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President Bush again meets with U.S. Muslim leaders
ahmer
09/27/01 at 14:50:48
http://www.cair-net.org/images/bush3.jpg President Bush again meets with U.S. Muslim leaders - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (Washington, DC, 9/26/2001) In the second meeting with U.S. Muslim leaders in just two weeks, President Bush today said the "teachings of Islam are the teachings of peace and good." Groups represented at the meeting included the American Muslim Political Coordination Council (AMPCC) as well as other national American Muslim and Arab-American organizations. (The AMPCC consists of American Muslim Alliance, American Muslim Council, Council on American-Islamic Relations, and Muslim Public Affairs Council.) "PRESIDENT BUSH: ...the outpouring of support for our country has come from all corners of the country, including many members of the Muslim faith, and for that I am grateful. "I appreciate the contributions of time, the contributions of blood to help our fellow Americans who have been injured. And I'm proud of the -- I'm proud of the Muslim leaders across America who have risen up and who -- and not only insisted that America be strong, but that America keep the values intact that have made it so unique and different, the values of respect, the values of freedom to worship the way we see fit. And I also appreciate the prayers to the -- the universal God. "And so I want to thank you all for coming. I don't know if you all remember the imam was -- led the service at the National Cathedral. He did a heck of a good job, and we were proud to have him there. "DR. MUZAMMIL H. SIDDIQI, PRESIDENT OF THE INDIANA-BASED ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA (ISNA): Thank you. "PRESIDENT BUSH: And I want to thank you very much for the -- the gift you gave me, Imam, the Koran. It's a very thoughtful gift. I said, 'Thank you very much for the gift.' He said, 'It's the best gift I could give you, Mr. President.' I appreciate that very much." "We are encouraged that the president has been consistent in his statements supporting religious diversity in our society. American Muslims will continue to condemn terrorism in all its forms while at the same time working to defend civil liberties in this country and around the world," said Council on American-Islamic Relations Board Chairman Omar Ahmad, who was invited to today's meeting but could not attend. CAIR was represented at the meeting by the AMPCC's delegate Dr. Maher Hathout.

Re: President Bush again meets with U.S. Muslim leaders
Kashif
09/27/01 at 15:28:25
assalaamu alaikum Does anyone get the feeling that the Muslims leaders are being used? Kashif Wa Salaam
NS

Re: President Bush again meets with U.S. Muslim leaders
bhaloo
09/27/01 at 15:54:53
slm I was thinking of the same thing Kashif.  I wonder if the leaders have spoken to Bush about the US's unfair foreign policy?
NS

Re: President Bush again meets with U.S. Muslim leaders
Kashif
09/27/01 at 18:09:07
assalaamu alaikum Arshad, i didn't mean it in that sense. My point was that all of us know the media is no friend of Islam's. They've portrayed us as backwards, fanatic, filthy, crazy, oppressed, devious and much more. Do you think they suddenly stopped one day and said "hey, we'll give these Mozlems a fair deal and give their own speakers some air time"? OR is there something else? Broadly speaking and in *my* opinion you can categorise the Muslims who come on TV into two categories, (a) the real fanatics - those who are deliberately brought on TV to give the impression that this is what all Muslims are like (UK Muslims know who i'm talking about) and (b) people who will 'sing the party tune.' A brother wrote: <<Those who speak in public are there because they have been given platform by Western media. Western media doesn't give a platform for just any one and when it gives it, it doesn't give it for free. Only those who will sing the "right" tune (Yes, master) are given platform. So this is not happening by accident, it's happening by design and will keep happening.>> and i largely agree. As long as you continue mocking Ibn al-Khattab & Abdullah Azzam by equating them to the NY firefighters, and explain away 'embarrassing' topics like the Hoor al-`Een as allegorical, you're the man. In the current context what worries me is that Muslim leaders who appear on TV to condemn terrorism are at the same time being used to rubberstamp America's so called "long fight against terrorism." Note, long fight against terrorism. You can be assured that when they've finished with b. Laden, they'll point their weapons in the direction of the Chechen mujahideen and every other Muslim movement that is involved in a physical struggle to ward off oppression. And after that they'll turn to dismantle any organisation and any voice that says 'I want to live my life by Islam.' Kashif Wa Salaam

Re: President Bush again meets with U.S. Muslim leaders
Saleema
09/27/01 at 18:31:53
[slm] Today, I went to listen to the ex-presiden of Poland who was  guest speaker at our college. While waiting for him to appear on stage, I caught the word "jihad," and started paying attention to the two ppl sitting next to me who were talking about the current tragedy. one guy said that pakistan was not helping the US out of love for Americans but because it is scared, and then he laughed, an arrogant mean laught. His friend noticed me and kept quite but his friend did not notice me and he kept going on and on. I had to bite my tongue, had it not been for the fact that I was the PR officer for Student Leadership Council, I would have risked a confrontation and would have felt satisfaction for being kicked out of the audotorium for disturbing the environment. But it was such a big occasion so i prayed to God to guide the Muslims and ignored the ignorant guys sitting next to me. In which direction are we heading? I am tired of responding to stupid and hate filled editorials. I will not be writing anymore to the newspapers, or at least not for today's cair action alret anyway. I feel like i'm burned out. [wlm]

Re: President Bush again meets with U.S. Muslim leaders
bhaloo
09/27/01 at 19:16:37
slm I probably should have written my 2 sentences as 2 separate paragraphs instead of 1.   In my opinion this is what is happening: The government is getting Islamic speakers that people recognize and respect in the American Islamic community and giving them air time with Bush and air time in general.  How does this benifit the US government?  Muslims will say, oh maybe what Bush is doing isn't so bad because he is with such and such scholar.  I imagine that whatever these scholars were supposed to say was looked over by the whitehouse staff before being aired, they probably made sure they didn't speak out against US foreign policy publically and if they did, that would be the last time you would see them on the air and they would be labeled as some fundamentalist. In fact I think I read somewhere (I can't remember where), where they labeled the Ikhwan as some extremist Islamic group, and remember, ISNA was started by members from this group.  The reason I bring ISNA up is because there have been ISNA speakers that are speaking on the air and with Bush. So let's make this interesting.  Let's say that you are an admired speaker in the Islamic community, nationally, and the white house comes up to you and asks you to speak.  What do you do?  Do you speak?  If you do speak, what do you talk about?  Why?

Re: President Bush again meets with U.S. Muslim leaders
ahmer
09/27/01 at 19:55:17
slm i agreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee with Sis Saleema, I am sick and tired too... of defending Islam Islam for reasons Islam or Muslims are not responsible for!!!! All the thousands of media releases and stuff i sent seem like a lame crutch to me. Does Islam need such weak crutches? wooooooooooshhhhhhhhhhh I am also burned out sis!! literally !! i am angry at loss of words!!right now, can't say what i think!! :( ):( slm ahmer

Re: President Bush again meets with U.S. Muslim leaders
Rashid
09/27/01 at 22:20:27
[slm] While I agree that it is possible for the gov't to be using the scholars for some ulterior motive, we can't lose sight of the fact that at least they and the major media are giving them an outlet, so that the average american can see Muslims in a positive light.   If I were a scholar and received an invitation from the white house or media, I would utilize it to make dua on air and on the record for Afghanistan, Palestine, Chechnya, Kashmir, and Bosnia.  Then I would explain that the reason for this dua is because they have suffered unjustly and for so long as a direct result of american foreign policy.  I would also mention that Muslims do not hate america or americans but do hate bombs and missiles that are ordered to be dropped by reagan, bush, clinton, and bush.   But ultimately, what is the outcome of such meetings?  bush has again stated that there will be no negotiation with Taliban.  War preparations continue at full speed ahead.  No evidence has been presented against Usama.  The United Nations is nowhere in sight.  So what exactly are they talking about?  Harrasment against Muslims in the US?  How does that compare to the prospect of thousands of innocents being slaughtered in Afghanistan?  I'll put up with stares, shouts, rude and demeaning comments any day over the massacre of Muslims who had nothing to do with 9-11. [wlm]

Re: President Bush again meets with U.S. Muslim leaders
BroHanif
09/28/01 at 04:42:00
Bro Kashif I couldn't agree more, What you've said is the stae of us muslims, we love to hear about Allah, the prophet [saws], the shabahs and even isten to beautiful quran recitations. However, once it comes to discussing the J word, whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa maan STOP RIGHT THERE.  Do not breathe, do not move, go straight to jail. Arn't the kufr alos making our nafs happy here by discussing those topics ? Those leaders that stand on the podium rubbing sholders with premiers nothing wrong with that. But they should also get to realise what the prophet [saws] on his death bed about the two religions in Arabia, why is that forgotten nowadays and one man stands up to say that it is injustice and the whole world comes to kill him ? Tell me please someone where is the justice. [quote]His friend noticed me and kept quite but his friend did not notice me and he kept going on and on. [/quote] So now Bros are looking at Sis Saleema and keeping quiet, wah wah, you must be scary sis or a sis with real power, hmmm reminds me of Margret Thatcher. Man your husbands in for a tough time, just roll your eyes eh!. :) Sorry I just had to.
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