Re: Deciding on the Moon
There is a concept of "matla" in Islam... which, in simple terms, basically means what areas should join together and celebrate based on moon-sighting in any part of matla. For example, technically the entire Pakistan is one matla, so if moon is sighted in Karachi, folks in Lahore will also celebrate Eid.
US is considered matla, and if moon is sighted in San Diego, it will also mean Eid in New York.
However, recently ISNA is pushing for a fixed calendar, that takes out the element of moon sighting. Based on calculations, an Islamic calendar for the next 5 years is already published. Because it is easy to plan for events when the dates are certain, many masjids and Islmaic centers in the US are now following this ISNA-sponsored fixed calendar.
There is another school of thought, that says that we are one ummah, and if moon is sighted any where in the world, and that information is verified and transmitted in a timely manner (with internet and communication technologies so advanced now), then muslims all over the world should follow that as a common calendar for the entire world.