Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pakistanis rally for peace
WTNH ^ | August 4, 2005 | Michael Herzenberg

Posted on 08/05/2005 2:08:25 PM PDT by LurkedLongEnough

(South Windsor-WTNH, Aug. 4, 2005 11:53 PM) _ Pakistanis who live in Connecticut will rally in Hartford Friday to deliver a message of peace. They say they want terrorists everywhere to know their acts don't speak for Muslims.

Those we spoke with say their action has been brewing for a long time. Many are first generation immigrants not used to speaking out. They call themselves the silent majority and they say they will be silent no more.

"We don't condone terrorism. We condemn it," says Mateen Haider.

The message is clear on this South Windsor front yard and children are helping the adults articulate it. "We want to prove to people that terrorists have no religion and they aren't Muslims and we are completely different," says Taha Anwar.

The Pakistani American Association of Connecticut is setting up for a rally at the state capitol Friday. "I'm getting all psyched up," says Beena Khan. "I am pumped up, my children are pumped up, the whole community," says Sania Mahmood. They are sick of terrorists calling themselves Muslims. "Not in our name. It's a peaceful religion," says Khan. "It makes me disgusted it really does," says Sania Mahmood.

Many of these Connecticut residents are immigrants whose children were born in a country they love. "My son goes to UConn, my daughter goes to high school here," says --- [unattributed]. And because of terrorists their patriotism is questioned.

"They said you're all about terrorism and violence. I was, like, no."

"It's scary," says Mateen. "Where will I go if my children are not accepted in this society."

So this society of first generation Americans says it's doing what it has to to survive.

"Guess what -- we're going to fight for the rights of Muslims," says Mateen. "Liberal and moderate Muslims that have nothing to do with this."

These Muslims want everyone to know that they are Americans first and Muslims second. This peaceful fight against terror is scheduled for 1:30 in the afternoon. They expect at least 200 people of all faiths to show up.

_________

Pakistani American Association of Connecticut http://www.paact2000.org/


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Connecticut
KEYWORDS:
This reminds me of press coverage of the 2004 election, e.g., "because of terrorists their patriotism is questioned".
1 posted on 08/05/2005 2:08:26 PM PDT by LurkedLongEnough
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: LurkedLongEnough

I hope they are sincere. If so, I welcome this news.


2 posted on 08/05/2005 2:10:21 PM PDT by Horkster
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LurkedLongEnough
"It's scary," says Mateen. "Where will I go if my children are not accepted in this society."

How about Pakistan?

3 posted on 08/05/2005 2:11:09 PM PDT by MIchaelTArchangel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LurkedLongEnough

>These Muslims want everyone to know that they are Americans
>first and Muslims second.

If we were Christians first and Americans second, we wouldn't have to rely on such claims.


4 posted on 08/05/2005 2:17:50 PM PDT by ROTB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LurkedLongEnough

Liberal and moderate muslims are just like liberal and moderate politicians. They both take a firm stand on nothing.


5 posted on 08/05/2005 2:17:57 PM PDT by vpintheak (Liberal = The antithesis of Freedom and Patriotism)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

So, did they manage to get all 5 of them together on the same day, at the same place, and at the same time?


6 posted on 08/05/2005 2:18:29 PM PDT by oolatec
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: LurkedLongEnough

It is good to see this. We need to see more. America needs to see more. I know they expect 200 people of "all faiths" to show up, but there needs to be major, vocal Islamic protests AGAINST terrorism, with LOTS of muslims in areas that have high muslim populations.

This is a good start, but we need to see this in places like Detroit, with thousands of muslims decrying terrorism. They should be EMPTYING the mosques to get the message out that "we are not like that".

Sadly, I don't see that. This "protest" is just too anemic to mean anything.


7 posted on 08/05/2005 2:19:54 PM PDT by rlmorel ("Innocence seldom utters outraged shrieks. Guilt does." Whittaker Chambers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MIchaelTArchangel

Maybe Mr. Paki's children should accept society (Western) and not the other way around.


8 posted on 08/05/2005 2:23:52 PM PDT by Kurt_D
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Horkster

It's about time folks! I hope it's a growing trend.


9 posted on 08/05/2005 2:35:40 PM PDT by eagle11
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: Forty and Falling

Ah... not related to Joerg Haider, I assume. ;)


11 posted on 08/05/2005 2:51:25 PM PDT by Kurt_D
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: LurkedLongEnough

RALLY FOR PEACE IS CODE WORD FOR "DHIMMIT SWINES MUST BLEED TO DEATH FOR OUR PEACE"


12 posted on 08/05/2005 2:54:55 PM PDT by JudgemAll (Condemn me, make me naked and kill me, or be silent for ever on my gun ownership and law enforcement)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LurkedLongEnough
terrorists have no religion and they aren't Muslims

That much is obvious. However, Islam has a small structural problem. All that is needed for a person to become a Moslem is to say a short phrase and perform a ritual regularly and no Moslem may from that time say that person is not a Moslem. It's in their by-laws and must be removed or replaced with something more socially valid, or the Connecticut protestors would remain in violation of their own contract.

13 posted on 08/05/2005 3:01:41 PM PDT by RightWhale (Withdraw from the 1967 UN Outer Space Treaty and open the Land Office)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LurkedLongEnough
"Guess what -- we're going to fight for the rights of Muslims," says Mateen. "Liberal and moderate Muslims that have nothing to do with this."

That's fine.

The only substantive differences between Islam and a handful of other false religions that claim to be "the one true world religion" is the repeated claims in their "scriptures" (Mohammed's largely incoherent and redundant ramblings in which he uses Allah as a rubber stamp for whatever suits him) is that they have a duty to impose it on others by any means necessary, and there are more of them in the world.

A reasonably articulate "radical" Muslim can quite easily pin down "liberal and moderate Muslims" with over a hundred verses they can point to to make them feel they are not being good Muslims, and thereby risking the considerable wrath of Allah, who by description has all the good and bad qualities of human nature but with super human power that allows him to grant eternal sensual pleasure or unbelievably cruel punishment according to his whim.

The reason "martyrdom" is appealing to those who buy into this really quite ridiculous religion, when looked at in the context of Mohammad's life, is that it is like a trump card in the game of poker Muslims play with Allah.

14 posted on 08/05/2005 3:03:05 PM PDT by TheClintons-STILLAnti-American
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LurkedLongEnough

So, how many Pakistanis showed up?


15 posted on 08/05/2005 3:11:30 PM PDT by Velveeta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Velveeta

Did they pass a fatwa against Osama, or Zarqawi?

They sure did against a guy for just writing a book called the Satanic Verses.

Anyone can say terrorism is bad, means nothing.


16 posted on 08/05/2005 3:24:10 PM PDT by TomasUSMC (FIGHT LIKE WW2, FINISH LIKE WW2. FIGHT LIKE NAM, FINISH LIKE NAM.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: TomasUSMC

Nope, no fatwa against Osama or Zarqawi.


17 posted on 08/05/2005 8:07:05 PM PDT by Velveeta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson