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.
The most positive thing to come out of 9/11 is the knowledge of how awful and untrustworthy these fiends are.
"Islam is, Khataw preaches, a peaceful religion that is focused on charity and goodwill toward others."
No, it's not. I won't go into *what it is*, as I'd probably get in trouble... aw, what the heck:
Islam, The Cult of Murder™.
Islam, The Cult of Terror™.
Islam, The Cult of Boy-Buggering™.
Islam, The Cult of Women-Chattelling™.
Islam, The Cult of Horror™.
Islam, The Cult of Killing™.
Islam, The Cult of Subhumans™.
Islam, The Cult of Beheading™.
Islam, The Cult of Pigsh!t™.
Islam, The Cult of Deviants™.
Islam, The Cult of Degenerates™.
Islam, The Cult of Female Mutilation™.
Islam, The Cult of Death™.
Islam, The Cult of Christian & Jew Killing™.
Islam, The Cult of Infidel Murder™.
Islam, The Cult of Garbage™.
Islam, The Cult of Trash™.
Islam, The Cult of Filth™.
Islam, The Cult of Mentally-Ill™.
Well put!
As the Kansas City Star detailed in Sunday's edition, contributions to Islamic charities in Columbia, Missouri went straight to the jihadists who support Osama, suicide bombers in Israel, etc.
Well we certainly know now, don't we.
It is very important to show the community that we are able to blend in with the Western culture," Imam Safdar Razi<<
Any good SLEEPER CELL knows that!
Exactly.
I can't believe we have Americans who are actually helping islamo-murderers in this blatant propoganda effort.
PC is going to kill us all...
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.<<
Yuck Fou! Mr. Harrington.
News8 is quite a liberal outlet. I've called them on it many times in the past, but they see themselves reporting in a responsible manner on all matters. There is a poll on their site about whether Islamophobia is happening in Austin. Check out some of the comments there. Sickening.
Until and unless I see hard evidence of these folks turning in their terrorist friends, neighbors, and relatives, my opinion will remain the same: They're ALL terrorists.
Well, you should definitely go visit their website and send 'em your feelings (in the 'about us' section). I'm fairly certain that I might be the only one who has written them expressing outrage at this love-the-muslim series they're publishing this week!
I'm on my way, soon as I can write something that doesn't sound like those DU clowns..I must calm down first..
The ancient Muhammadan rope-a-dope...ban the clan, outlaw Mein Koran as we register, deport, intern, incarcerate and once and for all obliterate the world's ancient death cult.
Stop their importation into America and slam the borders shut while securing the ports...
I'll bump to that...
Agree
Well said.
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