to do.
Mathew 6:6

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

All the religious knuckleheads who always feel the need to pray in public and advertise (boast) their religion to others needs to end. You can pray to YOURSELF. You can pray in your HOME. Stop causing problems and simply keep it to YOURSELF and their will be no problems.

Texas for one is DEEPLY Christain and deeply about freedom of religion... except when it comes to another religion and then they go CRAZY.

Just keep your religion to yourselves religious folks, and stop causing PROBLEMS!!