Where are the moderate Muslims??

Submitted by Salihah (United States), Dec 12, 2006 at 17:34

Pat, thank you for your reply. I am hearing you. I wish people were hearing me. There are over a billion Muslims in the world, I do not control them or their actions. I am a 20-something Muslim gal in America, but I can be accountable for me, I can try to make a difference, that is all I can do. I can keep speaking, not be silent, and keep reaching out. I am not an enemy. I love America. This all breaks my heart. But I'm not giving up just because I'm "just one person". I know lots of Muslims, and I hear lots of voices.

"You can preach peace forever. Until your fellow Muslims take you up on it, the rest of us will have to be on watch. Call it profiling. We're still waiting for moderate Muslims who live in the Muslim world to stand up in public and condemn these groups and fight them."

Here are some of them right here:

http://findingsalihah.blogspot.com/2006/11/where-are-moderate-muslims-where-is-out.html

"Take off the mask Salilah, you must think that all westerners are dumb" What? When did I say that? Please...why are you accusing me of insults, I don't want to insult anyone. I'm married to a Westerner, a staunch, blue-eyed, blonde-hair, Bush-supporting, Republican. I don't think he's dumb, I respect his views and beliefs, even if they aren't my own. His family is western, Minnesota, Protestant-Midwest stock. I love and respect them all. If I didn't love America, I wouldn't be here. I have a choice and I chose. I wouldn't trade it. My US Citizenship students I teach know the First Amendment by heart, they came here (legally!) because they believe in America. I believe in America. Those that come here and don't...I have no idea what their problem is, I'm not them. But I won't be silent when I hear them speak. Dumb people are everywhere, East and West. But gosh, I certainly do not think all Westerners are dumb. I am grateful for my Western education, and send my children to Western public charter schools.

Timothy said:

"You obviously paid no attention to the details that concerned the passengers of that plane. Here's a couple.

1.) The Muslim clerics did not go to their assigned seats. Two went to the front of the plane in first class, two went to the center of the plane (by the exist), and two went to the back of the plane. Very similar to the 9/11 highjackers. 2. ) They requested seat belt extenders, these are designed for obese people who can not fit into a typical seat belt. None of these gentlemen were even close to obese. Could a metal buckle on the end of a long strap be used as a weapon ?? hhhmmmmm. 3.) Their attitude when they were questioned and eventually requested to leave the plane."

"They requested seat belt extenders, these are designed for obese people who can not fit into a typical seat belt. None of these gentlemen were even close to obese." Since when is 6 feet and 230 pounds not "even close to obese"? http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/dga/dga95/fig03.html It is not only "close", but "severe".

About them all sitting in different spots around the plane. I have flown many times, and when you get discount tickets, you rarely all get to sit together. When you buy your own ticket, at your own time, how likely are you to end up sitting in the seat right next to your friend that reserved his ticket on another day at another time?? Never happened to me. My friend just got back from Europe. By some chance, they managed to place her 5 year old in a seat rows and rows from her. Of course, they arranged for it to be changed, but it happens. I can remember only one time flying with my family where our entire group managed to get seats reserved together in a group. When you fly cheap, that's just the way it is. I didn't think it was odd at all that they sat in different spots. About it being in unassigned spots in unconfirmed. Passengers complained that they weren't sitting together.

About their attitude about being questioned. I've seen a lot of crabby westerners on planes, too, even for not getting the right drink they requested, let alone being asked to depart the plane for no reason. I would have cooperated, but that's me.

I am thankful for all your voices, all your insights. I don't have to always agree completely with what you say to appreciate your right to speak. I'm not here to justify terrorism, just to share that I, myself, am Muslim and not a terrorist. I love America, I hate terror. I love my faith, and my country that allows me it. I'm just one voice, but that's one more than there was before.

Peace,

Salihah

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