Changing Muslim Hearts

#24

You are absolutely right, as long as you also point out:

- how Saddam also killed and tortured, how his son Uday ran the Iraqi ``sports organizations``
- how Saddam gassed the Kurds, all the while projecting himself as a devout momim and swallowing billions in Kuwaiti and Saudi money (another set of holier than thou muslim`s)
- how he started a war with Iran (another set of muslims)
- how the Iranian mullah`s brainwashed Iranian youth to kill themselves on the battlefield as ``basij`` as they went about tightening their control on the state ....

.... so on and so on, and the world becomes a real murky place, where will you stop?

everytime you add a ``but``, as in ``these guys are wrong to do what they did but...`` there is no logical place for the ``buts`` to stop.

annogul1,

rumpus has a very good point, it`s better to teach children, esp. teenagers who are developing socio-political understanding a broader perspective, that the war in Iraq is just as much `terrorism` as 9/11 or 7/7

children should be taught to appreciate life regardless of race, religion, or gender

and they should also be taught to pull those `support our troops` stickers from the backs of pickup trucks

RE: #16

I`m a Paki through and through, so PAF is where all my war veteran relatives took their orders from, Papa-ji included.

We Muslims should learn to respect the people, places and things that they are living with. And work out solutions colaboratively with other branches of society, where the modern day society cannot be sustained without every segment participating! Anne, may your plight be heard where it matters the most! Nicely written...

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Re: # 15, cayenne:
I am happy to note an indication of satisfaction in you, presumably, an IM. I agree with the your observance of the balance that has been struck but would have been delighted if you could take more active stance in negating the Mullahism. Don`t get me wrong, I do have Muslim friends who rather live in India than the Islamic Republic - and I know that - but it is past time when Muslims of moderate temperament start taking more overt stand in commiting to secularism. No body is asking them to denigrate/downrate/abandon their religion but their open declaration of importance of religious tolerance and acceptance of other religions will go a long way towards deepening of confidence between adherents of different faiths, yes, even in India.

anne:

well said on so many counts!

one of the worst things any immigrant community can do is to isolate themselves from the community at large. it just perpetuates the alienation and misunderstanding already too prevalent. and then to involve kids in this....as if growing pains weren`t enough. really!

i wish you success with all the organizing efforts.

miriam

What muslims need is not a change of heart, but a change of brains.

Prem,
Yaar, I feel for you and Mr Quaidon. They are deleting you two gentlemen`s threads like Gaajar-Mooli.
You two gents are the coice of reason but keep the good job dudes.

Re: # 14
Are you related to WW2 veteran(RIAF) veteran?

I`ve been bleating about this but have been either ignored or derided for saying so.But, when are other muslims gonna learn from indian muslims??.Indian muslims, the second largest diaspora in the islamic world, have made a mark in all spheres of human endeavor, in their homeland and abroad and as indian citizens, welcome in all the nations of the world , without let or hindrance.

From our President, various federal ministers,Governors, CM`s, officials, artists, musicians and technocrats, IMs have become brand ambassadors of India all over the world.Living amongst our diverse population , which they are a part of, they have learnt tolerance of others, while imbibing their doctrinare faith.They, i believe, have struck the right balance between faith and practice.Only Colin Powell made a public comment about indian muslims in a positive way, while attending a hearing in Congress on islamic extremism.He said India has almost 200 million muslim citizens, yet they don`t get involved in wanton acts of hatred.

India has the second largest Shia population after Iran.Yet you don`t see sectarian violence, like in Pakistan and other islamic nations.I do not for one moment, purport to be a spokesman for indian muslims.I only state what i feel in support of my indian muslim brothers and sisters. In India, due to open nature of our society, we have space for all.We listen to the stern warnings of our priests, mullahs, pastors and gurus , keep them happy and then go on our merry way and do our own thing.The state offers us the protections and civil liberties that the religious zealots cannot impose on us.Only the Supreme Court Justices of India have the final word on our well being.All this is worth consideration by pakistan, if it wants to change it`s image , undo the damage and become a progressive member of the international community.

Re: # 13

No, I`m afraid not. I live in the Northeast.

Re: # 12
Are you the ana from Oregon? just curious?

Thanks for your (mostly) kind words. Just a note: this essay appeared as an Op-Ed piece in the NY Daily News (not Daily Times, as noted in the footnote at the bottom).

I and some other friends and family members hope to begin some kind of organized effort to help Muslims (immigrants and children and grandchildren of immigrants) assimilate and become positive, forward-thinking, and productive members of our adopted country. If we gather any heat, we`ll call upon you good chowkies for your open minds and hearts....

Peace.

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