 18 Feb 2002 @ 03:53, by Flemming Funch
The always controversial U.S. "Nation of Islam" leader Louis Farrakhan had a few things to say about the U.S. "oil politics" and "shadow government", that few people in the U.S. right now could get away with getting into major media. He also calls for general racial and religious unity, though.
Louis Farrakhan condemns U.S. war on terrorism
By ROBERT JABLON Associated Press Writer
Published 9:40 p.m. PST Sunday, Feb. 17, 2002
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) - Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan issued a call for racial and religious unity on Sunday and condemned the U.S. war on terrorism in a speech warning, "there's a lot of ugliness in America the beautiful, ugliness that can be turned into beauty."
Farrakhan combined moral teachings with a long history on what he described as "U.S. oil politics" during a 2 1/2-hour keynote speech capping the Saviour's Day Convention, marking the birth of Nation of Islam founder Elijah Muhammad, at the Forum in Inglewood.
The convention with the theme "Healing The Wounds To Bring About A Universal Family," was the first time in 50 years the annual event was held outside Chicago, where the Nation of Islam is headquartered.
Farrakhan, who in years past has made inflammatory remarks about Jews and Christians, urged unity and condemned religiously inspired violence.
"I'm a Jew, I'm a Christian, and I'm a Muslim," Farrakhan said.
He also called on Hispanics, American Indians and other ethnic groups to unite in destroying racism. Several thousand attended the convention. "You kill it with excellence from the darker people of the world," he said.
He also urged Americans to speak out against the policies of the Bush administration, contending that a "shadow government" was preparing to wage war in Iraq.
In a long history lesson illustrated with maps flashed on the stadium's giant TV screens, Farrakhan explained that the war on terrorism in Afghanistan, and other Middle Eastern and African conflicts, were instigated by the United States because of its "insatiable appetite" for oil.
"If the truth were known, there would be a Nuremberg trial for American presidents," he said. "I cannot allow them to use the American solider, black, brown and poor white, to fight a war that is unjust and wrong."
Farrakhan added that true patriots should speak out against bad policies.
He also noted no Muslim leader could call a holy war against America, but President Bush, by infuriating Muslims, "can summon the whole Muslim world against the West by how you prosecute this war (in Afghanistan)."
Celebrities including Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Shaquille O'Neal, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, and religious leaders ranging from a rabbi to a Muslim clergyman, attended the gathering.
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