U.S.A.-NEW YORK: IT'S NOT ISLAMS FAULT ! ! ! AND IF YOU SAY IT IS WE WILL CHOP OFF YOUR HEAD...

Blame violence not on Islam but on poverty, oppression, injustice
By Muhammad ShafiqGuest essayist

(December 20, 2006) — When radio host Jerry Klein asked on his show that aired Nov. 26 if all Muslims in America should be identified with a crescent-shape tattoo or a distinctive arm band, he got many radical responses. Some responders even suggested setting up internment camps like those during World War II for Japanese Americans.

At the end of the program, Klein said his suggestion was a hoax. "I can't believe any of you are sick enough to have agreed for one second with anything I said," he told his audience.

But, in a Gallup poll last summer, 39 percent of respondents favored special methods of identification for American Muslims. And about one-third said they would not like to live in a neighborhood with Muslims.

Media images of Muslims as terrorists play on Americans' post-9/11 fears. However, it is not religion but political oppression, insecurity and economic and social injustices that cause violence.

All prophets [That includes Jesus Christ, to any of my fellow Christians...Except that we believe that J.C. was & is THE SON OF GOD whereas moslems think he is only the son of Mary...e.d. A.I.] taught socioeconomic justice. The Unity of God in Abrahamic religion is interwoven with the welfare of people, freedom and a better life. Moses' teaching about God coincided with his speaking out against oppression, and the slavery of the Hebrew people. Muhammad stood against inequality, discrimination and slavery and promised the poor socioeconomic justice in line with the concept of One God, one people.

Why are the Taliban on the rise again in Afghanistan? Because the weak and the poor are suffering.There's a similar situation in Palestine. When free and fair elections were held, Hamas won because they took care of the people.

In Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez was re-elected earlier this month based on his socialist beliefs and efforts to reach out to the poor.It is not religion but socio-economic justice followed by political security that determines the fate of nations. On the other hand, violence follows injustice.

Look at our own city of Rochester. It is not religion that is causing the growing violence but poverty, unemployment, drugs and parents' failure to supervise and guide their children.

Want to know why violence is increasing in the Middle East and elsewhere? Look not to Islam or any religion but to the social, economic and political conditions of the people.

Shafiq is imam/executive director, Islamic Center of Rochester, and executive director, Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue at Nazareth College.

It's not our fault [boohoohooooooooo], it's not the fault of old mo that said that moslems must kill infidels, etc...

Pertinent Links:

1) Blame violence not on Islam but on poverty, oppression, injustice