Muslims Stress Abrahamic Character of America

islam online ^ | 5/17/03

[knak]

WASHINGTON (IslamOnline.net) – A host of leading Muslim organizations in the U.S. are orchestrating a campaign to replace the "Judeo-Christian" phrase in describing the values and character that define the U.S. with a one that would not exclude its more than 8 million Muslim population, reported the Newhouse News Service.

The change campaigners, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, American Muslim Alliance, the Muslim American Society and the American Muslim Council, stress it is high time for Americans to stop using the outdated phrase and replace it with "Judeo-Christian-Islamic" or "Abrahamic," in reference to Abraham (Ibrahim), the patriarch held in common by the three monotheistic religions.

Dr. Agha K. Saeed, founder and chairman of the American Muslim Alliance, a Fremont-based political group, underlined that "the new language should be used in all venues where we normally talk about Judeo-Christian values, starting with the media, academia, statements by politicians and comments made in churches, synagogues and other places."

U.S. President George W. Bush is always quick to add "mosques," when he mentions "churches and synagogues."

"These are not just let's-make-you-feel-good words," he said, asserting that "these are words that define how we're related to each other."

Dr. Zahid Bukhari, vice president of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), says that an inclusive change of language could alter the perception that the U.S. as a Christian country is hell-bent on dominating Muslims in a modern-day crusade.

Sharifa Alkhateeb, president of the Washington-based Muslim Education Council, is quick to assert, "What we call Western culture is in fact based on Muslim Middle East culture, but the average American doesn't know that."

"We believe in heaven and hell, in doing good deeds, in following the Ten Commandments," asserts Hannah Hawk, a spokesperson for the Houston Muslim Public Affairs Council.

"Islamic values are not only compatible with American values, they're almost identical. I personally believe the most Islamic country in the world is America, where we believe in freedom of religion, freedom of the press and equality of all."

Pros & Cons

The call for new terms, which shows that words carry huge symbolic importance for Muslims trying to find their role in America after Sept. 11 and the Iraq war, has its proponents and opponents.

The campaign is significantly backed by non-Muslim organizations, including the head of the National Council of Churches.

Rev. Bob Edgar, general secretary of the council, which represents 36 Christian denominations, said he prefers "Abrahamic" to "Judeo-Christian-Islamic" because it "rolls off the tongue a little easier."

"The more inclusive we can be, the more committed we are to the founding fathers and mothers who struggled with the issue of respect for each other's religious faiths," he asserted.

The Right wing Christians are, however, opposed to this change and claim that to alter the phrase "Judeo-Christian" is political correctness and revisionist history at its worst.

"A lot of the ideas that underpin civil liberties come from Judeo-Christian theology," said Rev. Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals.

"What the Islamic community needs to make are positive contributions to culture and society so we can include them," he argued, turning a blind eye to the increasingly important role that Muslims are playing in the American society.

Another opinion based on ill-informed view of Islam comes from Michael Cromartie, vice president of the Washington-based Ethics and Public Policy Center, who alleges that a "Judeo-Christian understanding of things like freedom of conscience and liberty" are embodied in the American Constitution.

He claimed that "Muslims weren’t part of that, even though they’re part pf the discussion now, " forgetting they have been in the U.S. for over 200 years.

[MeekMom]

Sorry, Poohbah, I stand by the desire for all muslims to go back to their sandboxes and blow themselves up, instead of US.

[Imagine]

Action Plan: 1) assemble fleet of troop transport vessels in port cities; 2) move, via bus and/or train all US dwelling Muslims to said ports; 3) load muslims onto ships, send forthwith to middle east muslim country; 4) bulldoze all mosques and islamic schools in US; 5) Concurrently, close borders with military; 6) Pop a Bud, gloat over job well accomplished and relax.

PS, add to ship passenger list any leftwing dimwit that complains.

[Poohbah]

Sorry, Poohbah, I stand by the desire for all muslims to go back to their sandboxes and blow themselves up, instead of US.

Sorry, MeekMom, Hillary Clinton stands by the desire for all Christians to go back to their sandboxes and blow themselves up instead of Americans.

As I said, many are American citizens, which means you cannot summarily deport them, unless you're willing to surrender your rights on someone else's political whim.

[Poohbah]

You forgot:

7) Get shut down by the ACLU before your little plan can even get one busload of Muslims

8) Get convicted of "violation of civil rights under color of authority"

9) Get stuffed into general population in the same prison as the El Rukn gang

10) Spend the remainder of your short life trying to not get gang-raped in the shower

[Howlin]

That "8 million" is NOT accurate. I've heard it's more like 4.

[Howlin]

It's not 8 million.

[LenS]

No need. Most of those who are citizens also happen to be felons. Just pick them up on probation violations and send them back to the slammer for life.

[LenS]

No problem. Ask them for a loyalty oath sworn on a Torah. Those that don't, charge them with a hate crime, then deport them. It's time to use the PC nonsense against our enemies.

[LenS]

"Islamic values are not only compatible with American values, they're almost identical. I personally believe the most Islamic country in the world is America, where we believe in freedom of religion, freedom of the press and equality of all."

I haven't seen so many bold-faced lies since the fall of the Soviet Union.

[Poohbah]

The problem is, dear lad...

Our enemies are far better at it, and they'd instantly demand that you pray to Mecca and make a Haj, on pain of execution.

[Poohbah]

No need. Most of those who are citizens also happen to be felons. Just pick them up on probation violations and send them back to the slammer for life.

Actually, most of the citizens AREN'T felons.

[Poohbah]

True enough...but it's amazing how many idiots out there are willing to exterminate 4-8 million (or however many) people because of the actions of a few...

[LiteKeeper]

mega-dittoes

[50sDad]

There is a move afoot to change re-paint "B.C." as "Before Common Era" and rename "A.D." (Anno Dominai, "Year of Our Lord" as "C.E." for "Common Era." Change the words quietly, and before you know it, a generation has be taught a repainted line in our laughable public schools, and history has been rewritten.

[Imagine]

Minor details indeed...
solution: 1) load ACLU lawyers on first ship out. 2) load jurists who agree with the ACLU lawyers on the first ship out. 4) torpedo ship (naw, just kidding) 3) Declare martial law to suspend civil rights -- or should this be number one?

Ya know... your defeatist attitude is just what the ACLU loves. It's about time we took our country back from those scum and the scum they protect.

[MeekMom]

Well, that's still 4 million too many, but thanks Howlin.

[The Grammarian]

Actually, twenty years ago you could have called it "a move afoot." Today, it's more like an accomplished fact.

[Tailgunner Joe]

but it's amazing how many idiots out there are willing to exterminate 4-8 million (or however many) people because of the actions of a few...

You need to quit bashing our president. He was completely justified in waging war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On the other hand, maybe you just don't know the diffenrence between deportation and extermination.

[watchin]

Funny, I can't remember anything about Abraham strapping on explosives and blowing up women and children. I'll have to check my Bible again.

[watchin]

I personally believe the most Islamic country in the world is America, where we believe in freedom of religion, freedom of the press and equality of all."

Uh, okay. Then the LEAST islamic countries are the islamic countries, where all of the above are forbidden? Gotcha.