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21 Sep 04 - 10:51 PM (#1277897) Subject: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Bobert Say it ain't so but I just heard a report that a plane carrying Cat Stevens was held up some 6 hours while Tom Ridge and the boys decided what to do with the terrorist, Cat Stevens... Hmmmmm? Well, you all can breath easy. Cat wasn't allowed into the United States so I reckon you all can let the family pets back out now... Bobert |
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21 Sep 04 - 11:01 PM (#1277902) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: wysiwyg It's dangerous out there. I'm being followed by a moonshadow, myself. ~S~ |
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21 Sep 04 - 11:05 PM (#1277903) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Teresa And this is because he has become a Muslim and has a Muslim name? In my mind, totally unrelated to the last statement: Was he one who encouraged the fatwa against Solmon Rushdi? Well, all of these issues kinda get blurred together, and we have more witch-hunting. [sigh] :( T |
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21 Sep 04 - 11:15 PM (#1277910) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Teresa CNN story |
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21 Sep 04 - 11:30 PM (#1277917) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: wysiwyg He went to Maine, too! Dang! Everybody's goin' to Maine! ~S~ |
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22 Sep 04 - 12:03 AM (#1277939) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: katlaughing Unfuckingbelievable! |
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22 Sep 04 - 12:20 AM (#1277945) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Stilly River Sage Google Search on Cat Stevens. Many years ago now when he converted to Islam he held beliefs that were contradictory to mainstream American views. I'll have to read more about him to say if he's still as obnoxious as he seemed before. I think the main thing he did was suggest that the fatwa against Salmon Rushdie (for writing The Satanic Verses) was reasonable. SRS |
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22 Sep 04 - 12:21 AM (#1277946) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: mack/misophist So, basicly, the government didn't give a reason. Not suprising. |
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22 Sep 04 - 01:39 AM (#1277955) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Kent Davis Let me get this straight. A man publically supports those who encourage the murder of a novelist. When criticized for this, he says he didn't mean to encourage free-lance murder...only execution, by a proper Islamic court, for blasphemy ...which court, not incidentally, would find much of our recent "Is there a god?" thread blasphemous. And if the U.S. doesn't let him in, it's a "witch-hunt"? I thought the problem with witch hunts was that harmless people were condemned. I assume most readers of this post consider Rushdie harmless. So wouldn't that make Yosuf Islam the witch hunter? And wouldn't that put the U.S. in the role of Thomas Brattle, who helped stop the Salem witch trials? |
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22 Sep 04 - 01:57 AM (#1277958) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Teresa Well, actually, I was being disingenuous, even to myself. I don't like witch hunts of any stripe. However, if the U.S. won't let him in, they should just come out with it and let him and the public know why. Why wait a dozen years for an excuse? I haven't read much about him ... will do so before posting any more to this thread. But perhaps he has had a change of heart. Take Malcolm X, for example. He was infamous for his anti-white speeches, but the one that moved me to tears was the one in which he talked about seeing blue-eyed pilgrims going to Mecca, people of every color. I'll look into this issue some more. I'm intrigued at this point. T |
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22 Sep 04 - 02:01 AM (#1277959) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: dianavan Other than the fact that he is Muslim, why was he arrested? d |
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22 Sep 04 - 02:14 AM (#1277965) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST,Clint Keller "Let me get this straight. A man publically supports those who encourage the murder of a novelist. When criticized for this, he says he didn't mean to encourage free-lance murder...only execution, by a proper Islamic court, for blasphemy ...which court, not incidentally, would find much of our recent "Is there a god?" thread blasphemous. And if the U.S. doesn't let him in, it's a "witch-hunt"?" He didn't convict nor execute Rushdie. It's all words. I believe Ann Coulter has said that some liberals should be killed; how does that grab you? clint |
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22 Sep 04 - 02:30 AM (#1277974) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Teresa ha ha ha :> of course, "officials were unable to say" ... why he was being arrested. Same old story over and over again for these arrests, IMO. Here is an article that quotes Yusef ali/Cat Stevens. Nationmaster.com It has links to sources and seems balanced. Judge for yourselves. This all makes my belly squirm. T |
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22 Sep 04 - 03:05 AM (#1277982) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST,SueB It doesn't make any sense. How could he walk away from the music? Bobby Fischer I can almost understand - a boy genius who became increasingly unstable as he became older, his grasp on reality becoming increasingly tenuous. But Cat Stevens? What happened? Is it possible that this person, whose records were some of the very first records I ever owned and loved, could be a danger to me now? Did he have a traumatic brain injury? I knew that he converted to Islam, and that he gave up music, and I never understood it, but the quotes in Teresa's link just make me feel unbearably sad and at a loss. Somebody should send that man a guitar. |
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22 Sep 04 - 03:09 AM (#1277984) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: katlaughing From one of many sites accessed through google news: Recently, though, Islam has criticized terrorist acts, including the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the school seizure in Beslan, Russia, earlier this month that left more than 300 dead, nearly half of them children. In a statement on his Web site, he wrote, "Crimes against innocent bystanders taken hostage in any circumstance have no foundation whatsoever in the life of Islam and the model example of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him." After the Sept. 11 attacks, Islam issued a statement saying: "No right thinking follower of Islam could possibly condone such an action: The Quran equates the murder of one innocent person with the murder of the whole of humanity." |
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22 Sep 04 - 03:23 AM (#1277992) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: fat B****rd I think I'll just carry on enjoying "Mona Bone Jakon" |
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22 Sep 04 - 03:25 AM (#1277995) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Little Hawk It's really quite silly to engage in a witchhunt against either Salman Rushdie or Yusif Islam. Neither one of them is what I would call dangerous. They just have opinions, that's all. (In dictatorships it's considered illegal and unacceptable to have the "wrong" opinions. Hmmmm...) To fight intolerant fanatics by imitating them strikes me as self-defeating...and contrary to the ideals embodied in the US Constitution. It isn't a high profile person like Cat Stevens (Yusif Islam) who is dangerous, because everyone knows who he is. :-) It's some guy you've never heard of who comes into the country with forged documents who is dangerous, for heaven's sake! Like, Duh! (as the Valley Girl said...) |
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22 Sep 04 - 03:28 AM (#1278001) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Teresa The heck of it is: he was allowed here in May to promote a dVD of his music in the 70s. Human nature is a strange thing. T |
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22 Sep 04 - 03:34 AM (#1278006) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Roger the Skiffler I think that is the crime, Teresa, re-releasing "Morning has broken" on a defenceless new generation! RtS |
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22 Sep 04 - 04:04 AM (#1278016) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: mooman This story, frequently perpetuated on the Mudcat that Cat Stevens supported the fatwa against Salman Rushdie, is a myth and I have challenged it before. Once again, here is Yusuf Islam's own account of that episode. He may have been a naive young Moslem at the time but he certainly never supported terrorism or the fatwa. I might add that I am no apologist for terrorism nor even a big fan of Cat Stevens but I do like to see a fair debate. Peace moo |
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22 Sep 04 - 04:44 AM (#1278027) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: The Shambles I might add that I am no apologist for terrorism nor even a big fan of Cat Stevens but I do like to see a fair debate. So do I but I fear both of us may be unlikely to see one take place on NEW Mudcat. |
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22 Sep 04 - 06:45 AM (#1278084) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Wolfgang It was good to read his own words. The man is extremely naive or insincere. I personally wouldn't trust him any more than a 'Christian' who cites the selected hard quotes from the OT and then says he only has quoted the book. He'd be on my personal watch list (admitting that I could be very wrong with that assessment). I like his music very much (then and now), but the feeling that a superb musician or sports champion or actor could do no wrong just because we feel a superficial familiarity with this person can be very misleading. Wolfgang |
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22 Sep 04 - 07:03 AM (#1278097) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Pied Piper After the Sept. 11 attacks, Islam issued a statement saying: "No right thinking follower of Islam could possibly condone such an action: The Quran equates the murder of one innocent person with the murder of the whole of humanity." "Islam" Who? What? Where? |
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22 Sep 04 - 07:54 AM (#1278129) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge I `ad that Cat Stevens in my cab the other day. `e said, take me to the Afghanistan Embassy please. I said, you claiming asylum over there then? `e said, nah, I`m just placing my Chrisatmas order for some "poppies"!! What am I like? |
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22 Sep 04 - 08:48 AM (#1278167) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST He is in good company on the watch list, though. Ted Kennedy is on it too, and hasn't been able to find out why either. Not even Tom Ridge knows why Ted Kennedy is on the watch list (he he he). Apparently, Tom Ridge also doesn't have the power or authority to get Ted Kennedy off the watch list either. (another he he he). This "political enemies of the administration" watch list is no different than "political enemies of the administration" was when Dick Gaughan, et al were banned from the US for having "communist" (or if you are Irish) "terrorist" ties. Political enemies lists are political enemies lists. Why are people so surprised at all this? It's been going on for a whole lot longer than since 9/11 and the Bush administration. |
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22 Sep 04 - 09:45 AM (#1278211) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST,SueB Well at one in the morning it was all too much for me, especially the picture I saw of him on BBC online - what happened! He used to be so damn cute! Doesn't seem so dire this morning. |
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22 Sep 04 - 09:51 AM (#1278221) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Paco Rabanne Doesn't he look like Bill Oddie nowadays? |
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22 Sep 04 - 10:24 AM (#1278255) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST Does this mean I'm gonna have to burn my wife's Teaser and the Firecat LP? She's had it since college days and would never forgive me.....still, if it supports the US Gov't I suppose it has to be a good thing - well that's what Blair keeps telling us anyway. Arnie |
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22 Sep 04 - 10:37 AM (#1278271) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: bflat As reported in the NYTimes today,which I will excerpt: "The officials, both of whom said they could not be named because this was a security issue, said Mr. Islam was a financial supporter of groups believed to be linked to terrorism.... ...After the interception of Mr. Islam on Tuesday, one of the government officials said, 'He is not on a watch list for making verbal threats.' Mr. Islam was deported from Israel in July 2000 because he was believed to be a supporter of Hamas, the terrorist group...." And the article said the diverted plane was kept on the ground for more than three hours. I guess it wasn't so far fetched to deport him. Not the kind of person I'd knowingly admit if I were able to make the decision. Ellen |
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22 Sep 04 - 10:38 AM (#1278272) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Teresa Well, I have to agree with guest of 8:48 there. :> T |
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22 Sep 04 - 11:45 AM (#1278328) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Paco Rabanne Muslim + naivety + lots of money + suspect funding + Hamas. Why take the chance? Deport him. |
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22 Sep 04 - 11:49 AM (#1278332) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Peace Bitter Blue |
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22 Sep 04 - 12:05 PM (#1278342) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Metchosin I would agree with Guest 8:48 as well. Canadian author Farley Mowatt was banned from travelling to the US too for visiting Russia during the"Cold War" and writing something complimentary about the Russian people in one of his books. Paranoia has always been an American national pastime. I don't believe Mowat found the curtailing of his travel plans any great loss. |
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22 Sep 04 - 12:19 PM (#1278354) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Little Hawk Yeah, I was thinking about Farley Mowat too. As far as I'm concerned, when someone famous is refused entry to the USA it's sort of a badge of honour for them. |
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22 Sep 04 - 12:27 PM (#1278362) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Once Famous He's no longer famous. Cat Stevens was famous. Mr. Islam isn't. How many Yusef Islams are out there, anyway? |
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22 Sep 04 - 01:13 PM (#1278396) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST,8:48 Well, I didn't want anyone to think I think political enemies lists are A Good Thing. They are reprehensible, but extremely popular among dictators and authoritarian regimes everywhere in every age. And the US has been authoritarian for years now. |
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22 Sep 04 - 01:14 PM (#1278398) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST,Omar Suliman Yusuf Islams? There are a great many of them, Martin. A tremendous number. It is probably as common a name as David Jones or Lenny Goldstein. I personally have met at least 75 Yusuf Islams, and not one of them was a former pop musician. I wonder what would happen if Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam were to experience a dramatic new conversion to militant Christianity...or better yet...orthodox Judaism! He could then change his name to Jesus Christian in the first case...or Hyman Goldfarb in the second. He could make florid public statements condemning terrorism, demanding an end to the Islamic Jihad, and vowing death upon Osama Bin Laden! This would no doubt go so well with the views of the Bush administration that he would have no difficulty whatsoever in entering the USA, which is always happy to encourage the right sort of fanaticism. Personally, I would be more than willing to change my name and religion for the privilege of entering the veritable paradise that is your country, Martin, and enjoying the privileges of peace, liberty, freedom, and mass consumerism upon which it is founded. I am going to write Mr Islam and suggest that he do this right away. |
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22 Sep 04 - 01:27 PM (#1278409) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Teresa And there was also Paul robeson, in the late 50s, and he was an American! And the list goes on and on. T |
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22 Sep 04 - 01:36 PM (#1278416) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: McGrath of Harlow Well, he does have a beard doesn't he? That always seems to be enough to get me a bit of extra attention at airports. |
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22 Sep 04 - 01:40 PM (#1278424) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Dave the Gnome A man publically supports those who encourage the murder of a novelist This is being cited as reason to stop someone entering the USA? The county whose's very president publically supports those who encourage the murder of innocent Iraqis? If you say that you disagree with someone you are prevented from entering the country but if you kill people for disagreeing you can lead it? Is the world getting stranger or is it just me? Cheers DtG |
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22 Sep 04 - 01:40 PM (#1278426) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Nerd "He could make florid public statements condemning terrorism, demanding an end to the Islamic Jihad, and vowing death upon Osama Bin Laden!" Would this really be so bad, Omar? And I think MG's point was precisely that there are innumerable Yusuf Islams, and that therefore this guy is not particularly famous. If you saw him in the street, talked with him in a bar (not likely, I admit) or even accepted a personal check from him you would probably never suspect that he was Cat Stevens. So the idea that he is on a political enemies list is a little farfetched; I suspect he really is suspected of funding terrorism. On the other hand, I have no doubt that such a political enemies list exists. I just don't think the dude who used to be Cat Stevens is on it. |
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22 Sep 04 - 01:58 PM (#1278444) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST,Omar Suliman You miss my point, Nerd. You see, if you are on one side of the great hysterical patriotic divide, you: Condemn American and Israeli imperialism, demand an end to their militaristic aggression, and vow death to their soldiers and commanders! And, boy, do you feel righteous! Oh, yeah, baby! You will go out and kill over it. If you are on the other side of the great patriotic divide, you: Condemn Muslim terrorism, demand an end to the Islamic Jihad, and vow death to their fighters and commanders! And, boy, do you feel righteous! Oh, yeah, baby! You will go out and kill over it. Those two sets of people are the mirror image of one another, and they both foster terrorism and hatred around the world. They have no solution to the problem, because they ARE the problem. Therefore, I was pointing out in a satirical fashion that all one has to do to be in the good books of the USA these day is just be their kind of dangerous fanatic. It's that simple. If Cat Stevens were their kind of dangerous fanatic, he would have no trouble getting into the USA. |
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22 Sep 04 - 02:16 PM (#1278465) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Nerd Omar, are you using "their soldiers and commanders" to refer to...Salman Rushdie? This is MY point. The two sides are not always mirror images of one another. But in general, your point is well taken. |
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22 Sep 04 - 02:30 PM (#1278478) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST,Omar Suliman Thank you, Nerd. Actually, I think Islamic fundamentalists did think of Salman Rushdie as an enemy propaganda commander, in the sense that he was promulgating what they would view as subversive propaganda injurious to their people. One fights a war with ideas as well as with guns and bombs. Ideas are powerful. And they also viewed him as a traitor to the cause. The Americans would have executed Benedict Arnold if they had captured him, I imagine. I'm sure they wanted him dead by any means feasible. I think the two sides are mirror images of one another psychologically speaking....but they are certainly not mirror images in every literal outward detail. They just tend to think in a similar fashion. ("We good...they bad." "We God's people...they not." "We rightfully defending...they wrongfully attacking.") These are all subjective and self-serving viewpoints. |
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22 Sep 04 - 02:39 PM (#1278486) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Once Famous guest, Omar, Nerd is right. It went right over your head about how many Usef Islams there are. Probably as many as Mohammad Atta. Your right, this is a great country. Wouldn't want to live any where else. We're Americans, baby |
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22 Sep 04 - 03:12 PM (#1278509) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST,Tom Ridgerunner Other than the fact that he is Muslim, why was he arrested? Read the reports, Dianavan, he wasn't arrested. He was refused entry into the country and put on an airplane home. Still asking why, are you? Maybe it was his support for Ayatollah Khomeni's death sentence on Salman Rusdie. Or maybe it was those benefit concerts that he played for terrorist organizations. That sort of thing has been frowned upon in these parts since September 11, 2001. (even if he did say that 9/11 was a mistake) |
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22 Sep 04 - 03:15 PM (#1278512) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Nerd My point, Omar, is that the people marked for death by one side are often people like Salman Rushdie, whose only crimes are crimes of writing; the people marked for death by the other are people like Osama Bin Laden, who murder thousands of innocent people. There is a qualitative difference there. Benedict Arnold was a traitor in a very practical sense of giving away a military fort to an enemy. Salman Rushdie wrote a novel. There is a qualitative difference there too. THIS, to my mind, is why the two sides are not psychologically equivalent. Certain values, like freedom of expression, are more important to some parties than to others. |
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22 Sep 04 - 03:24 PM (#1278519) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: McGrath of Harlow Looking back it seems to me that Salman Rushdie was strangely naive in writing that book - I don't mean because of personal danger to himself and all that, but because he appears to have been totally unaware of the destabilising impact of a book like that in that particular historical situation. |
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22 Sep 04 - 04:05 PM (#1278541) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: pdq British airprort security officers have taken full responsibility for allowing Yusuf Islam (=Cat Stevens) on the plane. He is on an international list of known fund-raising activists who funnel money to Hamas and other Islamic Fundamentalist terror groups. Whenever you look at his picture you should see the dead bodies of Israeli school children. Cat Stevens helped raise money to by the bombs. No, this is not about a political enemies list. This is about fighting terrorism. Many groups, especially the IRA, have found the US a wonderful place to mine for money. |
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22 Sep 04 - 04:13 PM (#1278552) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: McGrath of Harlow As in most wars, both sides in the struggle in the Holy Land have been and continue to do things which in time their descendants will surely be bitterly ashamed for. And true enough, the USA, as the richest society on the planet, is inevitably a main source of financial support for the killers. |
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22 Sep 04 - 04:14 PM (#1278554) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Once Famous Very well put, PDQ. |
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22 Sep 04 - 04:16 PM (#1278558) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Once Famous Your damn right we're supporting Israel, McGrath. As in, we're supporting a civilized democracy. |
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22 Sep 04 - 04:45 PM (#1278585) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Tannywheeler Does anyone in this discussion remember a Star Trek episode with Frank Gorshin and I-can't-remember-the-other-guy's-name? Gorshin and The Other Guy played look-alike (mirror-image twins) denizens of some other world, that couldn't stop bickering/fighting/playing serious nasty tricks on each other. Kirk and Spock and everyone else kept trying to encourage peace and tolerance and productive negotiations, but to no avail. The question was asked WHY??? Each answer was because the other one's (tribe? race? culture?) was so hateful, substandard, ugly, etc. But, said Kirk, You both look alike to us. (Half of each face was black, half white.) Heaven forbid...the right side of his face is black, the left side white. The good and perfect and superior race is white on the right side and black on the left. While I'm thinking back, maybe if we started handing out tribbles..... or are they an endangered species? Tw |
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22 Sep 04 - 04:54 PM (#1278591) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Justa Picker They did the right thing sending him back. Fuck 'im. |
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22 Sep 04 - 04:57 PM (#1278594) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Once Famous Frank Gorshin also played the Riddler in the Batman show. He also did a mean Kirk Douglass impression. |
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22 Sep 04 - 06:25 PM (#1278658) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Metchosin Actually the US wasn't the first to give Cat the boot. Seems Israel took exception first. Sounds like his actions were pretty subversive to me....right |
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22 Sep 04 - 06:34 PM (#1278663) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Nerd Frank Gorshin rules! And the Trek episode was "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield." Now you know why I am "Nerd..." |
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23 Sep 04 - 01:24 AM (#1278867) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST,Omar Suliman Martin, it did not go over my head. I myself made a joke about the name "Yusuf Islam", saying that I had met at least 75 Muslims with that name. I was being tongue in cheek when I said that. It was a humorous statement, intended to lampoon these kind of generic names that are given to new converts of any such aggressive prosyletizing faith. For a few good laughs, look up the names of Black Muslims and see if you can find some of the most popular ones. These things go in and out of style...like the name "Britney" for girls. As far as I can see, Cat Stevens is just like you. He thinks his faith is the one "True faith", just like you do. He's musically quite talented, and he's totally partisan and biased on one side of the Muslim-Jewish quarrel (just like you are)...to the extent that he is probably incapable of respecting or seeing the humanity of the people on the other side of that quarrel. Either that or he pities them, feels that they are beyond reasoning with, and must be therefore be fought and if necessary destroyed. I don't share those negative viewpoints of either Jews or Muslims. I think you don't like Yusuf Islam because he reminds you of yourself...only you just don't realize it. He's got no time for your people. You've got no time for his people. You would both most likely be willing to sanction murder (in my opinion of what "murder" really means) in order to achieve what you would call "victory". I don't call that victory, I call it total abject failure. Failure to be either wise or just, and failure to be fully human...if to be fully human is to honor life and thereby honor God. So why criticize Yusuf Islam? He appears to think in the same exclusive terms that you are accustomed to thinking in. And he's just as proud of it as you are, evidently. But...pride goeth before a fall, it is said. The God that you both imagine you are honoring by denying each other's people and faith honors BOTH of you...without prejudice...and sees you both as equal brothers. You are of one blood and one spirit, you and Yusuf Islam....and so are all the other Jews and Arabs who are wasting their time and talents hating and killing each other. |
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23 Sep 04 - 01:32 AM (#1278870) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Teresa Guest omar Suliman ... hear hear! Nerd ... live long and prosper. :d T |
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23 Sep 04 - 01:45 AM (#1278873) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: The Fooles Troupe Well, Omar, and some people wonder why those who are on neither side of the 'game' sometimes say "Nuke 'em all!". Of course, while that MAY eliminate most of them, 1) like cockroaches, you never seem to get them all and they breed fast 2) the rest of us then have to live with the resultant fallout, which has a tendency to hang around and cause probelms for the rest of us (including the very idea that the end justifies the means!) for a very long time.... Robin |
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23 Sep 04 - 05:06 AM (#1278965) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Dave Hanson Despite all that has been said Yusuf Islam DID publicly support the fatwah against another British citizen who was innocent of any crime in this country. I am not a racist by the way but if Cat Stevens is such a dedicated muslim he should fuck off and live in a muslim country, he won't do this because he couldn't enjoy the freedom he has in England. eric |
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23 Sep 04 - 05:13 AM (#1278966) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Paco Rabanne Nail well and truly hit on the head there Eric. El ted, a big Cat Stevens fan by the way. |
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23 Sep 04 - 06:46 AM (#1278994) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: mooman No he did not Eric the Red. mooman |
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23 Sep 04 - 07:02 AM (#1278999) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: The Shambles Looking back it seems to me that Salman Rushdie was strangely naive in writing that book - I don't mean because of personal danger to himself and all that, but because he appears to have been totally unaware of the destabilising impact of a book like that in that particular historical situation. Perhaps yes and perhaps also Cat Stevens has also been naive. Not the most serious of crimes - perhaps? |
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23 Sep 04 - 09:39 AM (#1279084) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Kim C Cat Stevens is probably not the only person this has happened to in the last 3 years. It's just because he's someone famous that it got into the news. Maybe he supports terrorists, maybe he doesn't. I don't know. On the one hand, I think it's a little silly, but on the other hand, it's a good thing they're actually watching the watch list. |
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23 Sep 04 - 09:49 AM (#1279091) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST,Hugh Jampton Nice one Eric the Red, And he could take with him thousands of like minded ones too. |
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23 Sep 04 - 10:15 AM (#1279098) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: robomatic Well, I have a question that's dogged me for a few years: If the former Cat Stevens is Muslim and the current Richard Thompson is Muslim, how is it that Cat, now Yusuf, has stopped singing due to his faith and Richard Thompson has had no problem continuing to compose and perform? |
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23 Sep 04 - 10:26 AM (#1279107) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Tannywheeler Quien Sabe?, Robomatic. Why is the sky blue? Is there a G---oops. What is the meaning of life? Tw |
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23 Sep 04 - 10:32 AM (#1279115) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: robomatic Then what's the purpose of adhering to a religion which is dogmatic in two directions at once? No, Tanny, there's something else going on here. Richard Thompson supposedly talked about Salman Rushdie in a song (Psycho Street) although he didn't use names. |
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23 Sep 04 - 10:37 AM (#1279120) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Paco Rabanne Simple!!! One strain of this religion wants to change us ALL. One strain is happy to co-exist with us in the Western World. |
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23 Sep 04 - 10:42 AM (#1279123) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Dave Bryant Well, I must admit that I'd agree with any high profile international terrorists being refused admission to the UK - George Bush for example. The man is extremely naive or insincere. I personally wouldn't trust him any more than a 'Christian' who cites the selected hard quotes from the OT and then says he only has quoted the book. - and I suppose that sums up Tony Blair. |
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23 Sep 04 - 11:49 AM (#1279169) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: SINSULL Can someone explain to me why the plane had to be diverted to Maine? Would it not have been safer to allow it reach its planned destination and take him into custody there? Were they afraid he was going to bring down the plane? Wonder what the whole fiasco cost? There is more to this than simply preventing a member of the "Hit List" from entering the US. Does this mean that if Ted Kennedy goes out of the country, he won't be allowed back in? How do I find out if I am on the list? Since menopause began I am definitely seeing the beginnings of a beard. Life was so much simpler when Nixon had a hit list - everyone was on it even the Smothers Brothers. |
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23 Sep 04 - 02:11 PM (#1279261) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST,Omar Suliman Well, perhaps Maine is considered expendable by the people in Washington. (grin) Do people there tend to vote Democratic? That could be it. I mean, consider the immense danger that Maine was in, having a desperate terrorist-sympathizing miscreant like Yusuf Islam on its soil for a few hours!!! I would have been shaking in my little booties if I were a citizen of Maine... (not!) I also think that virtually any country in the world would be well justified at this point in considering George Bush a terrorist, and denying him entry, along with Dick Cheney, Rumsfeld, Colin Powell, Condi Rice, and most of...Karl Rove. Now THERE are a real bunch of died-in-the-wool, high profile terrorists who have already caused the deaths of many thousands of people. You see, I am not under the false impression that those people are protecting me. No sir. They are endangering almost everybody, including their own avid supporters. They may, however, fully believe that they are doing the right thing. I'll grant that. So in their own eyes they are certainly not terrorists. Most people, Osama Bin Laden included, feel that they are doing the right thing...but are they acting out of love or fear? Are they doing it out of love or hatred? Are they doing it out of the spirit of unity or the spirit of division? Are they doing it out of humility or out of pride? If it's any of the latter emotions which is in charge, then they are not doing the right thing, because you cannot accomplish rightful action with a destructive motivation behind it. The motivation colors the action and gives it basic character...negative or positive. A "war on terror" is a completely negative idea which cannot be brought to any reasonable conclusion and cannot accomplish any good thing whatsoever in this world. Peace will be achieved not by a war on terror, but by improving people's lives in key areas, such as political and social freedoms, economic well-being, educational opportunity, equality before the law, respect for others' religions and cultures, sharing of crucial resources (rather than hoarding of them by a wealthy few), employment opportunities, and so on. Positive iniatives! Those will bring peace and prosperity. Wars and counter-wars will bring nothing but destruction, misery, and more wars and counter-wars. |
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23 Sep 04 - 02:23 PM (#1279268) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Nerd Bangor Maine is one of our closest largish airports to the UK, so that's where they send planes that need to land ASAP. When a plane my parents were taking from England had mechanical problems, that's where they landed. |
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23 Sep 04 - 03:04 PM (#1279286) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Once Famous Guest, Omar You are completely wrong on this. Cat/Yusif and I are absolutely no where similiar and I find your remark ridiculous seeing as you know neither of us. Cat changed. I never have when it comes to what I believe. Cat couldn't deal with life as himself, I never, ever had that problem. I am a Reform Jew, Yusif/Cat is a Mecca bowing Moslem. You do not know what you are talking about, "even though you do not realize it." |
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23 Sep 04 - 03:36 PM (#1279304) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST,Omar Suliman Well, you may be right, Martin. As you say, I don't know you. What exactly does it mean to be a "Reform Jew"? I ask this in goodwill, not with any bad intention. I'd simply like to know more about it. And thanks, Nerd, for pointing out the logistical reasons for sending the plane to Maine. That certainly makes good sense. |
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23 Sep 04 - 03:38 PM (#1279305) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Justa Picker Can some explain THIS to me. Is is MUSLIM or MOSLEM? or are they one and the same, but everyone spells it differently, like the leader of Libyas last name? |
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23 Sep 04 - 03:39 PM (#1279307) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Amos From a passing email: On Sep 23, 2004, at 5:47 AM, David xxx wrote: Well, I don't know about anyone else, but I'm tremendously relieved that we were able to prevent Cat Stevens from invading our country. I just heard Jon Stewart say that if we could just nab Gordon Lightfoot, the war on terrorism would be nearly won, and I have to concur. A |
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23 Sep 04 - 03:41 PM (#1279308) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Peace Ya might want to get the real troublemaker--William Shatner. |
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23 Sep 04 - 03:48 PM (#1279314) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST,Omar Suliman It's either Muslim or Moslem, Justa Picker. That is because the audible sounds are being translated from a language with a completely different alphabet. Accordingly, the listener decides arbitrarily how to spell it in English characters. You find this with Chinese and Japanese words too, when they are transcribed into English. Do you spell it Feng Shui...or Fung Shway...or F'ng Shuei...or???? Well, that's up to you, isn't it? Feel free to use Muslim, Moslem, or whatever spelling you prefer. The same seems to go for: Yusuf, Yusef, Yusif, Yussef, Yussif, Yusoof, etc.... (grin) Totally arbitrary, I assure you. If someone tells you there's only one right way to spell such a word in English, well...that's their opinion...and opinions are as common as grass. |
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23 Sep 04 - 03:57 PM (#1279322) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Once Famous guest, Omar. Rather than explain it, I invite you to check out this site: http://www.jewfaq.org/ I know it will answer everything. Thanks for asking. |
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23 Sep 04 - 04:28 PM (#1279340) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST,Obie And all in the name of God.................................. |
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23 Sep 04 - 05:38 PM (#1279376) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST,Omar Suliman Hi, Martin...thanks for the link. Wow. There's a lot of information on that website. I have read enough of it in a few minutes here to be able to say that if I were Jewish, I would most likely be drawn toward the Reform wing of Judaism, as I share many of its basic ideals and attitudes. It seems to be the most liberal and inclusive version of the Jewish faith. It would do anyone who carries prejudice against Jews a whole lot of good to take some time and read that information and the history on that site, and wake up to the fact that Jews are just as well-intentioned and idealistic as anyone else. I think the biggest reason for prejudice in this world is just sheer ignorance (combined with fear that's been picked up from other people, like one's parents or peer group). I will continue reading the material as time allows, and hopefully gain a greater sense of brotherhood with a community I don't really know very well at this point. |
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23 Sep 04 - 05:41 PM (#1279379) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Bill Hahn//\\ Brucie: Thanks for the mention DENNY CRAIN, Here. |
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23 Sep 04 - 06:27 PM (#1279407) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: catspaw49 I think they found his recording of ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR to be offensive and sending a mixed message. Spaw |
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23 Sep 04 - 08:29 PM (#1279472) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST Your damn right we're supporting Israel, McGrath. As in, we're supporting a civilized democracy. Yeah, the old excuse, grandad was killed in a pogrom so that makes ethnic cleansing of Palesinians OK! |
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23 Sep 04 - 08:41 PM (#1279478) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: SINSULL You took me literally. My real point is why did they not allow the plane to go to its original destination without creating a media frenzy and inconveniencing all the other passengers. The only valid answer is that the flight was in danger. Otherwise it was an over reaction. |
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23 Sep 04 - 08:52 PM (#1279488) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Little Hawk Of course the flight was in danger! Dick Cheney might have ordered it shot down at any moment with a dangerous person like the ex-Cat Stevens on board. :-) |
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23 Sep 04 - 09:28 PM (#1279514) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Once Famous Guest, Omar I am glad that you found the site informative. Guest of 8:29 PM, you are a moron, an asshole, and don't know your schmuck from your thumb. why don't you just come out and let everyone know who you really are and what your regular posting name is? I'd say you don't because your little testicles are just way too tiny. |
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23 Sep 04 - 11:42 PM (#1279597) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST "Guest of 8:29 PM, you are a moron, an asshole, and don't know your schmuck from your thumb." Well said, Martin. Also, Guest of 8:29 PM, you are a turd floating on the river of life, turning all you touch into the same garbage as yourself. A Midas touch--but shit, not gold. |
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24 Sep 04 - 12:06 AM (#1279606) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Teresa Yup, this thread went straight into shite-slinging, as I sadly knew it would. T |
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24 Sep 04 - 03:27 AM (#1279675) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: The Fooles Troupe Oh No! Somebody Hit Da Troll Button! It's a Raid! Everybody out afores da Mudcat Flame Police get here! |
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24 Sep 04 - 03:29 AM (#1279677) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: The Fooles Troupe Don't Panic! Don't Panic! Everybody stay calm! Don't Panic! Don't Panic! |
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24 Sep 04 - 03:48 AM (#1279688) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Teresa Wrong thread, Robin. ;);) T |
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24 Sep 04 - 03:51 AM (#1279689) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Paco Rabanne You never hear of anyone converting to The Church of England and, in a blaze of publicity, changing their name to something like Stanley Herbert Ponsoby do you? |
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24 Sep 04 - 04:37 AM (#1279716) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Dave Hanson In any event Cat Stevens is a Cypriot actually. eric |
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24 Sep 04 - 04:54 AM (#1279722) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Sttaw Legend They made a big thing about catalytic converters on vehicles! |
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24 Sep 04 - 05:21 AM (#1279730) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Paco Rabanne I claim |
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24 Sep 04 - 05:21 AM (#1279731) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Paco Rabanne the 100th post... |
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24 Sep 04 - 05:21 AM (#1279732) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Paco Rabanne ... for Amos. |
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24 Sep 04 - 01:01 PM (#1280106) Subject: RE: Cat Stevens. From: GUEST,fuckoff fuck that shit send the us military on his ass he is easier to kill than osama |
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24 Sep 04 - 01:03 PM (#1280110) Subject: RE: Cat Stevens. From: GUEST,fuckoff the only person i hatemore than him is the french if the us bombed europe it would rock except england, i like england, thanks for the language, sorry we bastardized it.Also, most of the steryotypes are true, ever been to alabama???? i love english muffins by the way, do you call them english muffins in england????thats what we call them here. |
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24 Sep 04 - 01:36 PM (#1280127) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: CarolC His mother was Swedish. His father was a Cypriot. If he had been born in the US, that would have made him an "American". I suspect in England, being born there isn't enough to make one "English". So I guess that would mean he's a Swedepriot or Cypredish. |
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24 Sep 04 - 01:38 PM (#1280128) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST My father was Iranian and my mother was Irish, which meant we spent most of our holidays in Customs. |
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24 Sep 04 - 02:25 PM (#1280188) Subject: RE: Cat Stevens. From: Metchosin Richard Thompson is a Muslem too. Anyone in the UK going to tell him to get the hell out? Not good enough for the "old sod" eh? ......Pity. |
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24 Sep 04 - 02:27 PM (#1280190) Subject: RE: Cat Stevens. From: Compton 'Twas a bloody shame he got religeon!..A good singer, missed! |
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24 Sep 04 - 02:52 PM (#1280204) Subject: RE: Cat Stevens. From: Once Famous It's not a problem that he got religion. It's a question of which religion. |
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24 Sep 04 - 02:58 PM (#1280211) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Once Famous And your main diet was potato couscous. |
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24 Sep 04 - 10:00 PM (#1280504) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Little Hawk Ha! Ha! |
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25 Sep 04 - 04:54 AM (#1280609) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Dave Hanson Actually Richard Thompson lives in the good old U S of A now, So you can tell him if you want to. eric |
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25 Sep 04 - 05:21 AM (#1280622) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: s6k its a bag of shit, dont know how they even dare treat cat stevens like this, a man who actually released a box set after 9/11 to raise money. pisses me off, id like to kick the person responsible for the decision in the face PS GUESt fuckoff, a brain is a useful thing |
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25 Sep 04 - 10:39 AM (#1280717) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST Instead of deporting Cat Stevens and denying him entry to the US, how come they aren't rounding up and sending back all the illegal aliens who are taking jobs away from you liberals? |
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25 Sep 04 - 11:11 AM (#1280737) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: CarolC In the US, it's the Conservatives and Right Wingers whose jobs are being taken by illegal aliens. The Liberals' jobs are being shipped overseas by US corporations and are being taken by legal residents of countries like India and China. |
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26 Sep 04 - 07:30 AM (#1281321) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Keith A of Hertford Hi Carol C Being born in UK gives citizenship automatically. We also give full voting rights and free health care just for being a resident. Keith. |
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26 Sep 04 - 11:44 AM (#1281458) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: CarolC Keith, if a person whose parents have say, Pakistani citizenship, is born in England (specifically, the England part of the UK), aside from issues of that person's citizenship, when people refer to him or her, is he or she referred to as English, or as Pakistani? |
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26 Sep 04 - 11:46 AM (#1281460) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: CarolC P.S. I'm very impressed about the voting rights. |
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26 Sep 04 - 01:12 PM (#1281511) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST Carol he would be correctly referred to as English or Anglo Asian. Alot of first generation English like to reflect their roots in their description of themselves, as in First Generation ( fill in the country.) If he was born in Scotland he would be Scottish etc etc... |
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26 Sep 04 - 01:37 PM (#1281533) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: CarolC So why do UK people keep calling Cat Stevens a Cypriot? |
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26 Sep 04 - 01:54 PM (#1281539) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: dianavan ...or for that matter a Muslim. Why don't they say a British citizen was denied entry into the U.S.? d |
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26 Sep 04 - 02:34 PM (#1281563) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST Isn't a Muslim just a follower of Islam, don't think it is a birthright tag in all cases. So he can be a Muslim regardless of where he was born. I wouldn't call someone not born in Cyprus a Cypriot. Anymore than I would call someone not born in Ireland Irish. |
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27 Sep 04 - 11:11 AM (#1282296) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: The Fooles Troupe Oh Dear! It was all a spelling misteak!, er ... mistake! But they had to say something because of who he was - obviously the people on the desk that day were not fans of his... But then there was the case of Molly Meldrum, allegedly given the wrong visa by the US Embassy here in Australia, who was sent back, on his way to host a big Entertainment Award Extravaganza in the USA... |
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18 Oct 04 - 07:41 PM (#1300153) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Shanghaiceltic Here is an artilce that appeared in the Telegraph on-line giving his version of events. 'Terrorist? They wanted my autograph' (Filed: 18/10/2004) Yusuf Islam – the former Cat Stevens – talks to Christa D'Souza about his bemusement at being refused entry to the United States Yusuf Islam has always loved Britain. But never, he says, as much as when he stepped on to the tarmac at Heathrow last month, after what he wryly calls his "little trip to the States". Islam - formerly known as Cat Stevens - was flying from London to Washington on September 21 with his 21-year-old daughter when the FBI, having learnt that he was on board, ordered the pilot to divert the Boeing 747 to a small airport in Maine, 600 miles away, on "national security grounds". After being escorted from the plane, separated from his daughter and questioned by FBI agents, he was denied entry to America, transferred to Boston and placed on the first plane back to England. A spokesman for the US Department for Homeland Security said that Islam had been placed on a "watch list", compiled to combat terrorism, "because of his recent activities" - he was only allowed to board the plane to Washington because of a misspelling of his name at Heathrow. It was not his first brush with immigration: he was deported from Israel in 2000 after claims that he had given money to the Palestinian group Hamas 12 years earlier, though he has always vehemently denied the claim: "I have never knowingly supported any terrorist group, past, present or future," he stated. He says he was shocked when the pilot announced that they were diverting to Maine, and very frightened by the way he was treated. "Nobody has apologised yet, but that's the way things work in the States," he says, in his gentle, Cockney-tinged accent. "People there don't know how to turn around. It's such a different approach here; a maturity exists within the British psyche. Over here, even on the political level, the reaction is that what happened is just wrong." At least no one was abusive. Some of the officers even asked for his autograph. "They were sort of enamoured a little bit," he says. "The older ones, I'm sure, had my records, because they knew the whole catalogue." We are sitting in the drab, Sixties-style lounge of the Brondesbury Park hotel in Willesden, north-west London, a property Islam owns and is planning to develop into flats. Despite the smart tweed jacket, the expensive-looking watch, the perfect teeth - which he had fixed in America just before his conversion in the Seventies - and the polished tan loafers, 56-year-old Islam still looks every inch the devout Muslim, with his long beard, his pudding-bowl fringe and round, silver-rimmed spectacles. Cat Stevens, the shaggy, denim-shirted troubadour responsible for hits such as Moonshadow, Wild World and I'm Gonna Get Me A Gun, became Britain's most famous convert to Islam in 1977. Since then, he has done masses of work for the Muslim community, using the proceeds from his record sales to set up three Islamic schools in north-west London, and promoting his charity, Small Kindness, which provides humanitarian relief to orphans and families in regions of conflict. Via his website, one can also buy tickets to the lecture he is delivering tomorrow night in aid of Sargent Cancer Care for Children. Entitled "Road To Find Out" and based on a song from his multi-platinum album Tea For The Tillerman, it will cover his life as one of the world's most famous pop stars and explain the reasons why he gave it all up. It will also, he hopes, send out the message that, contrary to what certain tabloid newspapers might have you believe, people such as Abu Hamza are not the face of Islam. "That's extremism on the part of the media," he sighs, "freezing an image which is already distorted and portraying it as the face of a community that has such a vast variety of talents, knowledge and depth." Most Muslims, he adds, are as much in favour of peace and harmony as everyone else and are appalled at violence committed in the name of Allah. "The Koran says don't be the one who raises the weapon, be the one who is sacrificed. But then, how many people in this country know that killing can never be done in the name of Islam; or that, in Islam, unless there is a law or reason for it, or unless someone is defending themselves, the taking of a single life is the same as if you're killing the whole of humanity? Or that suicide is absolutely prohibited? It takes time," he admits, "to evolve an Islamic culture within something that is so well established as the British psyche and culture." Charity work takes up most of Islam's time The son of a Greek-Cypriot restaurateur and his beautiful Swedish wife, Steven Demetre Georgiou and his two siblings grew up in the heart of Soho above the family café, Moulin Rouge. Although their father was Greek Orthodox and their mother Swedish Baptist, the three children were sent to a Roman Catholic school. They were also taught to be prejudiced towards Muslims. "That symbol of the moon and stars always kind of frightened me," Islam recalls. Working in the café from the age of 10, he remembers singing and composing tunes while on washing-up duty. At 15, his father bought him a guitar and, a year later, he wrote his first hit song: The First Cut Is The Deepest, recorded first by P P Arnold and then Rod Stewart. By 1967, after scoring a hit single with Matthew and Son, he had become, at the age of 19, and using the stage name Cat Stevens, a fully fledged pop star, selling millions of records and being mobbed by screaming fans. A naturally shy, introverted soul, he would drink a bottle of port mixed with brandy (a trick taught to him by Jimi Hendrix) in order to get up on stage and perform. After contracting TB, which nearly killed him, in 1968, he began seriously to question the life he was leading. Despite having a love for gambling, alcohol and beautiful women - former girlfriends included Carly Simon and Patti D'Arbanville, who went on to become Mick Jagger's girlfriend - the rock star image was one with which he felt increasingly uncomfortable. After another brush with death - this time while swimming off Malibu, where he was very nearly drowned by a strong current - he decided he wanted out. His brother gave him a copy of the Koran and, in 1979, after becoming a Muslim, he married Fawzia Ali, the daughter of a Surbiton accountant whom he first spotted at the Regent's Park mosque where he prayed. They now have five children, aged from 16 to 24, all of whom have been educated at one of their father's single-faith schools. The eldest, Hasanah, was married three years ago, just like her father, in an arranged union. In the early days of his conversion, Islam was, by his own admission, far more hardline in his views. He wore full Arab dress, didn't pick up a musical instrument (having auctioned off all the ones he owned to charity), and would only ever agree to be interviewed by male journalists. "I was so ecstatic, so engrossed in what I discovered, that I left everybody behind," he says. Nowadays, he watches quite a bit of television, records music - either in his studio or on a portable piano that he carries round in his briefcase - and loves to perform. He has recorded a new version of Father and Son with Ronan Keating, which is currently the bookmakers' favourite to be this year's Christmas number one. He also enjoys going to the theatre. The last thing he saw was Mamma Mia, the Abba musical. He has plans for a musical based on his own songs, and hopes to get a producer involved in the next year. "But it will have to somehow educate people or I'm not going to do it," he says. "I mean, for God's sake, this is not just a way to make money." All in all, he is the very image of moderate British Islam, reconciling tradition with integration. His treatment at the hands of the American authorities angered Muslims in the UK and threatened to become a minor diplomatic incident when the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, told US Secretary of State Colin Powell that the action "should not have been taken". The Americans, meanwhile, insist they have a case - the Department for Homeland Security claims that it has "come into possession of recent information that raises concerns against him [Islam]". "Yeah, well," says Islam, those feline eyes, which my schoolmates and I used to melt over, glinting with determination, "we can only follow the legal path to get this unravelled. We're going to have this raised in the House of Lords. I just want some clarification, you know?" |
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18 Oct 04 - 11:02 PM (#1300288) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: dianavan I don't think Cat Stevens should be confused with bin Laden. What a joke. Talk about 'religious' profiling! I hope he uses this publicity to continue to speak for peaceful Muslims everywhere. Its a bit like saying all Christians are like Bush. d |
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19 Oct 04 - 01:39 AM (#1300362) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: DougR Right. He supports terrorist causes, but he should be allowed to travel freely because he sings good. Uh huh. DougR |
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19 Oct 04 - 04:09 AM (#1300419) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: mooman Doug, I don't know how many times I have to repeat on this forum that he has never supported any terrorist causes, is openly anti-terrorism and never supported a fatwa on Salman Rushdie. Period. The facts are easy enough to find but, nevertheless, myths get circulated here and elsewhere ad infinitum. Peace moo |
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19 Oct 04 - 05:05 AM (#1300458) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: GUEST,JTT Wow, this is fascinating. You can actually *see* the collective IQ dropping as the thread goes on! |
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19 Oct 04 - 10:49 AM (#1300657) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Stu "Right. He supports terrorist causes, but he should be allowed to travel freely because he sings good. Uh huh." Priceless! |
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19 Oct 04 - 06:07 PM (#1301084) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Ron Davies Ah, Doug R---your usual incisive analysis, based on exhaustive research, as always. Are you by some chance a Bush supporter? It's interesting that you, as a conservative Republican, seem to believe that federal burueacrats never make mistakes. Many other conservative Republicans don't share your touching naivete. |
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19 Oct 04 - 06:10 PM (#1301087) Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist Cat Stevens Booted... From: Ron Davies Sorry, I know it's important to Doug to try to approach his high standards--it's "bureaucrats". |