From the "Flying Imams" to Allah's Mosque and Gym

It seems the behavior in a Minnesota airport by that circus act “The Flying Imams” is encouraging other radical Islamists to take it up a notch. Shouting “Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!” before boarding a plane is like shouting “FIRE” in a crowded auditorium. The latest example of testing American tolerance with in your face behavior isn’t so threatening, but certainly provides another signal of what is to come.

One of the demands of the “Flying Imams” is that a prayer space be set aside for them in airports. Fine by me, as I indicated in an earlier post. And perhaps we can accommodate them just as soon as Christians are provided with similar facilities in airports in Saudi Arabia. Just try taking a bible into Saudia Arabia.

Allah’s Gym and Mosque

Now, we have the story of Wardeh Sultan–a Palestinian Muslim woman living in Dearborn, Michigan who claims her right to pray at the fitness center she attends has been violated by patrons disrespecting her. Debbie Schlussel has the facts and is updating as events warrant.
Sultan was praying at the Dearborn (also known as Dearbornistan) Fitness USA gym when other patrons objected. Thus far, news reports of the story carry only the grievance mongering complaints by Muslims.

The story has added significance when readers recall that in April of this year, another Michigan Fitness USA facility was targeted by Muslim women who demanded separate work out facilities so that they may step out of the burka and exercise without exposing themselves to the lusting eyes of men. We sure wouldn’t want those women to suffer honor killings after their family discovered they had exposed themselves.

And just as it was in the case of the Flying Imams, the apologists for radical Islam are out in force. Imad Hamad, regional director of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, says that “They (Muslims) are resenting that they are to be suppressed from expressing themselves freely, like others…It’s OK for a Christian fellow or a Jewish fellow to pray.”

Last time I was at the gym I didn’t notice any Christians or Jews praying. But if they were vocal about it, I would complain to the management. It wouldn’t mean I was disrespecting their religion, simply trying to work out without having my rights infringed by the distraction.

The closest experience with distracting behavior in a gym which I can relate is from my membership in the Capitol Hill Squash Fitness Club in Washington D.C. Among the membership were Supreme Court Justices (Justice Scalia looks much better in a long black robe than gym shorts) members of the House and Senate, their staff and the media. For some odd reason a couple of muscleheads joined. You know the types: serious work out freaks who monopolize the equipment. This pair also encouraged each other while weight lifting by shouting “COME ON, DO IT” or some variation. I complained to the management. Trying to concentrate on your own workout while someone nearby shouts isn’t easy. The behavior stopped.

The most basic definition of liberty is that you have the right to do your thing, as long as doing so doesn’t infringe on the rights of others. It’s unclear why Wardeh Sultan found it impossible to pray at a mosque or privately elsewhere before coming to the gym. But her right to pray should not be placed above the rights of others to get a workout free from distraction or disturbance.

I’m sure we will see more of these stories in the years to come as Muslims test the limits of American tolerance with an eye towards introducing Islamic Sharia law and principles drip by drip.

For more on the Flying Imams: Flopping Aces found a great video. Also Debra Burlingame, whose brother was one of the pilots who died in the 9/11 attacks has an excellent op-ed here.

Also posted at The Wide Awakes.