Last Night I Wasnt a Racist But Tonight
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| Sat, 06-26-2004 - 10:12pm |
I would like to know how as a society we are to have these kinds of feelings and go to war against these very same people and not have stories come out? These are not isolated incidents, these and many more happen every single day. Most never hear about the atrocities being done right here in our own neighborhood. To have an American call me a terrorist is crazy just like Iraqis claiming I am responsible for what happened in that prison and in others are crazy.
I know there a few people on this board that feel that these people have the right to target muslims. It is obvious in the posts that are written here. This is one of the reasons I am so against president bush. He has divided this country and he has not done one thing to try to make things better. I do not agree with terrorists, but I firmly stand behind my religion of Islam. A terrorists is not the same as a Muslim. I do agree we have a right to protect ourselves, but I do not agree with Bush.
After Sept. 11 he put strong restrictions for immigrants and visas, that is only right. But what has he done in putting stronger restrictions in protecting me a Muslim who happens to be American? He has not protected me, he has not protected many other victims either. There was a mosque that was vandalized while people worshiped here; these "patriotic American children" threw rocks and bottles through the windows. They got off on community service. Do you know why they were so lenient? It was becuase the imam of the mosque recommended it. They had to also learn what Islam was about.
Before we go "policing the world" perhaps he should start "policing the U.S.", and perhaps the adults can start acting with more common sense so our children can learn this and have a chance for peace in their lifetime.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=3&u=/ap/20040626/ap_on_re_us/beheadings_muslim_backlash_1
Beheadings Fuel Backlash Against Muslims
By WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press Writer
EAGLESWOOD TOWNSHIP, N.J. - The recent beheadings of two American businessmen in the Middle East have added fuel to the angry backlash against Arab-Americans and Muslims that began after the 2001 terrorist attacks.
The murders of Paul Johnson and Nicholas Berg triggered hate mail, verbal attacks and anti-Muslim signs. Muslims received death threats and their mosques were vandalized.
"Since 9/11, every time there is an incident overseas attributed to Muslims or Arabs, we go on orange alert ourselves," said immigration lawyer Sohail Mohammed. "There are individuals here who are off the wall, who think that every woman who wears a hijab or every man named Mohammed is out to blow things up."
Al-Qaida-linked militants in Saudi Arabia decapitated Johnson, an American engineer, after warning that they would kill him if the Saudi government did not release jailed comrades. Berg met a similar fate last month in Iraq (news - web sites).
Following Johnson's death, anti-Islam signs surfaced around the rural New Jersey neighborhood where he once lived. One read "Stamp Out Islam" next to a drawing of a boot over a crescent and star. Another, hung on a mailbox next door to Johnson's sister's home, was more detailed.
"Last night I wasn't a racist, but today I feel racism towards Islamic beliefs," it read. "Last night Islamics had a chance to speak up for Paul Johnson, but today it's too late. Islamics better wake up and start thinking about tomorrow."
The New Jersey attorney general sent bias crimes investigators to the area, along with stepped-up state police patrols. The signs are gone now, replaced with hand-lettered placards on utility poles that say "Our prayers are with the Johnson family."
But more anti-Muslim graffiti appeared Thursday on a Muslim man's home in Egg Harbor Township.
"It's really our fear coming true," said Faiza Ali of the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "It indicates a hatred that could turn into something violent."
The day after Johnson's death, a coalition of Muslim groups held a rally to condemn the killing in Paterson, the heart of New Jersey's Arab-American community.
A few days later, vandals tossed empty liquor and beer bottles at a mosque in Union City as congregants inside mourned a teenager who died in a car crash.
"If they are throwing empty bottles today, they could be throwing rocks, or worse, shooting at us tomorrow," said Aref Assaf, president of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee's New Jersey chapter.
Two mosques in Florida were vandalized in the days after Johnson's killing. In the Tampa suburb of Lutz, someone broke into the Islamic Community Center and scrawled "Kill All Muslims" on the mosque's interior walls, then smashed windows. In Charlotte Harbor, someone vandalized a mosque's sign and left threatening phone messages.
In the St. Louis suburb of Ballwin, Mo., vandals painted a swastika and the word "Die" on the wall of the Dar-Ul-Islam mosque.
In Texas, dead fish were dumped near the entrance sign to a mosque under construction in a suburb of Houston.
And in the Chicago suburb of Orland Park, residents urged officials this past week to reject a mosque's building application. A Baptist pastor told a public hearing he feared it would attract Islamic extremists and violence. The center was approved over boos and catcalls from the audience.
"I believe the time is coming when Muslims will not be safe inside the U.S. borders," one man wrote to the Washington, D.C. (news - web sites)-based Council on American-Islamic Relations. "I see nothing wrong with us doing the same things to them that they are doing to innocent people."
"It is high time you people wake up and smell the blood," another man wrote to Assaf's group in New Jersey. "Turn in the terrorists. They are your relatives, in a lot of cases. Cousin Omar. Uncle Mohammad. You know what I mean. Until you come forward to help us stamp out this vermin, you are as bad as they."

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The necessary changes in public perception are going to take some time to accomplish no matter what.
~mark~
That said, I am curious why the blame for anti-Muslim sentiment is directed at America, rather than where it belongs-with terrorist organizations. Instead of condemning them for bringing this fear and suspicion on all Muslim people, you condemn those who have fallen prey to terror and allowed it to color their views. The real causes of people's fear and suspicion of Muslims are the groups who use Islam as their stated reason for the slaughter of innocent people. Yes, bigots are wrong, but so are those who have poisoned the world's view of the Muslim religion with their violence.
One note though, african-americans were a bit more welcoming. Do not call me racist or anything, I am just talking about my experience in Baltimore. It could have been different if I were in another city.
There were a few funny moments, like when a little old woman saw me in the supermarket, and came up to me from the end of the aisle to shout at me 'HELLO', like because I am muslim, I am deaf or something. Although it was kind of funny, I realized she was trying to make me feel at ease, so I thought it was nice of her.
You live in Orland Park and I live in Chester County, PA near the home of the Bergs.
Elaine
"I hope the Irish people understand the great values of our country, and if they think a few soldiers represent the entire of America they don't really understand America.
"If they say this is what America represents, they don't understand our country."
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/front/2004/0625/1294716001HM1MAINBUSH.html
So which is true? Our society is becoming more fearful of muslims, it is not an isolated event anymore. How can he expect others to feel about us when WE OURSELVES hate our own countrymen, even if they are Muslims?
"Where I was sitting Monday night was a crowd with one woman who would yell out something nasty and others would laugh and encourage her, and then get up and say they were concerned about traffic," Koldenhoven said. "In Palos, it was recreation they said they wanted.
"But they were reaching for straws then, and they're reaching for them now."
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dsnews/278nd1.htm
Koldenhoven emerges as spokesman for tolerance
Sunday, June 27, 2004
By Allison Hantschel
Staff writer
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Since his defeat at the polls as mayor of Palos Heights, Dean Koldenhoven has emerged as an advocate for Arabs and Muslims in the south suburbs.
He's used the issue that drove him from office to advocate for tolerance and trust.
Last year, when the Illinois Advisory Commission on Civil Rights released a report about hate crimes following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Koldenhoven attended the press conference and organizers thanked him for his support.
He's spoken at churches and written to newspapers on the subject of religious freedom. He was interviewed recently for a book about the backlash against Muslims in the United States.
"I believe that we have to prepare ourselves so that if we get attacked again, we will not go out and hurt or kill people who we think look like the ones that may have attacked us," he wrote on the one-year anniversary of Sept. 11. "We will definitely be tested, but we must obey the Scriptures where Jesus said, 'Love your neighbor,' whomever and whatever race or religion (or no religion) that neighbor may be."
Koldenhoven, a retired bricklayer, was first elected mayor of Palos Heights in 1997.
Though his support for the Al Salam mosque in its quest for a Palos Heights home cost him the election, it did net him the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award.
Standing alongside Kofi Annan and heroes of Sept. 11, Koldenhoven listened as Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) praised him for demonstrating that "the dangerous walls of religious intolerance ... are walls that must be torn down."
Looking at Orland Park's situation, the 68-year-old Koldenhoven said he was proud to see other public officials acting as he did.
He said no good could have come of giving in to religious bigotry.
"Where I was sitting Monday night was a crowd with one woman who would yell out something nasty and others would laugh and encourage her, and then get up and say they were concerned about traffic," Koldenhoven said. "In Palos, it was recreation they said they wanted.
"But they were reaching for straws then, and they're reaching for them now."
Allison Hantschel may be reached at ahantschel@dailysouthtown.com or (708) 633-5998.
That is an easy out excuse. I happen to live in America. These Americans are the ones who are denying me my rights to pray and to live normally, not those terrorists. It is these Americans the directly threaten me, not those terrorists that use generalizations to all. Have I ever threatened one of these Americans? Absolutely not. Have I ever given cause for them to threaten me? NO! My only problem to them is that I am muslim. "Go back to your own terroristic country". Well baby I am here and I am home. America is my "terroristic country".
I have not slaughtered anyone (at least not lately), nor do I plan to do so in the future. It is like saying because so and so is gay they must have AIDS or can't be a good parent. Or becuase so and so is black they must be in a gang and shoot up crack. Or because so and so is a woman CEO must mean she slept her way to the top.
Is that what you are trying to tell me? That becuase someone is muslim it is ok for people to assume that muslim is a terrorist or related to a terrorist? I am not saying you personally think it is ok, I am asking is it ok for people to think that way? If so, then by GOD, get our men and women out of Iraq. I don't think it is ok to think that way and there is no excuse in people thinking that way. Any group of people!
Again, I have to disagree. I know I am not a Muslim and so am not in your shoes, however from what I've seen by and large educated people have been bending over backward trying not to lump all Muslims in with those who use Islam as an reason to commit terrorism. I acknowledge that there are an ignorant few, but I truly am not acquainted with a single person who hates Muslims in general, and I live in a fairly blue collar, working class town. Most people I know are more concerned about being sensitive towards Muslims then intimidating them. There is anger at some Muslim leadership for not condemning some of these horrendous acts strongly enough, but not much directed towards the Muslim population in general.
No, I have not said it is okay in any way shape or form. Ignorance and bigotry is wrong, no question about it. I am just curious that you don't direct any of your anger at the people who have done such horrible things in the name of your religion. Aren't you at all angry at them for blackening the name of Islam in the eyes of some? Do you really believe they share no responsibility for what you are experiencing? Can you not emphathize at all with those who have had family members slaughtered in the name of Islam, even if they don't really understand that Islam is not responsible? I'm not saying that makes it right, I'm just suggesting that perhaps you ought to extend some understanding towards those who don't seem to understand you and your religion.
I guess I need to move out of my affluent rich neighborhood huh?
"Areej Zufari was in her office Tuesday afternoon, agonizing over the beheading in Iraq of a South Korean by Muslim militants. As spokeswoman for the Islamic Society of Central Florida, she debated whether to issue a news release denouncing the decapitation as contrary to Islamic beliefs.
Does every atrocity in the name of Islam demand a statement of outrage by the Central Florida Muslim community? Or would a lack of response be interpreted as condoning violence?
"We keep hearing from people, 'Why aren't American Muslims speaking up?' 'Why aren't American Muslims denouncing terrorism and these brutal Muslims?' " Zufari said. "We are, over and over again."
Please no matter how much muslims say they are sorry, no one listens. Cair has launched a campaign in teh U.S. and throughout the world "Not in the Name of Islam". It states:
“We, the undersigned Muslims, wish to state clearly that those who commit acts of terror, murder and cruelty in the name of Islam are not only destroying innocent lives, but are also betraying the values of the faith they claim to represent. No injustice done to Muslims can ever justify the massacre of innocent people, and no act of terror will ever serve the cause of Islam. We repudiate and dissociate ourselves from any Muslim group or individual who commits such brutal and un-Islamic acts. We refuse to allow our faith to be held hostage by the criminal actions of a tiny minority acting outside the teachings of both the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
“As it states in the Quran: ‘Oh you who believe, stand up firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even if it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be against rich or poor; for God can best protect both. Do not follow any passion, lest you not be just. And if you distort or decline to do justice, verily God is well-acquainted with all that you do.’” (Quran 4:135)
CAIR’s petition drive comes following the videotaped beheading of an American civilian in Iraq that shocked television viewers worldwide. A CAIR commentary published today in a number of newspapers nationwide reinforces the point that Islam should not be associated with terrorism.
“We hope this effort will demonstrate once and for all that Muslims in America and throughout the Islamic world reject violence committed in the name of Islam,” said CAIR Board Chairman Omar Ahmad. “People of all faiths must do whatever they can to help end the downward spiral of mutual hostility and hatred that is engulfing our world."
http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=169&page=AA
This is not enough for you? I have had 3 years of trying to make things right (I reverted exactly 3 weeks before 9-11) What more am I and other muslims to do? Tell me, maybe you would have a better idea. I can only understand until the time I am called a terrorist. My time for understanding is on a thin line these days. Why can't these others take in some of the part on understanding?
Nothing you do or say will rid the world of ignorant people, no question about it. There are still people who hate Germans because of Hitler-no one can "fix" all the stupid people in the world. You have continued to evade my question though, which is why do you not have similar anger for those who have foisted such a negative view of Islam on the world-the terrorists? Why do you also choose to ignore the many, many Americans who are fighting to make sure that you are not discriminated against? To hear you tell it every non-Muslim American is hard at work making your life a living hell-the truth is, it is a very small minority not reflective of the population as a whole. Most Americans truly do want justice for all, but you are trying to portray the entire country in one big genralized fashion-the same way you yourself are so angry about being portrayed.
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