Posted on 12/01/2004 5:53:47 AM PST by cweese
Muslims say the only positive result of the Sept. 11, 2001, was the awareness it created of the Islamic identity in America.
Now, more than ever, Muslims are taking civic participation more seriously to expose their non-Muslim neighbors to one of the five pillars of Islam -- charity.
In the years after the terror attack, Austin's various religious communities strove to make Thanksgiving, a uniquely American holiday, a more inclusive one.
"It is very important to show the community that we are able to blend in with the Western culture," Imam Safdar Razi, a local Muslim religious leader, said.
Every year Muslims take part in the Austin Area Interreligious Ministries' Thanksgiving event at Riverbend Church.
"People, they, need to know that Muslims are also like any other American living on this soil and they also share the same values, like this value of offering thanks to the ones who bestow their favor. This is something accepted by Islam," Razi said.
Ali Khataw owns Encotech Engineering. He and his fellow Muslims have become more involved in the non-Muslim community.
"They are realizing that they were kind of a society that was very low profile -- did not voice their opinions and were not recognized. People did not know what Islam is," Khataw said.
Islam is, Khataw preaches, a peaceful religion that is focused on charity and goodwill toward others.
"To tell you the truth, 9/11 has created this problem of hatred for Islam, but at the same time it has also done another thing, where it has made the whole of United States aware what is Islam," Khataw said.
The Islamic Society of North America has worked toward that cause for 40 years. Since Sept. 11, the task has become more difficult and more important.
At a regional conference in Austin, the organization's secretary general reminded area Muslims of their responsibility to community.
"Every, single Muslim feels it a priority to go out, to reach out and try to explain who we are, what we are and what we are not," ISNA Secretary General Sayyid Syeed said.
Since the terror attack, there's been a greater desire by local Muslim communities to address their individual needs at these conferences.
"It provides them an opportunity to discuss among themselves the new challenges that they are facing. It helps them to discuss with their scholars and their religious leaders the issues that are raised in our day to day life," Syeed said.
Muslims have also become more politically active in the last three years.
Pre-election surveys show about 75 percent of them voted for Sen. John Kerry in the 2004 election.
Many Muslim, and civil rights, leaders accuse President Bush of betraying his 2000 promise of protecting their civil liberties.
"There is a terrific amount of hostility and a terrific amount of discrimination that goes on against the Islamic community and I think we have to deal with it and acknowledge that is exists," attorney Jim Harrington said.
That acknowledgement, Harrington said, needs to come from both the Muslim and non-Muslim communities. Muslims need to come forward with reports of discrimination and non-Muslims need to educate themselves about the pillars of Islam.
"The terrorists thought by destroying those tall towers they will destroy the greatness of America. The fact of the matter is the greatness of America is in its pluralism," Syeed said.
And after all, pluralism is all about inclusion.
Who am I to argue?
Did I miss one or two others? LOL!
It is an almost infinite subject!
LOL! I could list scores of 'em, sy! (some would get me into trouble...)
"It is very important to show the community that we are able to blend in with the Western culture," Imam Safdar Razi, a local Muslim religious leader, said."
Yes, so they can lull us into complaceny. Islam is an insidious cult that seeks one of two things - our submission to it, or our utter destruction. There is no compromise. All of the activities by muslims and muslim organizations within the continental US are nothing more than a Trojan Horse. Every mosque is a Trojan Horse. Every muslim "school" is a Trojan Horse. We ignore this and welcome it at our peril. Multiculturalism as it pertains to islam is a death wish on the part of America.
The barbarians are not at the gate - they are already within and entrenched, biding time until they amass enought strength -political or military - to strike decisively.
"EACH IT"Mr. Harrington !!! ;-))
%-} How's this? Mr. Harrington..hope you gag when you EACH IT!
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Oak Hay... now... where can I get two tickets for the show ??? ;-))
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