(Today's Star-Bulletin Editorial properly Fisked by  your beloved Editor) 

Legislators' near-unanimous approval of a resolution creating an Islam Day in Hawaii was greeted with anger by many people who mistook it as siding with terrorists.  (Why would they think that?  Just because it honors Sept 11 in the old Julian calendar but corresponds with exactly nothing in the Islamic calendar?  Or is it because of the 'magnificent' 7% below.) At most, it was an innocuous approval of President Barack Obama's outreach program as he prepares to deliver a major speech next month in Egypt.  (I'm sure Obama appreciates having Islam Day hung around his neck.)

Sen. Fred Hemmings voted against the resolution, even though the state also recognizes Buddha Day. "None of those other religions have a good proportion of their followers supporting and perpetrating worldwide terrorism. This is a war against civilization in the name of one religion," he said.  (Thanks to Sen Hemmings for the most sensible words in this entire editorial.  But no "Buddhism Day" how difficult is it for SB editors to grasp this distinction--or are they just continuing to insult the intelligence of their dwindling readership?)

That depends on how you define "a good proportion." A study conducted last year by the Gallup polling agency showed that 93 percent of the world's estimated 1.3 billion Muslims are moderates. Only 7 percent considered themselves to be radicals and condoned the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States for political, not religious, reasons.  (Even that cherry-picked poll number leaves 91 million Muslims who think September 11 was great work.  And this "7%" rules nuke-building Iran and is on the verge of taking over nuclear armed Pakistan.)

Big Island doctor and Sen. Josh Green opposed the resolution in the belief that the Legislature's designation of an Islam Day would violate the First Amendment's clause against the government's "establishment of religion." The Constitution "does not permit the government to favor one religion over another," the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii said in a news release, sharing Green's opinion.  (And for once the ACLU is exactly right.)

However, Islam Day should easily survive the crucial Lemon Test,  (Right after Obama stacks the Supreme Court with SB Editors) named after Lemon v. Kurtzman, a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1971. The court ruled succinctly that a law "must have a secular legislative purpose," must have "its principle or primary effect" that "neither advances nor inhibits religion," and must not foster "an excessive government entanglement with religion." Yes on all counts.  (Does not advance Islam?  This argument is a Lemon.)

Rep. Lyla Berg said she introduced the resolution at the request of Hakim Ouansafi, chairman of the Muslim Association of Hawaii, to encourage people to "become more informed on what the religion is about and the people who are connected with it."  (And we have.  More on that later.)

A minute of research would reveal that the Ku Klux Klan was to Christianity what al-Qaida is to Islam.  (WRONG.  al-Qaida is to Islamism what the KKK was to the Democrat Party.  The KKK was the terrorist wing of the Democrat Party, not of Christianity.  Al-Qaida is the terrorist wing of Islamism.  The legislators just got suckered by the political wing of Islamism.  Maybe these geniuses should do more than a minute of research.  Why do they think we are stupid enough to believe that Islamism would be the first terror-based movement in years to NOT have a political wing?)

LINK: read SB editorial