A Good Idea

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
1

Better late than never…

Muslim outreach in high gear

American Muslims launch PR-style campaigns to defend Islam
NEW YORK, Nov. 6 — As Ramadan gets underway, the war on terror heats up and military action against Iraq looms, Muslim communities across America are on a PR mission to explain what their religion is all about. From political fundraisers and food drives to open houses at Mosques, grass roots Muslim groups are working hard to shake off the bad image Islam earned in many Americans’ eyes after the Sept. 11 attacks — an image they fear may get more tarnished with the prospect of another war in the Arab world.

WITH A QUARTER of Americans now admitting to having unfavorable feelings toward Muslim-Americans, according to a recent polls, and nearly 2,000 U.S. Muslims reporting acts of discrimination to civil rights groups since last year, many Muslims have decided it’s time to act.
“Over the past year, we realized that the media was essentially painting the entire population of 1.2 billion Muslims with one stroke as bad,” explained Anwar Hasan, founder and president of the Maryland-based Howard County Muslim Council. “That’s why we’re trying to reach out to the community now, to remove the fear and ultimately make America a better place.”

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http://www.msnbc.com/news/830635.asp?0dm=C1BPN

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thanks for the info.. but how do we get involved?
PM me and let me know.
Thanks!!!
:k:

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I think a good place to start would be to go here…

4

I think a good place to start would be taking a deep long look inwards.

Learn whatever the terrorists use as motivation actually does exist somewhere in the folds of what has become religion. All licenses for violence and intolerance taken by extremists are not entirely without support from religious tradition.

Now Fight THAT before you go on a hollow publicity blitz.

5

Re: A Good Idea

Late?

Muslim organizations and groups ranging from mosques to profesional associations to community groups have been discussing these issues for over a year on this specific issue and on other educational and awareness points for years.

to me its a 3 way reponsibility

  1. muslim groups should reach out and educate people and do PR etc etc. Maybe this is a better approach now since all the efforts last year did not get noticed by media
  2. Media needs to be more responsible and cover such events, statements rather than only what comes out of the mouth of some crazies
  3. People should educate themselves and reach out to people in their community to be more aware.

Every friday there are non muslims in my mosque to listen to the sermons and interact with people. These people make an effort to learn.

Now if some billy bob biggot is a lazy ass and cant be bothered to reach out and nothing is reality to him unless its on CNN, then thats this person’s problem. I have the same view about rabid anti-US ppl in middle east because they have not bothered to educate themselves and use their ignorance as a basis for their dislike.

quarter of the people dont like muslim-americans. that says a lot. and then we wonder why “they” dont like us. “those” being the anti-US ppl overseas.

I have interacted on muslim view with the plumber, the painter, mortgage banker and others I have run into during daily stuff. colleagues, friends, neighbours etc. Those ppl either reached out for info, or the topic came up somehow and we talked. Now if someone is goign to have a dislike due to ignorance its that person’s responsibility to learn just as much as it is mine to communicate.