[Vision2020] Shared Understanding Provides Key to Defeating Extremism

[Tom Hansen]

>From the American Forces Press Service

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Shared Understanding Provides Key to Defeating Extremism
By Tim Kilbride 
Special to American Forces Press Service 

WASHINGTON, April 26, 2007 - Dialogue and understanding among members of
diverse faiths are vital to overcoming religious extremism, the Pentagon's
second-in-command said here yesterday. 

Speaking with Muslim community leaders and military servicemembers, Deputy
Defense Secretary Gordon England stressed that a regular exchange of views
among Americans of all backgrounds is necessary to overcome "a huge amount
of misunderstanding" in the United States regarding the Muslim faith and
U.S. intentions abroad. 

"People tend to relate Muslim communities with Iraq and Afghanistan,"
England said. "Of course, that's not the case. These are great (Muslim)
Americans and Canadians and people around the world who are people of great
faith just as all other people of great faith." 

The secretary addressed his comments to Ingrid Mattson, president of the
Islamic Society of North America. The umbrella group describes itself as the
largest Muslim organization in North America. 

The ISNA provides "a unifying platform for the diversity of Muslims in
Canada and the United States," Mattson explained. "We try to bring in
Muslims from all different backgrounds to come together to discuss our
common concerns, to learn about each other and to grow as a community." 

Mattson described her role as "a profound responsibility to be able to, on
the one hand, serve my community - the Muslim community - and then serve
society at large, because we're a part of American society; we're part of
the greater interfaith community." 

The diversity she spoke of was reflected in the backgrounds of the
secretary's guests. In a reception room overlooking Arlington National
Cemetery, England told the small group of Muslim, Catholic and Jewish
military chaplains, ISNA representatives, Muslim servicemembers and his own
staff how important he deems the military's relationship with the Muslim
community. 

"We need to understand that almost all people of the Muslim faith, except
for the extremists, are valuable members of our society and societies around
the world," England said. "It's important for people to understand that
perspective so that together we can defeat extremism. I think that's what's
very important about this relationship." 

The secretary characterized the United States as a successful example of
people from different religions and backgrounds coexisting in peace. He said
it is the responsibility of leaders across the board to ensure that idea is
understood first within the United States, and then demonstrated around the
globe. 

"My view is that is a hugely important message for the world, because in a
lot of places in the world people tend to divide based on their backgrounds,
their religions, their experiences," England said. "That's not the case in
the United States. We use that as a unifying force, and that is a strong
message to the world." 

Recognizing that deployed U.S. forces often serve as the main face of the
United States abroad, the Marines have established an outreach and
recruiting program for Muslim communities within the United States. The
program is a mechanism for increasing the diversity of the force in order to
better display the backgrounds and skills of the U.S. population to foreign
audiences. 

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Jamal Baadani, national director of the Marine Corps'
Middle East Cultural Outreach Program, attended the meeting with England as
one of the most active proponents of diversity in the force. A member of
Baadani's staff said their program worked with Marine recruiters to teach
them sensitivity to Muslim issues and culture in an effort to build bridges
between the military and U.S. Muslim communities. 

Mattson called such outreach efforts by the military and groups like her own
encouraging signs of progress. 

"There's a lot of work that needs to be done, but there's still many hopeful
signs for positive engagement," she said. 

"American Muslims also want to contribute, and certainly in the last few
years since the terrible tragedy of Sept. 11, Muslim Americans have been
serving in greater numbers in government out of that sense of responsibility
to bring in whatever resources our community can have to secure the nation
and the community for everyone," Mattson said. 

She rejected those who interpret Islam as a "way to justify terrorism and
extremism," calling the majority of Muslims "victims" of the extremist
minority. 

"We are more interested than anyone in trying to present an accurate and
positive image of Islam and practice of Islam," Mattson said. "So we're the
best partners to do that." 

England welcomed the call for further cooperation. 

"Take the time to get in touch with us," the secretary encouraged Muslims
who feel misunderstood or frustrated by U.S. policies and actions. "I'd like
to foster the relationship. I think it's important for the nation."

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"As more and more heathens 'choose' to not have children the number of Godly
souls will increase. If the number of Christian births out number the number
of Islamic births the battle will be over in 3 or 4 generations."

- Doug "No-Clue" Farris (March 10, 2007)