20,000 Convert to Islam a Year

So I had a request about statistics on Muslim converts in the US. As I explained I dont have these sort of stats, i also began to question- "where exactly do these statistics about Islam being the fastest growing religion in the US" come from.

Anyone know?

Hundreds of Honorary Degrees to Be Given Out to CSU Students

(September 10, 2009) - The California State University Board of Trustees will consider granting hundreds of honorary degrees to former students forced from their academic studies due to the internment of people of Japanese ancestry during World War II.

On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Federal Executive Order 9066, clearing the way for military leaders to set up an "exclusion zone" which encompassed all of California. More than 120,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese nationals in this zone were forcibly relocated to camps.

By some historical accounts, nearly 250 Americans of Japanese descent were students attending CSU campuses when the order for removal was issued. Campuses established by 1942 include Chico, Fresno, Humboldt, Pomona, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San José and the California Maritime Academy. While records show some students went on to receive a university degree, many did not.

"Hundreds of students were removed from colleges and universities, forced to delay or abandon their dreams based solely on their ancestry," said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. "The internment of Japanese Americans and Japanese nationals during WWII represents the worst of a nation driven by fear and prejudice. By issuing honorary degrees, we hope to achieve a small right in the face of such grave wrongs."

On September 23, 2009, the Educational Policy Committee will vote on conferring the honorary degrees. The item will then be considered by the full CSU Board of Trustees. All former CSU students whose studies were interrupted due to the internment may be eligible for the honorary degrees. Surviving family members may receive the honorary degree in recognition of a deceased student.

The California State University is asking for public assistance in identifying individuals who qualify for the honorary degree. Former CSU Students (or families of students) whose studies were interrupted due to the internment are urged to call (562) 951-4723, Nisei@calstate.edu

My Representative Caught With His Pants Down

Ugh. I didn't vote for Duvall, but he's supposed to be representing my city in Orange County. I tend to stay away from "self righteous" politicians because "politics" and "righteousness" seems to be such a oxymoron. Talk about family values and you usually get some dirty little secret surface out of the woodwork, and anyone who focuses their campaign or ideology on such a concept seems to not hold up to the litmus test.

Epic fail for Duvall, who, according to the OC Weekly "has been a consistent trooper for the conservative causes," CRI president Karen England announced in March. "For the last two years, he has voted time and time again to protect and preserve family values in California. We are grateful for his support of California
 families.'" CRI President England must be wishing they had different results now. Check out Navel Gazing for a full news breaking coverage on this Sacramento tryst. The best part was this quote by an anonymous Sacramento insider, who said "Their relationship is the worst-kept secret in Sacramento, he's old and fat. She's hot, blonde and about 20
 years younger. He could have never gotten a woman like that before he got
 this job.'"

If things were that obvious then why was he still voted in as "champion for the protection and preservation of family values". It baffles me how this could possibly have been so difficult to address earlier on. Values mean nothing when you got people like Duvall continuously undermining them and organizations like Englands awarding the people undermining them. I got thick skin, so its easy for me to isolate this one case. But it becomes difficult to really sell people on the idea that all politics is not sleezy like Duvall. Maybe my job, or our job, is not to convince anyone of what politics is and is not, however, my fear is that it breaks the ability to have people civically engaged and involved and that is detrimental to the health of democracy.

What is worse is that Duvall actually wrote an op-ed about "lobbying efforts". He felt the use of kids for lobbying purposes was "disgraceful". He stated:

Put simply, our children had been pulled out of their classes during the school day and bused to a hearing miles away, so that they could convey their "thoughts" about a toll road permit that they likely had little understanding of.

And just a week or so ago, I saw a photo of a small child on the front page of a newspaper. The child, sitting on the steps of the Capitol, held a sign opposing this year's proposed budget spending for education. The caption read "Pint-sized protest."

The shameless use of our children as lobbyists, or, worse, as props, is disgraceful.

Given the current circumstances, maybe Duvall is just upset that the kids are not as interesting as 30-somethin-year-old-bombshell-lobbyists from Sempra Energy.

Attacks, Death threats and Deaths- Muslims Under Attack

The string of stories outlining death threats, attacks and even deaths on Muslims in the West these past several weeks seems unparalleled to previous years. I work with hate crime and incident victims from many different minority communities and these past several weeks have been one shocking incident after another. That is why when I saw this posted on facebook profile of a friend I was not surprised to see how small things like this create the atmosphere for things as outrageous as a senior being attacked and killed while leaving with his three year old grand-daughter from the Mosque, or a person setting fire to a mosque in Tennessee, or the suing of the British army by a Pakistani soldier due to bullying or this discrimination in Chicago, or the Mayor that circulated a hate-laced email directed toward Muslims and Islam, or...you get the drift.

I am sure it was some similar right wing Christian group that was preaching their "love" when they posted this all over the parked cars and distributed to people attending the Palestine Picnic in Irvine.

During this month of Ramadan, a Muslim has but one thing, that is faith in God. It is taught by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, a Muslim scholar from 13th century, that the Prophet taught sabr (patience, forbearance, fortitude), which enabled a man to face hardship with dignity and to accept times of ease without becoming arrogant.

Its remarkable, because Jawziyyah lived during a time of intense turmoil, when Muslims were reeling from the Mongol invasions. He studied under Ibn Taymiyyah and was also a contemporary of Ibn Kathir.

Jawziyyah said that "Patience, or patient perseverance, is obligatory, according to the consensus of the scholars, and it is half of faith (iman) {the other half of faith being marriage?}...Patience is mentioned in the Quran some 99 times. The relation of patience to iman is like the relation of the head to the body, and the one who has no patience has no iman. Allah has commanded patience for the Believers in the following ayah-"O you who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer..." (2:153). Patience is also been made a condition for a person's entering Paradise and being saved; on the Day of Judgement Allah will say- "I have rewarded them this day for their patience and constancy: theyare indeed the ones that have achieved bliss..." (23:111)"

In his book "Uddat as-sabirin wa dhakhirat ash-shakirin" (Patience and Gratitude) patience is defined by the scholars as "a good human characteristic or a positive psychological attitude, by virtue of which we refrain from doing that which is not good. Amr ibn Uthman al-Makki said "Patience means to keep close to Allah and to accept calmly the trials He sends, without complaining or feeling sad." Al-Khawwas said that "patience means to adhere to the rules of the Quran and Sunnah" and another scholar said "patience means to referain from complaining" while Ali ibn Abi Talib said that "patience means to seek Allah's help."

Given the current saddening news coming from all directions, does this mean there is this idea of "turning the cheek?" Certainly a question that crosses my mind as I feel helpless to assist my brothers and sisters practice their religion here in the US, after many came to find they have the capacity to do exactly that.

Al-Jawziyyah goes on to explain that Man has two opposing forces that push within them. One is a driving force that pushes toward action (fight reflex) and the other is the "restraining force" (flight). We know in modern psychology that the "fight or flight" reflex is an immediate manifestation of our chemical/hormonal responses triggered in the brain.

However, given these circumstances the "fight or flight" reflex is not a visceral response, rather is a triggered implicit response that sets into motion what I term "stick your head in the sand like an ostrich" response. Where identity of being a "practicing Muslim" is subconsciously suppressed. I think part of this response is also this idea of "appologizing for those 'Moslems'" syndrome. Physical manifestations presented include the removal of the beard, less frequency to the Mosque, not praying at work, not speaking about politics or religion, extreme things including the use of "non-ethnic names" and removal of Hijab or self isolation and marginalization.

My observation is that the "fight" reflex takes on a different sort of response. Psychologically it manifests in two different sort of forms- activism and/or self marginalization/isolation. Activism also has two forms- one where people become "civically engaged" with the system seeing that they have an invested interest in making the society they live in a better place, the other being a divested "us against the world" perspective where a dichotomy is set up to prove that we are not wanted here, that the message of Islam is a threat and that we need to double our efforts to engulf ourselves in things that are visibly and socially Muslim. This also manifests further in the second process which seems contradictory- self marginalization and isolation- but the act of this process requires great lengths of discipline, strictness and "Amish-like" diligence.

According to Jawziyyah, patience was a key process to "essentially harness the driving force to push us towards good things, and the restraining force to hold us back from actions that may be harmful to ourselves or others." If you haven't guessed I am of the "civically engaged" opinion. The battlefield, to Jawziyyah, was the heart of man, where the two forces "reason and religion" versus "whims and desires" battle themselves out.

Allah has forbidden Muslims from complaining to one another about the tests, trials and tirbulations faced in day to day lives, however, he has not commanded Muslims to not turn to Him and bring forth our complaints- we find Yaqub (Jacob, peace be upon him) saying "my course is comely patience" (12:83), but his love and longing for his lost son Yusuf (Joseph, peace be upon him) made him say "How great is my grief for Yusuf" (12:83) and even our Beloved SAW when enjoined by God sabrun jamil (sweet petience) obeyed and would pray "Allah, I complain to You of my weakness and helplessness."

As Muslims we need to stop complaining to one another. Stop complaining in the parking lots of the Mosques, in our living rooms, and over the dinning tables, and through the emails. Instead Jawziyyah goes on to describe how a Muslim should conduct themselves through times of adversity and situations beyond our control.

These trials fall under two types- adversity beyond one's control and adversity caused by the actions of another human being. The above listed things are caused by other humans, and as such we are commanded to. As patience is fard (obligatory), God has provided us "with ways and means of obtaining and strengthening the quality of patience, for He has never instructed us to do something without providing us with help and support to do it, and ways and means of achieving it."

Jawziyyah states the following as "ways of strengthening patience"- knowledge, action and establishing a strong motive for "reason and religion".

"If a Muslim, and and Imam, said this"

Crap, this guy was the same Pastor who did this- (something I posted on just a couple months ago) here.

Helath Care and Evangelicals: If there is a right to life, then it doesnt end after birth

Below is a email I got from a community member and dear brother in Islam, I am quite taken by the message and was compelled to share:

I saw this short article and wanted to share it. I feel it puts some much needed perspective on this current healthcare issue. People are playing too many games with this topic . . . but what is it really about. This is from the Christain perspective . . . but I hope any Muslim or non-Muslim can agree on this basic human sentiment . . .

Let's enjoin what's good and forbid what's evil . . . no matter where it comes from. The Prophet (SAWS) said in a hadith:

I witnessed, in the house of Abdullah ibn Jad’an, so excellent a pact that I would not exchange any part of it for a herd of red camels and if now in Islam I were summoned unto it I would gladly respond.

Here he (SAWS) is referring to Hilf-al-Fudul . . . an agreement among the chiefs/members of the tribes of Mecca to respect the values of justice and collectively intervene in conflicts to establish justice. This was done prior to Islam, and so the Prophet (SAWS) was confirming this agreement he made with these people who were not Muslim and many of whom still were not Muslim at that time.

This hadith emphasizes enjoining good with anyone who is willing to support what is good and just.

Salam,

J

"Mercy More Than Life"

Why is Universal Health Care "Un-American"?

By Rev. JIM RIGBY

Last week supporters of health-care reform gathered around the country, including in Austin, TX, where 2,000 people crowded into a downtown church to hear speakers talk about different aspects of the issue. Asked to speak about the ethical dimensions of health care, I tried to go beyond short-term political strategizing and ask more basic questions. This is an edited version of what I said.

Is anyone else here having trouble with the fact that we are even having this conversation? Is anyone else having trouble believing this topic is really controversial? I have been asked to talk about the ethical dimension of health care. Here's one way to frame such a discussion:

If an infant is born to poor parents, would we be more ethical to give medicine to that child so he or she does not die prematurely of preventable diseases, or would we be more ethical if we let the child die screaming in his or her parent's arms so we can keep more of our money?

Or, let's say someone who worked for Enron, and now is penniless, contracted bone cancer. I've been asked to discuss whether we are more ethical if we provide such people medicine that lessens their pain. Or would we be more ethical to let them scream through the night in unbearable agony so we can pay lower taxes?"

I can't believe I am standing today in a Christian church defending the proposition that we should lessen the suffering of those who cannot afford health care in an economic system that often treats the poor as prey for the rich. I cannot believe there are Christians around this nation who are shouting that message down and waving guns in the air because they don't want to hear it. But I learned along time ago that churches are strange places; charity is fine, but speaking of justice is heresy in many churches. The late Brazilian bishop Dom Hélder Câmara said it well: "When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a Communist." Too often today in the United States, if you talk about helping the poor, they call you Christian, but if you actually try to do something to help the poor, they call you a socialist.

Some of the other speakers today have been asked to address what is possible in the current political climate. I have been asked to speak of our dreams. Let me ask a question. How many of you get really excited about tweaking the insurance system so we just get robbed a little less? (silence) How many of you want universal health care? (sustained applause) I realize that insurance reform is all that's on the table right now, and it can be important to choose the lesser of evils when that alone is within our power in the moment. But we also need to remember our dream. I believe the American dream is not about material success, not about being having the strongest military. The American dream is that every person might have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

It's amazing to hear Christians who talk about the right to life as though it ends at birth. They believe every egg has a right to hatch, but as soon as you're born, it's dog eat dog. We may disagree on when life begins, but if the right to life means anything it means that every person (anyone who has finished the gestation period) has a right to life. And if there is a right to life there must be a right to the necessities of life. Like health care.

I believe the American dream was not about property rights, but human rights. Consider the words of this national hymn:

"O beautiful for patriot's dream that sees beyond the years. Thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears."

Doesn't that sound like someone cared about the poor? There are those who consider paying taxes an affront, but listen to these words:

"O Beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved and mercy more than life."

"Mercy more than life" -- have you ever noticed those words before? Supporting universal health care does not make you socialist or even a liberal, it makes you a human being. And it makes you an ambassador for the American dream which, in the mind of Thomas Paine, was a dream for every human being, not just Americans. As we struggle to get health care to all people, we may have to settle for the lesser of two evils, but remember your dream -- the true American dream, a human dream. Whatever we win through reform is just first step toward a day when every human being has a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Rev. Jim Rigby is pastor of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin. He can be reached at jrigby0000@aol.com.

Public School Controversy- Silly Conservatives Its a Presidential Speech

Its the huge elephant in the room- SOCIALISM. The Muslim label didn't work, the "fifth column" pricker didn't sting, he's "not black" washed away, "he's not even American" had its field day. Socialism seems to be the new "it" for conservatives.

What's the new "it"- a speech scheduled to be given by President Obama specifically to American public schools students from kindergarten to high school at the start of the new school year, is seen as being a expression of "socialism" to parents who have a conservative leaning.

In a line of pathetic and sad expressions of "patriotism" it shouldn't be such a surprise to anyone, yet the word ridiculous comes to mind. Ridiculous.

Regine Gordon of Tampa Florida, doesn't want her 6-year-old son to hear from President Obama next week."It's a form of indoctrination, and I think, really, it's indicative of the culture that the Obama administration is trying to create," Gordon told FOXNews.com on Thursday. "It's very socialistic."

and,

Michelle Moore of St. Louis, who says she's considering keeping her two daughters out of the classroom at Lindberg High School when Obama begins to speak.

"I have to sign permission slips for my kids to watch R-rated movies in school," Moore said, explaining that she felt parents were being blindsided by the president's address. "It was simply presented, 'Hey, we're going to do this, this is when it's going to air and you're going to show it to your kids.'"

and,

The idea of having Obama speak directly to children without so much as a permission slip being sent home just "makes you feel a little funny," said Beth Milledge of Winterset, Iowa. She said she plans on going to school with her 8-year-old son to watch the address with him.

"I want to know how it's being presented," she said. "I'm all for my child having respect for the president, but why wouldn't he show us the speech first and then go from there?"

It makes you wonder, whose being partisan? Whose playing with the politics of fear, ignorance, paranoia, irrationality, and shear stupidity? This guy made most sense:

National Parent Teacher Association President Chuck Saylors told FOXNews.com the presidential speech is something that should have happened years ago.

"Regardless of who is in the White House, when the president of the United States wants to give the students a beginning-of-the-year, do-your-best type of presentation, it should be supported," he said. "[But] if parents want their children to opt-out, they're certainly in their rights to do that."

But again, here is something worth considering. According to Ben Smith at Politico, "First Read reports that, back in 1991 "One, George H.W. Bush gave a speech to students back in 1991. And two, Democrats criticized him for it" and further on that President Reagan, (Jake Tapper says) "in a 1988 televised discussion with students, mentioned gun control, the balanced budget, and the line-item veto." How many students stayed home then?

If President Bush- the second- gave a speech I would not only attend but would have participated in a vigirous discussion in class with my peers about the idiocy of that President's speech, but who knows it might have had some substance to it. We won't ever know, because that President was substandard and would not have cared to do such things.

The facts, according to the White House, "The president will challenge students to work hard, set goals for their education, and take responsibility for their learning." Further in a press release it was stated that "e will also call for a shared responsibility and commitment on the part of students, parents and educators to ensure that every child in every school receives the best education possible so they can compete in the global economy for good jobs and live rewarding and productive lives as American citizens."

It was also clearly stated that "In his letter to principals, Duncan said viewing of the speech is encouraged, not mandatory. It's the first time a president has ever given a speech addressed directly to students."

Then the conservative talk show host Tammy Bruce, in a Twitter feed: "Make September 8 Parentally Approved Skip Day. You are your child's moral tutor, not that shady lawyer from Chicago." And conservative author Michelle Malkin said the lesson plans have a "heavy activist bent."

So I don't get the Conservatives. Nothing has stuck to the President and their arsenal of attacks seems to get pathetic and desperate. I can relate, that's how I felt when Bush was in the White House, however, everything that was said about him came true later- irrational war in Iraq, lose of war in Afghanistan, destruction of American reputation abroad, loose financial controls, recessions and the lose of civil rights. Don't get me wrong, I am not a out-an-out President Obama supporter, but I think a President giving a speech to the nations school kids does not qualify as "socialism". This is the "sky is falling" syndrome in full technicolor.

Obama Iftar Style

(Picture is from the AP)

This is where you can get your 411 on everything Obama Iftar related! The place mats, the plates, the silverware, the first course, appetizer, desert, the fabulous hijabs, the Jewish Rabbi's and Israeli Ambassador....SCREECH. Halt. You read right the Jewish Rabbi's and the Israeli Ambassador.

I at first had that same sort of visceral reaction, and maybe other Muslims also had this reaction. Why would you invite the Israeli Ambassador. Of what consequence would it be? Did anyone contemplate that? I don't see Saudi Ambassador's coming over for Passover at the White House. (Wait do they have Passover at the White House?)

Thing smells, actually reeks of political pandering. Israel just destroyed Gaza, keep Gaza in the largest open air prison, starve and cut off Gaza, not to mention continue to push out Palestinians from the West Bank, then comes revelations that IDF in the West Bank tone down their operations while the Americans are around so as not to create further tensions, as if their heavy-handed operations and mistreatment of Palestinians is legitimate otherwise.

I dont feel uncomfortable that the Rabbi's were invited (unless they happen to be staunchly anti-Muslim, exclusiveness when it comes to human rights, ie for all except Palestinians), but then all of this really just came back into focus. I guess there is a need to set a perception that Muslims and Jews- no matter how Zionist- can come to the table and break bread. That it is possible for dialogue to begin, even it were to be very minuscule. Not just that, more importantly, people of faith can share in and with each other the sacred, be connected through their faith to the greater ideas of good, justice and peace. That was further amplified by reading President Obama's speech that he gave at the iftar:

And that is why I am so pleased that we are joined tonight not only by so many outstanding Muslim Americans and representatives of the diplomatic corps, but people of many faiths -- Christians, Jews and Hindus -- along with so many prominent Muslims.

Together, we have a responsibility to foster engagement grounded in mutual interest and mutual respect. And that's one of my fundamental commitments as president, both at home and abroad. That is central to the new beginning that I've sought between the United States and Muslims around the world. And that is a commitment that we can renew once again during this holy season.

So tonight, we celebrate a great religion and its commitment to justice and progress. We honor the contributions of America's Muslims, and the positive example that so many of them set through their own lives. And we rededicate ourselves to the work of building a better and more hopeful world.

So with that I see the wisdom in the invites. I think the iftar was wonderful, however, my next issue is that key Muslim leaders, or organizations, were missing from the table.