Below is the link and the article from today’s Poughkeepsie Journal is also pasted below. Note the interesting facts about July 4th and Thomas Jefferson! Please feel free to forward as you deem appropriate.
ANY thoughts on this, please share?
best,
Dushwari
http://poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080120/OPINION/801200323/1004
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Moderate Muslims hope to break stereotypes
VALLEY VIEWS
“You are not welcome here!”
Many Muslims have heard such statements, and it has given them pause.
Should we take such statements to mean it is one person’s opinion, a thought of a group, or the thinking of an entire community?
America’s relationship with Muslims continues to be intertwined and complex. There are Muslims who are Americans and deserving of all the rights of U.S. citizens. There are Muslims throughout the world who belong to mainstream Islam.
However, America is engaged in a “war on terror” primarily aimed toward Muslim extremists who have hijacked Islam for an agenda of their own. But when all Muslims are lumped together, it becomes extremely difficult for moderate Muslims to distinguish themselves from the extremists.
It is worth noting that Muslims have been in the United States for more than 200 years. In fact, as we celebrate each Fourth of July, we may also need to remember that the first country to recognize America as an independent nation was Morocco, a Muslim country.
Last year, some people were quite shocked to learn that one of America’s founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, owned a Koran. Not only that, but 200 years later America elected Keith Ellison as its first Muslim-American congressman. He took his oath of office on Thomas Jefferson’s Koran.
New Americans
Muslims continue to make inroads, but we frequently hear that the moderate Muslims are not speaking out. Americans need to remember that a majority of American-Muslims are either new immigrants from a variety of countries who are still establishing their roots, or are converts from other religions, and so have yet to form a cohesive base.
Furthermore, Islam does not have a central leadership that can represent a unified Muslim voice. Also, radical statements are more likely to catch the media’s attention than more moderate voices. But, Americans need to be assured that enough of us are voicing our concerns, and we need their help to carry the message.
As I have been following this “war on terror,” I have come to the realization that it actually is a “war for the hearts and minds.” For example, here in America, the Muslim-Americans are constantly proving they are patriotic Americans like any other American. At the same time they are also reaching out and educating their neighbors about Islam and Muslims.
America, on the other hand, is sending its best and brightest to spread American values to the host Muslim nations.
We all have to accept that we are in this together and success can only be achieved with cooperation with moderate Muslims, not confrontation with all Muslims. Unfortunately, mainstream Muslims are also kept busy battling the ill-information and misinformation.
As we, Muslim-Americans, struggle with these issues, we also see a glimmer of hope. This glimmer appears in many small forms: for example, today more Americans know more about Islam and Muslims than ever before.
Similarly, American troops who are in Afghanistan and Iraq are not only performing their duties but also acting as American ambassadors. One such interaction I have had was following the blog of Marine Cap. Anthony Licari, a Fishkill native. Something that caught my attention was that he was fighting the war in Iraq with an open mind. His blog showed an insight of an American who had a positive attitude even in the face of adversity.
Last fall, the 110th U.S. Congress overwhelmingly passed House Resolution 635, recognizing the commencement of the Muslim month of Ramadan. And President Bush hosted an international summit for an Arab-Israeli dialogue in Annapolis. With Americans such as Ellison, Licari and other like minded leaders, we Muslim-Americans see glimmers of hope.
Aziz M. Ahsan , a 9/11 survivor, is an attorney and a resident of Hopewell Junction.
Teggy, Zabardast!