Posted on 09/01/2003 12:14:25 PM PDT by veronica
Even before the Sept. 11 attacks and the crackdown that followed, American Muslim leaders generally had come to believe they had made a mistake.
In 2000, they made their first unified endorsement in a presidential race, backing George W. Bush. Many thought he would take a harder line against Israel, and, based on statements he made while campaigning, would protect the rights of immigrants facing deportation.
Muslims say they were disappointed on both counts. Now, feeling the additional sting of being scrutinized in the domestic hunt for terrorists, they are mobilizing to express their anger at the polls in 2004.
At their largest convention of the year, which ends today, national Muslim leaders announced plans to register 1 million Muslim voters and make civil rights a top issue in any endorsement of a presidential candidate.
"A defining moment of Islam in America is approaching," said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights group based in Washington. "We cannot surrender our future and our destiny to hate in this country."
Agha Saeed, head of the Muslim American Congress, led the crowd in a chant. "I am an American, I am a Muslim and I vote," he said, joined by thousands gathered for the Islamic Society of North America meeting.
After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Mr. Bush won points with American Muslims by visiting a mosque and declaring Islam a peaceful religion.
But since then, the federal government has detained hundreds of immigrants, shut down U.S. Muslim charities suspected of terrorist ties and gained broad new powers to monitor citizens under the USA Patriot Act.
The Bush administration said these moves have been crucial for U.S. security. American Muslims say they are being scapegoated.
A White House spokesman referred questions about the presidential race to the Bush campaign, whose spokeswoman did not immediately reply to a request for comment Sunday.
It is unclear what effect Muslims can have in the 2004 elections.
Estimates of the number of U.S. Muslims vary dramatically from 2 million to 6 million. But immigrant Muslims generally are highly educated professionals with the means to make significant campaign donations.
Also, their community has matured dramatically in the past four years.
The assault on Islam that followed the suicide hijackings that killed thousands in New York and Washington compelled Muslims around the country to defend their faith.
National Muslim organizations, including Mr. Awad’s, reported a dramatic increase in donations and membership.
Ya know what? I'd be just a *little* bit more comfortable if any of the peaceful ones turned in some of the not so peaceful ones...
How do you know that all of those arrests weren't accomplished with the help of "the peaceful ones"?
Hey, welcome to the world of compassionate neoconazis and pod people. Hate everyone who doesn't share your narrow world view. The operative word is always -- HATE.
Richard W.
Lots of Yankees think Southerners all marry their cousins, too, Bunk. This is just plain-ole bigotry.
Furthermore, Daughter, a Muslim can be nice as pie, but he is honor bound to support the Jihad of another
Another bullshit item, Bunk.
"Bunk's" a good screenname for you.
Arkady, I'm sure you're gonna be feeling better soon because I don't think you can get much sicker than that. ;-)
Supporting the war on terrorism is having a "narrow world view?" Make no mistake, it is the war on terrorism that Bush is waging that the Islamists so dislike. But reality bites, know what I mean?
No wonder some blacks mistrust all whites.
By your logic, one honkey-lyncher means all honkies might be totin' a rope!
If you think that Christianity is a religion of peace and tolerance, Islam is the exact opposite.
This is an issue where one needs to realize and understand that Islam is an idealogy that does not coexist with Democracy.
The misconception is that Islam is solely a religion. It is in fact much more.
There are no truly Democratic Muslim countries, Malaysia and Turkey are the closest you can get. When you learn more about Islam you will understand clearly the reasons why it is a threat to Western civilization and our own national security.
It was fishwrap back then and I see it has not changed since.
Almost makes me feel nostalgic.
I've used more intellectual pieces of paper in the bathroom than the 'Washington Star'.
I have no idea what you mean. I was commenting on how many neoconazis, assorted pod people and bots base their comments on hating others. It seems to be the common thread that binds them together and makes them sound like such lunatics.
Richard W.
Because broadly publishing this little gem would serve the goals of the "islam is a religion of peace" propaganda machine.
We wouldn't be able to miss hearing about it every hour on the hour for months on end. It's just too useful to our enemies...
She's defending her decent Muslim neighbors, not "islamofascists."
The rest of your post reads like three-shots into a Jack Daniels afternoon.
I'm very tolerant.
My toleration is wearing out REAL fast.
I can get along with all types and varieties of Christians, Hindus, Bhuddists, and so on.
They don't want me dead.
The ALLAH AKBHAR crowd, on the other hand...
America is a democratic country, with Christians, and Muslims, and Jews, and atheists all going to the same ball games. We'll never be a theocracy, of any kind, and that is a very good thing.
When you learn more about Islam you will understand clearly the reasons why it is a threat to Western civilization and our own national security.
I know all about Islam, and I didn't read it in a Jack Chick novel.
I mean the FACT is that most of the terrorism and the resulting death and misery that is spreading over this planet like a cancer is being done in the name of Islam. Not Christianity and not Judaism. The Islamists apparently won't face up to that. But their inability to do so cannot and will not stop Bush and others from pursuing the killers and their minions.
And what exactly is a "neoconazi"? Do tell.
Tortured souls, those leftists.
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