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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsStopped by the nearest Mosque, made a few friends and dropped off a note.
Dropped by my nearest mosque, made a few friends and dropped off this note:
As-salamu alaykum,
On this day where the President of the United States attempts to codify bigotry that is contrary to the spirit of Declaration of Independence, the advice of the founding fathers and the letter of the Constitution I would like to simply say,
I stand with you.
As someone who follows a different faith tradition I would like you to know that there are many who share in the disgust of the Presidents opprobrium. I have been privileged to live and work with Muslims in Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. Some of that work involved working with Muslims to assist Vietnamese refugees, Cambodians to assist Muslim refugees and people of different traditions to assist Afghan and Iranian refugees that resettled into the United States.
I know Muslims who have worked for the US government for decades to fight against our common enemies. They will no longer be able to visit the US.
The actions of the President will not stand. They will be ridiculed by people who will resist religious bigotry and by people who have lived and worked with people outside the US and understand that the Presidents arguments lack facts, wisdom or maturity.
We all know that this administration is a temporary occupier of the Presidency and that successors will return to the traditional expression of American values of religious tolerance, international friendship and embracing a search for universal moral self evident truths.
The greater problem is in educating the millions of his supporters who continue to engage in bigotry. Even though they remain a minority of the country they are a constant drag on progress not only against Muslims but also against people of color and the poor.
They do not know that Muslim scholars and philosophers have been instrumental in the foundation of Western values, philosophy and science. They do not know of Ibn Rushd whose original works on Aristotle and Plato were the foundation of Western Civilizations re-integration of their work after the Dark Ages.
They do not know of ibn Musa al-Khwarizimi whose work translated into Latin laid the foundation for Western mathematics. When someone says that they want to eliminate Arabic influences in our education system I ask how are we going to run computers on Roman Numerals?.
They are not aware that much of Sir Isaac Newtons work was drawn directly from Alhazen who laid the foundations of the scientific method six hundred years before Bacon and Newton would borrow heavy from his works.
From Aristotle to Ibn Rushd to ibn Musa al-Khwarisimi to Alhazen to Bacon to Newton the advance of civilization has always been the result of a free exchange of ideas that requires not just the free interaction of people from different traditions but a hunger for friendship among all peoples.
Influenced by thinkers from various cultures, different religions, all races we all toil under the same sun face the same moral challenges, the same test of bravery for defending principle and the same pursuit of Truth. Ultimately we all face the same end where we leave a legacy for standing for compassion, understanding and truth against fear, bigotry and lies.
President Roosevelt advised that All we have to fear is fear itself. While Trump has succumbed to that fear please be assured that millions of us stand with you.
In solidarity with American Muslims,
grantcart
babylonsister
(171,056 posts)Thank you for doing this and setting such a fine example. I join you in solidarity.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)The word algebra itself derives from the Arabic al-jabr, which means restoration, or putting together.
Recommended.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)The term "algorithm" is derived from the algorism, the technique of performing arithmetic with Hindu-Arabic numerals developed by al-Khwārizmī. Both "algorithm" and "algorism" are derived from the Latinized forms of al-Khwārizmī's name, Algoritmi and Algorismi, respectively.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)or of the contributions made by Islamic scholars. At one point, Bagdhad was the center of learning while Europe was mired in war and superstition.
And Spain, then know as Al Andalus, was the only country that extended open toleration to its Jewish citizens.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)Thank you. I will add it to my subscriptions.
Fantastic Anarchist
(7,309 posts)If any of those millions of hidden documents were answers that explained the Unified Field Theory, Quantum Entanglement, equations on a warp drive or some other Faster Than Light travel? In other word,s some answers, alternate or otherwise, to some of the biggest problems in theoretical physics or quantum mechanics?
How cool would that be?
irisblue
(32,967 posts)grantcart
(53,061 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)His fanatics can go down with the USS Trump, the rest of the world will be cheering it on.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)Is my bet.
pnwmom
(108,975 posts)that was set by a homeless, schizophrenic person. The community has been very supportive, but the mosque is still raising the money needed to rebuild.
If anyone feels like doing more than just sending a note, here is its website.
http://www.eastsidemosque.com/
bhikkhu
(10,715 posts)I lived in the area many years ago, beautiful place, very good people. I hadn't heard about the fire. One of my efforts this year is to "do more". Even not having enough money to make a big impact, every small donation is another voice of someone willing to help. The more voices, the better.
pnwmom
(108,975 posts)and this terrible moment for that mosque, are a wonderful sign of support.
Thank you!
voteearlyvoteoften
(1,716 posts)grantcart
(53,061 posts)66ty6
(12 posts)thinking I've applied to the Christian Bible.
Neither of them give me much hope for the future if people continue to embrace them.
rug
(82,333 posts)66ty6
(12 posts)millions of Americans agree with it...that's just a fact. They aren't protesting because they find no need to. My own sample of people I know, virtually all Democrats, say the same thing. Please don't shoot the messenger.
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)This is a good idea. Drop by your neighborhood mosque and let them know you support them.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)bigtree
(85,986 posts)...
grantcart
(53,061 posts)zentrum
(9,865 posts)To drop by our nearest Mosque and say we are standing with them.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)dae
(3,396 posts)ck4829
(35,045 posts)This was something I heard in the year 2008, the subject was same sex marriage in a social problems class, and the person who said it was a young Muslim woman. We've got people in every group, it doesn't matter race, religion, or class who strive for justice and fairness. Islam is no exception.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)Wounded Bear
(58,645 posts)Hekate
(90,642 posts)At least we know that millions of us have no intention of going gentle into that good night. Thank you for saying this so eloquently.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)VOX
(22,976 posts)Thank you for this. It's a keeper.