Archive for the Islam Category
This morning USA Today printed an article about a Muslim cleric named Safa al-Lami who, at tremendous risk to his own life, made a courageous individual effort to bring peace between Iraq’s Shi’a and Sunni factions. The article reads:
Safa al-Lami knew he might be on a suicide mission. He had taken a taxi into Adhamiya, one of Baghdad’s most dangerous neighborhoods. Now, wearing a white headdress that identified him as a Shiite religious leader, al-Lami planned to walk up unannounced to a Sunni mosque and ask whether he could pray alongside his Muslim brothers. In an area where militias were shooting many Shiites on sight, “I knew there was a big chance I would be killed,” al-Lami recalls. “I kept walking toward the shrine, whispering to myself: ‘Don’t be afraid.’ “
If you read the article, you can see the events that transpired afterwards. It’s really quite incredible what this man did. He’s made a major positive difference already.
Ha-Aretz (which I sort of view as the Israeli version of the New York Times) has a glowing article today about Mohammad Shamsi Ali. He is the deputy imam for the Islamic Cultural Center (or ICC) located on 96th Street in the Upper East Side - a couple of blocks away from where we live. I took a picture of the mosque dome some time ago. Maybe it’s time to drop by there for another visit.
This Islam By Country wikipedia link is interesting if you want to know something about the history of Islam in a wide variety of countries, including many countries that aren’t normally considered “Islamic” in nature (El Salvador, Korea, Brazil, etc.). There is a table with countries links listed in alphabetical order - but it’s the “details” link next to each country link that is of interest.
Adam Greenwood provided a link over at the Times and Seasons Notes From all Over section (see the right sidebar) that was really good for a laugh. You can go to the source or just read the text of it here:
CHRISTIANITY: Islam! So help me, you’re going to accept secular democracy like a responsible and mature theological tradition!
ISLAM: No way, man! I don’t wanna grow up to be like you. I’m gonna be true to myself and keep executing infidels and sinners as much as I want.
CHRISTIANITY: Oh, please. I was launching crusades and running inquisitions while you were still in diapers. Believe me, it’s gets old fast. You need to do the smart thing and accept a humanist approach to…
ISLAM: Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! I’m going to my room. A jihad on all of you! [runs upstairs to bedroom]
CHRISTIANITY: (sighing) Sweet Jesus. Was I really that obnoxious when I was that age?
JUDAISM: Believe me. You were.
[Meanwhile, at the retirement home...]
ZOROASTRIANISM: (talking to no one) Hello? Is anyone there? Does anyone care what I think?
I saw Frank Gaffney being interviewed on C-Span. I am only beginning to learn about him and who he is - but during the interview, a clip of a program called “Islam vs. Islamists” was shown. Here’s the description of the film that is placed at freethefilm.net (along with a complaint about PBS’s refusal to air the program):
This documentary tells the story of courageous anti-Islamist Muslims in Western Europe, Canada and the United States and the extraordinary challenges they face in taking on adherents to the theo-totalitarian ideology known as Islamism. What is happening to these moderates – who are being ostracized, intimidated and, in some cases, threatened with death – offers critical insights into the dangers that both they and we are facing. It also suggests steps we must take to help and empower these moderates and others like them. Unfortunately, as things stand now, objections from the Public Broadcasting Service and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, this film will not be seen by the American people – whose tax dollars paid for its production.
I hope that at some point the entire show will be available for viewing. There is a petition at the freethefilm.net website - but I don’t get the feeling that PBS will be very responsive.