The Middle Eastern American Convention for Freedom and Democracy

The Middle Eastern American Convention for Freedom and Democracy

http://www.freemuslims.org/news/article.php?article=151
A number of Muslim and Middle Eastern American Organizations are teaming up to put together the largest Muslim and Middle Eastern American event ever organized in the USA. This convention is organized by groups who want to take the lead in the war on terrorism, fanaticism and who love freedom and democracy. It will also challenge organizations in the US who have been falsely claiming to exclusively represent the opinions and aspirations of all Muslims, Arabs and Middle Eastern Americans.

The Convention will conclude with a letter to President Bush and the US Congress expressing our support for the war on terror and our passionate desire to take the lead in this war. This convention is a more accurate window to 8 million American Muslims and Middle Easterners who favor freedom and reject terror.

Among the topics to be discussed are terrorism, Iraq, Israel/Palestine, women’s rights and religious and ethnic discrimination.

This Convention will be held in Washington, DC on Friday, October 1, 2004 at the Wardman Park Marriott, starting at 6pm. Other cultural and intellectual activities will take place during the day.

President Bush has been invited and may be speaking at the event. The cost for the event is $100, including dinner.

For more information or to reserve, contact the Free Muslim Coalition Against Terrorism at 202-262-3491. Reserve via email at info@ALCoalition.org

Free Muslim Coalition Against Terrorism
American Islamic Congress
American Islamic Forum for Democracy
Center for Islamic pluralism
American Lebanese Alliance
American Lebanese Coalition
American Lebanese Coordination Council
American Libyan Freedom Alliance
American Maronite Union
American Middle-East Christian Association
Assembly for Lebanon
Assyrian Academic Society
Free Muslim Coalition Against Terrorism
Iranian American Coalition
Kurdish Patriotic Union
Lebanese Information Center
Flame - Mauritania Campaign
Reform Party for Syria
South Sudan Movement of America
Sudan-Darfur Organization
The American Coptic Association
The Saudi Institute
US Alliance for Democratic Iran
U.S. Copts Association
Women's Forum Against Fundamentalism in Iran
World Lebanese Cultural Union - USA

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I know it's easy to be cynical but give this guy a chance. I believe in his cause and his sincerity. Let's lend them support or if nothing else an open mind. We've been outraged because we had no apology because the Muslim world has reamined silent. Now that some are speaking out, it makes no sense to slam them for accountablity. We are starting to get what we asked for. I believe they deserve, if nothing, else the benefit of the doubt. I for one am lending them my support.

"Cynicism is the death of hope"

See web site front page for: FMCAT founder Kamal Nawash on the O'Reilly Factor! Founder of The Free Muslim Coalition Against Terrorism talked to Bill O'Reilly recently, to discuss the War on Terrorism.

More recent interviews: Nawash is a regular guest on Fox News Channel, including shows like Dayside with Linda Vester, Fox and Friends Weekend. Nawash was interviewed on the nationally syndicated Jesse Lee Peterson Show on August 12. (Requires RealOne Player) Nawash spoke on Al-Arabia satellite TV on Tuesday, May 19, reaching millions of Arabic viewers in the Middle East. Nawash is also a regular guest on Crane Durham's show, Nothing But Truth, on 550AM KTRS St. Louis, MO. Listen to the first interview and second interview. (Requires RealOne Player) Nawash was interviewed twice on the Rusty Humphries Show.

Does the chicken give the fox the "benefit of the doubt", or does the chicken avoid the fox because it knows what a fox can do? A fox will always remain a fox.

That would be like saying all Christians are fundamentalist bigots, all Jews are ACLunatics, all WASPS are cold hearted racists, all Italians are mobsters and bigots. I dont think your philosophy in this case is doing anybody any good but you who seems to be wedded to it. That is your perogative.

I prefer to think that your religion doesnt define you, that there are different strains and within each religion there are choices to be made. If you believe all Muslims are evil then dont give anyone a chance to prove you wrong. If I find out that not all Muslims want us dead or want to impose fundamentalism on everyone then I'll be the first to let the world know.

It seems that there are quite a few voices on that list that want to be heard. I say let them speak out.

If they are indeed full of it I have every faith that the pajamadeen, and most every other thinking persons, will quickly figure it out. I like Kamal. I think he's brave. There is nothing in it for him, except a possible beheading, from what I can discern.

I prefer to think that your religion doesnt define you, that there are different strains and within each religion there are choices to be made.

You're thinking in shades of grey, while I prefer to see life in black and white.

There is an Imam who not long ago said: "Not all muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are muslims." He's correct, though I rarely put any stock in what an Imam says.

Americans have learned a lot about Islam since 9/11, and most of it is distasteful. What was once viewed as a harmless Middle Eastern religion is now seen to be a cult of fanatics who willingly spread death and destruction.

You wish to think that muslims aren't defined by their religion, but the facts contradict that. If your muslim friends are who they say they are then ask them to publicly denounce those parts of the Koran that condone the killing of jews and infidels. Ask them to publicly denounce the spreading of Islam by force. Ask them to publicly denounce the muslim brotherhood here in America.

If you wish to trust your muslims friends then by all means do so - at your own risk. But, don't expect others to join you so readily. After 9/11 we've seen the true nature of Islam, and trusting muslims isn't something that can be readily expected.

You start with a ton of assumtions that might be more palatable if the rest of your post weren't so ridden with vapid cliches.

First, I dont have "Muslim friends" and after 9-11 what we've seen is the true nature of Islamo fascism. Much like after Brown vs. The Board of Education we saw the true nature of the KKK. Does that mean that all white, Christian males wanted to drag Mr. Byrd behind the back of their trucks?
Frankly, I assume all people are idiots. It is the rare group that surprises me who can articulate, who cares to articulate, they they are not going to be "catagorized" indeed dismissed as part of the scum to which they've been associated.

Arguing with you is a waste of my time and effort. You want to hang onto your hatreds, be my guest. Include in that all liberals who have denounced liberalsim, all former socialists who have "grown" beyond their adolescent infatuation with Das Capital, and any sinner who has renounced their past sins and asked for forgiveness and gone on to make amends. Some have even made the world a better place. I dont include murderers or rapists in that catagory. Are you accusing mr. Kamal of being a murderer or a rapist? Or just guilt by association even though he's stuck his neck out literally to renounce.

I agree you dont take anything on face value,what you do is give people a chance to redeem, to explain, to communicate. If you want to close your mind you would not be so invested in engaging me in this dialogue. My guess is "we preach what we most need to learn." Something about your post sits really wrong with me. You need to convince yourself you will not forgive ANY Muslim, ANY human being---even if they were born into a religion whose tenets they now reject.

Keep on "lawyering" to yourself. It's my estimation your "client" is as guilty of the close minded fundamentalist bigotry that has gotten us into this mess.

No, I do not trust Muslims, I do not believe Islam is a "Religion of Peace" but if this organization wants to open up a dialogue with Americans and apologize for Islam's crimes I am willing to listen. It takes more guts to do what this man has done than anything I've seen in a long time.

Ask yourself and then answer, what does Mr. Nawash have to gain except 1) a beheading, 2) a fatwah on his life or 3) derision from people like you. Answer those questions to yourself. I feel the world has problems to solve. You strike me as part of the problem with nothing to add, at least not as far as a dialogue with me is concerned.

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