Joseph Lieberman has just reconfirmed his attendance at the Christians United for Israel 2008 "Washington-Israel Summit" following the repudiation of CUFI founder John Hagee by John McCain. He will address the main banquet shortly after a presentation by self-proclaimed "ex-terrorist" Walid Shoebat. Shoebat has been the subject of controversy for several months, and his narrative has been challenged by investigative pro-Palestinian blogger Eileen Fleming, by the Village Voice, and by the conservative Jerusalem Post. As I noted in February, Shoebat has threatened to sue Fleming, which is perhaps the first instance of someone claiming that being accused of not having been a terrorist amounts to defamation.
Shoebat describes his conversion from Islam to Christianity as a conversion "from hate to love". However, this seems a bit of a stretch when we come to consider a video on his website produced by his son Theodore Shoebat. The video expresses Theodore's virulent hatred of Islam and science, and his belief that militarized Christian fundamentalism is the answer to both. I usually avoid the word "Orwellian" as an overwrought cliché, but in this instance one is instantly reminded of the "Hour of Hate" from Nineteen Eighty-Four - there's even an image of Charles Darwin, Emmanuel Goldstein-like, for the viewer to revile. There is no reason to think that Walid dissents from this approach, or that anything here would be out-of-place at CUFI.
The video is advertisement for Theodore's 2007 book In Satan's Footsteps: What Every Christian Needs to Know. According to the book's blurb:
Ted Shoebat is the 16 year old son of former PLO terrorist Walid Shoebat. Ted was was persecuted for his faith and conservative views by his teachers and fellow students. He witnessed anti Semitism, anti Israel propaganda, holocaust denial, anti Christian and anti Americanism in the public schools he attended. He even was sent to Special Ed and "diagnosed" with Asbergers Syndrome [sic] because teachers could not deal with his well thought out retorts to the lies he identified that he was being taught...
As Ted says. "My Father may be hated by Islamists but I will be hated by Islamists, Neo Nazis, Communists Mormans [sic], Evolutionists, and many liberals. Dad you think you are a marked man, that will be nothing compared to me"
Apparently the book advances the thesis that Islam, Darwinism and Mormonism are part of a grand conspiracy against Christianity.
As with his father's books, In Satan's Footsteps is published by Top Executive Media, which - as "Dogemperor" has shown - is run by Shoebat's handler Keith Davies from a very plush-looking private property.
The two Shoebats have also visited churches together to give presentations; a typical advert for one such event can be seen here:
River of Life will be hosting a Prophesy Dinner with former terrorist Walid Shoebat THIS Saturday, October 27, 2007 at River of Life's campus near Springfield, MO.
All are invited to dine with Walid and his son, Theodore Shoebat, to hear more of Walid's message concerning the Islamic agenda for Christians and the United States of America.
And what actually is a "prophesy dinner"?
... Admission is $35.00 per person including a dinner of carved roast beef plus dessert.
All served up in a corrosive sauce of irrationalism and hate.
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