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(Message started by: Svenn on Sep 22nd, 2004, 2:06am)
Title: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Svenn on Sep 22nd, 2004, 2:06am
On the news here we was told that he is not welcome to USA on securityreasons.The reason was he has converted to islam

Its just insane

Svenn
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Mac on Sep 22nd, 2004, 2:35am
Just saw that as well. Jusef(sp?) Islam is the name he goes by now.
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Bec on Sep 22nd, 2004, 2:45am
WTF you have to be kidding me, thats just crazy. he converted years ago.
My fav song is Father and Son,  the best  line for me is" when I was old enough  to talk I was ordered to listen  " I grew up with a father that was a Major in the USMC , Yes Sir  LOL
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Dave_Emond on Sep 22nd, 2004, 3:22am
Easily his best song Bec!
My favorite verse from that song is:
"All the times, that I cried,
 Keeping all the things I knew inside.
 It's hard, but it's harder to ignore.
 If they were right, I'd agree
 But it's them they know not me.
 Now there's a way
 and I know I have to go away.
 I know, I have to go."

One of the best songwriters ever ... well at least up to that Izitso album  :P
Didn't hear the news story, but have to wonder why he'd even want to come to the USA? He made it clear that he supported Saddam during the Gulf War and even at one time said he agreed with the bounty on Rushdie (He later recounted that.)
Do I think he's a "security risk"? Not at all, just another political twist to try to keep US citizens in a fear mode with ridiculous prejudice. The real reason probably lies in that he teaches his beliefs in his new stlye of music (if you can call it that.) I think the sad thing is when the views are heard more just because someone is a celebrity. Shoot ... I'll quote Homer Simpson, "Rock stars ... is there anything they don't know?"  [smiley=laugh.gif]
Love his older music, but could care less about his opinions, seem confused to me anway, and think he might be a bit confused himself still to this day.
Was there any reason Svenn mentioned why or if he wanted to come to the USA?
Just wondering?
Dave
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Svenn on Sep 22nd, 2004, 3:25am
just that the US authorities did see him as a securityreason,Dave.Thats all they said.The plane he was in was ordering down and he had to leave the plane.
Just insane the way i see it

btw just LOVE most of his old stuff myself to

Svenn
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Dave_Emond on Sep 22nd, 2004, 3:41am

Quote:
The plane he was in was ordering down and he had to leave the plane.

LOL! Thanks Svenn ... yep ... think I'm guessing right, just more political BS!  ::)
Dave
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by brain_cramps on Sep 22nd, 2004, 5:54am
"It's also a very sad state of affairs when a man best known as a peace loving pop star can be grouped into the same category Osama Bin Laden just because of his chosen faith."

- statement posted on a Web site where his music is promoted

http://canoe.ca/Sep22/top.jpg
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by alleyoop on Sep 22nd, 2004, 6:08am

on 09/22/04 at 03:22:48, Dave_Emond wrote:
He made it clear that he supported Saddam during the Gulf War and even at one time


How peace loving is that?

..........................alley [smiley=huh.gif]
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by brain_cramps on Sep 22nd, 2004, 6:25am

on 09/22/04 at 06:08:50, alleyoop wrote:
How peace loving is that?

..........................alley [smiley=huh.gif]



on 09/22/04 at 03:22:48, Dave_Emond wrote:
I'll quote Homer Simpson, "Rock stars ... is there anything they don't know?"




Apparently Homer was wrong.     ;;D
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by brain_cramps on Sep 22nd, 2004, 6:35am
In a statement on his Web site, he wrote, "Crimes against innocent bystanders taken hostage in any circumstance have no foundation whatsoever in the life of Islam and the model example of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him."

After the Sept. 11 attacks, Islam issued a statement saying: "No right thinking follower of Islam could possibly condone such an action: The Quran equates the murder of one innocent person with the murder of the whole of humanity."
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by OneEyeBlind on Sep 22nd, 2004, 7:02am
I read that he was actually interviewed and it was after the interview that he was denied entry.  Who knows, cause we all know they will tell us what THEY THINK we should know.  

I was very surprised by the whole thing though cause i thought he was always a peace loving guy.

I'm just glad to know that they are screening passengers and trying to keep us safe.  
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Jeepgun on Sep 22nd, 2004, 8:01am
Personally, I'm pretty sick of knee-jerk journalism and sensationalism that passes for factual reporting. I'll wait until all of the facts are known.
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by vig on Sep 22nd, 2004, 8:22am
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6067570/

"Last year he released two songs, including a re-recording of his ’70s hit “Peace Train,” to express his opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq."

That's probably enough right there.

Our Homeland Security team aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer. :-/

Looks to me like he plays both sides of the fence though...
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by brain_cramps on Sep 22nd, 2004, 9:24am

on 09/22/04 at 08:22:29, vig wrote:
Our Homeland Security team aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer. :-/



Brought to you by the same people that want to trace YOUR every move on the web.
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Bob P on Sep 22nd, 2004, 9:38am
Sometimes extreme pacifists resort to dangerous measures.  

Example:  Pro-life advocists who bomb abortion clinics or shoot abortion doctors.  Vietnam Vets Against the War who discuss a proposal to assassinate pro-war Senators (one of our Presidental candidates was there).

If Cat was on the "watch list", I think the failure here was not that he was yanked from the plane but that the plane was allowed to take off with him onboard.  I hope they tighten up that flaw.

Islam drew some negative attention in the late 1980s when he supported the Ayatollah Khomeini's death sentence against Salman Rushdie, author of "The Satanic Verses."
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Pinkfloyd on Sep 22nd, 2004, 10:01am

on 09/22/04 at 09:38:40, Bob P wrote:
Sometimes extreme pacifists resort to dangerous measures.  
.


Why he was on a watch list, I suppose we will find out [maybe]. I suppose for the same reasons John Lennon was watched. We must still be using the old J. Edgar Hoover playbook.

At least publicly he spoke out against violence, including 911 and the recent bloodbath in Russia. He even donated to the 911 fund.

I'm a bit surprised though that Ashcroft didn't come to his defense since he never wrote anything that people could dance to.

PF
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Jeepgun on Sep 22nd, 2004, 10:15am
The Cat has been in exile from America for a reeaal looong time. If I remember correctly, this predates the war on terrorism. If his ass was supposed to be out of the country before, then his ass needs to stay out now. This is NOT a new thing. He has admitted to giving financial aid to known terrorists groups and openly supports the Anti-American Clerics in Iran. In the mid 90's he openly supported the demise of the US and called for the death of Salman Rushdie for the authoring of the book, "The Satanic Verses."
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Hirvimaki on Sep 22nd, 2004, 10:34am
I guess I do not find it incredible that Yusuf Islam is on a watch list.  He has been banned from Israel since the 1980's for his (alleged) association with Hamas. During a visit he made to Israel in 1988, the government of Israel claims that he delivered tens of thousands of dollars to Hamas, the militant Islamic group.  Two years later, in 1990, he tried to enter Israel again but was turned away.  Then in 2000 he tried to enter Israel but was deported.

I doubt very much that just his conversion to Islam is the reason he was denied entry.  If that were the case, then Hakeem Olajuwon, Muhammad Ali, Richard Thompson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Art Blakey, and Everlast (to name a few) would also have trouble for the same reason.

A country's right to deny entry is an important one. Countries generally have discretion as to whom they allow to enter for whatever they deem reasonable reasons. I believe Israel will not let you in if you have visited Syria or Lebanon recently. Also, Turkey won't let you in if you visited Cypress. Greece won't let you in if you have visited N. Cypress.

I'm certain that Salman Rushdie isn't very upset about Yusuf Islam's deportation.  

To quote Wikpedia on the issue: "But later in 1989, Yusuf Islam said in a British television documentary that he wasn't against the death sentence in principle: Rather than go to a demonstration where Rushdie would be burned in effigy, "I would have hoped that it'd be the real thing" he said. If Rushdie showed up at his door, he said he "might ring somebody who might do more damage to him than he would like... I'd try to phone the Ayatollah Khomeini and tell him exactly where this man is." The New York Times reported that he stood by his statements in a subsequent interview."

But maybe he was banned because he chose "Cat" as a stage name back in the 60's.

Hirvimaki
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by fubar on Sep 22nd, 2004, 10:53am
Peace loving?

His actions are contradictory.  He has given large sums of money to terrorist organizations and proudly says so.  He endorsed the death sentence on Rushdie.  He supports anit-American groups who kill innocent people.

Peace-loving my ass.  Send him packing.  Nice to see the system almost work for once.  Only way it could have been better is if he was denied boarding.
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by brain_cramps on Sep 22nd, 2004, 10:53am

on 09/22/04 at 10:15:41, Jeepgun wrote:
The Cat has been in exhile from America for a reeaal looong time...


I thought he was born in London.  Did he ever live in the US?





on 09/22/04 at 10:15:41, Jeepgun wrote:
...He has admitted to giving financial aid to known terrorists groups and openly supports the Anti-American Clerics in Iran. In the mid 90's he openly supported the demise of the US...


It would be interesting to read that as stated by a reliable source.
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Jeepgun on Sep 22nd, 2004, 11:15am
Brain_Cramps, see Hirvimaki and Fubar's comments above. See also, Wikpedia's articles/links about him:
http://www.fact-index.com/c/ca/cat_stevens.html
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by catlind on Sep 22nd, 2004, 11:29am
Please note, the "Cat" discussed in this thread has no association whatsoever with the Cat that resides in clusterville.

:o

Cat (Lind)
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by brain_cramps on Sep 22nd, 2004, 11:30am
No offense intended towards Hirvimaki or Fu but they are not what I would call "reliable sources".

Wikipedia is a "free content encyclopedia".   ie. ANYONE can add WHATEVER they want.  Hardly a reliable source.   ::)

Not trying to start anything here but I'd just like to see a reliable source make similar statements about him being "Anti-American", etc...




edited to add:     Since I'm at work, I don't have time to go through all of the links on the Wikipedia page but the couple I did made NO mention of "Anti-American", etc.
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Hirvimaki on Sep 22nd, 2004, 12:03pm
Just to clarify, I never said that Yusuf Islam is anti-American.

It is not conjecture that he is banned from Israel.

I was very careful to note that the charges of his involvement with Hamas are ALLEGED.

I quoted the Wikpedia article only because it referenced a BBC documentary (which I did see) - so sorry that I don't have the streaming video for you.

His comments concerning Salman Rushdie aren't a State secret.

Interesting how you can just pass by a statement like "The reason was he has converted to islam..." without batting an eye.

I still stand by the intent of my post. I doubt very much that his conversion to Islam is the reason he was denied entry.

Hirvimaki
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Jimmy_B on Sep 22nd, 2004, 12:13pm
I have always respected Cat Stevens' music & seeing what was done by Nixon to Mr. John Lennon...I will hold my comments on why he is not allowed into the U.S.A.

As far as I've seen or heard...he's a peace loving musician who happens to believe in Islam. Hell...A lot of people don't support the Iraqi war. I'll respect that opinion.

Jimmy
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by floridian on Sep 22nd, 2004, 1:37pm
Excluding Cat Stevens doesn't strike me as unfair, although the way it was done was not too savy. Was diverting a plane in mid-flight and causing a major disruption really needed?  And given his prominence, they could have stated a clearer rational - tourism dollars are going to be lost by projecting a heavy handed image.  Casual tourists will find other places to vacation, while truly evil people will keep trying to get in.

Notre Dame University hired an Islamic scholar to teach at their university and that person had their visa pulled a few days before they were supposed to start teaching.  That seems to be more of a stupid bureacratic decision, but gets less attention than the rock star.

Quiz Question of the Day:  How many people have been convicted of terrorism related offenses in the US since 9/11??  


Quote:
And in late July, resurrecting the ideological exclusion practices so familiar from the cold war, the Department of Homeland Security revoked a work visa for a prominent Swiss Islamic scholar who had been hired by Notre Dame for an endowed chair in its International Peace Studies Institute. DHS invoked a PATRIOT Act provision that, like the McCarran-Walter Act of the cold war, authorizes exclusion based purely on speech. If a person uses his position of prominence to "endorse" terrorism or terrorist organizations, the PATRIOT Act says, he may not enter the United States. The McCarran-Walter Act, on the books until its repeal in 1990, was used to exclude such "subversives" as Czeslaw Milosz and Graham Greene. This time the man whose views are too dangerous for Americans to hear firsthand is Tariq Ramadan, a highly respected intellectual and author of more than twenty books who was named by Time magazine as one of the hundred most likely innovators of the 21st century.

Notre Dame is not known as a hotbed of Islamic extremism – and Ramadan is no extremist. He argues for a modernized version of Islam that promotes tolerance and women's rights. Two days after 9/11 he called on fellow Muslims to condemn the attacks. In short, Ramadan is precisely the kind of moderate voice in Islam that the United States should be courting if it hopes to isolate al Qaeda. The barring of Ramadan reinforces the sense that the administration cannot or will not distinguish between moderates and extremists and is simply anti-Muslim.

http://www.alternet.org/rights/19948
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Jeepgun on Sep 22nd, 2004, 1:45pm
I agree with you, Floridian. Just a mite heavyhanded, in my estimation.
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Hirvimaki on Sep 22nd, 2004, 1:59pm

on 09/22/04 at 13:37:54, floridian wrote:
How many people have been convicted of terrorism related offenses in the US since 9/11??  


The most fequent estimation I hear is that about 879 have been convicted of terrorism related offenses since 9/11.

I have no idea as to the actual veracity of this statement, having no time to look further into it. I will leave that to the peanut gallery.

Hirvimaki
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Charlie on Sep 22nd, 2004, 6:40pm
Good quiz. Use Floridian's link:

http://www.alternet.org/rights/19948

It's nuts trying to seal off the place and diverting aircraft from Dulles airport (Washington) to of all places: Bangor, Maine. Once the plane has been boarded, it's too late anyway. You have to hope there isn't a beer cooler with a heart waiting for somebody in Virginia.

All I know about this guy is that he was a singer. I don't much care about his Islamic silliness. Don't worry though; as soon as they find out he makes money for record companies, things will look up.

Supporting the death decree on Salman Rushdie doesn't make me want to run out and buy his stuff. As was said: Sometimes extreme pacifists resort to dangerous measures....Sort of like building bombs in the basement to protest Vietnam maybe. These people, especially converts, need to stop paying so much attention to their religious nutcases.  

It's still stupid paranoia and this kind of security overkill scares me a hell of a lot more than these lunatics.  The world has never been safe. We have TV now.

Charlie
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Ree on Sep 22nd, 2004, 8:20pm
THIS IS SO NOT REE................ LETS CUT HIS HEAD OFF...

HE HAS TIES TO TERRORISM AND SUPPORTING TERRORISM... HE IS LUCKY THEY LET HIM GO BACK.  I DONT THINK IF HE WAS THE PANSY THEY ARE SAYING HE IS, THAT THEY WOULD KICK HIM OUT OF OUR COUNTRY.  DON'T WE HAVE MUCH MORE VIOLENT SUSPECTS HERE...
HMMMMMMMMMMMMM ME SAY WE DONT KNOW THE WHOLE STORY............ TIL THEN I SAY... GOOD FOR YOU CAT YOU GOT OUT WITH YOUR HEAD STILL ON YOUR SHOULDERS.. DID THEY SAY WHAT HE WAS COMING BACK HERE FOR, PROBABLY TO RAISE MORE MONEY FOR TERRORISM... I LIKE HIS MUSIC TOO... BUT

IM NOT FEELING TOO SYMPATHETIC TO PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT TERRORISTS THESE DAYS...REE
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by catlind on Sep 22nd, 2004, 9:29pm
Floridian, you forgot to mention that the terrorists responsible for 9/11 got their visa acceptance months AFTER the attack.

:-X since I'm an immigrant and could land in that situation I'll just be quiet now

Cat
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by brain_cramps on Sep 22nd, 2004, 9:30pm

on 09/22/04 at 20:20:21, Ree wrote:
HE HAS TIES TO TERRORISM AND SUPPORTING TERRORISM...



Really?      Show me.
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Jonny on Sep 22nd, 2004, 9:53pm

on 09/22/04 at 21:30:07, brain_cramps wrote:
Really?      Show me.


Dont you read, dude?......LOL

................................jonny
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by brain_cramps on Sep 22nd, 2004, 9:56pm

on 09/22/04 at 21:53:37, Jonny wrote:
Dont you read, dude?......LOL

................................jonny



Supporting the death decree on Salman Rushdie doesn't mean that he supports terrorism.

So far, all I've seen is a couple "I think I remember"s and a reference to wikipedia.

I could post a page in wikipedia saying that GWB is a woman and does the fact that it is on the internet make it true?

un-fucking-believable!!!!!
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Mac on Sep 23rd, 2004, 12:24am

on 09/22/04 at 21:56:59, brain_cramps wrote:
I could post a page in wikipedia saying that GWB is a woman and does the fact that it is on the internet make it true?


Yes... Yes it does.

http://www.koukla.net/If_Bus2.jpg ;;D :P
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by brain_cramps on Sep 23rd, 2004, 6:38am
;;D
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by floridian on Sep 23rd, 2004, 10:11am
I don't think Cat is a terrorist mastermind.  But as far as I am concerned any fundamentalist from any religion that supports killing others for 'blasphemy' should not be welcomed in the US.  Christian or Jewish fundamentalists that quote Exodus 22:18 ("Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live") and want to kill others who don't fit their definition of religion should be kept out of the US as well.  

To be fair to Cat, he did not advocate vigilante justice or individuals actually carrying out the sentence in the UK. His original statements may have been taken out of context. But he is not a champion of tolerance and free discussion of religion and literature.

As far as his alleged support for Hamas terrorism, I don't believe that.  He gave money to schools in Palestine, and there are allegations that maybe some of that was diverted without his knowledge.  I suppose one could also blame the followers of Jimmy Swaggert and Jim Baker for supporting prostitution and drug abuse - some of their money was stolen and used for vice, although the contributors never intended that.


Quote:
Yusuf Islam Issues A Formal Statement On The Rushdie Affair
By Yusuf Islam
March 2nd, 1989

Under Islamic Law, the ruling regarding blasphemy is quite clear; the person found guilty of it must be put to death. Only under certain circumstances can repentance be accepted.

On 21st February, I was speaking to a group of students at the Kingston Polytechnic, and in response to a question, I simply stated the Islamic ruling on the Rushdie affair. Suddenly. my picture was splashed on the front page of newspapers all over the world next to the headline: 'Kill Rushdie says Cat Stevens (Bio)'. It is very sad to see such irresponsibility from the 'free press' and I am totally abhorred.

My only crime was, I suppose, in being honest. I stood up and expressed my belief and I am in no way apologizing for it. I expressed the Islamic view based on the Qur'an, the Prophet's sayings (peace and blessings be upon him) and the rulings of the Caliphs and renowned schools of Islamic jurisprudence.

However, that is not to say I am encouraging people to break the law or take it into their own hands: far from it. Under the Islamic Law, Muslims are bound to keep within the limits of the law of the country in which they live, providing that it does not restrict the freedom to worship and serve God and fulfil their basic religious duties (fard'ayn). One must not forget the ruling in Islam is also very clear about adultery, stealing and murder, but that doesn't mean that British Muslims will go about lynching and stoning adulterers, theives and murderers. If we can't get satisfaction within the present limits of the law, like a ban on this blasphemous book, 'Satanic Verses' which insults God and His prophets - including those prophets honoured by Christians, Jews as well as Muslims - this does not mean that we should step outside of the law to find redress. No. If Mrs. Thatcher and her Government are unwilling to listen to our pleas, if our demonstrations and peaceful lobbying don't work, then perhaps the only alternative is for Muslims to get more involved in the political process of this country. It seems to be the only way left for us.

The fundimental issue which has put the non-Muslim world at loggerheads with Islam, is not that of the book or attempts to ban it. Indeed it is encouraging that many non-Muslims, including the Archbishop of Canterbury endore the request of Muslims that the Blasphemy Law be extended to cover the Islamic faith. When Jim Allen's play 'Perdition' was harassed out of existance by angry jews - some of whom burned an effigy of the writer - the British reaction was muted. The present attitude of the Government and press is obviously as a result of their opposition to the Islamic legal ruling that Rushdie should be executed and the fact that it has come from an Islamic country.

The fact is that as far as the application of Islamic Law and the implementation of full Islamic way of life in Britain is concerned, Muslims realize that there is very little chance of that happening in the near future. But that shouldn't stop us from trying to improve the situation and presenting the Islamic viewpoint wherever and whenever possible. That is the duty of ever Muslim and that is what I did. http://catstevens.com/articles/00013/index.html
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by floridian on Sep 23rd, 2004, 10:11am


Quote:
Former Cat Stevens Denies Hamas Aid
Associated Press
July 14th, 2000
Courtesy of Kirby

LONDON (AP) - Yusuf Islam (Bio) - formerly known as pop star Cat Stevens (Bio) - criticized Israeli authorities on Friday for deporting him and denied that he had ever knowingly supported Islamic terrorists.

Islam, 51, who changed his name after becoming a Muslim in the late 1970s, was refused entry into Israel hours after arriving Wednesday. The former singer said he was told only that he was a ``threat to national security.''

Israeli Defense Ministry officials refused to comment on Islam's case other than to say that the Shin Bet, Israel's internal intelligence agency, had ordered him barred from the country. The Maariv Daily in Israel reported that the government claimed Islam had delivered tens of thousands of dollars to Hamas, a militant Islamic group, during his last visit in 1988.

``Upon my return to London, reports were already circulating that the Israeli authorities were trying to excuse their actions by linking me to terrorist groups,'' Islam said in a statement. ``I want to make sure that people are aware that I've never knowingly supported any terrorist groups - past, present or future. It's simply an attempt to cast doubt again on my character and good intentions.''

Islam - who as Cat Stevens who wrote such songs as ``Peace Train (Song)'' and ``Wild World (Song)'' - said that he is presently supporting orphans in Hebron, and all his donations in the past have been given to humanitarian causes.

Israel says that money designated for Hamas-backed charities often is diverted to the militant Islamic movement's guerrilla wing. Hebron is a Hamas stronghold.

The former singer said that he arrived in Israel on Wednesday with a film crew from VH1, traveling with him as part of a television special on his spiritual discovery, called ``Behind the Music.'' The crew had traveled with Islam to Bosnia, and were headed to Israel via Frankfurt, Germany.

Upon arrival, Islam said he was separated from the crew and detained by airport authorities when his name appeared on a list of people banned from Israel.

Islam had previously been barred from entering Israel in 1990, when he tried to get in along with his 8-year-old son.

The former singer, who was born Stephen Georgiou, took Cat Stevens as a stage name and had a string of hits in the early 1970s. He abandoned his music career in 1978 and changed his name after converting to Islam. He initially believed his former lifestyle was forbidden by Islamic law, but has since started writing songs again.

He later began teaching and actively spreading the word of his religion, founding a Muslim school in 1983.
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by brain_cramps on Sep 23rd, 2004, 12:37pm
Thanks, floridian.

As far as Cat Stevens being anti-American, I don't believe that's the case.  He is anti-war.  It just so happens that the US was involved in the Gulf War that he protested against.




Quote:
10 years ago, in the months leading up to the Persian Gulf Massacre, dozens of brave activists hatched a crazy idea: put their bodies between the competing armies to stop the impending war. For a while these activists really didn’t believe they could do this but then, maybe because the idea had some much truth to it, unexpected twists and turns occurred (like Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, got involved and gave the idea a high profile; he eventually decided not to be a part of the project) and the Gulf Peace Team became a reality for 73 nonviolent satyagrahas from around the world.

http://www.ccmep.org/hotnews/note091601.html




Quote:
Amid the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999, he was part of a group that tried to deliver $33,000 directly to Kosovo refugees, but border guards stopped them and confiscated the money. He later said he delivered hundreds of thousands of dollars to Kosovo war orphans.

http://canoe.ca/JamMusic/sep22_cat2-ap.html




Quote:
"Peace Train is a song I wrote, the message of which continues to breeze thunderously through the hearts of millions of human beings, and there is a powerful need for people to feel that gust of hope rise up again," Islam wrote in a statement posted Monday on his Web site.

"As a member of humanity and as a Muslim, this is my contribution to the call for a peaceful solution to the dangerous path some world leaders today seem to be taking."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/03/31/entertainment/main546950.shtml




Quote:
Muslim convert and former pop star Cat Stevens has returned to Britain after his deportation from the U.S. over "potential" terrorism links sparked an Anglo-American diplomatic row.

"The whole thing is totally ridiculous," Stevens said on arrival at London's Heathrow airport on Thursday. "Half of me wants to smile, half of me wants to growl."

Among the charities he has supported are children affected by war in Bosnia and Iraq as well as victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks against America, which he condemned.

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=UVG25QDCFWT0ICRBAEKSFFA?type=topNews&storyID=589500§ion=news





I believe in "innocent until PROVEN guilty", but apparently that has been superseded by your Patriot Act.

grant
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by StueyStu on Sep 23rd, 2004, 1:11pm
I didn't know all this about Cat Steven's.  I still like morning has broken not matter who he gives money too, but if there is a risk stay away please.
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Jeepgun on Sep 23rd, 2004, 1:13pm
Only if we would have thown him on the ground and wisked him away to prison. Stop overreacting and stop throwing rocks at my country. It is the sovereign right of any nation to refuse entry to whomever they wish. Cat Stevens was refused entry. Tough shit. *shrug*
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Ree on Sep 23rd, 2004, 1:14pm

on 09/23/04 at 12:37:30, brain_cramps wrote:
Thanks, floridian.

As far as Cat Stevens being anti-American, I don't believe that's the case.  He is anti-war.  It just so happens that the US was involved in the Gulf War that he protested against.














I believe in "innocent until PROVEN guilty", but apparently that has been superseded by your Patriot Act.

grant

He supports HAMAS  and the group that was responsible for the UN bombing in 1993.  i would say that would make him anti-American..........
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by brain_cramps on Sep 23rd, 2004, 1:20pm

on 09/23/04 at 13:14:17, Ree wrote:
He supports HAMAS...



BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Jeepgun on Sep 23rd, 2004, 1:25pm
Brain_Cramps, were you boinking Cat Stevens or something? Was he coming to visit you for a romantic weekend at your chateau?

When you get done crying like Nancy Kerrigan and hurling rocks at something none of us can do anything about, (and none of us has all of the facts), let's talk about cluster headaches or something, mm-kay?
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by brain_cramps on Sep 23rd, 2004, 1:27pm

on 09/23/04 at 13:25:23, Jeepgun wrote:
Brain_Cramps, were you boinking Cat Stevens or something? Was he coming to visit you for a romantic weekend at your chateau?

When you get done crying like Nancy Kerrigan and hurling rocks at something none of us can do anything about, (and none of us has all of the facts), let's talk about cluster headaches or something, mm-kay?




Very intelligent answer, jeep!     ::)

As i said earlier...     I believe in "innocent until PROVEN guilty"
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Jeepgun on Sep 23rd, 2004, 1:47pm

on 09/23/04 at 13:27:43, brain_cramps wrote:
Very intelligent answer, jeep!


Thank you! I thought so too.

So you're saying we should have arrested him, then tried him in an American court of law and passed a verdict before releasing him, jailing him, or denying him entry? That makes even LESS sense. Come on, bro: Get a grip.
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Kirk on Sep 23rd, 2004, 2:06pm
Liked his music in the early 70s. Haven't been interested in him sence.
Title: Re: REMEMBER CAT STEVENS ??
Post by Jonny on Sep 23rd, 2004, 2:45pm
He re-did a couple of his songs and changed the titles.

"Bomb the peace train" and "I'm being followed by a CIA shadow"

ROTFF ;;D

.......................jonny


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