Asalamu aleykum... It is an honor to be able to speak with you. You have contriibuted greatly to Muslims in America...
I am a new attorney. How can I help Muslims? What can I do? I think we need better public relations here. WHat organizations can I get involved in?
Will we as Muslims need to become better at lobbying out government. We need to be as strong as AIPAC. How do you think we should accomplish this. I have my ideas on this.
Please advise...
Answer
As a lawyer, are first obligation is to seek justice for the oppressed. So a Muslim lawyer should identify the injustices that exist in a society and then begin to address them. Currently an injustice is being heaped upon Muslim Americans and Americans from Middle Eastern decent. The curtailment of civil liberties directly threatens these groups and indirectly threatens all Americans. There are organizations such as AMC and CAIR, it would be good to join these organizations to support this fight.
We have to become activists in our community and in civic affairs and we also need to be financially supportive politically. We need to give to some of our political causes in the same we give to our masjids and schools.
Name
Ahmad
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Profession
Question
What is your evaluation to the actual republican administration?
Answer
Extreme disappointment. On the foreign policy standpoint, the administration has been lacking in both direction and moral courage in particular to the issue of Palestine. On the domestic side the administration has yet to prove it is compassionate to the people as it is with corporate interests.
We have to continue to push this administration and hold it accountable in the upcoming elections.
Name
Asma
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Profession
Question
Don't you agree that Muslim Americans should first 'clean up' their own house by choosing a true elected community leaders to face new challenges after 9/11?
Answer
I think that the Muslim community is often times self-critical. I don’t think the muslim community has to clean up its own house before addressing the injustice of America's foreign policy and the assault on civil liberties. Those issues must be dealt with head on by the Muslim community irrespective of whatever internal issues the community faces. Any internal disputes or differences within the Muslim community provide no excuse for us not to stand firm in dealing with the issues that threaten our community.
Name
Ali
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Profession
Question
What is your evaluation of the Muslim endorsement to republicans during the 2000 elections?
Answer
I think that it is a mistake to view the endorsement made by the Muslim organization as an endorsement of the Republican Party or president Bush. What the political endorsement represented was the creation of a Muslim bloc vote. It was the unity of the Muslim community and organizations that was important not the party or presidential endorsement. The challenge now is to sustain that influence in the political system through maintaining unity in our voting and accountability by those we support.
Name
Kayla
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Profession
Question
In the US, how do you see native-born Americans shaping (or adapting to) the growth of Islam? It seems that throughout history, Islam has kind of adapted to whatever people and culture was prevalent at the time. How does American Islam look in this light then? As a white American Muslim, I still feel that there is not enough influence from black and white Americans. Most of the time it is still Arab/Pakistani, etc., immigrants actually running mosques, programs, etc. So, what do you think is the future of the native-born American Muslim converts? Do you think they will eventually have more input and be able to implement their values in the community?
Answer
Allah teaches us that our destiny lies to a great extent in our hand. Islam never adapts, it is permanent because it is truth and is therefore timeless. The American Muslims will present a new face in the diversity of Islam. That face will inevitably emerge. It will emerge because American Muslims pay more attention to the practice of the religion and are not concerned with other ethnic groups and their practice.
Name
Ify
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Profession
Question
What do you think is the biggest problem facing American Muslims?
Answer
I don’t think that there is any big problem or sets of problems facing Muslims in America. I think that American Muslims are at a historic moment in which we are faced with carrying forward this beautiful faith into the next century and into a foreign land. Our challenge is the same as Muslims fourteen hundred year ago and that is to stand with courage upon this faith.
Name
Abdelhamid
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Profession
Student
Question
What is your opinion about the Muslim associations rolebetween 11/9 and now. Do you think that they did all what should be done or they are still learning how to deal with the American polotics.
Second, what do you think about some people that say that muslims should follow the same way that jews did in order to have a big impact on the US policy, do you think that this will work especially that we know that the jewish lobby will never tolerate such attempt from the muslims?
Thank you in advance.
Answer
Since 9/11 there has been an increase in activism by Muslim organizations and the community. There has been more of a coming out by Muslims. The events of 9/11 forced Muslims out of the closet. What you will see play out in terms of growing muslim influence will be more on the model of the civil rights movement of the 1960's then the Jewish lobby model that you refer to. You will see Muslims engaged in lobbying, but because of the eminent threat to civil liberties you will find a greater protest component.
Name
Ferdous
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Profession
Administrative Assistant
Question
What is the most effective way to bring about positive changes in the United States and how to bridge the gap between Muslims and non-Muslims? For example: taking part in political affairs of which we share commonalities like anti-abortion, but what to do when we are looked at with suspicion?
Answer
What the American Muslims need to understand about American culture is that Americans respect people who stand up for themselves and who are themselves. So a muslim should not be concerned with how he/she is viewed by others and the more we are our selves in our practice of our faith such as making our prayers and in our dress then the more Americans will respect us and will want to work with us.
Name
Latifa
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Profession
Question
How effective can the amc and other muslim lobby groups be in light of the overwhelming isreali sentiment that prevails in Washington?
Answer
The whole point in lobbying is to try to change or influence sentiment. I am struck by how Muslims take on a self-defeating attitude in facing the Jewish lobby. We should do everything we can within the context of the system to make it a just system and after ward we should have faith in Allah. We have to keep in mind that we have more Muslims then Jews in this country, we also have more educated Muslims then Jews in this country and we have vast resources. We have the tools to effectively compete with this lobby and it is just a matter of getting them focused to face this challenge in a committed way.
Name
Muslimah.
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Profession
Question
There has been a more oganized push for Muslims in the US to vote and become politically active. I think it's great to become politically active, but I am worried that the American Muslim voters will just become another easy group to count on for a sure vote... just like you can always count on the Hispanic majority to vote Democrat, African-Americans to vote Democrat, the Christian right to vote Republican, etc.etc...How can we keep Muslims in this country voting as individuals with their own minds? It already seems like their are lobbyist groups who want the Muslims in this country to vote certain ways, of course.
Answer
I share your concern as to the difference that American Muslims will make in American political process. It is of no value for Muslims to become involved in American politics and be just like another political party or organization. Our uniqueness lies jn what Islam commands us to do. It is very important for Muslims to be Muslims first in engaging the political arena. It is not our role to join the American mainstream. Out role is to define the mainstream.
