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Re: Editorials on Muslims in America
Seattle Times, 12-12-05. See link to articles below
Kudos for your excellent series on American Muslims. Doubtless, much of the
bigotry against and castigation of our community are the result of sheer
ignorance. We Muslim Americans, however, share the responsibility for
failing to tell our story to our fellow Americans. Believing that we are
innocent of the charges levied against us and cocooning ourselves were our only
responses. As we graduate from our political infancy and shed off our
transient mentality, you will begin to see more of us speaking for and about our
great country, our rights and our positive contributions.
One fact remains to be told: the terrorists who attacked our country were not
citizens of this land. They were brought here to cause havoc and our community
was suffered the wrath of guilt by association and blamed for their horrendous
crime. While we were quick to condemn and denounce the 9-11 attackers, we either
failed to communicate our response or our fellow Americans were not ready to
accept our dissociation with the terrorists or their foreign backers.
Like all previous waves of immigrants, Muslims are paying a very high price for
choosing to call this great country home in which to raise their families and
secure a better future. Our fellow Americans need not fear us for we are not a
public charge or a security threat. We not only despise public assistance
but we are actually well off financially that many Muslims through their small
and large businesses are thriving enterprises. You will see few of us
incarcerated because most of us are law-abiding citizens and a very productive
part of this great society. We are not a security threat because we have made a
conscious choice to be adopted by this country and harm or disrepute are the
last things we would ever wish for our beloved America.
Aref Assaf, President
American Arab Forum
Paterson, NJ
The Seattle Times ran three editorials
on the topic of Muslims in America. We think they deserve
your attention:
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