Showing posts with label Muslim solidarity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Muslim solidarity. Show all posts
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Open house week at many mosques and Islamic centers in US
I just found out that last week was a week of open houses at many mosques and Islamic centers in the US. I wish I'd realized; I would have gladly visited our local Islamic center...
Saturday, September 18, 2010
A little more on interfaith, Muslim, and evangelical outreach
From the Washington Post, "Jim Wallis on the story behind pastor Terry Jones' change of heart" is an informative and inspirational article in both a practical and heart-warming way.
Blessed be.
A few days ago, Stone told me, he got a call from a group of Muslims in a small town in Kashmir, Pakistan. They said they had been watching CNN when the segment on Heartsong Church aired. Afterward, one of the community's leaders said to those who were gathered: "God just spoke to us through this man." Another said: "How can we kill these people?" A third man went straight to the local Christian church and proceeded to clean it, inside and out.
Lately, we have heard much about hostility toward Muslims in America. We have heard an awful lot about Jones's threats and about arson at the site of another Tennessee mosque project, in Murfreesboro. But we have heard little about people like Tunnicliffe and Stone and Stone's admirers in Pakistan.
And that is everyone's loss.
Blessed be.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Suggestions from American Muslims for how non-Muslims can support you?
I'm having several conversations right now in different electronic fora (Merriam-Webster does say the plural of forum is fora) about how American non-Muslims can best support our American Muslim neighbors, especially this year.
Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of Ramadan, falls on September 10th this year, sparking fears that some non-Muslims might think Muslims are actually celebrating the attacks of September 11th, 2001; there has been a recent spike in hate crimes and domestic terrorism against American Muslims; and there are promised Qu'ran burnings on September 11th, which, while protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution, are nonetheless alarming.
Some proposed actions have included:
So, in this space, I ask any Muslim readers: what actions can American non-Muslims take that will help support you? What would help you? What would build community?
What would help you feel supported and help you know you do not face this alone?
Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of Ramadan, falls on September 10th this year, sparking fears that some non-Muslims might think Muslims are actually celebrating the attacks of September 11th, 2001; there has been a recent spike in hate crimes and domestic terrorism against American Muslims; and there are promised Qu'ran burnings on September 11th, which, while protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution, are nonetheless alarming.
Some proposed actions have included:
- Reviving scarf solidarity -- wearing scarves on September 10th, September 11th, during all of September, in support of Muslim women in particular.
- Writing letters to the editors of local newspapers supporting Park51.
- Intervisitation between local mosques and Islamic community centers and other religious and spiritual groups.
- Calls to lawmakers.
- Calling local mosques and community centers and asking if visitors of other faiths are welcome at Eid celebrations.
- Raising money to help pay for cleaning and repairs to damage to mosques and community centers and construction sites after recent vandalism and arson events.
- Hosting interfaith peace events co-planned with the local Muslim community.
So, in this space, I ask any Muslim readers: what actions can American non-Muslims take that will help support you? What would help you? What would build community?
What would help you feel supported and help you know you do not face this alone?
FCNL: We Stand with American Muslims
According to Friends Committee on National Legislation, here are some ways to support American Muslims right now:
FCNL: We Stand with American Muslims
- Ask 5 friends to sign the petition too.
- Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper supporting the Islamic Cultural Center.
- Find out if the American Muslim community in your area might welcome a public or private opportunity to get to know your own local church, meeting or community group;
- On Friday, September 10, many local American Muslim communities around our country organize public celebrations of Eid ul-Fitr -- the end of the holy period of Ramadan. Find out if Muslims in your area might welcome the participation of people of other faiths.
- Write your senators to ask them to speak out in support of the Islamic Cultural Center.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Supporting American Muslims: The Velveteen Rabbi's "A Gesture of Repair"
American Muslims are having a rough time of it right now. To say the least. Domestic terrorism against American Muslims spiked after September 11th, 2001, never dropped back to pre-2001 levels, and has surged again recently.
American Muslims are afraid of what other Americans will do to them, simply and solely because of their religion. And that is plain wrong.
A lot of non-Muslims have wondered what we can do to support our Muslim neighbors right now. Rachel at the Velveteen Rabbi offered a heart-warming response to the recent hate crime in a mosque in Queens. (I first came across the Velveteen Rabbi's work two years ago when I was living in Ann Arbor.)
I for one am grateful to Rachel and Stu not just for the idea, but also for Doing Something, and for demonstrating that Doing Something is possible. Tikkun olam is the work of all our hands.
Blessed be.
American Muslims are afraid of what other Americans will do to them, simply and solely because of their religion. And that is plain wrong.
A lot of non-Muslims have wondered what we can do to support our Muslim neighbors right now. Rachel at the Velveteen Rabbi offered a heart-warming response to the recent hate crime in a mosque in Queens. (I first came across the Velveteen Rabbi's work two years ago when I was living in Ann Arbor.)
I for one am grateful to Rachel and Stu not just for the idea, but also for Doing Something, and for demonstrating that Doing Something is possible. Tikkun olam is the work of all our hands.
Blessed be.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Is it time for scarf solidarity again?
I've been reflecting over the past few months on my experience as a second-class citizen, socially and legally -- informally and formally -- as a Pagan. Oh, sure, we technically share the same protections as everyone else under the US Constitution, but it doesn't actually work out that way in reality for Pagans.
(My "favorite" case in point these days is my colleague Patrick McCollum's experience in CA, and how in the lawsuit McCollum v. California, folks really do make a legal argument that some religions are legally "better" than others, and that folks from certain religions deserve more legal recognition -- and differential access to jobs -- than folks from other religions: specifically, that the First Amendment to the US Constitution applies only to religions that existed at the time of the framing of the Constitution. Hoo, boy.)
(And that's not even touching my literal legal second-class citizenship as a lesbian. (Click here to read some of what I've written about my experience with that in the last year.)
But over the last few weeks, I've been reflecting that while I may be a second-class citizen in my own country when it comes to my religion, my Muslim neighbors must be feeling like third-class citizens.
These reflections started with the brouhaha about the so-called, non-existent "Ground Zero Mosque." It's not at Ground Zero, and it's not a mosque. (For more information, see Park 51's FAQs and the Cordoba Initiative's FAQs.)
If we look at the things that do exist within a mile of Ground Zero -- of the site of the former World Trade Center in NYC, the site of the September 11, 2001 attacks in NYC -- it's clear that too many people in America consider it more patriotic to operate a strip club, or a church, than to operate a Muslim community center -- than to help American Muslims reclaim Islam from extremists. (Hat tip to Daryl Lang.)
Do we have a problem with the sculpture "And Jesus Wept" at the site of the former Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City? Even though a Christian extremist was responsible for that bombing?
And in the discussion of the non-existent "ground zero mosque," American Muslims are been getting treated like crap.
But, wait! It gets better! Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida -- doves being a symbol of peace, remember -- is hosting International Burn-a-Qu'ran Day on September 11, 2010, because "Islam is of the Devil."
Two pieces of good news: 1) The First Amendment protects their right to burn books, even if it doesn't guarantee them a fire permit. 2) Other local religious leaders are not taking this sitting down: the Gainesville Interfaith Forum, comprised of Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Hindus, are hosting a "Gathering for Peace, Understanding, and Hope" the night before.
But let's be honest, folks. American Muslims are the targets of hate crimes all the time. We just don't hear about it. American Muslims, and mosques in America, have had to cope with this particularly since September 11th, 2001, as if all Muslims were responsible for the behavior of a group of extremists. We don't act as if all Christians were responsible for the behavior of the extremists who were responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing. But we act like all Muslims are responsible for September 11th.
But wait, you're saying. I don't act like that.
Well, what do you do to stop it? When people bad-mouth Muslims around you, do you speak out against it?
Personally not blaming Muslims ourselves is no longer enough. Not in today's political and cultural climate.
On the radio today, I heard a guest on WHYY's Radio Times talking about how Muslims in America are afraid of violence directed against them personally on the upcoming anniversary of September 11th.
And that's just wrong.
No one -- no one -- in this country should be afraid they will be attacked physically because of their religion.
And that statement brought back memories.
Of September 11th, 2001 in Philadelphia.
Of the aftermath.
Of the bomb threats at my Meetinghouse.
Of how it felt like my entire workplace, my entire family, the entire world around me, was demanding vengeance.
Of not knowing where friends, family, and loved ones were -- including folks in the military, folks on commercial airplanes that day, and folks overseas.
Of threats to bomb Afghanistan "back to the Stone Age."
Memories of Americans being attacked for being suspected of being Middle Eastern.
Memories of American Muslim women -- regardless of race -- who wore the hijab, or headscarf, being attacked and harassed, and so either leaving their headscarves at home, or simply not leaving home -- becoming prisoners in their own homes to hate.
Memories of Quaker women I knew wearing headscarves of some sort in solidarity with the women of Afghanistan and with American Muslim women.
I came late to scarf solidarity that year, but wore a headscarf for a good month or so -- October? November? As long as I was led. I still wore long, full skirts frequently then, and probably looked more Jewish than anything else. Still, it felt important.
One co-worker looked at me worriedly and said, "But Stasa, what if people think you're Muslim?" Exactly, I told her. "But you're not. I mean, you're obviously not." Exactly, I told her. She didn't get it. The idea is to make people think, I explained. She was still nervous for me.
I have been wondering: is it time for scarf solidarity again?
I looked up scarf solidarity when I got home today, and found the story of Jennifer Schock's Scarves for Solidarity Campaign originally planned for October 8, 2001; I also found this article from the LA Times.
Jennifer did her homework. She talked to Muslim women. She called local mosques, Muslim associations, and Islamic centers. I haven't done any of that work yet. I have tried to reach Jennifer, but haven't been successful (yet).
Is it time for scarf solidarity again? If so, on September 11th, 2010? Longer? Coinciding with Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan - ? (September 9th, this year.)
Thoughts?
(My "favorite" case in point these days is my colleague Patrick McCollum's experience in CA, and how in the lawsuit McCollum v. California, folks really do make a legal argument that some religions are legally "better" than others, and that folks from certain religions deserve more legal recognition -- and differential access to jobs -- than folks from other religions: specifically, that the First Amendment to the US Constitution applies only to religions that existed at the time of the framing of the Constitution. Hoo, boy.)
(And that's not even touching my literal legal second-class citizenship as a lesbian. (Click here to read some of what I've written about my experience with that in the last year.)
But over the last few weeks, I've been reflecting that while I may be a second-class citizen in my own country when it comes to my religion, my Muslim neighbors must be feeling like third-class citizens.
These reflections started with the brouhaha about the so-called, non-existent "Ground Zero Mosque." It's not at Ground Zero, and it's not a mosque. (For more information, see Park 51's FAQs and the Cordoba Initiative's FAQs.)
If we look at the things that do exist within a mile of Ground Zero -- of the site of the former World Trade Center in NYC, the site of the September 11, 2001 attacks in NYC -- it's clear that too many people in America consider it more patriotic to operate a strip club, or a church, than to operate a Muslim community center -- than to help American Muslims reclaim Islam from extremists. (Hat tip to Daryl Lang.)
Do we have a problem with the sculpture "And Jesus Wept" at the site of the former Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City? Even though a Christian extremist was responsible for that bombing?
And in the discussion of the non-existent "ground zero mosque," American Muslims are been getting treated like crap.
But, wait! It gets better! Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida -- doves being a symbol of peace, remember -- is hosting International Burn-a-Qu'ran Day on September 11, 2010, because "Islam is of the Devil."
Two pieces of good news: 1) The First Amendment protects their right to burn books, even if it doesn't guarantee them a fire permit. 2) Other local religious leaders are not taking this sitting down: the Gainesville Interfaith Forum, comprised of Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Hindus, are hosting a "Gathering for Peace, Understanding, and Hope" the night before.
But let's be honest, folks. American Muslims are the targets of hate crimes all the time. We just don't hear about it. American Muslims, and mosques in America, have had to cope with this particularly since September 11th, 2001, as if all Muslims were responsible for the behavior of a group of extremists. We don't act as if all Christians were responsible for the behavior of the extremists who were responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing. But we act like all Muslims are responsible for September 11th.
But wait, you're saying. I don't act like that.
Well, what do you do to stop it? When people bad-mouth Muslims around you, do you speak out against it?
Personally not blaming Muslims ourselves is no longer enough. Not in today's political and cultural climate.
On the radio today, I heard a guest on WHYY's Radio Times talking about how Muslims in America are afraid of violence directed against them personally on the upcoming anniversary of September 11th.
And that's just wrong.
No one -- no one -- in this country should be afraid they will be attacked physically because of their religion.
And that statement brought back memories.
Of September 11th, 2001 in Philadelphia.
Of the aftermath.
Of the bomb threats at my Meetinghouse.
Of how it felt like my entire workplace, my entire family, the entire world around me, was demanding vengeance.
Of not knowing where friends, family, and loved ones were -- including folks in the military, folks on commercial airplanes that day, and folks overseas.
Of threats to bomb Afghanistan "back to the Stone Age."
Memories of Americans being attacked for being suspected of being Middle Eastern.
Memories of American Muslim women -- regardless of race -- who wore the hijab, or headscarf, being attacked and harassed, and so either leaving their headscarves at home, or simply not leaving home -- becoming prisoners in their own homes to hate.
Memories of Quaker women I knew wearing headscarves of some sort in solidarity with the women of Afghanistan and with American Muslim women.
I came late to scarf solidarity that year, but wore a headscarf for a good month or so -- October? November? As long as I was led. I still wore long, full skirts frequently then, and probably looked more Jewish than anything else. Still, it felt important.
One co-worker looked at me worriedly and said, "But Stasa, what if people think you're Muslim?" Exactly, I told her. "But you're not. I mean, you're obviously not." Exactly, I told her. She didn't get it. The idea is to make people think, I explained. She was still nervous for me.
I have been wondering: is it time for scarf solidarity again?
I looked up scarf solidarity when I got home today, and found the story of Jennifer Schock's Scarves for Solidarity Campaign originally planned for October 8, 2001; I also found this article from the LA Times.
Jennifer did her homework. She talked to Muslim women. She called local mosques, Muslim associations, and Islamic centers. I haven't done any of that work yet. I have tried to reach Jennifer, but haven't been successful (yet).
Is it time for scarf solidarity again? If so, on September 11th, 2010? Longer? Coinciding with Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan - ? (September 9th, this year.)
Thoughts?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)