Egypt achieves record primary budget surplus of EGP 629bn despite sharp fall in Suez Canal revenues    Escalation in Gaza, West Bank as Israeli strikes continue amid mounting international criticism    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Resumption of production at El Nasr marks strategic step towards localising automotive industry: El-Shimy    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, UNDP discuss outcomes of joint projects, future environmental cooperation    United Bank achieves EGP 1.51bn net profit in H1 2025, up 26.9% year-on-year    After Putin summit, Trump says peace deal is best way to end Ukraine war    Jordan condemns Israeli PM remarks on 'Greater Israel'    Egypt's Supreme Energy Council reviews power supply plans for 14 industrial projects    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, bilateral ties in calls with Saudi, South African counterparts    Egypt prepares to tackle seasonal air pollution in Nile Delta    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egyptian pound closes high vs. USD on Tuesday – CBE    Egypt, Colombia discuss medical support for Palestinians injured in Gaza    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt's govt. issues licensing controls for used cooking oil activities    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



A week of Muslim Americans reaching out
Published in Daily News Egypt on 23 - 10 - 2010

LOS ANGELES, California: Muslim Americans, with a coalition of Jewish and Christian partners, are engaging in a nationwide week of open interfaith dialogue, starting in mid-October. There is a real need for Muslim and non-Muslim American communities to better understand and interact with one another, given recent debates on Islam and a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment across the United States.
Addressing head on the question “Why don't Muslim Americans engage more?” Muslim Americans will invite people of all faiths to visit their mosques during this week and, likewise, encourage Muslims to attend non-Muslim houses of worship.
This outreach initiative will feature programs and discussions, such as the one at The Islamic Centre of Southern California on Oct. 17, which was designated Open Mosque Day. There, speakers addressed timely issues and examined the historical and moral foundations upon which the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims can be constructed positively. The Oct. 17 discussion addressed the question: “How should Muslims interact with non-Muslims in an era fraught with hostility and conflict, while remaining true to Islam?” In addition, an Islamic centre in nearby Irvine also opened its doors on Open Mosque Day to invite all Americans to learn more about Islam, stating that in doing so, it is: “Recognizing our common humanity. Celebrating our diversity. And respecting each other.”
For several years, Muslims have integrated into the tapestry of American life, but the rise in anti-Muslim sentiment is a relatively newer phenomenon. The associated rhetoric has surprised many by revealing Americans' ignorance about Islam. However, the American public educational system has not focused on providing a comprehensive look at Islam's tenets or its history, resulting in fear of Muslims and Islam by the larger American population, especially after 9/11.
The public debate about religion and education remains tenuous but important, as there are emerging populations of diverse religions in the United States. Recently, for example, the Texas State Board of Education passed a resolution that seeks to curtail references to Islam in Texas public schools' textbooks, as some board members warned of what they described as “a creeping Middle Eastern influence” in the nation's publishing industry.
The week of Muslim outreach can begin a transformation of the negative views of Muslims that seem to be created by media snapshots from the late 1970s with Khomeini, 1980s with Qaddafi, 1990s with Saddam Hussein and, since 2001, with Osama Bin Laden.
Meanwhile, the positive contributions and accomplishments of Muslims are ignored or remain unknown. Muslim Americans have been successful in America in the corporate, educational and even political sectors. For instance, a Muslim American student, Ali Hussain, was named a Harry S. Truman Scholar at Cornell University and is planning a career in international relations with a focus on Pakistan and Afghanistan. And recently a Muslim American student, Ayesha Siddiqui, became the first-ever Muslim valedictorian at the City University's College of Technology in New York.
In Los Angeles, Ferial Masry, a Saudi Arabia-born American woman, is running as a Democrat in the 37th District for the California State Assembly. She has been a small-business owner, an autobiographer, a lecturer and is currently a public school teacher. Keith Ellison, Representative for Minnesota's 5th District, is another example of a public Muslim American figure, as is André D. Carson, Representative for Indiana's 7th Congressional District.
Their commitment to American values and Islam demonstrate that Muslim Americans are already well-integrated.
Certainly, as Muslim Americans we should be willing to accept that some of the negative images of Islam that non-Muslims have are based on what emerges from actual news stories. But campaigns like this week of dialogue should demonstrate to non-Muslims that the 1.2 billion Muslims in the world are quite diverse in their culture and upbringing.
The debate over the planned Islamic centre, Park51, in New York City challenged all Muslim Americans. We were hurt by the Islamophobia that pervaded everyday conversations, and were distressed as the media played out scenes of anti-Islam and anti-Muslim protests. However, we stood up as Americans, asked for our constitutional rights and explained to the world that nobody needs to be afraid of Muslims. A Muslim can be a friend, a neighbor, a swim partner or even a prayer companion.
Partnering with fellow Americans – Jews and Christians, amongst others – this week of Muslim American outreach can be the beginning of a real dialogue where we discuss similar goals: diversity, common humanity and mutual respect for each other.
Dr. Mehnaz M. Afridi teaches Judaism, Islam and Genocide Studies at Antioch University. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews), www.commongroundnews.org.


Clic here to read the story from its source.