Don't stereotype Muslims; strive for interfaith peace

[sonz]

Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi

Don't stereotype Muslims; strive for interfaith peace

There was not a single American Muslim involved with the September 11 tragedy. Muslim leaders condemn terrorism and have always cooperated for peace and security.

Yet some in the media started making stereotypical allegations against Muslims, creating an atmosphere of hate against our community. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and other criminals are considered representative of Muslims, at least the way Steven Emerson, the Rev. Pat Robertson and other Islamophobic neoconservatives interpret the Quran.

Intimidation, vandalism, harassment, denial of civil rights, job discrimination and even bodily assault of Muslims has become a real concern.

Security officials, who recognized the importance of having American Muslims participate in their anti-terror team, encouraged bridge-building and communication. This was helpful, but not enough to protect Muslims' civil liberties.

In many cases, Muslims became the targets of the government's agencies. Innocent individuals became the victims of travel troubles, arrest and imprisonment without charges, secret surveillance, and deportation for minor visa or green card paper problems. Some even have been charged with "supporting terrorism" for feeding hungry orphans.

Federal prosecutors even got the dismissal of terror convictions in Detroit after saying the original prosecution was filled with mistakes. I ask the law enforcement officials to help stop this abuse of power.

Islam was not designed to fight America. This religion existed 1,000 years before the establishment of this great republic and always promoted the message of love, peace and justice.

Shame on the so-called Muslims who let criminals hijack this beautiful faith, declaring others as unbelievers, blowing themselves up in weddings and funerals. Shame on those who shoot and bomb shrines, kill the homeless and hungry in Sadr City, Iraq, and behead people. They are not jihadists, but evil gangsters.

According to the Prophet Muhammad, a faithful person is not just one who prays but one who makes people feel safe from harm. We must create an interfaith covenant to work together with love for the One God and fight fanaticism in all its forms with the weapon of education.

I know that once in a while there is some discomfort between Jews and Muslims in Michigan regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It's clear that this is not a conflict between Islam and Judaism but justice and injustice.

While the American Muslim leadership urged the Palestinians to stop suicide operations against the Israelis, I wish American Jewish organizations would insist that the Israeli army end its nonstop crimes and assassination policy against the democratically elected Palestinian leaders and innocent women and kids.

Our real interfaith hopes lie with leaders like those 400 honorable rabbis who wrote to President Bush, urging a constructive engagement with the Palestinians. Don't cater to fanatic Zionists who can't tolerate any communication with Muslims.

May God save this nation from all evil and harm, so we won't wake up one day and say, "How did we let all these things happen?"

Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi heads the Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights. E-mail: [email protected].


http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...1008/OPINION01

[Woodrow]

As best as I can find there have only been 2 American Muslims ever convicted of terroristic activities. I am also fairly certain that there has been less then 25 Muslims from any country ever convicted of Terrorism on US soil. Out of the 5 million or so, Muslims in the US, that is a very low percentage.

[Joe98]

Out of the 5 million or so, Muslims in the US.....

But how can that be? The US is waging a war on Islam!

[bint_muhammed]

But how can that be? The US is waging a war on Islam!

yeah! or it could be that the americans know islam is safe however they want oil! dont ya think!

[Woodrow]

But how can that be? The US is waging a war on Islam!

Could be because most US Muslims are US citizens, born and raised here. We are just as loyal citizens as everybody else. There are things we do not like, but we try to change those in peacefull ways and at the voting booths.

[Joe98]

So maybe its not a war on islam???????

[sweetbanana86]

you know out of all tradiges there is also a sliver lining and so many people have converted and reverted to islam since 9/11 and honestly i just blame Bush and i mean i thought this war would be over after Bush left office but i get the feeling the American ppl are stubborn and are going to vote for someone similar to his ideologies when the next presdential election comes

[Looking4Peace]

you know out of all tradiges there is also a sliver lining and so many people have converted and reverted to islam since 9/11 and honestly i just blame Bush and i mean i thought this war would be over after Bush left office but i get the feeling the American ppl are stubborn and are going to vote for someone similar to his ideologies when the next presdential election comes

Very good point there

[Djinn]

It's more than stereotyping Muslims, the U.S. War Machine needs conflicts to run and to stimulate the economy especially in the military-industrial complex. And since the U.S. 'traditional adversary' -communism has been defeated with the fall of the U.S.S.R. Who will U.S. turn to as an enemy to justify their military expansionism and influence through occupation? If you've been watching the news lately, it's any country that has to do with Islam and whom does not support the U.S. defacto presence in the middle-east.

[Zulkiflim]

Salaam,

Pretty sad,this article.so the US Muslim are saying that their citizenship comes first rather than Islam?

All this shows the weakness of the ummah in every country in the world,how divided we are ,how we all look towards our own needs..

Saw an article yesterday of a person sayin MUSLIM FOR BUSH..despite the iraqis death and murder and lies

How can a fmaily be together if another say it is OK?

Alhamdulilah to those who seek the ummah as one and not as many nationalities.

[------]

So Americna muslim are not at ..

American

[Joe98]

Shame on the so-called Muslims who let criminals hijack this beautiful faith, declaring others as unbelievers, blowing themselves up in weddings and funerals. Shame on those who shoot and bomb shrines, kill the homeless and hungry in Sadr City, Iraq, and behead people. They are not jihadists, but evil gangsters.

Muslims would never do this! Who allowed this post on this forum!

[searchingsoul]

"Intimidation, vandalism, harassment, denial of civil rights, job discrimination and even bodily assault of Muslims has become a real concern."

Since when did the actions above become a real concern in the USA? Immediately after 9/11 I heard a few reports about needless vandalism, etc. I haven't heard such reports in years. I'm not saying that such things do not happen but I think if they do it is on a very small scale and would be comparable to the injustices commited against any group of people.

[Geronimo]

"Intimidation, vandalism, harassment, denial of civil rights, job discrimination and even bodily assault of Muslims has become a real concern."

Since when did the actions above become a real concern in the USA? Immediately after 9/11 I heard a few reports about needless vandalism, etc. I haven't heard such reports in years. I'm not saying that such things do not happen but I think if they do it is on a very small scale and would be comparable to the injustices commited against any group of people.

I doubt it happenns very oftem. The US has little tolerance for hate crimes. We are still trying to distance ourselves from the crimes commited during the civil rights movements. Hate crimes here are punished a lot more harshly than a "regular" crime.

[Geronimo]

It's more than stereotyping Muslims, the U.S. War Machine needs conflicts to run and to stimulate the economy especially in the military-industrial complex. And since the U.S. 'traditional adversary' -communism has been defeated with the fall of the U.S.S.R. Who will U.S. turn to as an enemy to justify their military expansionism and influence through occupation? If you've been watching the news lately, it's any country that has to do with Islam and whom does not support the U.S. defacto presence in the middle-east.

You do realize Communism isn't dead right? If we wanted to wage a war I'm sure NK, China, Venesuela, Cuba, amongst others are willing to oblige. What baffles me is whenever a muslim try to say the US is targeting them they always seems to forget the help we gave them in Bosnia against Milosovich and in Afghanistan against Russia.

[sonz]

What baffles me is whenever a muslim try to say the US is targeting them they always seems to forget the help we gave them in Bosnia against Milosovich and in Afghanistan against Russia.

Bosnia???

The Fall of Srebrenica and the Failure of U.N. Peacekeeping
http://www.hrw.org/summaries/s.bosnia9510.html

why do u think the US helped Afghanistan against russia???

chk this out

lthough the USSR had been interfering in Afghan affairs long before the US, it is worth noting that contrary to the conventional wisdom, the United States appears to have begun operations in Afghanistan before the full-fledged Soviet invasion. Former National Security Adviser under the Carter Administration, Zbigniew Brzezenski, has admitted that an American operation to infiltrate Afghanistan was launched long before Russia sent in its troops on 27 December 1979. Agence France Press reported that: “Despite formal denials, the United States launched a covert
operation to bolster anti-Communist guerrillas in Afghanistan at least six months before the 1979 Soviet invasion of the country, according to a former top US official.”[2]

Brzezenski stated that “We actually did provide some support to the Mujahedeen before the invasion.”[3] “We did not push the Russians into invading, but we knowingly increased the probability that they would.” He also bragged: “That secret operation was an excellent idea. The effect was to draw the Russians into the Afghan trap.”[4] In other words, the US appears to have been attempting to foster and manipulate unrest amongst various Afghan factions to destabilise the already unpopular Communist regime and bring the country under US sphere of influence. This included the recruitment of local leaders and warlords to form mercenary rebel groups, who would wage war against the Soviet-backed government, to institute a new regime under American control.

http://www.mediamonitors.net/mosaddeq2.html

[wilberhum]

I think most Americans don’t negatively stereotype Muslims. I diffidently do not. Just being on forums you see a wide range of attitudes. That being said I have some comments
.

Some in the media started making stereotypical allegations against Muslims

I see this charge over and over, but I have never seen this being done by any reliable news source. Can anyone show me where this is done?

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and other criminals are considered representative of Muslims

Representative, No. Yet there are members of this form that conceder him and other criminals good Muslims and glorify them.

Intimidation, vandalism, harassment, denial of civil rights, job discrimination and even bodily assault of Muslims has become a real concern.

This is a bad thing? Or is the implication that only Muslims are concerned. I think most Americans are concerned about anyone that suffers these problems. Any one that experiences any of there things need to report it to the police. Because it is illegal.

Security officials, who recognized the importance of having American Muslims, participate in their anti-terror team, encouraged bridge-building and communication. This was helpful, but not enough to protect Muslims' civil liberties.

So what else needs to be done? We have laws and violators are charged.

In many cases, Muslims became the targets of the government's agencies. Innocent individuals became the victims of travel troubles,

I have no question that this is a problem. In the real world you can’t double check every one. If given a choice to scrutinize a young Muslim male with a one-way ticket purchased with cash or a little old lady with her grandchild, I think the choice is obvious.

Imprisonment without charges

Of course there is always the American Shame (Guantanamo), but other than that? I doubt it. It is against the law. If this is really happening, it needs to be reported.

Secret surveillance

Is legal. If you aren’t doing anything wrong, what’s the problem?

Deportation for minor visa or green card paper problems.

So it’s a problem if the law is enforced? Sorry, I think it is a privilege for a forener to be here. I don’t see it as a problem to send foreign law breakers home.

Some even have been charged with "supporting terrorism" for feeding hungry orphans.

[MAD]Now I would like to see some back up to that statement.[/MAD]

Federal prosecutors even got the dismissal of terror convictions in Detroit after saying the original prosecution was filled with mistakes.

So the system worked. Right? Well maybe. Because “the original prosecution was filled with mistakes” does not mean the charges were baseless.

Shame on the so-called Muslims who let criminals hijack this beautiful faith,

That seams odd to me. Why wouldn’t you say “Shame on the so-called Muslims criminals that have hijacked this beautiful faith”? His way implies that the so-called Muslims are not criminals. And why not add “Shame on the so-called Muslims who praise the criminals that have hijacked this beautiful faith”?

According to the Prophet Muhammad....

The problems do not occur because of what Islam says; it occurs because of what some Muslims do.

While the American Muslim leadership………. against the democratically elected Palestinian leaders

Just because there were democratically elected, does not change the fact that they are a terrorist organization.

Don't cater to fanatic Zionists who can't tolerate any communication with Muslims.

I will go one step further, stop all support for Israel.

May God save this nation from all evil and harm, so we won't wake up one day and say, "How did we let all these things happen?"

Amen.

[Djinn]

You do realize Communism isn't dead right? If we wanted to wage a war I'm sure NK, China, Venesuela, Cuba, amongst others are willing to oblige. What baffles me is whenever a muslim try to say the US is targeting them they always seems to forget the help we gave them in Bosnia against Milosovich and in Afghanistan against Russia.

I take it you're american, just watch some unbiased news and you will see that China is actually no longer true communist, since it is now expanding its economy to a Free-Market, so they depend a lot on the U.S. for exports. Cuba is only bickering against the U.S. and are not a real threat anymore. The only menace coming from the socialist camp is NK (though it seems their rockets when lauched act more like torpedos) and maybe Venezula where actually Chavez's days in office are numbered. So my friend there is no longer any actual communist threats, your government just portray them as such, to keep tax-payers scared and avoid the burden of justifying where the money really goes.

[Geronimo]

I take it you're american, just watch some unbiased news and you will see that China is actually no longer true communist, since it is now expanding its economy to a Free-Market, so they depend a lot on the U.S. for exports. Cuba is only bickering against the U.S. and are not a real threat anymore. The only menace coming from the socialist camp is NK (though it seems their rockets when lauched act more like torpedos) and maybe Venezula where actually Chavez's days in office are numbered. So my friend there is no longer any actual communist threats, your government just portray them as such, to keep tax-payers scared and avoid the burden of justifying where the money really goes.

China isn't communist? I bet people in Tianemen would disagree. Chavez days in office are numbered? They just had an election and he was voted back in. Actually he's trying to change their constitution so he can be President for Life. Cuba isn't that far from the US and can send people here that could start a lot of trouble. NK has enough ordinance to wipe out all of SK. Unlike a lot of people I read everything from The Guardian, to the Nation, to Al-Jazera and Foxnews. I also spend time down at the VA and talk to people.

[Djinn]

China isn't communist? I bet people in Tianemen would disagree. Chavez days in office are numbered? They just had an election and he was voted back in. Actually he's trying to change their constitution so he can be President for Life. Cuba isn't that far from the US and can send people here that could start a lot of trouble. NK has enough ordinance to wipe out all of SK. Unlike a lot of people I read everything from The Guardian, to the Nation, to Al-Jazera and Foxnews. I also spend time down at the VA and talk to people.

True, but China's is a more open society now than it previously was in the 80's or during Mao's reign and has good ties with the U.S. and NATO. Cuba is strategically well positioned to the U.S. but the Cubans can not afford a conflict since they lack the ressourses and any prodominant allies that they had in the past. Although I stand corrected for Venezula, I just heard Chavez's speech on the news, and the guy could be a real nuissance but nothing more. For NK, well only time will tell as the current events will unfold.