Pakistan Link - Letter & Opinion

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Democrat, declared in unequivocal terms: “I am opposed to the Patriot Act.” To the applause of the gathering, she remarked: “We need to work on our two Senators so that Patriot Act I is rescinded and Patriot Act II is not passed.” She enumerated the laws, values and traditions that have contributed to the just, free and vibrant American society. The trend should continue. The momentum should be sustained. Congresswoman Sanchez “saw lot of hope” and appeared optimistic that through sustained strivings “we will be the bright light of the United States.”

Sheriff Leroy Baca and Sheriff Michael Carona not only delighted the gathering with their warm “Assalamo ‘laikum” greeting but well-meaning assurances that their respective forces would ensure the safety and well-being of Muslims living in their respective counties. Sheriff Baca remarked that “God and Allah must talk to one another” while affirming that “God is found in all faiths.” He exhorted the gathering to “convert hate into love and peace, instead of perpetuating it.”

Sheriff Carona recounted the efforts made by his force to ensure that the hatred from Washington, New York, Pennsylvania “did not come to Orange County.” He appreciated the role of CAIR in promoting a better understanding of Islam among non-Muslims. He admitted of having himself learnt the “fundamentals of Islam” and what the faith had in common with other religions through the multifarious CAIR initiatives.

Well-known and respected religious scholar, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqui, seemed to capture the mood and spirit of the multi-faith assembly of the evening with an edifying remark: “The beauty of America is not in its highways, wealth, supermarkets but in the diversity of its people of different colors, faiths and backgrounds who live in harmony. Let’s keep it that way” by rejecting those who preach intolerance and hatred.

Hussam Ayloush, Executive Director, CAIR SCA, who has demonstrated grit and pluck for Muslim civil rights causes, particularly in the post-Sept 11period, speaking next lamented that a minority group in the US had been unrelenting in its efforts to vilify Islam, the Qur’an and Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). “The attacks have not stopped,” he remarked. Ayloush acknowledged the support extended by sane individuals like Sheriffs Baca and Corona and observed that the majority of Americans didn’t share the misguided views of the media and the neo-conservatives about Islam. “The majority wants us to succeed because if we fail” their freedom in this country would indisputably be jeopardized. “Our voice of tolerance will rise higher than the cry of hatred” of the ultra right, he resolved.

Omar Ahmad, Chairman, CAIR National, lamented the total silence of the President, Congress, Senate, and the media on the well-orchestrated campaign of vilification against Islam. Muslim Americans, according to him, were “facing one of the most difficult times.” Patriot Act II is in the offing while we “are in a virtual concentration camp.”

He enlisted a number of steps that Muslim Americans need to take to bring about a wholesome change: (1) Every Muslim should reach out to fellow Americans and educate them about Islam - a religion of peace. Lamentably, about sixty percent of Americans know virtually nothing about Islam! (2) We should reach out to the good people in the country who should be constantly reminded that the values of Islam - justice and equality - are the values cherished in the US and enshrined in its Constitution. (3) We should serve as ambassadors of America to the Muslim world and present a true picture of the country, a picture that in reality is vastly different from the one presented by right-wing extremists. The Muslim world must see the true face of America. (4) We must exercise our right to vote and should be more active politically. (5) We must support CAIR which has come a long way since its inception.

He told the gathering that there was no conflict between Islam and the West. Any suggestion of a clash of civilizations is a preposterous one.

Elaborating on the same point, Imam Siraj Wahhaj, Masjid At-Taqwa, New York, claimed, “We are the West.” “We must go beyond the rhetoric of civil rights” and talk of human rights. He spoke with great candor and remarked that “either we will be shaped by the forces of this society or we will shape it.” Freedom, he claimed, is not free. Elaborating on this point he spoke of the supreme sacrifices given by Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King. He asked the audience to extend generous support to CAIR. “CAIR has done so many wonderful works. I love CAIR,” he declared. This was the impression of a good majority of the audience.

At the impressive dinner, CAIR gave awards to a group of Muslim youth activists in recognition of their hard work in the areas of civic, social and religious activism. They included: Mona Abdullah, Sarah Hassaine, Mariam Noorain Jukaku, Rashid Alam, Mohammad Wareh, Shahid Ali, Gaith Adhami, Dina Al-Sharafa and Pakistan Link’s budding reporter Aisha Aslam.

Aisha is a senior at California State University, Long Beach, and is a student of Journalism. She is a former vice president and current youth advisor of the Muslim Youth Group (MYG) of the Islamic Society of Orange County (ISOC), board member of the MSA at CSULB, and a former board member of the MSA at Orange Coast College. She is an active volunteer of Islamic Relief, CAIR, Orange Crescent School and is actively involved with the Islamic Center of Irvine and the Islamic Society of Orange County. She is a former CAIR intern. Aisha has written articles for Coast Report at OCC, Pakistan Link, MYG’ newsletter “The Journey” and is a member of the Orange Crescent Magazine Publications Committee. She has also made a three-minute television report for Campus Connections, CSULB’s television program. Aisha’s insightful reports written for the Pakistan Link are greatly admired both by the readers and the paper’s Editor.

A video ‘America: Liberty and Justice for All’ produced by ZAHRA Pictures was screened on the occasion. It truly deserved the best superlatives.