The tyranny of Islamists: Turkey

Like Hagia Sophia, Turkey to reconvert Chora Museum into mosque

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque sparked criticism around the world. Now the Erdogan government wants to do the same with the Chora Museum, a former Byzantine church, alarming historians and Christians.

After converting the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque in mid-July, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan now looks set to do the same with another former church, the Church of St. Saviour in Chora.

Last week, the Presidential Palace announced that the Chora Museum would soon be open for Muslim prayers. Control of the former religious building will be given to Diyanet, Turkey's authority for Islamic religious affairs.

Several Istanbul residents went to the building last week, some hoping to hold prayers there, Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

"Like the Hagia Sophia, this is an important mosque for Muslims," the agency quoted Istanbul resident Cuma Er as saying. "We came here to pray after we learned about the decision. But we have been told that it has not yet been opened for prayers. We are waiting for the opening."

Read more: Hagia Sophia: Museum or mosque?

The former Chora Church is known for its frescos and mosaics

The building has a similar history to that of the Hagia Sophia UNESCO World Heritage Site. It, too, was built in the sixth century by the Byzantines. Later, in 1511, during the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Bayezid II's Grand Vizier Hadim Ali Pasha had it converted into a mosque. After the founding of the Turkish Republic, Cabinet members decided to secularize the space, turning it into a museum in 1945.

The former Chora Church is famed for its fine frescoes and mosaics. Currently, social media sites are full of videos showing long lines of people at the entrance of the museum, possibly trying to get a last glimpse of the works before they are closed to the public.

'Cultural diversity should not be called into question'

Representatives from Turkey's Orthodox Christian community, including Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, voiced vehement opposition to the reconversion of the Hagia Sophia. Reactions to plans for the conversion of the Chora Museum have been similarly negative.

 

Watch video06:12

Hagia Sophia: Museum or mosque?

Laki Vingas, president of the Association for the Support of Greek Community Foundations (Rumvader) told DW: "Cultural diversity should not be called into question, especially in a rich cultural capital like Istanbul."

An exodus coming?

Vingas added that the Turkish government's actions could further alienate the country's minorities. He said increasing numbers of young people from minority communities are looking abroad for their futures: "A lot of people from Greece have settled in our city over the past 15 years. They are well-integrated and contributing to the community. I am grieved when I hear that they are now thinking of going back to Greece."

The Christian church was turned into a mosque in 1511 and a museum in 1945

The Greek Foreign Ministry called the decision "yet another provocation against religious persons everywhere" by the Turkish government.

Greece's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the move, saying that Turkish authorities "are once again brutally insulting the character" of another UN-listed World Heritage Site.

"This is a provocation against all believers," the Greek ministry said in a statement. "We urge Turkey to return to the 21st century, and the mutual respect, dialogue and understanding between civilizations."

Art historian Osman Erden said the plan is injurious to Istanbul's history, adding that Hagia Sophia and the Chora Church were both converted into museums as a way to allow people to view the city's history in the broadest sense.

"It was never looked at as a way to strike at the Ottoman Empire or at Islam," Erden said.

Erden also said he is increasingly concerned by what he sees as an exploitation of that history as such actions do a disservice to the city and its illustrious past.

Reconversion as a way of leaving a mark?

Opposition HDP party lawmaker Garo Paylan called the transformation "a shame for our country."

"One of the symbols of our country's deep, multicultural identity and multi-religious history has been sacrificed," he tweeted.

Ayse Cavdar, a political researcher focused on conservatism, says the conversion of the Chora Museum is a political move.

"Erdogan and his team suffered huge defeats to the opposition in Istanbul during last year's municipal elections," Cavdar said. "Now they seem bent on putting their mark on the city by other means."

Cavdar said the move is a signal that says: "Look, we're still here."

She added that any government that assumes power after Erdogan leaves the political stage will have a very hard time undoing such major steps toward a further Islamization of the country.

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  MUSEUM, CHURCH OR MOSQUE? THE HAGIA SOPHIA IN ISTANBUL

  Architectural milestone

  In 532, Roman Emperor Justinian ordered the construction of an awe-inspiring church in his residence Constantinople — "one that has never existed since Adam's time, and one that will never exist again". Roughly 10,000 workers were involved in the construction work. For a millennium, the Bosporus basilica remained Christendom’s biggest church.

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In bid to bring back affirmative action, Calif. Legislature votes to strip discrimination protections from state Constitution...true racism! And the continuing war on a merit based society.

In bid to bring back affirmative action, Calif. Legislature votes to strip discrimination protections from state Constitution

Voters will decide the fate of an affirmative action ban that has been in place for 24 years

 PAUL SACCA

California voters will be given the opportunity to repeal the California Civil Rights Initiative, also known as Proposition 209, that amended the state Constitution to prohibit discrimination or preferential treatment of people based on race or sex.

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Proposition 209 states: "The State shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting."

On Wednesday, the California Senate voted 30-10 in favor of putting the constitutional amendment that reinstates affirmative action up for a vote on the November ballot. The California Senate surpassed the required two-thirds majority. The California State Assembly voted 60-14 to pass Assembly Constitutional Amendment No. 5 on June 10, 2020.
Prominent California Democrats supported repealing the California Civil Rights Initiative, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Sen. Kamala Harris, Rep. Ted Lieu, Rep. Eric Swalwell, and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, who said she cried tears of joy with the possibility to "restore affirmative action in public contracting and education."

"I know about discrimination. I live it every day," Democratic state Sen. Steven Bradford said. "We live it in this building. Quit lying to yourselves and saying race is not a factor. ... The bedrock of who we are in this country is based on race."
ACA 5 was co-authored by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber (D). ACA 5 is attempting to reverse Proposition 209 that was passed in 1996 by 55% of California voters.
Affirmative action detractors brought up the iconic Martin Luther King Jr. quote: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
Weber responded to that point by saying, "When he talked about 'I don't want to be judged by the color of my skin but by the content of my character,' that was contained in the 'I Have a Dream Speech.'" That was a dream. That was not reality. That was aspirational."
"The collective actions against inequality and injustice that we've seen around the world represent an urgent call for systemic change," state Sen. Holly Mitchell (D) said. "We must be affirmative in our actions we take to bend the arc towards justice. It's time for a new generation of California's voters to stand up and advance equity."
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (D) said earlier this month that the city would embrace affirmative action.
"Our city is hungry for change, and we must knit racial justice and affirmative action into the fabric of our policies, our institutions, and our society," Garcetti said. "With the possible repeal of Proposition 209, we will begin preparing now for affirmative action in City government to open the doors of opportunity to African Americans and anyone too often left out and left behind in our economy. But no matter what happens at the ballot box, my executive directive ensures our City leadership looks at every issue through a lens of racial justice, acts to end structural racism, and brings more Black Angelenos and people of color into the halls of government."
Republican state Sen. Ling Ling Chang, who was born in Taiwan, said, "The problem with ACA 5 is that it takes the position that we must fight discrimination with more discrimination. Preferences for any purpose are anathema to the very process of democracy."
Irvine Republican Assemblyman Steven Choi pointed out that "giving special or preferential treatment to someone based on their race is racism itself, or on their sex is sexism."
"I'm Peter Kuo, an immigrant, a father of three bright students, a proud Californian and a proud Republican, Vice-Chair of the @CAGOP and I am strongly opposed to #ACA5," tweeted Peter Kuo, who is the vice chairman of the California Republican Party. "Admission to all public colleges and universities should be based solely on MERIT."

Prop. 209 was challenged in 2014 by the Senate Constitutional Amendment 5, but was dropped because of lack of support. The Sacramento Bee said SCA 5 fizzled out "after weeks of intense advocacy from Asian Americans who argued that a repeal would hurt their children's prospects for getting into the most competitive public campuses."
Seven other states have banned affirmative action, including Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Washington.
California requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the California State Legislature in order to get a constitutional amendment on the state's ballot for a vote by the public. The measure does not require Gov. Gavin Newsom's signature for approval, only a simple majority from voters.
ACA 5 will be on the ballot in the general election on Nov. 3.

The rise of totalitarian Democrat angry women...at heart these are evil people disguised as the compassionate ones.

Michigan AG calls Trump 'a petulant child,' says he's no longer welcome in state after not wearing a mask

Dana Nessel (D) has also threatened to sue a Ford plant for not forcing the president to wear a face covering during his visit

Die infidel, die....

CNN Panelist To Trump Voters: Now You’re Loved Ones Can Die

Democrats wallow in hate!

"Two weeks ago, Adams, the Brooklyn Beep and likely mayoral candidate, said newcomers should “go back to Ohio, go back to Iowa.” De Blasio seemed to channel Adams when he presented his “plan to save our city.” No, not to save us from Hizzoner himself. But from whom and what, exactly? Well, Santa Claus and the evil capitalist class."




https://nypost.com/2020/02/06/de-blasios-ridiculous-attempt-to-save-new-yorkers-from-santacon/

Divisive? Democrats? Gov. Cuomo hates us!

NY Gov. Cuomo blocks federal judges from officiating weddings because some were appointed by President Trump

'It's hard to imagine a more petty, small action from a sitting governor'

(Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

 BRECK DUMAS

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) took heat from both sides of the political aisle on Monday, after he vetoed a bill that would have allowed all federal judges to officiate weddings in the state.

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Cuomo blocked the measure saying he couldn't stomach allowing judges appointed by President Donald Trump to perform such ceremonies, citing "diversity, tolerance, and inclusion."

What are the details?

The legislation, referred to by NBC News as "noncontroversial" and "bipartisan," was passed 148 to 2 in the New York Assembly, and 61 to 1 in the Senate. It would have simply opened the door for all federal judges to officiate weddings. Currently, all state judges have the authority to proceed over marriage unions, but only certain federal judges may do so.
Cuomo said he couldn't bear to risk that a Trump-appointed judge might oversee a wedding, so he shut down the legislation with his veto power.
"I cannot in good conscience support legislation that would authorize such actions by federal judge who are appointed by this federal administration. President Trump does not embody who we are as New Yorkers," the governor declared. "The cornerstones that built our great state are diversity, tolerance, and inclusion. Based on these reasons, I must veto this bill."

Democratic state Sen. Liz Krueger, who helped sponsor the bill because she viewed it as a "no-brainer," reacted to Cuomo's move by telling the New York Post, "Four years ago, we gave the governor the ability to perform marriages. Two years ago, we gave legislators the ability. So when it was suggested to me that we expand it to federal judges, I thought, 'Why not? The more the merrier!'"
"I'm certainly no fan of the judges this president is choosing to appoint," Krueger said, "but since any New Yorker can become a minister online for $25 and legally perform weddings, I didn't consider this to be a major issue."
Nick Langworthy, chairman of the New York Republican Party told The Post of Cuomo's veto, "It's hard to imagine a more petty, small action from a sitting governor."

Democrat intolerance and bullying.

Violence erupts during pro-Trump women's event at DC hotel after attendees at 'high-profile Democrat wedding' harass conservative women; 1 arrested

Hot time in the old town

Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images

 SARAH TAYLOR

A South Carolina man was arrested in Washington, D.C., after reportedly attacking a man who defended a group of pro-Trump women who had convened for a Women for America First event.

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The event, held at the Willard Hotel on Saturday, was titled, "A Very MAGA Holiday Weekend." About 200 women were in attendance at the pro-Trump holiday event.
A "high-profile Democrat wedding" was simultaneously going on inside the hotel venue in an adjacent ballroom, according to the group.

What are the details? 

Women for America First released a media bulletin on Monday about the incident.
The news release pointed out that wedding attendees reportedly interrupted the event "at least" 30 times throughout the evening, including a physical assault on Jonathan Gilliam, who is a former FBI special agent and retired Navy SEAL. Wedding attendees reportedly threatened women at the event, allegedly calling them "c****," "Nazis," and "MAGA trash."
Gilliam, who was a guest speaker at the event, also tweeted about the incident, writing, "Saturday night at the Willard Hotel in Washington DC, I attended @america1stwomen (WFAF) gala, speaking in support of our president @realDonaldTrump and the strength of all free women of the United States."

"Unfortunately," he continued, "due to the harassment from Trump haters from an adjacent ball room, and lack of hotel security involvement, an event occurred when myself and others were escorting WFAF women out of the venue. I'm ok, but the future of this country is not!"

A portion of the release read:

Our event on Saturday evening was rudely disrupted when attendees from a high-profile democrat wedding in the adjacent ballroom repeatedly stalked, harassed, and both verbally and ultimately physically attacked our guests. Throughout the evening, on at least 30 different occasions, our private event was interrupted. ...

Our guests were repeatedly verbally assaulted with comments such as “is this an actual thing?", “you should be ashamed of yourselves," “MAGA Trash," “Nazis" and “C*nts". 

After the event ended, Gilliam reportedly stayed behind to help escort guests past the unruly wedding.
The organization pointed out that "[d]uring this time, the alleged best man refused to allow people on the elevator saying, '[Y]ou're only allowed in if you respect your ovaries.'"
"As Jonathan escorted approximately five of our guests to the lobby of the hotel via the stairs so they could exit the hotel, the alleged best man in the wedding party and several other individuals began verbally taunting him and the women he was protecting, resulting in an altercation," the group added. "Subsequently, Jonathan was physically attacked by approximately 4-6 other attendees of the wedding party who piled on attempting to choke and beat him, before he was able to break free and counter the attack."
Police responded to the incident, which resulted in one arrest.

What did the police say? 

A spokesperson for Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department told TheBlaze in a statement that the man arrested was Charleston, South Carolina, resident Andrew James Ruder, 37.
A copy of the police report, obtained by TheBlaze, reads, "On listed date time and location S-1 lunged in a aggressive manner towards V-1 in which S-2 joined and assaulted V-1 by grabbing his neck causing the listed injury. V-1 was able to defend himself and strike S-1 on the face with a closed fist. S-1 was placed under arrest and transported to the Second District for processing."

Obama deflecting from his responsibility foe social chaos

This idea of purity and you’re never compromised and you’re politically woke and all that stuff — you should get over that quickly,” Obama told an audience at the Obama Foundation Summit.

Obama: ‘Get Over’ Being ‘Woke,’ Stop Online Outrage Cancel Culture

“One danger I see among young people particularly on college campuses — Malia and I talk about this — I do get a sense sometimes now among certain young people, and this is accelerated by social media, there is this sense sometimes of the way of me making change is to be as judgmental as possible about other people and that’s enough,” Obama continued. “Like if I tweet or hashtag about how you didn’t do something right, or use the wrong verb then I can sit back and feel pretty good about myself, ‘Cuz man, did you see how woke I was? I called you out! Let me get on TV, watch my show, watch Grown-ish.'”

“That’s not activism. That’s not bringing about change,” Obama concluded. “If all you’re doing is casting stones, you’re probably not going to get that far. That’s easy to do.”

WATCH:

Ryan Saavedra

✔@RealSaavedra

Former President Obama to young people: “This idea of purity and you're never compromised and you're politically woke, and all that stuff — you should get over that quickly”

Obama goes on to slam people who engage in cancel culture and who look to create constant online outrage

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Obama’s comments come amid a growing pushback against “cancel culture” from some high-profile figures, including comedians Dave Chappelle and Bill Burr

“This is the worst time ever to be a celebrity,” Chappelle says in reference to cancel culture in his new Netflix comedy special. “You’re gonna be finished. Everyone’s doomed.”

Chappelle also laments the treatment of fellow comedian Kevin Hart, who was forced to step down as host of the Oscars after old comments deemed “homophobic” resurfaced. It’s “celebrity hunting season,” said Chappelle. Hart was “damn near perfect,” or, at least “four tweets shy of being perfect,” said Chappelle.

As The Daily Wire reported, Chappelle’s “Sticks & Stones” was savaged by critics but loved by viewers.

“The critics’ reviews of comedian Dave Chappelle’s latest Netflix standup special ‘Sticks & Stones’ are rolling into review site Rotten Tomatoes, and they’re exactly what you’d expect in the Year of the Wokescolds. But while the critics gnash their teeth over Chappelle’s unapologetic and purposefully offensive hour special, the general audience cheers,” The Daily Wire’s Amanda Prestigiacomo reported. “As of Wednesday morning, ‘Sticks & Stones’ showed a 38% score from critics, with a near-perfect 99% audience score.”

Comedian Bill Burr’s politically incorrect Netflix special, released shortly after Chappelle’s, likewise hammers perpetual outrage culture. Like Chappelle’s show, Burr’s “Paper Tiger” was condemned by left-wing critics but widely praised by viewers.