Esam Mudeer, a lecturer in comparative religion, challenged Friedman to a debate-1.

Esam Mudeer, a lecturer in comparative religion, challenged Friedman to a debate.

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http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...am2denmark.jpg

The brouhaha over a St. Paul rabbi's comments advocating the killing of Arabs has gone international.

Ten days ago, Rabbi Manis Friedman of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement faced a maelstrom of criticism after being quoted in the Jewish magazine Moment as calling for armed conflict against Israel's Arab neighbors.
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle...7PQLanchO7DiUr
He quickly apologized and recanted, saying that his comments were taken out of context. But it was too late; people on both sides of the issue -- including the leaders of his own denomination, a Hasidic movement in Orthodox Judaism -- publicly chastised him.

The story fizzled fairly quickly here, but a few days later, the Star Tribune got a call from a Muslim educator and publisher in Saudi Arabia who said that it has become a hot-button issue there. Esam Mudeer, a lecturer in comparative religion, challenged Friedman to a debate.

The story fizzled fairly quickly here, but a few days later, the Star Tribune got a call from a Muslim educator and publisher in Saudi Arabia who said that it has become a hot-button issue there. Esam Mudeer, a lecturer in comparative religion, challenged Friedman to a debate.

Mudeer said that he's not angry with Friedman, although he admits that a lot of people in his part of the world are. He sees a debate as a way of calming things down.
"I'm not asking him for an apology. I'm not asking him for a change of heart. He's entitled to his point of view the same way I am," he said. "He made a statement. The best way to deal with that is with another statement. I see this as an opportunity for dialogue."
Mudeer made his debate request to the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters in New York, which wants to put the incident behind it and isn't interested. But he hopes that even offering to talk will help.
"We don't want to leave this for the fanatics to decide," he said. "People here [in Saudi Arabia] are angry. They are furious. And they have every right to be angry, but they need to channel that anger into something useful."
Pedal pusher

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Comments
somebody call the ACLU
posted by insp88 on Jun. 13, 09 at 4:09 AM |
4 of 11 people liked this comment.
Religion preached in a public park....

I think that stinks.. Seperation of church and state (for you gun toties who use that part of the Constitution) except if that church is willing to pay for use of a tax payer funded park. ie: Bandshell.... Got it.....
posted by maypow on Jun. 13, 09 at 6:33 AM |
5 of 16 people liked this comment.
Nice Photo...although outdated

Hey Star Tribune - the bandshell was painted a brown color about 4 years ago now - couldn't you send a photographer over there to get an updated photo??
posted by mingo21 on Jun. 13, 09 at 7:23 AM |
7 of 7 people liked this comment.

Maypow's comment about relgion preached in a public park shows a complete ignorance of the constitution and American history. The separation of church and state is about the state not imposing a church on society or controlling. I am tired of revisionists trying to impose thier secular ideology on society. In fact, that is what is opposed by the constitution.
posted by Hoek on Jun. 13, 09 at 7:47 AM |
9 of 14 people liked this comment.
Who gets to preach next week?

I am not a Lutheran, but I'd like to attend an outdoor service. To MayPow: Yes, the bandshell is a public place, and the church booked it just like you can.
posted by kenn36 on Jun. 13, 09 at 9:39 AM |
3 of 5 people liked this comment.
Bullsh_t in a nutshell

With literally thousands of collective acres of untaxed, church-owned real estate in the metro area, why do these people feel a need to dangle their bronze-age turds in the faces of ordinary people in a public setting?
posted by verdin11 on Jun. 13, 09 at 11:36 AM |
3 of 3 people liked this comment.
Minnesota's Nasty Rabbi: Wanted for a public debate

Esam Mudeer, a lecturer in comparative religion, challenged Friedman to a debate http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle...7PQLanchO7DiUr
posted by hossameldein on Jun. 14, 09 at 3:32 AM |
oh boy will he debate?

i think he will be scared..lets hope he will have enough courage.
posted by luvpain on Jun. 14, 09 at 3:54 AM |