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Hi Carmela,<br>
<br>
Thank you so much for your post. I hope you don't mind if I shift
the subject line. Please feel free to change it to something else,
but I think this is a different topic than Daniel Mezick's post
about Group Relations. And perhaps it is one of the most critical
areas today that could use Open Space. And for the record, which I
repeat below - I find the killings done in the name of Islam just as
bad as the killings in the name of advancing Christianity,
Democracy, or anything else for that matter<br>
<br>
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<big><big><big><span class="_Tgc">الله أكبر</span></big></big></big>
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<br>
<br>
I find "opening space for the unlovely" like the particular wealthy
individual mentioned earlier as appealing as opening space for Adolf
Hitler or Racial Supremacists. And while I would fight for "Free
Speech" rights, falsely screaming fire in a crowded theater is not
"free speech".<br>
<br>
As much horror/fear/uncertainty/doubt was triggered by 9/11, it also
counter-intuitively has opened a vast amount of space for awareness
of Islam. Although I'm sure people have strong views one way or the
other - I would hope people could open their minds to how powerful a
civilizing influence Islam was to the Arabian peninsula, and how
much science and philosophy from the Greeks was only saved because
of Muslim civilization. And beyond salvaging Greek philosophy, while
Europe stagnated in it's "Dark Ages", Muslim Civilization was at
that time the pinnacle of human achievement where there were great
advances in science, math, philosophy, architecture, governance, and
the arts. Arabic was considered a classical language in Europe. And
the first University in Europe was in Moorish (Islamic) Spain, where
the royalty and wealthy of Europe sent their children to be
educated.<br>
<br>
I would also hope more would consider "common knowledge" that the
"Crusades" were a "barbarian invasion". Even good scholars in the
West acknowledge this truth, which is hard to ignore when you look
into the history of how some of the first crusaders turned cannibal,
and killed everyone - Jews, Christians, and Muslims - creating a sea
of blood where the locals (who were peaceful with each other) sought
refuge from the invaders coming to "liberate" them. (Please see the
excellent <a
href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusades_%28BBC_TV_series%29">documentary
series from BBC & PBS with Monty Python's Terry Jones</a> ).<br>
<br>
Hopefully a fanatical regime in the U.S. won't round me up for
having posted this, but if they do, I'll consider it an honor. And
to repeat - I find the killings done in the name of Islam just as
bad as the killings in the name of advancing Christianity,
Democracy, or anything else for that matter.<br>
<br>
Peace Be Upon You,<br>
Harold<br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 12/10/15 9:26 PM, Carmela Ariza via
OSList wrote:<br>
</div>
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cite="mid:C66044F6-4E79-4245-BE04-D40FB1B34D9A@yahoo.com"
type="cite">
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<div>Dear all</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>On December 1 I dreamt that there will be world war 3.</div>
<div>I hope and pray today's conflicts will not exacerbate
anymore. </div>
<div>The presidential campaign in the US is not helping in
de-escalating and reducing tensions.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Here is one important piece I read in FB from a Muslim who
fears for their life - from Sofia Ali-Khan. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>
<div>"Dear Non-Muslim Allies,</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I am writing to you because it has gotten just that bad. I
have found myself telling too many people about the advice
given to me years ago by the late composer Herbert Brun, a
German Jew who fled Germany at the age of 15: “be sure that
your passport is in order.” It’s not enough to laugh at
Donald Trump anymore. The rhetoric about Muslims has gotten
so nasty, and is everywhere, on every channel, every newsfeed.
It is clearly fueling daily events of targeted violence,
vandalism, vigilante harassment, discrimination. I want you
to know that it has gotten bad enough that my family and I
talk about what to keep on hand if we need to leave quickly,
and where we should go, maybe if the election goes the wrong
way, or if folks get stirred up enough to be dangerous before
the election. When things seem less scary, we talk about a
five or a ten year plan to go somewhere where cops don’t carry
guns and hate speech isn’t allowed on network television. And
if you don’t already know this about me, I want you to know
that I was born in this country. I have lived my whole life
in this country. I have spent my entire adult life working to
help the poor, the disabled and the dispossessed access the
legal system in this country. And I want you to know that I
am devoutly and proudly Muslim. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>I am writing this in response to a non Muslim friend’s
question about what she can do. Because there is much that
can be done in solidarity: </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>If you see a Muslim or someone who might be identified as
Muslim being harassed, stop, say something, intervene, call
for help.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>If you ride public transportation, sit next to the hijabi
woman and say asalam ‘alaykum (That means ‘peace to you.’).
Don’t worry about mispronouncing it; she won’t care. Just
say "peace" if you like. She’ll smile; smile back. If you
feel like it, start a conversation. If you don’t, sit there
and make sure no one harasses her. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>If you have a Muslim work colleague, check in. Tell them
that the news is horrifying and you want them to know you’re
there for them. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>If you have neighbors who are Muslim, keep an eye out for
them. If you’re walking your kids home from the bus stop,
invite their kids to walk with you.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Talk to your kids. They're picking up on the anti-Muslim
message. Make sure they know how you feel and talk to them
about what they can do when they see bullying or hear hate
speech at school.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Call out hate speech when you hear it—if it incites hatred
or violence against a specified group, call it out: in your
living room, at work, with friends, in public. It is most
important that you do this among folks who may not know a
Muslim.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Set up a “learn about Islam” forum at your book club,
school, congregation, dinner club. Call your state CAIR
organization, interfaith group or local mosque and see if
there is someone who has speaking experience and could come
and answer questions about Islam and American Muslims for your
group. They won’t be offended. They will want the
opportunity to do something to dispel the nastiness. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Write Op Eds and articles saying how deplorable the
anti-Muslim rhetoric has gotten and voice your support for
Muslim Americans in whatever way you can.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Call your state and local representatives, let them know
that you are concerned about hate speech against your Muslim
friends and neighbors in politics and the media, that it is
unacceptable and you want them to call it out whenever they
hear it, on your behalf.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Out yourself as someone who won’t stand for Islamophobia,
or will stand with Muslims—there is an awful lot of hate
filling the airways, and there are an awful lot of people with
access to the media and/or authority stirring the pot about
Muslims. Please help fill that space with support instead.
Post, write, use your profile picture or blog to voice your
support.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Ask me anything. Really. Engage the Muslims in your life.
Make sure you really feel comfortable standing for and with
your Muslim friends, neighbors, coworkers. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I can tell you that in addition to the very real threat to
their civil and human rights that Muslims are facing, we are
dealing with a tremendous amount of anxiety. While we, many
of us, rely on our faith to stay strong, we are human. This
is not an easy time. What you do will mean everything to the
Muslim Americans around you. Thank you for reading and bless
you in your efforts. Share freely.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>media inquiries to: fb.muslim.allies at gmail dot com
540 315 1823</div>
<div>#standingwithmuslims"</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Peace to all!</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Carms </div>
<br>
<div>Sent from my iPhone</div>
</div>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
Harold Shinsato<br>
<a href="mailto:harold@shinsato.com">harold@shinsato.com</a><br>
<a href="http://shinsato.com">http://shinsato.com</a><br>
twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/hajush">@hajush</a></div>
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