Stefano il Gatto

Cat Stevens wins peace prize

ROME, Italy (AP) -- The singer once known as Cat Stevens -- branded by
the United States as a potential terrorist risk -- has been awarded a
peace prize in Rome for his humanitarian work.

Mikhail Gorbachev presented Yusuf Islam with the "Man for Peace" award
at the opening of a meeting of Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

The former Soviet leader kissed the singer on the cheeks and praised
him for standing by his convictions despite personal hardships.

The singer last made headlines in September, when he turned up on
Washington's no-fly list for having suspected ties to terrorists, a
claim he has called ludicrous.

The "Peace Train" singer, who largely gave up music after converting
to Islam in the late 1970s, mused about the strangeness of being
barred from one country while being honored in another.

"Perhaps it's part of the irony that sometimes you have to go through
a test in order to achieve a prize," he told reporters.

"So maybe that's a symbol. Today I'm receiving a prize for peace,
which is actually, I would say, a bit more descriptive of my ideas and
my aims in life."

The British musician was expelled from the United States in September
after authorities diverted his London-to-Washington flight to Maine to
remove him, saying he was suspected of ties to terrorism.

Islam said he was a victim of an "unjust and arbitrary system," and
that he has denounced terrorism.

He also pointed out that just a few months earlier, he had met with
officials of the White House's Office of Faith-Based and Community
Initiatives to talk about philanthropy.

Gorbachev's foundation and Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni's office, which
presented the award, praised Islam for promoting peace and "for having
condemned terrorism."

The former Soviet leader alluded to the musician's troubles. "Cat
Stevens' life has not been simple," Gorbachev said.

"Every person who takes a critical stance to make the world a better
place ... has a difficult life."

The musician is the founder of Small Kindness, a charity to raise
money for children and families suffering from poverty and war in the
Balkans and Middle East.

He has also donated money to victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks
and to the fight against AIDS in South Africa.

Islam has largely shunned music in recent years, although he did
record a new version of his 1971 hit "Peace Train" last year for the
album "Hope," which raised money for Iraqi children.

The meeting of Nobel Peace Prize laureates, which ends Friday, is
organized every year in Rome by the Gorbachev Foundation.

Besides Gorbachev, other Nobel winners present included Lech Walesa,
the founder of Poland's Solidarity democracy movement; Rigoberta
Menchu Tum, who fought government oppression in Guatemala; and former
South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.

Islam said he was honored to be attending -- "not as a rock 'n'
roller, but as someone who is sharing a platform with these noble
examples."

Other recipients of the "Man for Peace" award include Italian
actor-director Roberto Benigni, who won in 2002. Benigni directed the
Oscar-winning "Life is Beautiful."

Tony Cox

"Stefano il Gatto" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:7p37p0h7s3ovdrn4l8tbpgj0bbnnf94jbc@news...
    > Gorbachev's foundation and Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni's office, which
    > presented the award, praised Islam for promoting peace and "for having
    > condemned terrorism."

Condemn terrorism and win a prize eh? What a sad commentary
on contemporary Islam (the religion, not the crooner). I see no
line forming ;-)

Cat seems unaware that by accepting this award, he is actually
reinforcing the stereotype that Muslim=Terrorist. Poor fellow.

TheWanderer

"Stefano il Gatto" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:7p37p0h7s3ovdrn4l8tbpgj0bbnnf94jbc@news...
    > Cat Stevens wins peace prize
    > ROME, Italy (AP) -- The singer once known as Cat Stevens -- branded by
    > the United States as a potential terrorist risk -- has been awarded a
    > peace prize in Rome for his humanitarian work.
    > Mikhail Gorbachev presented Yusuf Islam with the "Man for Peace" award
    > at the opening of a meeting of Nobel Peace Prize laureates.
    > The former Soviet leader kissed the singer on the cheeks and praised
    > him for standing by his convictions despite personal hardships.


Well, the former Soviet Union which Mikhail Gorbachev was president of did
make peace through war by occuping other countries.
I guess Cat would fall in that Muslim catagory since it seems now Muslims
want to continue their conquest they started back in the 600s


    > The singer last made headlines in September, when he turned up on
    > Washington's no-fly list for having suspected ties to terrorists, a
    > claim he has called ludicrous.
    > The "Peace Train" singer, who largely gave up music after converting
    > to Islam in the late 1970s, mused about the strangeness of being
    > barred from one country while being honored in another.
    > "Perhaps it's part of the irony that sometimes you have to go through
    > a test in order to achieve a prize," he told reporters.
    > "So maybe that's a symbol. Today I'm receiving a prize for peace,
    > which is actually, I would say, a bit more descriptive of my ideas and
    > my aims in life."
    > The British musician was expelled from the United States in September
    > after authorities diverted his London-to-Washington flight to Maine to
    > remove him, saying he was suspected of ties to terrorism.
    > Islam said he was a victim of an "unjust and arbitrary system," and
    > that he has denounced terrorism.
    > He also pointed out that just a few months earlier, he had met with
    > officials of the White House's Office of Faith-Based and Community
    > Initiatives to talk about philanthropy.
    > Gorbachev's foundation and Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni's office, which
    > presented the award, praised Islam for promoting peace and "for having
    > condemned terrorism."
    > The former Soviet leader alluded to the musician's troubles. "Cat
    > Stevens' life has not been simple," Gorbachev said.
    > "Every person who takes a critical stance to make the world a better
    > place ... has a difficult life."
    > The musician is the founder of Small Kindness, a charity to raise
    > money for children and families suffering from poverty and war in the
    > Balkans and Middle East.
    > He has also donated money to victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks
    > and to the fight against AIDS in South Africa.
    > Islam has largely shunned music in recent years, although he did
    > record a new version of his 1971 hit "Peace Train" last year for the
    > album "Hope," which raised money for Iraqi children.
    > The meeting of Nobel Peace Prize laureates, which ends Friday, is
    > organized every year in Rome by the Gorbachev Foundation.
    > Besides Gorbachev, other Nobel winners present included Lech Walesa,
    > the founder of Poland's Solidarity democracy movement; Rigoberta
    > Menchu Tum, who fought government oppression in Guatemala; and former
    > South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.
    > Islam said he was honored to be attending -- "not as a rock 'n'
    > roller, but as someone who is sharing a platform with these noble
    > examples."
    > Other recipients of the "Man for Peace" award include Italian
    > actor-director Roberto Benigni, who won in 2002. Benigni directed the
    > Oscar-winning "Life is Beautiful."
    >

Ash

And this after he supported the fatwah on Salman Rushdie and said quite
clearly that the punishment for saying anything against his God was death.
"Tony Cox" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] hlink.net...
    > "Stefano il Gatto" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:7p37p0h7s3ovdrn4l8tbpgj0bbnnf94jbc@news...
    >> Gorbachev's foundation and Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni's office, which
    >> presented the award, praised Islam for promoting peace and "for having
    >> condemned terrorism."
    > Condemn terrorism and win a prize eh? What a sad commentary
    > on contemporary Islam (the religion, not the crooner). I see no
    > line forming ;-)
    > Cat seems unaware that by accepting this award, he is actually
    > reinforcing the stereotype that Muslim=Terrorist. Poor fellow.
    >

Bertie the Bunyip

"ash" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

    > And this after he supported the fatwah on Salman Rushdie and said
    > quite clearly that the punishment for saying anything against his God
    > was death.


Sheeh, they'll be giving it to Rove next.


Bertie

The Dixie Clits

"Stefano il Gatto" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:7p37p0h7s3ovdrn4l8tbpgj0bbnnf94jbc@news...
    > Cat Stevens wins peace prize
    > ROME, Italy (AP) -- The singer once known as Cat Stevens -- branded by
    > the United States as a potential terrorist risk -- has been awarded a
    > peace prize in Rome for his humanitarian work.
    > Mikhail Gorbachev presented Yusuf Islam with the "Man for Peace" award
    > at the opening of a meeting of Nobel Peace Prize laureates.
    > The former Soviet leader kissed the singer on the cheeks and praised
    > him for standing by his convictions despite personal hardships.
    > The singer last made headlines in September, when he turned up on
    > Washington's no-fly list for having suspected ties to terrorists, a
    > claim he has called ludicrous.
    > The "Peace Train" singer, who largely gave up music after converting
    > to Islam in the late 1970s, mused about the strangeness of being
    > barred from one country while being honored in another.
    > "Perhaps it's part of the irony that sometimes you have to go through
    > a test in order to achieve a prize," he told reporters.
    > "So maybe that's a symbol. Today I'm receiving a prize for peace,
    > which is actually, I would say, a bit more descriptive of my ideas and
    > my aims in life."
    > The British musician was expelled from the United States in September
    > after authorities diverted his London-to-Washington flight to Maine to
    > remove him, saying he was suspected of ties to terrorism.
    > Islam said he was a victim of an "unjust and arbitrary system," and
    > that he has denounced terrorism.
    > He also pointed out that just a few months earlier, he had met with
    > officials of the White House's Office of Faith-Based and Community
    > Initiatives to talk about philanthropy.
    > Gorbachev's foundation and Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni's office, which
    > presented the award, praised Islam for promoting peace and "for having
    > condemned terrorism."
    > The former Soviet leader alluded to the musician's troubles. "Cat
    > Stevens' life has not been simple," Gorbachev said.
    > "Every person who takes a critical stance to make the world a better
    > place ... has a difficult life."
    > The musician is the founder of Small Kindness, a charity to raise
    > money for children and families suffering from poverty and war in the
    > Balkans and Middle East.
    > He has also donated money to victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks
    > and to the fight against AIDS in South Africa.
    > Islam has largely shunned music in recent years, although he did
    > record a new version of his 1971 hit "Peace Train" last year for the
    > album "Hope," which raised money for Iraqi children.
    > The meeting of Nobel Peace Prize laureates, which ends Friday, is
    > organized every year in Rome by the Gorbachev Foundation.
    > Besides Gorbachev, other Nobel winners present included Lech Walesa,
    > the founder of Poland's Solidarity democracy movement; Rigoberta
    > Menchu Tum, who fought government oppression in Guatemala; and former
    > South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.
    > Islam said he was honored to be attending -- "not as a rock 'n'
    > roller, but as someone who is sharing a platform with these noble
    > examples."
    > Other recipients of the "Man for Peace" award include Italian
    > actor-director Roberto Benigni, who won in 2002. Benigni directed the
    > Oscar-winning "Life is Beautiful."

Cat is sexy!