Viewpoint
By Dr. Mujahid Ghazi
Pictures by Rana Yurtsever
American Muslims have to change their attitude.
Ethan Casey at American Islamic College (AIC)
Strange things happen some time. I wrote my
Urdu column yesterday and sent it to print. With those thoughts still in my
mind I went to American Islamic College and to my surprise not only the speaker
but even some esteemed attendees were expressing the same logic which I had
mentioned in my Urdu column a day before. So I thought I would share it with
English readers as well.
The Muslim world is going through a turmoil. The
Iraq-Afghan occupation, Ghaza aggression, then the Arab Spring and its after
effects in Lybia, Syria and other Muslim countries. Deteriorating situation in Somalia and
Sudan. Thousands of Muslims died and are still dying. Then came this video that
has up hauled the Muslim Ummah and the world. Global reaction of the Muslims and the cold
response of the West broaden the differences and promoted the hate against the
West and US. The way Government of Pakistan handled the situation made the
situation worse. Definitely the movie has done its damage. The attack on
American Embassy in Libya and killing of the diplomats brought the Muslims in
US back to square one. Organizations like ISNA, ICNA, MAS and other local
Muslim organizations issued press releases condemning this act of violence
along with condemnation of the controversial movie.
Ethan Casey a journalist and a writer who has written three books on Pakistan and has been a great friend of Pakistani community was the keynote speaker at American Islamic College (AIC) in Chicago. He has to speak on “Can Muslims Be American? An American View”. At the onset of his speech he said he has prepared on this topic but he feels like he should change his presentation and make it more relevant to the present situation. He asked the Muslim Americans to stop being timid and stand strongly against the injustices done to them. He said that the American history tells us that only that community is heard which stands up against the injustice and aggression. He said far right Christians have now very masterly organized themselves and have become very strong. He mentioned how the Catholics, Irish, Germans and Italians were ridiculed in the past, but he said they came a long way by consistently raising their voice and struggling persistently to protect their rights. He mentioned the civil right movement and along with Rev. Martin Luther King recognized Malcolm X who was very instrumental in getting the Afro Americans their right to live with dignity and pride. He said that’s what Muslims of America has to do. They have to get organized and participate in the mainstream process and stand up for their rights. Habib Raja and few other attendees pointed out the double standard of the West and the US. They quoted the recent example of Prince Williams’s wife Kate Middleton and how the English government stopped the printing of her topless pictures saying that it hurts the Royal family. Habib Raja said and on the other hand when it comes to the Prophet of Islam Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) who is the supreme religious personality for 1.5 billion Muslims, the same powers in the West and US deny stopping the nuisance on the ground of freedom of speech (First Amendment). He said this is mere bigotry and asked the speaker to share it with his Non Muslim American audience. Ethan Casey very honestly responded that it will not make any difference and the Non Muslim secular American population would not be receptive of this argument because they are against religion whether it is Islam, Christianity or Judaism. He insisted on his argument of empowerment of the community by proactively involving in the American Society and establishing strong institutions and organizations so that no one in future would dare to ridicule Muslims or Islam.
Ethan Casey a journalist and a writer who has written three books on Pakistan and has been a great friend of Pakistani community was the keynote speaker at American Islamic College (AIC) in Chicago. He has to speak on “Can Muslims Be American? An American View”. At the onset of his speech he said he has prepared on this topic but he feels like he should change his presentation and make it more relevant to the present situation. He asked the Muslim Americans to stop being timid and stand strongly against the injustices done to them. He said that the American history tells us that only that community is heard which stands up against the injustice and aggression. He said far right Christians have now very masterly organized themselves and have become very strong. He mentioned how the Catholics, Irish, Germans and Italians were ridiculed in the past, but he said they came a long way by consistently raising their voice and struggling persistently to protect their rights. He mentioned the civil right movement and along with Rev. Martin Luther King recognized Malcolm X who was very instrumental in getting the Afro Americans their right to live with dignity and pride. He said that’s what Muslims of America has to do. They have to get organized and participate in the mainstream process and stand up for their rights. Habib Raja and few other attendees pointed out the double standard of the West and the US. They quoted the recent example of Prince Williams’s wife Kate Middleton and how the English government stopped the printing of her topless pictures saying that it hurts the Royal family. Habib Raja said and on the other hand when it comes to the Prophet of Islam Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) who is the supreme religious personality for 1.5 billion Muslims, the same powers in the West and US deny stopping the nuisance on the ground of freedom of speech (First Amendment). He said this is mere bigotry and asked the speaker to share it with his Non Muslim American audience. Ethan Casey very honestly responded that it will not make any difference and the Non Muslim secular American population would not be receptive of this argument because they are against religion whether it is Islam, Christianity or Judaism. He insisted on his argument of empowerment of the community by proactively involving in the American Society and establishing strong institutions and organizations so that no one in future would dare to ridicule Muslims or Islam.
That was my argument in my Urdu column written a day before. It is fine
to organize rallies and marches to protest against the infamous movie but the
speeches and the content should be wisely formulated, keeping in mind that
the observer is not Muslim from the other part of the world but already
misinformed American. If he sees us violently raising slogans and delivering
emotional speeches without logical content, it will strengthen his/her anti Islam
and anti Muslim rhetoric. Although I am a little cautious about Hizb ut-Tahrir
but I liked there approach in the rally they staged last Saturday. Dr. Raza
Imam speaking at the rally clearly said that it is not the first time some one
has ridiculed the Prophet (SAW) or Islam. Allah has taken this responsibility
to protect the prophet’s honor and He will do it. He praised the life of Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and pointed out the problems, the West and US, are going through like
unemployment, moral corruption and social evils. He then offered Islam as the
solution to this crisis. He also mentioned the double standard of the West and condemned
the infamous movie and its producers.
I also mentioned in the said column that instead of organizing rallies
and marches individually, following the teachings of Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be
Upon Him), we should demonstrate unity and empower the bigger organizations like
ISNA, ICNA, MAS and CIOGC (Umbrella organization of more than 50 Muslim Centers
and organizations in the Greater Chicago). Instead of making our own small mosques, we should be part of these representative organizations and
get our voice heard. We should empower the intellectuals and the skills and organizations
they represent. This is what the Jews, Catholics, Afro-Americans and other
communities have done, and now, no one dare to ridicule them. May Allah guide us walk
on the straight path. Aameen.
