reply to kman, persevere against Muslims

Submitted by Keith Williams (United States), Jan 21, 2009 at 16:29

Hi kman,

I pray that you are doing well.

Yes we must also persevere against all enemies to include Muslims who commit criminal acts.

My only concern is that some comments on this site dehumanizes all Muslims and that is wrong. If we allow that kind of thing to happen then after Islam who is next? We can't blame a whole religion just because a few people have gone astray. Yes, I agree that there has been disproportionate coverage on Islam. The image of Islam has been distorted. Why come we don't see the many good news or positive stories of Muslims only the bad? For example, you are led to believe the statement you gave "If a thousand Muslims exist on earth and 995 of them do terrible things, what is the truth of Islam?" That is not the reality and therefore is not a true statement. This is a fallacious statement because it is not based on the facts. That kind of thinking is based on stereotypes and innuendos and leads to hate, oppression, tyranny and injustices. People use that kind of thinking to justify oppressive and inhumane policies and the killing of innocents. The reality is that if only 1000 Muslims exists on earth less than 1 of those would be doing terrible things based on the empirical data of the number of attacks and the small number of Muslims committing them versus the number of Muslims and all of the good things that they do everyday.

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"Do you read any of the responses that detail the mammoth and staggering numer of atrocious acts committed in the name of Islam?"

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They are attrocious but not a staggering number and are lower than the number done by non-Muslims. Yes, I read them and that is why I respond because this website only focuses on a few radical criminals and some of the responses of some people on here claim that it is Islam and all Muslims. I denounce what they did and that what they did was not indicative of Islam. Even Dr. Pipes says that it is the few extremist of radical Islamist not all Muslims committing these acts. We have to enlist the help of the good and honest Muslims but you can't do that with the hateful, disrespectful comments that we see on this website from some ignorant cowards which we will not name. There are over a billion Muslims living peacefully as you and I and only less than 1% that are committing criminal acts. Also, there is less than 1% who are fighting against those extremist and we must help them briing the 99% to their side and not push them to the other. The media only covers the criminals but not the everyday life of the majority of Muslims. This kind of coverage demonizes and dehumanizes all innocent people both the oppressed and the oppressors and leads to more hate and oppression on both sides. This coverage looks like there is a war against Islam and not against the extreme and radical ideology of the criminals who commit crimes based on that. We have to continue to build bridges not tear them down with hateful and disrespectful words which leads to war not peace. We have to tear down the walls of hate and use those bricks to build bridges of love, tolerance and mutual respect for each other.

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"God's true people reach out to hundreds of millions of people peacefully"

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Yes I agree and that is why Muslims generally strive to be generous and humble in their charitable contributions. Here are a few Islamic charitable organizations.

1. Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief is an international relief and development organization with full-time offices in 25 countries and provides assistance in over 30 countries worldwide.

Islamic Relief's USA office has been given a 4-star rating by Charity Navigator. Islamic Relief works in partnership with other international aid organizations, church groups, and local relief agencies in the areas they serve. Islamic Relief operates permanent projects in Palestine, and has launched a Humanitarian Crisis Campaign to offer support to civilians in Gaza.

2. Muslim Aid

Muslim Aid aims to provide emergency, long-term assistance and other charitable work to alleviate the pain of those suffering and in need of relief. Their focus is on sustainable development programs which tackle the root causes of poverty. Muslim Aid Australia and Muslim Aid UK are appealing for urgent assistance in Gaza, where they are working with the UNWRA and other local agencies.

3. Life for Relief and Development (LIFE)

A non-governmental organization founded by Iraqi-American professionals in 1992, now providing humanitarian assistance to people in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Pakistan, and Sierra Leone. The LIFE website provides copies of their credentials with the US government and the United Nations, and registration documents for the countries in which they work.

4. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

There are 186 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world, forming a network of volunteers and staff who have provided humanitarian services worldwide since 1919. The Red Crescent is used in place of the Red Cross in many Islamic countries, and all societies provide assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class, or political opinions. Each national society is independent and supports the public authorities in their own country, with local knowledge and expertise, infrastructure, and access. The Palestine Red Crescent Society is at a high level of alert, and accepts online donations through the "Canada Helps" charity.

5. ICNA Relief

A program of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), ICNA Relief is a humanitarian relief and development organization which responds to emergency and disaster situations at home and abroad. ICNA Relief runs special programs to help the needy in poor neighborhoods within North America.

6. Mercy-USA for Aid and Development

Founded in 1986, Mercy-USA is a non-profit relief and development organization. Their projects focus on improving health and promoting economic and educational growth around the world. Mercy-USA has earned a 3-star rating by Charity Navigator.

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"The Quran is a book of convenience"

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No, it is a book of consciousness. Consciousness of God and your fellow man. The rest of the book is commentary to back that up. The main themes of the Qur'an is love of God and worshipping God and obeying him as well as love and charity to mankind.

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"Never do you see pictures or news stories of violence on the part of or for God. I don't say that there aren't isolated and microscopic exceptions."

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I am glad that you caught yourself. Never say never. No, pictures and news stories of violence does make it to the news and they are of isolated but not always microscopic. I will just give you a couple examples. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/247666.stm, and http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/251815.stm You know as I do that there are some people in our country who are doing some bad things and thinking that God want them to do that. Some of it makes it on the media but only for a minute. For the sake of argument I will stop there. I just wanted you to realize and don't forget that. There are some crazy people out there and the religion does not matter. They all say the same thing and have the same ideology but with different name and say that God command them to rape, murder, kill innocents. We can't blame a whole religion just because a few people have gone astray.

Also I ask that we all keep in mind that there are many innocent people who are suffering right now throughout the world and we have to do all we can to help. Let's keep them in our prayers and give them charity of love, time, money, or whatever we can do for them. Women and children are always the victims and we have to do every thing we can, God willing.

May God continue to guide us to the straight way.

peace

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