A University of Texas poll to be released today shows Republican presidential candidate John McCain and GOP Sen. John Cornyn leading by comfortable margins in Texas, as expected. But the statewide survey of 550 registered voters has one very surprising finding: 23 percent of Texans are convinced that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is a Muslim.

Obama is a Christian who was embroiled in a controversy earlier this year about his two-decade membership in Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ. Yet just 45 percent of those polled identified the Illinois senator as a Protestant.

The Obama-is-a-Muslim confusion is caused by fallacious Internet rumors and radio talk-show gossip. McCain went so far at one of his town hall meetings to grab a microphone from a woman who claimed that Obama was an Arab.

Via / Pam's House Blend

Satan is king,” and clearly speak “Islam is the light.”…

Don't you hear it!?

Those expecting justice in the court system come out with a mixed bag.

Last evening about 15 members of the community gathered in court to await Amari's arraignment. The Judge, District Attorneys and Court Officers were not happy. As Amaris was released on here own recognizance on multiple misdemeanor charges and her supporters walked out of the courtroom, court officers grabed Mujahid, a member of Taino Survivalists.
A face off between community people and court officers ensued in which we were told that Mujahid was arrested for disorderly conduct. When asked what had he done , we were told that "Constitution had been suspended by officer James badge # 3726. This was then echoed by officer Jack # 6788.

All supporters were then ordered out of the Court Building. About 1/2 hour later Mujahid was released without charges.

They just need to remind us who is in charge.

Via / Personal Email

Yesterday evening Amaris Mesa & Dennis Flores were arrested for carrying a camera and taking pictures of abusive police conduct at a community drumming celebration for Saint Michael in front of the Botanica San Lazaro on Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY.

The police broke up the peaceful street celebration and pushed Amaris Mesa, Dennis Flores, adult and youth workers from NYC & Dominican Republic. The police harassed a group made up of almost all women as we were peacefully leaving the gathering. The cops snatched the photo cameras from Amaris and Dennis, pushed Amaris onto the floor and Dennis against the wall, and eventually arrested them both. Dennis was charged with "congregating with others and refusing to move, police officer's orders." We don't know what Amaris was charged with as of yet.

Friday, September 26th ended a week in which thousands of copies of Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West -- the fear-mongering, anti-Muslim documentary being distributed by the millions in swing states via DVDs inserted in major newspapers and through the U.S. mail -- were distributed by mail in Ohio. The same day, a "chemical irritant" was sprayed through a window of the Islamic Society of Greater Dayton, where 300 people were gathered for a Ramadan prayer service. The room that the chemical was sprayed into was the room where babies and children were being kept while their mothers were engaged in prayers.

"If you want to avoid an act of sexual aggression...don't wear provocative clothes...be careful with your glances and your gestures...Don't find yourself alone with a man, even if you know him...Don't get too familiar with your friends or relatives...Don't allow risqué conversations or jokes...Look for help when you suspect someone has bad intentions..."

"There are 13 year old adolescents, minors, who are totally in agreement with doing it, and wanting it, if you aren't careful they provoke you."

That first gem can be found on the Archdiocese's website, along with a host of other statements against the use of miniskirts, halter tops and bikinis, which, according to priest Sergio Román del Real, are "pornography and mental prostitution" because "we cause in others feelings they don't have a right to have for us."

Via / 20 Minutos

Image via Dazzee Designz

This "humorous" Stoplight video from Focus on the Family asks people to pray for "torrential, small-stream-flooding, an umbrella ain't gonna help you rain" on a specific time and place.

No, not any of the California fires. Denver, over the stadium where Barack Obama is set to deliver his nomination speech, that very night.

Via / Pam's House Blend
Image Via / Wayne Bessen

This book is especially timely given the high profile of the Latino community as a key voting bloc in the upcoming presidential election in the United States.

She calls the cross shaped snack Cheesus, I call him yummy.

Apparently Jesus likes fake queso snacks. Just look at all the Cheesus appearances.

Via / Yahoo! News

Federal immigration agents raided Pilgrim's Pride poultry plants in five states today in a crackdown on an alleged scam to provide fake identification for illegal immigrant workers.
Julie Myers, Immigration and Customs Enforcement assistant secretary, told The Associated Press that more than 100 people were expected to be arrested on criminal charges related to identity theft.

There is talk that this recent wave of raids is a scare tactic. Is it coincidence that the raids happened on the same day that the pro-immigrant May Day Marches were announced? Certainly, in my immigrant 'hood, there is fear of living day to day, never mind exposing yourself in a very public display of activism.

Now reports are in that she made another appearance on a wall in New Mexico on Christmas Eve:"

He noticed an image there. He said, 'That looks like an image of the Virgin Mary,'" Quintana said.

She said the image appeared during a home construction mishap. Quintana said her husband was putting a special texture on the wall. The spray bottle he was using broke twice, which meant the texture couldn't be wiped off fast enough. This is how it dried.

Via / Boing Boing and WMTW.com