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New stamp honors U.S. Muslims
San Antonio Express News
| Septembe 1, 2001
| J. Michael Parker
Posted on 10/22/2001 6:36:52 PM PDT by Anima Mundi
For the first time ever, American Muslims will see a U.S. postage stamp honor their religion and culture.
And theyre delighted - but San Antonio Muslim leaders hope the gesture is only a first step toward grater understanding and respect for Islam in mainstream America.
The 34-cent stamp will be available at post offices starting today. It has gold Arabic calligraphy on a blue background, with the English text, Eid Greetings, to feature the two most important Islamic festivals, Eid al-Fitr and Eid ao-Adha.
Eid al-Fitr breaks the fast to end Ramadan, the Islamic holy monthly. Eid al-Adha recalls Abrahams willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail, and comes at the end of the annual Hajj, the period of pilgrimage to Mecca.
Its about time this country did something to recognize the Muslim holidays, said Muhammad Choudary, president of the Islamic Center of San Antonio. We are a large minority.
Nazli Siddiqui, who came to the United States from Pakistan in 1984, said Muslims are the nations fastest-growing religious group and soon will be its second largest religious minority. They have increasing political clout, too, she said.
Republicans were heavily supported by Muslims in the last election. Given the closeness of their victory, President Bush wouldnt be in the White House now without Muslim support, Siddiqui said.
Imam Fotouh-Abouelsha of the Islamic Center of San Antonio, speaking through an interpreter, said the stamp is a welcome sign of recognition. We appreciate it. It shows that people in charge care abut Muslim feelings, he said. It will help, but its not the only thing that is needed.
Abouelsha said Americans in general seem insensitive to Muslim meeds.
For example, Jews have their Sabbath on Saturday and CHristians on Sunday. The way the American workweek has evolved, non-Jews and non-Christians get those days off, too. But the Muslim holy day is Friday, a general workday.
Many employers deny Muslims sufficient time from their jobs to attend mosque services, or a place at their office, store or factory to pray - as if their religious obligations were unimportant, the imam said.
They say, You can go on your lunch hour. But the service takes longer than that. Those who come will be in a hurry while theyre here and they also wont get to eat lunch. Abouelsha said.
He said Muslims should be able to count on at least a half-day each Friday to fulfill their commitment. They could work Sunday instead, he suggested.
Failing that, even having a proper place to pray at the appointed times would be a major step forward, Siddiqui said.
More cultural sensitivity is needed, Siddiqui said. Muslim children sometimes are teased when classmates see them fasting during Ramadan, and school officials could help by explaining the holiday and encouraging respect, she said.
In airports, were subjected to more thorough security and measures because of stereotypes of Muslims that exist, she said.
American Muslims see reporting on the Arab-Israeli conflict by U.S news organizations in the Middle East as biased, blaming only the Palestinians for the violence, Choudary said. Jews have had better access to news outlets than Muslims, he added.
Still, things arent as bad as they used to be, Choudary said. When I first cfame here from Pakistan more than 30 years ago, we wore Pakistani dress and were stopped by a policeman. He thought we were in our night clothes, he said.
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To: Anima Mundi
How about this, The post office conviently runs out of regular stamps, but has plenty of these scumlism stamps for you!
Stamp
EID Greetings |
|
![Stamp Products Still Available](/images/buttons/still.gif)
|
Press ReleaseTechnical Details Below FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUGUST 1, 2001
U.S. POSTAGE STAMP CELEBRATING MUSLIM HOLIDAY TO BE ISSUED BY UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE Eid Stamp Part of Holiday Celebrations Series WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. Postal Service is expanding its Holiday Celebrations Series with a new stamp highlighting the Muslim holiday of Eid.
The 34-cent Eid stamp will be issued on Sept. 1 at the annual Islamic Society of North America's convention at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 North River Road, Des Plaines, Ill, at 11:45 a.m. The stamp will be available at the convention and at post offices nationwide on Sept. 1.
"This is a proud moment for the Postal Service, the Muslim community, and Americans in general as we issue a postage stamp to honor and commemorate two important Islamic celebrations," said Azeezaly S. Jaffer, Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications for the Postal Service, who will dedicate the stamp. "The Eid stamp will help us highlight the business, educational and social contributions of the estimated six to seven million Muslims in this country whose cultural heritage has become an integral part of the fabric of this great nation."
The Eid stamp commemorates the two most important festivalsor eidsin the Islamic calendar: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. On these days, Muslims wish each other "Eid mubarak," the phrase featured in Islamic calligraphy on the stamp. "Eid mubarak" translates literally as "blessed festival," and can be paraphrased as "May your religious holiday be blessed." This phrase can be applied to both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
Joining Jaffer will be Danny Jackson, Postal Service Vice President, Great Lakes Area; Mohamed Zakariya, calligrapher and Eid stamp designer and W. Deen Mohammed, spokesperson for the Muslim American Society.
"W.D.M. Ministry and the Muslim American Society members and our Muslim families celebrate the issue of this Eid stamp by the Postal Service," said W. Deen Mohammed. "It is beautiful. We love it."
The first day of the Muslim lunar month of Shawwal, Eid al-Fitr signifies "The Feast of Breaking the Fast." This festival marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. As prescribed in the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, fasting during Ramadan begins from just before first light until sunset. Eid al-Fitr is observed by offering special alms with prayers, feasting, exchanging gifts and visiting family and friends.
Signifying "The Feast of the Sacrifice," Eid al-Adha occurs approximately two months and ten days after Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Adha comes at the end of the hajjthe annual period of pilgrimage to the holy city of Meccaand commemorates Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail. (This is the Muslim account of the Judeo-Christian story of Abraham and Isaac.) Eid al-Adha is celebrated with prayers and social gatherings and traditionally includes the sacrifice of a lamb (or any other animal permitted for food in Islam) as an act of thanksgiving for Allah's mercy. The sacrificial animal is distributed among family, friends and the poor.
In 2002, Eid al-Adha will be celebrated on Feb. 23 and Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated on Dec. 6.
Previous stamps in the Holiday Celebrations series are Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Cinco de Mayo. The Thanksgiving stamp will also be issued in 2001 as part of the series.
The Eid stamp, designed by Zakariya of Arlington, Va., features the Arabic phrase "Eid mubarak" in gold calligraphy on a blue background. English text on the stamps reads "EID GREETINGS."
Employing traditional methods and instruments to create this design, Zakariya chose a script known in Arabic as "thuluth" and in Turkish as "sulus." He describes it as "the choice script for a complex composition due to its open proportions and sense of balance." He used homemade black ink, and his pens were crafted from seasoned reeds from the Near East and Japanese bamboo from Hawaii. The paper was specially prepared with a coating of starch and three coats of alum and egg-white varnish, then burnished with an agate stone and aged for more than a year.
Zakariya's black-and-white design was then colorized by computer. The colors chosen for the stampgold script on a blue backgroundare reminiscent of great works of Islamic calligraphy. This is Zakariya's first project for the Postal Service.
To see the Eid stamp, and other forthcoming stamps and stationery in the 2001 U.S. stamp program, visit the Postal Store at www.usps.com and click on "Stamp Release Schedule." To see previous releases, select "Index of Stamp Issues."
All current stamps and other philatelic products, as well as a free philatelic catalog, are available by calling toll free 1 800 STAMP-24. A selection of current stamps and gift items are also available online at the Postal Store.
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42
posted on
10/22/2001 7:38:56 PM PDT
by
deport
To: MHGinTN
I notice the ACLU rushing to block this via federal court action ... NOT. Of course not. Separation of Church and State only applies to the Christian church. Any other religion is just fine and dandy and must be included and honored and revered and embraced. Hmmmm. Why could it be that Christianity is the only thing that scares the liberals?
MM
To: mombonn
At a large department store warehouse in Cincinnati, in the early 90s, there was one black muslim who did the prayer rug thing several times a day-but then he probably did get out of any more work than those taking smoke breaks.
To: Sabertooth
BOYCOTT!Boycotting the post office might be a pretty good idea right now, what with all the Anthrax floating around...
45
posted on
10/22/2001 7:49:47 PM PDT
by
xm177e2
Comment #46 Removed by Moderator
To: APBaer
My mail will not have any Islamic stamps, I will tell you that. If you see any reason that a Muslim deserves respect or has done anything worthwhile, or kind, showing consideration for others , please tell me about it. I need to know about it.
47
posted on
10/22/2001 8:01:42 PM PDT
by
tessalu
To: APBaer
My mail will not have any Islamic stamps, I will tell you that. If you see any reason that a Muslim deserves respect or has done anything worthwhile, or kind, showing consideration for others , please tell me about it. I need to know about it.
48
posted on
10/22/2001 8:01:44 PM PDT
by
tessalu
To: MHGinTN
So, it is un-PC to make any religious reference to Christianity in public...Does the Post Office still issue Christmas stamps?
49
posted on
10/22/2001 8:03:41 PM PDT
by
Salman
To: MississippiMan
The bible does say that Abraham offered his son, Issac, on Mt Moriah which is in Israel. The Quran says that Abraham was in Saudi Arabia and offered Ishmael there at Mecca, and claims that Abraham and Ishmael built the kaba. The bible says that Ishamael was sent away with his mother, Hagar.
So who do you want to believe? Somone is not telling the truth. If God be God, then worship him, and if allah be god, then worship him. Both cannot be true. If God be God, worship him, and if allah be god then worship him. But clearly, someone is not telling the truth.
50
posted on
10/22/2001 8:11:58 PM PDT
by
tessalu
To: Salman
I believe the USPS limits those stamps to secular images of Christmas - good luck finding one that says "He Is Born", or similar text.
To: Registered
52
posted on
10/22/2001 8:16:51 PM PDT
by
Moridin
To: WRhine
"Do the stamps show jets piling into the WTC?"
You stole my line!
To: Moridin
Camel humpbump!
To: DWSUWF
Spread the anthrax rumor...no one will buy them then :O)
I find it hard to believe that this program will be carried through. Anyone know if it is still active ?
To: Anima Mundi
Oh, good. I can send in my order to the House O' Pork gift shop now.
56
posted on
10/22/2001 8:21:23 PM PDT
by
neutrino
To: Anima Mundi
The stamp with a Muslim hijacker and a misprinted upside down airplane will be worth the most.
To: tessalu
But clearly, someone is not telling the truth Bet the hijackers know the truth....and it ain't what they thought it was...
58
posted on
10/22/2001 8:21:43 PM PDT
by
is_is
To: Anima Mundi
OMFG, you got to be kidding me. There is not way in hell I am going to ever use it. This PC crap is going too damn far!
59
posted on
10/22/2001 8:23:30 PM PDT
by
Crispy
To: tessalu
I will worship almighty God and His Son Jesus Christ. Is that a clear enough stance? :-)
MM
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