Got to read this piece - Muslims on the fringe Reference: Muslims on the fringe by Salam Al-Marayati in Dallas Morning News, Aug 19, 2005 Link: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/viewpoints/sto ries/DN-almarayati_19edi.ART.Dallas.Edition1.1ddc94ee.html Europe's 'ghettos' are a warning to America: Integrate, don't isolate, Muslim communities Article posted below. Birth of an Organization I am pleased to announce the formation of an organization to represent the silent majority (99.9%) of Muslims, who are moderate, considerate, generous beings and great Citizens. All praise is to the Lord. Almost after a year, we are able to forge Muslims from all denominations together: Sunni, Sufi, Shia, Ismaili, Druze, Bohra, Al-Ibadhiyya and Ahmadiyya and other groups in to the fold. We are further seeking to include Muslims of Indonesian, Malaysian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Chinese, Russians, Japanese and Hispanic origins into the fold. We pledge to support all the organizations that are working to give voice to the Silent Majority of Muslims, we are indeed committed to complement the work of others. Our faith is deed based, and we are striving to remain model Citizens of America. It is all about doing good things. Our deeds would reflect our character. The good things we were silently doing hitherto, we will let our friends know about it as well. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once said if you plant and nurture a tree it will give fruits to all, that is charity. He told his associates that consider this act as a good deed. American Muslim Forum The Muslims of Dallas/ Fort Worth decided to formalize their efforts to actively participate and positively contribute in every sphere of American Life. "Whatever we do, it will be good for America and every American." echoes one of the founding members of the organization. Mission : As Muslim Americans, our Mission is to actively participate in all spheres of American Life. Guiding Principles: As Muslims we aspire to live a life of service, integrity, compassion and mercy modeled after the Islamic Principles. As Americans we celebrate, uphold, protect and defend the values enshrined in our constitution We strongly believe that being American and Muslim is not only compatible but it re-enforces the creed of "One nation under God, with liberty and justice for all." Goals: To plan and encourage participation in every sphere of American life, a few goals are set at this time: 1. Serve in non-profit civic organization 2. Develop community Leadership Programs 3. Encourage social events and Friendship Dinners 4. Encourage building good relations, particularly with the media. 5. Outreach programs Membership: · General Membership to all Muslims regardless of their traditions or religious practices. · Institutional Membership is open to all Islamic and Muslim organizations. · Corporate membership is available to organizations that support and sponsor our events. · Associate membership is open to any and all who believes and supports our mission. As a part of out reach program, the Muslim Communities of North Texas, The American Muslim Forum and the Foundation for Pluralism cordially invite you to the "Unity Day USA" on the 11th of September 2005, in order to commemorate the American tradition of peace and harmony. UNITY DAY USA - September 11 This day four years ago, on September 11, 2001, a great tragedy and enormous suffering was brought to all of us, and it is on this day, that we, the Muslims of America strive to foster healing and unity. As Muslim Americans, we are committed to foster peace, prosperity and the safety of our nation by actively participating in a positive way in all aspects of American life. We are blessed in this endeavor with the support from people of all faiths. They join us in sharing the power of prayer. We all pledge allegiance to our nation under God with liberty and justice for all. On this day, we pray for unity, peace, harmony, and justice in the world. People of every faith, race, ethnicity, culture, and every background are cordially invited to join us in these prayers on this UNITY DAY. As Americans we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our constitution. We strongly believe that being American and Muslim is complementary. Our faith reinforces the creed of "One Nation under God, with liberty and justice for all." Please mark your calendar for Sunday, September 11, 2005 between 5:00 and 7:00 PM, at the Frisco Convention Center, in Frisco, Texas: www.UnityDayUSA.com or www.FoundationForPluralism.com Our next major project would be announced on Sunday, September 11, 2005 God Bless the USA. To participate - please send your profile to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Mike Ghouse www.UnityDayUSA.com www.Foundationforpluralism.com www.AmericanMuslimForum.com (Begins from September 1, 2005) 3928 Brazos Drive Carrollton, TX 75007 (214) 325-1916 Salam Al-Marayati: Muslims on the fringe Europe's 'ghettos' are a warning to America: Integrate, don't isolate, Muslim communities 05:10 AM CDT on Friday, August 19, 2005 Reports that the culprits in last month's London terrorist attacks were, in fact, homegrown British Muslim lads continue to reverberate throughout the American Muslim community and are forcing Muslims to focus on how to prevent such incidents in this country. It is clear that the way to do this is to combat the Muslim-ghetto mentality that is proliferating in Western countries these days. This has so far been mostly a European phenomenon, but it could easily take root here. Associated Press The mosque in the Hyde Park area of Leeds, where police searched for evidence after the July 7 terrorist attacks in London The word "ghetto" comes from the name of the island near Venice where Italian Jews were made to live in the 16th century. A ghetto is a section of a city occupied by a minority group whose people live there largely because of social, economic or legal pressure. Make no mistake: British Muslims are, by and large, living under such conditions. And it should come as no surprise that residents living in isolated, homogenous pockets - such as Leeds, where the suspects resided - do not feel a sense of belonging to their nation or the West. Social and economic isolation of minority communities makes them more prone to political and religious radicalization. Throughout Europe, cultural barriers separate Muslim ghettos from mainstream society. In general, European Muslims belong to the underclass. British Muslims are mostly Indo-Pakistani; French Muslims are largely Algerian; Belgian Muslims are immigrants from Morocco, etc. In many of these countries where Muslim populations are largely homogenous, the forces of isolation are stronger than the forces of integration, partly because of the socioeconomic status of Muslim communities throughout Europe and partly because of self-imposed isolation. In the United States, it has been a different picture and a different reality. Because American Muslims are relatively more educated and affluent than European Muslims, they are typically far more interested in integrating into mainstream society. That American Muslims do not have a "ghetto problem" may be one reason U.S. officials consider al-Qaeda more of a threat in Europe than within the United States. But that doesn't mean some American Muslims don't find themselves on the fringes of society. While social forces in Europe may alienate Muslims, it is political forces in the United States that repel many. Although the vast majority of American Muslims do not live in economically depressed physical ghettos, many live in a psychological ghetto caused by the lack of acceptance they feel from their neighbors and colleagues, especially in the post-Sept. 11 era. This psychological ghetto may prove the largest challenge in the war on terrorism. Those of the ghetto mentality experience a kind of self-righteous schizophrenia. Outside home and the mosque, they abide by the rules and work for their economic improvement. But elsewhere, they fall prey to the extremist recruiters who present no more than a forgery of Islam. As American Muslim leaders, our aim is to neutralize the nexus of radical ideology with the ghetto mentality. The challenge for all of us is to prevent the stigmatization of people who feel disowned by mainstream America. This social ailment should concern all of us Americans who want to see an end to the evil of terrorism and who wish to pursue the ideals of pluralism. It is both a law enforcement and a sociopolitical problem. American Muslims can stem the tide of isolation by articulating a message of Islam that is American-based, not Arab- or South Asian- based. U.S. political leaders, from the president down to mayors, can do more to isolate the terrorists by embracing mainstream American Muslim communities, instead of isolating those communities by excluding them from serious conversations about the security of our country. Muslim leaders in the United States, as in Britain, have established a partnership with law enforcement. That partnership needs national attention to illustrate that the walls of pluralism are impenetrable to the ideologies of hate. It is the turn of American Muslims, like other religious minorities in the United States before them, to overcome stigmatization by clearly demonstrating to all that America is home and that no foe, domestic or foreign, will change that. Salam Al-Marayati is executive director of the national Muslim Public Affairs Council. His e-mail address is [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/TXWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************************************************** {Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.} (Holy Quran-16:125) {And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33) The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim] The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all." 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