PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Iamourhaj
To: EvanGahr, [email protected], [email protected]
In a message dated 12/31/03 11:46:59 AM Eastern Standard Time, EvanGahr
writes:
> You criticize Emerson for many things but you don't offer any specifics.
> Where precisely, as you claim, did he make statements without any facts.
> Moreover, you dodge certain facts in the article.
Dear Evan -----
(and I hope others will not mind being copied--please say so if you do)
Well not "dodge" intentionally. I would say "not address". This is a big
subject and I am not able to deal with it all at once. I am not ISNA's spokesman!
However you quote S. Schwartz, on page 250 of his book, etc, and I respond:
Well this seems to me boilerplate religious talk. I mean. OF COURSE I
imagine all Abrahamic religions agree that " If you continue doing injustice, and
tolerate injustice, the wrath of G-d will come." Are you (or is Schwartz)
implying this is rationalizing terrorism?
I do not hear this at all, and again must caution against taking specific
statements out of context. This is bad habit of bad secular and religious
scholars alike. I would say that here Mr Schwartz (with his very intemperate and
wild chapter on contemporary American Islam-- derided by such reputable scholars
as Clifford Geertz) is taking statements out of context. Would it not be
more useful to look at WHO in the leadership is in fact more consistently
negative and irresponsible?
Therefore, no, I do not see this statement as "immoderate". Perhaps
old-fashioned.
You also mention a statement by Hamseh Yousef. Now I have hard some of his
recent tapes, and find them very appealing, balanced and humanistic. I am not an
expert on all he has ever said, however. The quote you repeat from 1995 that
"the Jews would have us believe that G-d has this bias to this small tribe in
the middle of the Sinai dessert and all the rest of humanity is just rubbish.
I mean that this is the basic doctrine of the Jewish religion and that's why
it is a most racist religion"-- well, while somwhat rude in form, it is indeed
what many Muslims believe-- we contrast the universality of our own faith with
the tribalism of judaism.
If this is wrong the issue can and should be debated. While the concept of
the "Chosen People" sounds problematical to us Muslims, there may be a way for
us to understand this with more sympathy. And yes some of our Muslim brothers
and sisters are also rather exclusivist as well, we can admit it, though this
is also a problem. But I do not think that Hamseh Yousuf has a bad interfaith
record.
Also you assert: "You have failed to establish that the criticisms in the
article are any different than those that would be directed at a bunch of white
Christians who indulged similar sentiments as those above". But I am not
bringing race into it. Well, but I would say that given that the Muslim community
has since 9/11 faced a mix of hate talk on radio, hate crimes in the street,
discriminatory laws like the NSEERS Special registrations as well as immigrant
sweeps that target arabs, south asians and those with Muslim names, plus
articles that casually imply terror links being not uncommon, yes I believe these
articles can correctly be termed a witch hunt. I think more academic rigor, more
precise research, more cultural knowledge, more respect and finally more
dialogue is necessary. Yes this is a reponsibility we all share.
Adem Carroll
Date: 12/31/03 11:46:59 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: EvanGahr
To: Iamourhaj, [email protected], [email protected]
I appreciate (no sarcasm intended) the civil tone of your reply not
withstanding the emotions this kind of issue is likely to raise for everyone involved.
You criticize Emerson for many things but you don't offer any specifics.
Where precisely, as you claim, did he make statements without any facts.
Moreover, you dodge certain facts in the article.
Schwartz, on page 250 of his book, writes that Muzammil Siddiqi of Islamic
Society of America, told an anti-Israel "Jerusalem Day" rally on October 28,
2000 that "America has to learn . . . if you remain on the side of injustice, the
wrath of G-d will come. Please, all Americans. Do you remember that? If you
continue doing injustice, and tolerate injustice, the wrath of G-d will come."
Is the above statement by an ISNA reader emblematic of the group's
moderation? If not, why have other ISNA officials failed to denounce it.
You spoke about the diversity of ISNA conventions. If any other convention by
any group had hosted a speaker like the one below, they would have been
forced to apologize. Finally, you liken the plight of Jews and homosexuals.
Moreover, in his 1998 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Government, Steve Emerson said that Hamza
Yousef, who serves on CAIR's board of advisors, told a 1995 meeting of the
Islamic Society of North America that "the Jews would have us believe that G-d has
this bias to this small tribe in the middle of the Sinai dessert and all the
rest of humanity is just rubbish. I mean that this is the basic doctrine of
the Jewish religion and that's why it is a most racist religion.
Finally, you say Jews and homosexuals should be--presumably given past
experiences although you don't specify--sensitive to the witch hunt now directed
against Muslims. Which hunt, though? You have failed to establish that the
criticisms in the article are any different than those that would be directed at a
bunch of white Christians who indulged similar sentiments as those above.
In a message dated 12/31/2003 1:04:19 AM Eastern Standard Time, Iamourhaj
writes:
> Dear Sirs/mesdames:
>
> I am writing to you regarding your most unfortunate article ("Anit-Gay
Group Allied with Terrorists? Alliance For Marriage includes ‘radical’ Islamic
group") which repeats the "terrorist" slander against the largest Muslim
American organization.
>
> I have attended and spoken at ISNA Conventions. While I regret that most
of our Muslim organizations are so socially conservative, membership is diverse
and discussion frequently interesting. Many of our religious traditions make
value judgements that frequently appear to others as intolerant. But when
even the Episcopalians (arising in green and bawdy Britain rather than the
Deserts of Arabia Felix) face a crisis over recognition of homosexual rights....
well from an Abrahamic point of view, it is not surprising that alternative
lifestyles would be condemned.
>
> More to the point, however, this article wallows in the mud that Steve
Emerson has been hurling indiscrimately at the Muslim world. If you read his books
carefully it becomes clear how few of his assertions about "terror-links" and
extremism he backs up with clear facts. His work is irresponsible and
dishonest and true scholars know it for what it is. Can you imagine how it is to be
called terrorist these days?
>
> Moreover, the concept of Jihad is misused in your article. It has many
meanings, and "holy war" is a meaning assigned by westerners to describe one
aspect of this "holy striving". It is clear to the vast majority of Muslims that
jihad cannot include the killing of innocents, or terrorism. ISNA and the other
major Muslim organizations have made this clear. So yes Jihad is promoted,
but responsibly. I consider this letter part of my jihad for justice.
>
> Finally, let me urge you to consider that our Muslim community is willing
to reflect and to correct mistakes where needed. However, we continue to endure
what feels very much like a witch hunt. Both Jews and Homosexuals should
understand what
> that feels like.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Adem Carroll
> Islamic Circle
> 166-26 89 Ave
> Jamaica NY 11432
> 917 602 4450
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