Last year, during a raging controversy over the building of an Islamic center in Lower Manhattan, Time Magazine ran a cover story titled, "Is America Islamophobic?" Shortly thereafter, a poll released by Time showed nearly six in ten Americans held an unfavorable view of Muslims. A Gallup poll released the same year revealed four in ten Americans admitting to "feeling at least 'a little' prejudice" towards Muslims.
The Gallup poll indicated that these adverse attitudes are likely the result of most Americans (62 percent) personally not knowing anyone who is Muslim. The incessant headlines about violence in the name of Islam have led nearly one in two Americans to erroneously conclude that the faith of Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence.
But beyond the headlines lurks another reality.
A recent study by the newly established Abu Dhabi Gallup Center concluded, "Muslim Americans are satisfied with their current lives and are more optimistic than other faith groups that things are getting better." Muslims in America continue to profess a positive attitude despite being misunderstood by many and demonized by a few.
The Southern Poverty Law Center, an American non-profit civil rights organization dedicated to combating bigotry, wrote in a recent report that " ... certain Americans, [who have been] prodded into paranoia by clever activists, opportunistic politicians and guileful media players, seem downright eager to deny Muslims the guarantees of religious freedom and the presumption of innocence."
In New York, educator Debbie Almontaser was compelled to resign from a secular Arabic-English public school after she was misquoted in the New York Post, which "clever activists" exploited to insidiously imply she supported violence. However, when a similar cast of characters tried to rile up a controversy by selectively misquoting me to derail my nomination to the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission, they were effectively thwarted after influential leaders stood up to condemn the witch-hunt, which led to the City Council voting in favor of my candidacy.
This year, extreme right-wing activists rallied voters in Oklahoma to pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting judges from making rulings based on sharia, the source of Islam's religious and moral laws. A federal judge blocked the implementation of this referendum, but more than a dozen states are considering "banning" sharia. Meanwhile Congressman Peter King of New York continues his series of unbalanced congressional hearings about the "radicalization" of American Muslims, which negatively stereotype the Muslim community with the imprimatur of the U.S. government.
Despite the efforts to marginalize this community, Muslim life in America remains vibrant, youthful and nuanced. According to Gallup, the average age of American Muslims is significantly lower than people of other faiths. This youthfulness explains why Muslims are least likely to vote despite having the most positive attitude towards American democracy, although they also have the least positive view of law enforcement and U.S. military engagement abroad.
One of the most common complaints about Muslims is that they do not condemn terrorism as much as they ought to. Following the London bombings in 2005, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote, "To this day, no major Muslim cleric or religious body has ever issued a fatwa [a non-binding religious opinion] condemning Osama bin Laden." Such spurious statements help solidify the misperception of Muslims being sympathetic to terrorism. University of Michigan Professor Juan Cole and Professor Charles Kurzman from the University of North Carolina have documented many fatwas and statements from Muslim scholars and groups condemning terrorism. One only need enter the phrases, "Muslims Condemn Terrorism" or "Islamic Statements Against Terrorism", in any search engine to read the multitude of statements against terrorism.
In fact the latest Gallup survey shows nine out of ten American Muslims say that they do not sympathize with al Qaeda and view themselves as loyal Americans. Survey results also show that Muslims are the least likely of all religious groups to say that there is ever any justification for attacking civilians. However, most of their fellow Americans do not see Muslims as being patriotic. To win the hearts and minds of their fellow Americans, Muslims must spend more time not only educating others about their faith but also increase their commitment to endeavors that promote the common good.
Recently, mainstream media and civic groups have begun to question the means and motives of the anti-Muslim network. A report from the Center for American Progress, a progressive research and advocacy organization, shows that from 2001 to 2007 a handful of wealthy donors poured nearly $42 million in financing anti-Muslim activities. Although the money trail is unprecedented, in many respects the challenges facing Muslims are no different from those faced by other religious minorities as they struggled to integrate in America. This gives hope because eventually the marginalized groups found acceptance and respect in mainstream society.
This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews), Aug. 30, 2011.
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Here are a couple videos which expose his rhetoric for what it really is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQYMZW9giA8
Human Rights Commissioner refuses to denounce Islamic law regarding inequality & womens rights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzZYLalwGck&feature=related
Parvez Ahmed exposed by preeminent terrorism expert
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When an American Muslim writes as though Muslims in America are monolithically good, I automatically become sceptical. Whitewashing in progress.
Some American Muslims are on America's side in this war, some are not. This is obviously true to anyone not wielding a whitewash brush.
The question then becomes: Which ones are which? Mr. Ahmed's victimology does nothing to answer that pressing question.
These American Muslims are--in my opinion--dealing with this question:
http://americanislamicleadership.org/link2
I wonder--what is Mr. Ahmed's opinion of them?
So 10%, approximately 250,000 do?
"This year, extreme right-wing activists rallied voters in Oklahoma to pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting judges from making rulings based on sharia, the source of Islam's religious and moral laws. A federal judge blocked the implementation of this referendum, but more than a dozen states are considering "banning" sharia."
He is generalizing by calling those opposed to a ban on sharia law "extreme right wing activists". Really? So I assume you would support a state/federal judge going against the constitution by using sharia law to make a ruling? What about separation of church and state?
This is exactly what Americans are opposed to. We are trying to embrace Muslims (I have a few Muslim friends) but we will not stand for the implantation of religious laws in our courts. That does not only include Islam. Like many Muslims I hear in the media, Parvez Ahmed wants to have his cake and eat it too.
American Muslims must be ready to stand and denounce loudly all of those who preach and practice Islam as it was written. If they do not, it will be assumed that they agree with the words and actions of the minority, and they will be isolated. No longer is it possible to hide behind cherry-picked passages of the Qur'an that are peaceful and loving, while people are discovering the violent and hateful portions. It is this disconnect that fosters the distrust.
Yes, you can make the argument that the Old Testament has passages that appear violent as written, but Jews and Christians have moved on in their interpretations of these passages and have reformed their religions to reflect the non-violent interpretations. Islam has not done this because Muslims are not allowed to question the words of the Prophet.
So yes, as Americans learn more details, read your writings, observe the words and practices of your followers worldwide, they will be critical and distrusting. If American Muslims do not separate themselves boldly from what is seen and heard from radicals worldwide, we will assume that you agree with, and support their words and actions. Yes, life is unfair, but the solution is in your hands only.
Fatwa Against Terrorism :
http://islamgreatreligion.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/fatwa-against-terrorism/
i will say in next 10 years,try to read articles from Authenticated Islamic websites too!
You will learn lots of gud things....
;)
The word sword is not found single time muslims holy book,but found more than 400 times in bible.... Interesting na... ;)
De Lacy O’Leary: “History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslim, sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated.” Islam At Crossroads, London, 1923, p. 8
A. S. Triton: “The picture of the Muslim soldier advancing with a sword in one hand and the Qur’an in the other is quite false.” Islam, London, 1951, p. 21
Its Sword of Truth that Islam is having 1.68 billion approx followers.
I want you to read the SWORD OF ISLAM :
http://islamgreatreligion.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/the-sword-of-islam/
Considering the fact that there is over one billion Muslims, and only a small minority of them are violent, chances are that's the case.