I have been responding to mass hysteric emails in circulation from
time to time. Indeed, it is a business to the few who have found
gains by the anti-Islamic rhetoric, and as a peace maker, my role is
to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill and continue to separate
the myths from reality.
Here is
one from PAB with a comment and six questions. I
have dealt with Robert Spencer, Ali Sina, Nonie Derwish, Wafa
Sultan, Geert Wilders and several others and will be happy to take
on any one.
PAB: I
believe our country has 2 great dangers that we have to face. One is
the devaluation of our currency. The other is the Islamic/Muslim
religion. Muslims will take over the world by sheer numbers. PAB
Ghouse:
Muslims have no desire to take over the world, a few radicals do,
for every damned radical Muslim; there is an equal and matching
radical Christian, radical Jew and a Radical Hindu. The problems are
between the fear mongers and the radicals, and not between Muslims
and Christians, Jews and Christians or Hindus and Muslims or any
other combination. No group is free from men choosing to malign
others.
An
overwhelming majority of any group of people want to get along
with everyone and mind their own business; work, family,
education, home and retirement. They have no time to mess with
other people’s lives. The extremists are driven by phobias,
nightmares and insecurities, and they are in every race,
religion and ethnicity and fortunately these potent few are less
than One tenth of one percent of each group.
If someone is willing to put all these phobias together, we can
have a conference to address them all instead of living in
conspiracies.
Google anything you want, you will find the answers.
PAB: Have
you ever been to a Muslim hospital?
Ghouse:
Although Muslims have been around in the states much before
Columbus, most of them (2/3rds) are here in less than two decades,
and less than a few thousand have been around for a long time as
slaves.
The
immigrants are still trying to get established, once they reach
that point, they will contribute more than their share to the
well being of this nation as an expression of gratitude.
However, in Dallas, where I am from, there are three free
clinics run by Muslims for Americans (open to all Americans
without discrimination) who do not have insurance. Similar
clinics are in Houston and other Cities.
They also hold free mammograms and other health screening
services in neighborhoods for free.
Last
year 11,880 Pints of blood was donated by Muslims on the anniversary
of 9/11.
PAB: Have you heard a Muslim orchestra?
Ghouse:
There are two country singers who are Muslim. However India’s or
Bollywood’s ace music directors are Muslim. The most Indian
Classical Music Maestros are again Muslims. Muslims will do their
share of contribution in America, as the 2nd generation
finds their way out. I know many young Muslims who are teaching
Music.
PAB:
Have you seen a Muslim band march in a parade?
Ghouse:
Not yet, but there are no Sikh, Hindu, Baha’i, Zoroastrian bands
either. I am not sure if there is a Jewish band. Why do the bands
have to carry a religious banner? Have you seen a Catholic Band,
Baptist Band or an Evangelical Band? If there is high school band,
there Muslims as well people from all faiths.
PAB:
Have you witnessed a Muslim charity?
Ghouse:
There are many, IRF – Islamic Relief Fund is one of the biggest one,
they were given the full status to serve along Red Cross in Katrina
and Tsunami, and they have earned high ratings among charitable
institutions. Humanity First and Aga Khan Foundation and several
other Charitable institutions operate.
One of the things about Muslims is that they believe Charity is not
for display, when you help someone, you do it quietly. Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) shared the wisdom of this idea; when you give
charity to someone, let no one know about except you, the recipient
and God. It will humiliate the recipient, if you tell someone that
you helped him, preserve the dignity of the man. It’s not only
Muslims; there are donors in every faith tradition, who do not want
to be known.
Have
you seen Muslims, shaken hands with Muslim Girl Scouts?
Ghouse:
If you come out of the shell, you can see. They are working towards
it, but if it is their tradition not to shake hands with another
man, let them, learn to respect their tradition. Orthodox Rabbis
don’t shake hands with women, just as the Imams don’t do it. It’s a
tradition one must respect. I am sure you and I have some practices
that may be considered uncouth by others, but you and I don’t mean
to be uncivil.
PAB:
Have you seen a Muslim do anything that contributes positively to
the American way of life????
Ghouse:
Absolutely, how big a record do you want?
There are many major donations at the Universities to further
education. Volunteers from the groups I have mentioned can be
deployed in emergencies at any given time; they will travel with
their own monies.
I will
list a few that I am involved with, but if you combine the list of
all Muslims, you might be surprised and eliminate this question from
circulation. I am providing the links; you can open and read the
work Muslims are contributing towards the well being of America.
v Memorial
Day – Muslims visiting cemeteries to pray for the veterans
v Standing
up for Hindus -http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/2012/04/standing-with-hindus.html
v Workshops
in understanding every religion, so Americans can have the least
conflicts among them. 26 workshops including two for Atheism.
v 520
Hours of Radio Talk show to promote understanding of all
religions bar none.
v I
can add a whole lot more… but I hope you get the drift.
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