Since the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, peace loving Muslims here in the US have born the brunt of hatred stemming from fear, stirred by the Republican Party. I am pleased to see that many are confronting the terrorism, not only from the Daesh, but also from the terrorist organization that threatens far more Americans.
Representatives from American Muslim organizations met at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on Monday to announce the launch of a two-pronged approach to combat extremism in the wake of the Paris attacks and San Bernardino and the ensuing anti-Muslim rhetoric and political incitement.
The United States Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), a coalition of leading national and local Muslim organizations, said this new program would focus on steering Muslim youths away from extremist propaganda associated with groups like ISIS and simultaneously oppose hate speech and inflammatory anti-Muslim rhetoric at Monday’s press conference.
The USCMO said that imams at mosques around the country will work to engage Muslim youth and steer them away from extremist rhetoric. The initiative is also working with interfaith groups in community outreach. One way they plan to spread awareness and understanding is to make mosques and Islamic centers more open to members of the general public.
Speaking at the event, Imam Johari Abdul-Malik of the Muslim Alliance in North America, said mosques would strive to do a “better job of reaching out to young people” about “how to avoid seductive approaches from ISIS and others on the internet.”… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Think Progress>
I consider it a most positive step for American Muslims to recognize that terrorists are created through the misuse of Islam in pursuit of an ultra-conservative political agenda, and to take steps to head off the propaganda. It is equally positive to oppose the creation of terrorists through the misuse of Christianity in pursuit of a Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christian political agenda. Let us not forget that we are far more likely to suffer death or injury at the hands of Republican criminals, pretending to represent Christianity, than we are at the hands of Daesh or Al Qaeda criminals, pretending to represent Islam.
10 Responses to “US Muslims Confront Terror Twice”
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I remember a WI initiative that was interfaith where Christians and Muslims alternated places of worship for mutual events and relationship building. In CA there are efforts towards mutual support that people of faith are striving to create that I hope are successful and replicated in cities across the country as a countermeasure to unchristian hate.
"Let us not forget that we are far more likely to suffer death or injury at the hands of Republican criminals, pretending to represent Christianity, than we are at the hands of Daesh or Al Qaeda criminals, pretending to represent Islam." And not just killed with violence, either, though white Christianists have certainly killed more people violently on American soil than have Islamic terrorists. But if you add in all the people they have killed by blocking health insurance, cutting benefits like SNAP, refusing to raise the minimum wage, blocking safe and legal abortion, voting for polluted air and water and food – we are not even in the same ball park, and maybe not even in the same country.
Excellent point about collateral deaths from Republican terrorism.
In a book review in the Dec. 13th N.Y. Times "Book Review " Karen Armstrong, a former nun and the author of "A History of God," wrote about Marilynne Robinson's "The Giveness of Things, Essays," that "Christinity, in her view has thus become the opposite of itself, and Christians seem preoccupied with "sins" Jesus never mentioned. For the prophets the great sin was always social injustice, but too many American Christians seem comfortable in a world in which 1 percent of the popuation controls 40 percent of the wealth, and are not perturbed to hear the Gospels cited to legitimize for-profit prisons or to sanctify the use of guns. Jesus said, "Blessed are you who are poor," but we now hear talk of the "unworthy poor" and of schemes that will humiliate and disposses them."
She goes on to say, regarding the exceptionalism of the American Christian view, that it is seen as THE only legiimate one, as other religions do, and have preached, as well, "But after studying the profundity and richness of world religions for over 20 years, I can no longer believe that any one faith has a monopoly on truth or wisdom."
Ms. Armstrong comments, as well, that "Robinson's insistence throughout these essays, that we recognize the limitations of our knowlege is timely and important."
What this comes down to is that we need to be accepting, inclusive, humane, compassionate…all those things that are anathema to the Pseudo-Christian right Trumps, Cruzes, and so on.
The actor, Mandy Potankin, on a recent Charlie Rose, talked about, and showed footage of, his experience on a shore of Greece, helping to gather in Syrian refugees, arriving in a boat, helping bring two choldren, and their families onto the shore, and urged people to go out and meet these ordinary (as opposed to monstrous) human people, get to know them, he said, and "Your life will be changed," to contact the International Rescue Commission,or some such, and find them in your area.
Sent you a star on Care 2 for this one. Now I want to read the book.
I fully agree with her. I believe that God honors all authentic faith, not just faith of those who share my beliefs.
They are showing wise decision making. Too bad our current crop of Republican candidates won't do the same. They are stirring up fear and causing the situation to be untenable for ordinary Muslim Americans.
Excelent initiatives of Muslim organiszations. In the past Muslims have spoken out against terrorism based on kidnapping and "rewriting" the Islam to suit the purpose of a very few, but they weren't doing it overtly enough. Now they have taken three major steps. First to stand together as one: Islam know many6 fractions and the Muslim population in America knows many different organizations in which they are represented. Now they have combined forces. Second to set up different programs to prevent Muslim youths to radicalize and identify with Da'esh and other so-called Muslim terrorist groups. At the same time they stand up to the other form of terrorism that holds America in its grip, the fear and hate instilled by right-wing Christians aka Republicans. Standing up to them is facilitated by their unification and by the way they seek attention in every media form. By clearly showing what the general Muslim population is all about and what it stands for, they are taking away any foothold the Republicans had created to spread their hate and fear. Again, excellent, this approach shoud really work. It may never completely stop the Republicans from trying – nothing has stopped them until now – but it will certainly give American Muslims more confidence and will prevent many young from radicalizing.
Amen!
Thanks all!