Muslims Condemn Lazio bigotry...my letter to him.

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Muslims Condemn Lazio bigotry...my letter to him.
Fatimah
11/02/00 at 19:23:54
>From: cair1@ix.netcom.com
>To: cair-net <cair-net@list.cair-net.org>
>Subject: CAIR-NET: Muslim and Arab-American Groups Condemn Lazio "Bigotry"
>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

>
>MUSLIM AND ARAB-AMERICAN GROUPS CONDEMN LAZIO "BIGOTRY"
>
>(FREMONT, CA, 10/31/2000)  Nine national American Muslim and Arab-
>American organizations today condemned what they say is "anti-Muslim
>bigotry" coming from the campaign of New York Republican Senate
>candidate Rick Lazio.
>
>Group leaders say Lazio used deceptive campaign tactics aimed at
>inciting hatred and hostility towards American Muslims. Those tactics
>included conducting a "deceptively-worded" phone campaign seeking to
>link First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Muslim groups and individual
>Muslim contributors to the tragic bombing of the USS Cole.
>
>The joint statement reads:
>
>"We condemn Rick Lazio in the strongest-possible terms for his deceitful
>accusations about American Muslim organizations and individuals. In a
>desperate bid to win November 7 elections, Mr. Lazio is trying to turn
>Muslims into the 'Willie Horton' of 2000. He is telling New Yorkers that
>Muslims are guilty by virtue of being Muslims. This reprehensible tactic
>is designed to malign the entire Muslim community and to lock its
>members out of the political process. His scurrilous campaign is an
>attack on democratic norms and on our constitutional rights.
>
>"We also condemn Lazio for his racist logic. It is the same logic that
>was used to conceptualize and justify the internment of Japanese
>Americans during the Second World War. The Japanese Relocation Order of
>February 19, 1942 was based on calling into question the loyalty as well
>as the human dignity of those American citizens who had a different
>ethnicity and a different religion.
>
>"We call on all Americans to just say no to Mr. Lazio's anti-Muslim
>racism and ask that political leaders of all parties take a stand on
>this issue. Failure to speak out against Mr. Lazio's recent actions and
>statements will send the message that there is room for racism and
>bigotry in America."
>
>                    - END -
>
>Signed by:
>
>Dr. Agha Saeed, American Muslim Alliance
>Dr. Sayed Sayeed, Islamic Society of North America
>Mr. Omar Ahmad, Council on American-Islamic Relations
>Dr. Ashraf Uzzaman, Islamic Circle of North America
>Dr. Maher Hathout, Muslim Public Affairs Council
>Dr. James Zogby, Arab-American Institute
>Mr. Khalid Saffuri, American Islamic Institute
>Mr. Shafi Refai, United Muslims of America
>Mr. Aly Abuzaakouk, American Muslim Council

>Rick Lazio Campaign Office
>3 East Main Street
>P.O. Box 5063
>Bay Shore, NY 11706
>
>Phone: 631-666-3020
>Fax: 646-227-9369
>E-Mail: rlazio2000@aol.com
>Copy to: cair1@ix.netcom.com
>http://www.lazio.com/
>http://www.lazio.com/contact_us/form.cfm

here is what I wrote to Lazio. Even if you don't live in NY I really think you should pretend like you do and and really just write to condemn his bigoted statements against Muslims. Seriously this guy is using the whole situation with the Muslims who donated to hillary to his advantage in his campaign..this is all they have been bickering about the past week.. This issue with the Muslims giving hillary the money. He's making Muslims look like the enemies. It makes me sick to my stomach. I know this letter is really long but I just had to let my feelings known.

Dear Mr. Lazio,

It saddens me so much being a Muslim in NY that you have repeatedly made anti-palestinian remarks in the papers especially since Mrs. Clinton accepted what you call "blood money" from the same Muslim group that you requested money from. It must be embarrassing for you to know that you have been exposed. Isn't America supposed to be playing the "honest broker" in this "peace process"? Why then are you making this country look hypocritical by fiercely supporting one side and condemning the other?

For you to take pride in being a NYer I find it quite odd that you have this misconception that only Jews live in NY, you are dead wrong sir. You are going at great lengths to please the Jews by wasting your time in the Middle East matter which you are incredibaly biased and ignorant on, but what about the majority of NY state? What will you do for us as senator? What will you do for the Muslims, the Blacks, Hispanics, Arabs, Indians, Italians, Chinese, the poor? etc etc. What about our health? our education? our well-being? Why should we vote for you if we're not Jewish?

Muslims of NY are outraged at your prejudiced remarks aimed at us. It also angers me that you are blindly supporting your ally in Israel even though the UN has condemned the excessive force Israel has used on the Palestinian people. Why does the US not care that Israel has time and time again totally ignored the resolutions the UN has passed in favor of the palestinians (namely res. 242)? If this was a Muslim country, I am sure you, Mr. Lazio, would call for immediate punishment of the country that disobeyed UN resolutions.

Muslims or not, the Palestinians are human beings they do not deserve to be shot like animals by the Israeli army! It is unimaginable why you are willing to give 3 billion dollars to revamp the Israeli army. Why do you support this? Is America giving up this money so that the Israeli army can murder more innocent people? Why don't you use this money and give it to poor countries whose people are dying by the millions? Don't use my tax dollars to support a terrorist government!

Rock throwers are up against Missles and tanks. You must see something wrong with this picture. What is Barak thinking? Has he really lost it? This is outrageous! Why is America supporting terrorism? It's time for the government to realize that Israel is getting away with murder, and America is financially funding them all the way. Is this something we, as Americans, should be proud of?

I am ashamed to call myself an American citizen today but I will use my right, as will all the Muslims of NY (NINE major Muslims organizations have already endorsed Mrs. Clinton) to vote against you in this upcoming election.

Don't think that Muslims don't read the papers. We're keeping a close eye on you.

Sincerely,
-----

Re: Muslims Condemn Lazio bigotry...my letter to him.
Saleema
11/02/00 at 22:04:02
Assalamoalykum,

that is a very nice letter. I will send it to him through my other email address. The one I sent him from my SalGul address, it was really mean. Made me feel good.

wassalam
Re: Muslims Condemn Lazio bigotry...my letter to him.
Fatimah
11/03/00 at 12:18:22
Assalamu Alaykum saleema, I know what you are talking about I already wrote him three times using two different names :) But they weren't really mean letters. Lazio sent my father a letter requesting (actually begging) for donations for his campaign. well I'm going to take that envelope he sent and put a note in it saying something like "I wouldn't give a dime to your campaign now that I know what kind of person you are, Hillary all the way!" Hey what can I say, sometime you have to treat jerks like jerks.
Re: Muslims Condemn Lazio bigotry...my letter to him.
Saleema
11/03/00 at 14:03:09
Assalamoalykum,

How about telling the press aobut it? That he is begging Muslims for money? I would.

wassalam
Meanwhile...up here in Canada...We get an Apology:
SuperHiMY
11/03/00 at 23:36:31
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

CAIR CAN GOOD NEWS ALERT  Alert #10
Council on American-Islamic Relations - Canada
P.O. Box 67058, Westboro RPO,
340 Richmond, Ottawa, ON  K2A 0E8
Tel: 613-798-0003
Email: canada@cair-net.org
URL: www.cair-net.org


CALGARY SUN EDITOR APOLOGIZES "UNCONDITIONALLY" FOR REMARKS

(Ottawa, ON - 11/02/00)- Paul Jackson, associate editor of the Calgary Sun, has apologized "unconditionally" for offensive remarks he wrote to Muslim readers. Last week, Jackson wrote "I stand by Israel no matter what. Allah be damned! Mohammed, too!" in e-mails sent from his Sun account to critics of a recent article.

In a letter sent to Sheema Khan, Chair of the Canadian office
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR CAN), Mr. Jackson wrote:

"I want to tell you how it came about I made flippant comments that your  members and yourself naturally find insulting. Also to apologize unconditionally."

"I can assure you that the way my comments were interpreted is not the way I personally feel, and I am sorry for the pain I have caused you and others."

"I would hope that you would accept both my explanation, and my apology,
so as not to fan the flames any further. I can promise you that in future I will be more temperate even in my columns."

Jackson also sent apologies to the two recipients of his offensive remarks. A second apology came from Chris Nelson, editor-in-chief of the Sun. In his letter to CAIR CAN, Nelson wrote:

"As editor of the newspaper I apologize and unreservedly about Mr.
Jackson’s e-mail responses.  I found those comments offensive and unworthy of both the newspaper and Mr. Jackson.  You can rest assured that they do not reflect the views of this organization ..."

Sun publisher Guy Huntingford also expressed his deep personal apology for the remarks in conversations with CAIR CAN staff. The newspaper has also agreed to publish a future column by CAIR CAN advisory board member
Shahina Siddiqui. The article will present a Muslim perspective of events in Palestine, along with the negative effects of anti-Islamic/Muslim language used in Canadian media during this crisis. CAIR CAN has informed the Sun that it will monitor Jackson’s columns in the future to ensure that the paper follows through on its promise to tone down on racist language that Jackson has used in the past.

"It is time media professionals recognized the negative impact of anti-Muslim bigotry. This incident should serve as a wake-up call for journalists throughout North America," said CAIR CAN Chair Sheema Khan.

Khan added that this was not the first incident of its type. On October 13, panelist Victor Mordecai said "...the Muslim people are good people, but Islam is a Satanic system,"  during the broadcast of "AM Coast-to-Coast with Mike Segal" on radio station CJBK in London, Ontario.  In the October 30th issue of MacLean’s magazine, columnist Barbara Amiel wrote: "Arab culture... appears to put the glory of the tribe and Allah before the individual's happiness or suffering."  And, in his October 26th column, Jackson warned of the spread of "Islamic extremism in our own countries."
Re: Muslims Condemn Lazio bigotry...my letter to him.
Saleema
11/04/00 at 00:20:12
Assalamoalykum,

I hope Jackson rots in hell right there besides Abu Jahal. Astaghferullah! Allah makes war on those who make war on Him and His Messenger. My God, that is blasphemy in the highest form!! I am so angry and hurt that I can't do anything about it. If Jackson was alive back then and sitting in the US, and the Muslims had found out that he said such a thing, the Muslims would have *swam* across the Atlantic to get to him. He can shove his apology down his throat, it doesn't mean anything. These people aplogize only to be politically correct after they have made a politically incorrect statement.

Wassalam
NS
Re: Muslims Condemn Lazio bigotry...my letter to him.
Fatimah
11/04/00 at 11:35:20
I've decided I'm going to put play money in that envelope because he is a joke. This is his game, to make Muslims look like terrorists. You know what his latest ad is???? His latest ad is showing clips of the OCT 28th RALLY in DC!!! he distorts the supposed "facts" that the announcer calls them and he shows a pic of the guy Alamoudi who gave the money to hillary and it shows him saying, "Anybody support Hezbollah here?" (at the rally) and then it shows the Muslim crowd at the rally cheer! and the ad goes on with other junk and mess that makes the Muslims look like supporters of terrorism. What a bastard. Actually I am not surprised, I am shocked he could stoop so low. How could they allow all this to happen in this campaign?? How could they be so insensitive to all the Muslims who live in NY?


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