[nTDsD0aU]

By Susannah Griffee
NBCNewYork.com NBCNewYork.com
updated 3/4/2011 5:16:23 PM ET 2011-03-04T22:16:23

Religious leaders, elected officials and advocates are planning a rally in Times Square Sunday protesting what they say are "un-American" congressional hearings on American Muslims. Republican Long Island Rep. Peter King, chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, is holding the hearings, beginning next week, to examine “the disconnect between outstanding Muslims who contribute so much to the future of our country and those leaders who – for whatever reason – acquiesce in terror or ignore the threat,” according to on op-ed he wrote in Newsday.
Imam Shamsi Ali, of the Islamic Cultural Center, initially proposed the rally.
“We share Congressman King’s concern about the radicalization of our community, but by ‘our’ I mean everyone’s community,” said Ali. “Singling out the Muslim community is discrimination and it is something that is difficult to comprehend.”
King's office declined comment on the rally.
Ali doesn’t oppose the hearings themselves, but rather their singular focus on Muslim groups. “We would like to suggest that the hearing address the radicalization of our society in general, anywhere, in any community,” he said.
Ali will be joined by leaders from various faiths and backgrounds in unity and support of Muslim Americans.




The rally is centered around the slogan “Today, I am a Muslim Too,” and will feature speakers including Russell Simmons, Foundation for Ethnic Understanding President Rabbi Marc Schneier, and Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf of the Cordoba Institute.
“I’m concerned that the hearings will lead to a greater alienation of Muslims and heightened bigotry and Islamophobia,” said Rabbi Schneier. “I disagree with Congressman King’s refusal to invite other faiths and ethnic leaders to testify on behalf of the Muslim community.”
Schneier believes that the hearings are “un-American.”
“If the Muslim community is under attack, their fight is my fight,” said Schneier. “Both Russell Simmons and I are very proud to be at the forefront of this effort.”
Councilwoman Helen Foster wrote a letter to King stating that "statements of generalization and accusations toward the Muslim-American community and their houses of worship throughout New York City is a complete disregard to this large population.”
The rally has more than 80 organizations supporting it.
“The rally is a good message for both Muslims and non-Muslims that our continued harmony and unity are needed for this time,” said Imam Ali.

[Cxcvvfbgtr]

I went down there to take pics today....and they attempted to arrest me for - get this- Loitering, and Unruly Behavior-HA
The loitering charge was because I was standing- not moving- on a sidewalk, impeding pedestrian traffic- even though I was
standing on the curb up against one of their many security fences- not blocking anyone.
The unruly behavior came about when I tried to explain that the cop standing across the street, had just told me to take
my pictures from the very spot I was now standing. That's when he whipped out his cuffs... luckily another couple came over and
told this power crazy cop they were told the same thing. That with a threat of a lawsuit against him (the cop) in particular- got me
released with a warning. Gee Thanks!
Anyway I was only able to get two pics before the hassles began.
The good guys at the protest (the speakers were in the truck, under the flag with mics)


and the bigots screaming "No Sharia law in this country", and other ignorant anti Muslim slurs,
at the counter rally on the next block down.
This couple was the loudest and worst, parading back and forth across the crosswalk.

[Kilsimpaile]

......... and the bigots screaming "No Sharia law in this country", and other ignorant anti Muslim slurs,
at the counter rally on the next block down.
This couple was the loudest and worst, parading back and forth across the crosswalk.

Seems you & I have very different ideas: sorry, but I think you are just wrong.

The best way "to demolish lies is to tell the truth". Ali and Haifa are here having a very interesting conversation; I personally have found much I agree with in this exchange - I hope you find it as 'enlightening' as I have.

http://www.faithfreedom.org/oped/sina50116.htm

[golozhopik]

Your allowed your opinion (much of which whole heartedly disagree with)- as am I... calling Muslims towel heads and camel jockeys.
nothing but racist bigots- period!
If you can't understand that then there is no hope for you (imho)

[N9NACzws]

Not sure I get the point of these hearings, I can't imagine they will accomplish anything except maybe to raise tensions even more. IMO in general, the Islamic extremist is born of bitter malcontents who struggle to adapt to a modern world. Their limited worldview clashes with reality and the responsible demon they accuse is the Western lifestyl, instead of looking within and evolving. It's my observation that the worst offenders come from wealth and privilege, and are so bored with their lives that they seek to enlist poor young people and enslave their minds in a cult-like obsession with the most extreme interpretation of their religion. They spend their entire lives angry and bitter, and there's not much Peter King can do about that.

[THOUTHCAW]

It's become politically acceptable to attack all things Muslim - especially if you are devoid of any message that might help solve the problems that make these people so angry.

So focus their anger on a convenient target, get yourself elected, then do nothing.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/natio...-horror/35629/

[BUMbaronos]

That vid is about as hate filled as it comes. Anybody who tries to claim that this is an example of demolishing lies by telling truth has a skewed view of humanity - particularly in regards to what the USA is truly about.

[truportodfa]

The Catholic Church has a serious sex abuse issue. To pretend otherwise would be ridiculous. It's not about Catholics... it's about the people in charge.

Islam, on the other hand, has serious issues with radicalization and terrorism. Yet here we're supposed to pretend otherwise?

That said: I don't trust the motives of the GOP hearings

--

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/refere...0church&st=cse

[uphokyhuP]

The video is repulsive, but infoshare has posted a level-headed antidote above.

[shinesw]

Link below: How modern Muslims are protesting against Sharia law in Britain:

http://www.onelawforall.org.uk/succe...us-laws-in-uk/

http://www.onelawforall.org.uk/

Meet Muslim feminist Gita Sahgal and her thoughts on Sharia: http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2010/j...ligious-courts

-----

An interesting read. Could this be a concern in the US?:

"Islamic Family Arbitration, Justice and Human Rights in Britain"

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/la...gd/2007_1/bano

[V8V8V8]

Here's the key:

Keep your arguments (and protests) seperate.

Saying you disagree and will object to and fight Shiara law is one thing, but resorting to ill-fitting slanderous euphamisims is not.

Since when does "Towel Head" reflect ANY political position? Really? I am sure the BILLIONS in India are all clammoring to become devout Muslim abiders and followers. It is just another lame labelling of a people that are different than what the protesters are. It is a visual association that people find easier to rant against than less apparent political leanings and beliefs.

It is a lot easier to beat up a turban-wearing man on the street than to stop him, ask him his views on Marriage and Religion, then proceed to pummel him when the first words out of his mouth are not "Well Jesus says...".


Fab, although I agree with you onwhat you are saying with the Catholic Church and how it has done wrong, and how the Islamic faith should also stand up to its own weaknesses and failings, I think the problem is how you stated it. It is NOT about Catholics in general, but the abuse of power in their ranks.

This curent xenephobic biogoted response is not well fitted. It is aimed like a sawed-off shotgun at a single man in a crowd and is completely unconcerned about who else it might hit.

Ignorance may be hereditary, but I am still trying to find out why so many are unwilling to find the cure.

[Kayacterype]

Fab...(....)...I think the problem is how you stated it.

It is NOT about Catholics in general, but the abuse of power in their ranks.

And I think the problem is one of reading comprehension.

I wrote the following:

It's not about Catholics... it's about the people in charge.

[AndyColemants]

Someone show me a video where all Catholics, including children, entering a building are screamed at, and told to "go back home."

[Lunims]

The video is repulsive, but infoshare has posted a level-headed antidote above.

What would that be?

Seems to me that the message here usually leads to this.

[acissombiapse]

Someone show me a video where all Catholics, including children, entering a building are screamed at, and told to "go back home."

That's where those anti-Islam protesters are wrong.

As I wrote "it's not about Catholics... it's about the people in charge." Same with Islam.

[Srewxardsasv]

What would that be?

Seems to me that the message here usually leads to this.

Because idiots (those protesters) take an issue and run with it...and use it for their own agenda does not mean that there cannot be...or should not be ... discussion.

The article that Infoshare posted is excellent. Must there be a gag order...censorship... on the subject?

[abOfU9nJ]

The video is repulsive, but infoshare has posted a level-headed antidote above.

The crux of that antidote is found in the reply from Mr. Sina:

A great number of Muslims realize there is something wrong with Islam, but they erroneously believe the problem can be solved through the miracle of reinterpretation ...

Islam cannot be reformed. But it can be eradicated. Reforming Islam means adding more lies to lies. For how long this huge edifice of lies can support itself?

... You and I must not attempt resuscitating Islam. On the contrary, we must hammer a stake into its heart and make sure it never raises its head again. This beast was a bloodsucking monster from the start.
Level-headed indeed.

[Tnzxovoz]

LOL.

Forgive me Father for I have sinned: that's what happens when you don't read down far enough.

I got to "Nonetheless, the Jesus of the Bible is a saintly figure. He is the embodiment of goodness. So if you don’t mind believing in fairytales, Christianity can make you a good person." Sounded pretty levelheaded to me.

But even so... if the authour had said that Christianity was a bloodsucking monster from the start... would it bother anyone here?

[avaicavum]

The crux of that antidote is found in the reply from Mr. Sina:

That's it exactly.

I said way back in the Cordoba thread that this would happen, that anger would be directed at all Muslims; in effect not only ignoring the actual problem, but fueling its spread. It's easy to direct your rage at people who you perceive to be fundamentally different [inferior]. That's the message of that webpage, under the guise of reasonable discussion.

It's what happened to Japanese-Americans and aliens during WWII. Internment was done under the pretense of national security, but the actual threat was ignored. There was a Japanese spy network in Hawaii at the time, but it was impractical to confine a large percentage of the population. So it was done on the West Coast, where there was widespread resentment of Japanese, who had taken American jobs. The country had endured a Depression, not unlike now.

[DailyRingtone]

Now here's an antidote.

Take my Koran please.....!