Role of Mosques and Islamic Centers

Category: Americas, World Affairs Topics: Conflicts And War, North America Views: 1125
1125

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. David Bonior, D-Michigan, said today that an invasion of Iraq will only further threaten national security by splintering the broad international coalition against terrorism and fueling more extremist passions against America.

The congressman -- who returned Tuesday from a five-day trip to Iraq -- also said little discussion is being devoted to the humanitarian crisis facing innocent Iraqi civilians following years of economic sanctions -- a challenge America will have a moral responsibility to deal with, regardless of a regime change. 

"I think we have to be very cognizant of what war will unleash on the world," Bonior said. "There are important questions about the safety of our people in America as well as justice abroad.  The world is a very fragile place today and going to war threatens everything.  We strike first -- what kind of message does that send to India, Pakistan and other nations in South Asia?  It will break up our coalition with Arab nations that we need in the effort against Al-Queda.  I am very disheartened by the fact that people have not been addressing the implications that war will have on our broader national security concerns."

Bonior and U.S. Reps. Jim McDermott, D-Washington., and U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-California, were part of a delegation that traveled to Iraq to press upon the Iraqis the need for unrestricted, unfettered UN weapons inspections and to gain insight into the dangerous implications a unilateral, preemptive strike would have on U.S. national interests.   The trip was organized by the Interfaith Network of Concern for the People of Iraq, a project of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, and LIFE for Relief and Development, a Michigan charity organization licensed by the United States and the United Nations to administer aid in Iraq.

The group met with United Nations and Iraqi officials, repeatedly stressing the need for the weapons inspections.   They also visited many sites - including the largest children's cancer ward, a water filtration plant and an oil-for-food distribution site - and talked with numerous Iraqi citizens about the "truly disturbing humanitarian problems" in the country, Bonior said.

"The Iraqi people suffer under a brutal dictatorship and they suffer under the most inhumane sanctions regime ever put in place.  We must act to alleviate the anguish," Bonior said.  "To ignore it or worse, to begin another war, will only deepen the mistrust of America and further complicate the effort to root out terrorism." 

 


  Category: Americas, World Affairs
  Topics: Conflicts And War, North America
Views: 1125

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Older Comments:
QORAN MOXAMED JAAMAC said:
Asalaamu calaykum waraxmatu laahi wabarakaatuhu,
bacdal salaam, I am so glad to you all and i will like to remind you that allah said"All the Exalated ,has said:
Restrain thyself along with those who try unto their Lord at morn and evening,seeking His countenance; and let not thine eyes overlook them:(18:28)
2002-09-30

JOHN Q. PUBLIC FROM USA said:
Your column proves that muslims are working to impose a world wide islamic state. You argue that there are no nations in the world, only islam. Muslims should only recognize islam and not the country they live in. This proves that the world trade center attack was an act designed to start jihad against the US and the world. You dont want democracy, you dont want separation between religion and state. I am an agnostic. I believe that religious freedom is the most important thing in the world. What terrifies me is that muslims will win and that I and millions of other people who you consider to be infidels will be forcibily converted or killed. It says in the koran that there are two reasons to fight others, self defense and to fight oppression. you consider non-islamic states oppresive because they are not islamic. Dont lie to the people of the world any longer. Admit that all muslims are terrorists. Your god demands that you tell the truth.
2002-09-27

ZIYAAD FROM US said:
To sum up what the article says: "let us promote unity by turning the masjid and Islamic center into a sanctuary for Muslim criminals". There is something seriously wrong with that type of thinking...
2002-09-23

UTHMAN AL-AMIN FROM USA said:
Bismillahi aRahmani Rahimi

As Salaamu Alaikum Wr.Wb.

Dear Brother,

I am a so-called American (Black) Muslim as so many non-Muslims and imported Muslims would like to say.... However, by all intents and purposes and by the grace of Allah (swt); I'm just a Muslim.

I welcome your article, and pray to Allah, that we as an Ummah can over come the nationalistic shackels that has inhibited our Ummah for so many years.

You know, I've experienced this inherit distinction placed on me, and family for over 25 years.

And, believe me by the majority of nationalistic examples and representations ( Muslim Arabs, Pakistians, Iraqi, etc.,) I've personally witnessed; I will tell you that..... if it was not due to the fact, and reality that Allah is the only Ilah, and Muhammad (pbbh) is the prophet of Allah, I would not have anything to do with any of them in this life.

Yes, there must be an all out concerted effort upon the ones placed in leadership and authority among the masses, as well as our Ummah, and our own personal selves to right these wrongs.
The problem is huge and racist.

With that said, I have a thought, I'd like you to consider... We pray in the ranks side by side. Bowing, and prostrating to Allah as brothers, and sisters, and saying the same prayer.

At the end of the day..."How many of those same brothers do you think you or I could actually depend upon in a time of crisis or worse yet a catostrophe"? I'm not trying to be pestimistic here, just real.

In Allah do we depend, and in him we trust.

All praises are due to Allah, that we know better.
But, we must think about those who do not know any better, and consequently, remain in ignorance of the beauty, and fullfilment of this Din,(in this life, but most importantly the next) or worse yet abandon it.

We have a very serious responsibility here in America, and the world . I pray to Allah, that we succeed where others have failed.

El Hadj,Uthman Abdul
2002-09-23

AISHANOOR FROM CANADA said:
...[T]he honor and dignity of a Muslim is greater than anything else in the world. This statement of the author is one of those cliches that we ought to critically reexamine.

1. Why is "Muslim" specified when Allah says, "We have ennobled the children of Adam" (i.e. all humankind)?

2. Does "Muslim" here really include all Muslims, regardless of their social position, ethnic background, aqeedah, school of thought, or gender? Or in actuality do we think that some Muslims are more entitled to dignity (and even life itself) than others?

3. What is "honor" here? A synonym of "dignity"? Is it equally applicable to all Muslims, regardless of social position and gender? Do cultural ideas about "honor" come into conflict with Muslim women's dignity as human beings?

If we can honestly address these issues, our mosques and Islamic centres might be able to move beyond offering a secure place for men to pray and engage the American scene in a relevant way.
2002-09-18

DINO DEMARS FROM IRAQ said:
The author writes: "If the mosques/Islamic Centers do decide to share the information with the FBI, there is a great possibility that Muslims might stop coming to the mosque regularly"

If the mosques/Islamic Centers become known to be the homes of unsavory characters, protected by their ability to hide behind their nominal membership in the Muslim brotherhood, then isn't there a greater possibility that good Muslims will stop going to the Mosque altogether? This is certainly a danger that must be weighed against the kind of 'us against them' mentality the author is espousing.
2002-09-18

YAQUB FROM USA said:
The USA is a nation-state that many of us have chosen to come to. We generally have to obey the laws of that nation-state. We are not anarchists. If a Muslim was to plan an act of murder, and I knew I could stop it, I would report him to the FBI - many extremists today abuse the idea of brotherhood to say that they cannot be censured by other Muslims.

The Jews place brotherhood before all else - are we to become like the Jews?
2002-09-17