NY:Waiter Disrupts Jewish Wedding With Arabic Chants

Long Island waiter Stephen Buttafuoco who was working at a Jewish wedding, took it upon himself to give the marrying couple a gift that they will never forget. He played a recording of a recent pro-Palestinian rally with the chants of "Allah Akbar" over the loudspeakers for all 700 guests to hear, shocking the entire crowd. I had read in another article that the waiter is considering converting to Islam. He will make a great Islamist.

Hat tip to The Munz

WAITER DISRUPTS JEWISH WEDDING WITH ARABIC CHANT

By LORENA MONGELLI and ERIN CALABRESE
January 10, 2009

Long Island waiter rebelling against his pastor father terrorized guests at a Jewish wedding reception, blasting a recording of a pro-Palestinian rally that included Arabic chants through the DJ's microphone, authorities said today.

Stephen Buttafuoco, 23, was charged with a aggravated harassment as a hate crime for allegedly blaring "Allahu akbar," Arabic for "God is great" - scaring the over 700 wedding guests who were wrapping up the party at the Woodbury Jewish Center around 1 a.m. Jan. 4., Nassau cops said.

Buttafuoco, who was arrested Friday and is not related to the infamous Long Island lothario Joey Buttafuoco, allegedly "admitted he did this with the intent of disrespecting the [Jewish] religion," according to court papers.

He was arraigned today in Nassau County District Court and released on $1,500 bail.

He's no terrorist, lawyer Thomas Spreer insisted - just a confused kid trying to rebel against his minister father.

"He did a foolish and impulsive act," Spreer claimed. "He's not a radical. He didn't even know they were on the air. He feels absolutely horrendous."

The Queens College creative-arts student had been at a pro-Palestinian rally in Manhattan a day before the wedding, and made a recording of the chant on his cellphone.

Buttafuoco thought he was just playing it for a friend, and didn't realize it would be blared to the whole reception, his lawyer said.

Morrell Caterers, which handles weddings in three temples across Long Island, including the Woodbury Jewish Center, said they fired Buttafuoco on the spot.

"We took appropriate action. We fired the gentleman in question and we called the police," said co-owner Scott Morrell, who declined to say when police were called.

Spreer said his client was no anti-Semite, and has worked for Morrell Caterers for about two years without any problem.

"He was just quietly rebelling against his dad," Spreer said.

Dan Buttafuoco is an ex-Marine who serves as a minister at the Gateway Life Center, a Pentecostal church in Babylon, LI, and an Israel supporter.

"He was just fooling around with his friend. He didn't realize it was being echoed around the whole building," the devastated dad said outside his Suffolk County home today.

"We have nothing against any other religious background, especially the Jewish people. We love them."

The family wants to make amends to the Jewish community, Spreer said.

"They want to reach out . . . and try to rectify the situation," the lawyer said.

The incident has mortified Stephen Buttafuoco's parents, his father said.

"I've been appalled by it," he said. "My wife and I are just very hurt. We're scared."

Additional reporting by Kathianne Boniello

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NY:Islamic Crescent Added to Holiday Display

After a Muslim complained that Islam was not being represented the town of North Castle has added the Islamic symbol of the crescent to the town's holiday display. The man who complained has admitted that the month of December does not always have an Islamic holiday in it. But obviously he does not care as him and many other Muslims continually look to shove Islam down our throats.

12/14/08 06:32 AM
Islam’s crescent added to town’s holiday display
By Jim Fitzgerald

ARMONK — When they light the town Christmas tree in Armonk today, there will be a Jewish menorah right alongside, as usual. There will also be something new this year — an Islamic crescent and star.

And if there are any local Buddhists or Hindus in town who want to see their symbols as well, the town is welcoming applications.

The holiday display, sponsored by the town of North Castle, which includes the village of Armonk, is among a growing number around the country that include the common symbol for Islam.

“We’ve decided to go in the direction of being all-inclusive,” said Reese Berman, supervisor of the town of 11,000, about 30 miles north of New York City and home to IBM headquarters. “We now have a specific guideline to follow.”

Craig Mason, 63, a retired town resident who was walking past the display on a rainy morning last week, said he had no strong religious feelings but felt the display “says nice things about the people here, about how we welcome everyone.”

Bill Donahue, president of the Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights, said displaying a menorah and star-and-crescent — which he considers religious symbols — “shows tremendous sympathy for Jews and Muslims at the expense of the majority Christians” because a Christmas tree, he said, is not religious. He would favor adding a Nativity scene.

But Judy Wesley, director of the Armonk Chamber of Commerce, said she was raised Catholic and “in my opinion there’s nothing wrong with having a spirit of inclusion. Jesus Christ himself would have gathered everyone around him.”

North Castle added its menorah about 15 years ago at the behest of a local temple, which felt Hanukkah should be recognized along with Christmas. Then last year, the town board was approached by Asad Jilani, who thought Muslim residents should also be represented.

“I said, ‘Oh, there’s a menorah and a Christmas tree and where is my crescent?’ ” said Jilani, who has been active in community affairs. He said that although there is not always an Islamic holiday in December, he felt it would be an appropriate time to celebrate all cultures.

What he didn’t want, he said, is what the town did — move the menorah from the town park onto the grounds of the temple. Berman says the town felt it did not have time to address Jilani’s request and moving the menorah “would mean the star and crescent was not singled out.”

“I was embarrassed,” Jilani said. “The last thing I was suggesting was to move the menorah. I wanted this to be for openness, for representing everyone.”

Berman said she decided to revisit the decision this year because “no one was happy.” She appointed a committee that studied what other municipalities had done and what the courts had decided.

The board approved the star and crescent and came up with guidelines for future requests: There has to be a formal application; the symbol will be displayed only during the Christmas season; it has to be privately funded (Jilani paid for the star and crescent); and the board will not try to distinguish between religious and secular symbols.

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