Spectacular:

The Iowa Legislature started just over a week ago and some people were upset before the first issue was every addressed. When the session began, a Muslim Imam began the prayer in the Iowa Legislature. This is where the controversy begins. The prayer asked of "Victory over those who disbelieve," and "Protection from the great Satan" among other things. Pastor Steve Smith of the Evangelical Free Church in Albert City is among those concerned about the Muslim prayer. Rev. Smith admits that he doesn't know about all the levels of Muslim but knows that the Jihadists believe those in the U.S. are the great Satan. Rev. Smith also wants to point out the mention of "victory over those who disbelieve." He feels "this is a request in the Iowa Legislature for God to grant the Muslims victory over every non-Muslim. Not a request for salvation." Smith takes it as a gesture not of prayer but more as a political statement, especially with the wars that have been going on in the Middle East.

If pushed to defend himself, would the imam: (a) accuse the questioners of Islamophobia (b) take the moral equivalence route and say that rabbis and priests also pray for people to have faith (c) find a sophisticated explanation where "protection" means "vegetables" and "the great Satan" means "supermarket" or (d) all of the above?

References:
* Muslim opening prayer at Iowa Statehouse raises concerns [ZWire]

Previously:
* If Britain Won't Stop Radical Islam, Why Should Radical Islam Stop Being Radical?
* MR Cracks the Code: Juan Cole Is Not "Wrong" - He's Just "Deploying the Technique of the Hermeneutical Circle"
* Islamic World Explodes Into Riots As Fatah Targets Hamas Mosques, Imams