Beck to Muslim-American guest: "How do we know the difference between you and those that are trying to kill us?

On the October 4 edition of his CNN Headline News show, Glenn Beck hosted Sharida McKenzie, a Muslim American who recently organized the Muslim Peace March, to discuss the recent report that a Toronto mosque's website "says that Muslims should stay completely away from Halloween, Christmas, New Year's, anniversaries, birthdays, and Earth Day." During the discussion, McKenzie stated: "Well, I'm not going to stand in judgment on Toronto, but what I would like to do is offer a personal perspective on this, and so -- I'm an American. I grew up celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well. My family -- it's a time for us to get together. We invite Christians. We invite our non-Muslim friends. And it's a time for to us get together, and in that time, we take an opportunity to thank God for all of our blessings." Beck responded: "But how do we know the difference -- I mean, you're reasonable. How do we know the difference between you and those that are trying to kill us?"

McKenzie replied: "Well, maybe open some more lines of communication. Get out there and meet Muslims. And I encourage Muslims to be more open and build bridges instead of barriers, also." Earlier in the segment, Beck had asserted: "[I]f I'm not mistaken, Sharida, last time you were on, it's because you were inspired in part by this program to get out and march against those who are hijacking your own religion." McKenzie responded: "Yes, you were an inspiration to me on that peace march." The peace march McKenzie organized took place in Austin, Texas, so that, she said, "people will know Islam as the peaceful religion that it really is."

As Media Matters for America documented, during the November 14, 2006, edition of his program, Beck said to then-Rep.-elect Keith Ellison (D-MN), who became the first Muslim elected to Congress, "I have been nervous about this interview with you, because what I feel like saying is, 'Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.'" Beck added: "I'm not accusing you of being an enemy, but that's the way I feel, and I think a lot of Americans will feel that way." As Media Matters also noted, Beck later stated that his comments to Ellison were "poorly worded" and "wish[ed]" he "could take back and rephrase."

From the October 4 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck:

BECK: Oh, Allah humbug. A Toronto mosque is telling Muslims not to say, "Happy Thanksgiving," or invite friends over for turkey and all the trimmings through the holiday. They also say you should avoid participating in parties or greetings during Thanksgiving because it is a kafir -- a non-Muslim celebration.

And just to make sure that nobody has any fun, the mosque's website says that Muslims should stay completely away from Halloween, Christmas, New Year's, anniversaries, birthdays, and Earth Day. Damn it, not Earth Day!

Say what you will about religious tolerance, but anybody that tells me I can't have pumpkin pie and a drumstick, you're an extremist. Sharida McKenzie joins us now. She is a regular American practicing Muslim.

And if I'm not mistaken, Sharida, last time you were on, it's because you were inspired in part by this program to get out and march against those who are hijacking your own religion.

McKENZIE: Yes, you were an inspiration to me on that peace march.

BECK: OK. Sharida, your thoughts on this?

McKENZIE: This is actually a very difficult topic for me because I do believe that everyone can believe what they want to believe, as long as they don't hurt anybody, and -- for example, I called a Jehovah Witness organization today in Austin, Texas, and they, too, don't celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving, holidays, or birthdays.

BECK: OK.

McKENZIE: And I respect that. I do. And -- but it is -- it's difficult for me 'cause I want to build bridges instead of barriers, as a Muslim.

BECK: OK. So, help me out, Sharida, because, you know, the difference between the Jehovah Witness and those in other religions that are blowing themselves up, namely Islamists, is quite stark. When the Jehovah Witness starts to say, "I'm going to start blowing things up if you don't agree with me," or "I'm going to behead you, when you don't agree with me," the problem is, is how do we know what's extreme and what's not?

McKENZIE: Well, that is extreme. Like I said, if it's going to be hurting somebody then I have a --

BECK: Well, no, but this isn't -- but wait, hang on. This isn't hurting anybody. They're also banning watching sports or soap operas, walking dogs, family photos, wedding bands, Western hats, mingling, shaking hands with the opposite sex. They are banning all of these things, which will completely separate us. Are these the kind of people that will say, "The U.S. Constitution is a good thing" or "The U.S. Constitution is a bad thing"?

McKENZIE: Well, I'm not going to stand judgment on Toronto, but what I would like to do is offer a personal perspective on this, and so -- I'm an American. I grew up celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well. My family -- it's a time for us to get together. We invite Christians. We invite our non-Muslim friends. And it's a time for to us get together, and in that time, we take an opportunity to thank God for all of our blessings.

BECK: So --

McKENZIE: So --

BECK: But how do we know the difference -- I mean, you're reasonable. How do we know the difference between you and those that are trying to kill us?

McKENZIE: Well, maybe open some more lines of communication. Get out there and meet Muslims. And I encourage Muslims to be more open and build bridges instead of barriers, also.

BECK: So, is this -- are these policies building bridges?

McKENZIE: No, I personally don't believe they are.

BECK: OK.

McKENZIE: In Austin, we have a lot of interfaith activities that we do here with Jews and Christians.

BECK: All right.

McKENZIE: And --

BECK: Sharida, I've got to run, but thank you very much. I appreciate it. And we'll see you again.

—K.H.