My impression of CAIR has always been that they are the Muslim version of the Anti Defamation League. I am as skeptical of organizations that work closely with the government as I am skeptical of the government itself. It has always seemed to me that special interest groups are fundamentally designed to aim the guns of government at their enemies and utilize legislative intimidation against their detractors. But I'll admit they do some good. Again, I just don't know.
So, I thought what better way to get the scoop than to visit my own local chapter, CAIR-SFBA.
Often rightwing pundits accuse Muslims of not only following a religion, but a political ideology. They claim that CAIR and similar organizations represent a covert conspiracy of radical Muslims who's only aim is to replace the American republic with a Saudi style tyranny. Further, the purveyors of the new McCarthyism claim that this is to be accomplished under the guise of civil rights. What irony! That the very weapon which will be used to destroy civil rights in America is civil rights itself! Or maybe it's all bollocks. Those anti-Muslim talking heads who peddle this tripe would be surprised to find that the target audience of CAIR's message are Muslims who's political ideology is disappointingly indistinguishable from the American mainstream.
On Sunday, November 15th, I attended the CAIR SFBA 15th Annual Fundrasing Banquet to form my own opinion about the organization.
After the 15th Annual Banquet of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter I was invited to the 7th Annual Banquet of the Sacramento Valley chapter of CAIR. I attended not necessarily to support CAIR, but to form my opinion of them.
Here are my second impressions after the CAIR-SV dinner. I also transcribed Sheikh Alauddin's speech at CAIR-SV dinner which was the high point of both banquets in my opinion, and worth a read. Enjoy.
