[Vision2020] Muslims are Part of Our Culture

[Glenn Schwaller]

Short and sweet:  The history of Muslim conquests, probably predating
the construction of the Dome of the Rock following the conquest of
Jerusalem, and continuing on through invasions of Europe, Spain,
India, clearly demonstrates how victory over the enemy is celebrated.
In the early 70's, Qaddafi converted 78 synagogues into mosques,
ultimately destroying over 60 of them, a continued show of humiliation
and conquest.

Be it peace-loving Muslims or radical terrorists Muslims behind the
funding and construction of the Park 51 mosque, based on ancient and
recent history I'm astounded that Ms Rivetti cannot see the culturally
insensitive nature of this mosque.

GS

On Fri, Sep 3, 2010 at 5:32 AM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:
> Courtesy of the “Letters to the Editor” section of today’s (September 3,
> 2010) Moscow-Pullman Daily News with a special thanks to The Rev. Mary Beth
> Rivetti of Pullman.
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> Muslims are part of our culture
>
>
>
> I applaud Franci DuPont for her careful explanation of the need for cultural
> sensitivity in encountering foreign places (Letter to the Editor, Aug. 27).
>
>
>
> Her examples show that she has indeed been involved in attempting to shed
> light on the bridging of cultures around the world, and particularly in the
> areas of extreme cultural clash.
>
>
>
> But then I'm very surprised at her conclusion that the Park 51 Islamic
> cultural center is an example of cultural insensitivity.
>
>
>
> Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, one of the leaders of the initiative, leads worship
> in a mosque that has been located just a few blocks from ground zero for
> more than 30 years. He has been involved in attempts to promote dialogue and
> mutual understanding for years, and in particular in light of the attacks of
> Sept. 11, 2001.
>
>
>
> I think that what is culturally insensitive is the amazing barrage of
> inaccurate information and inflammatory rhetoric about the proposed center,
> which has been supported by the mayor of New York and local religious
> leaders (including the Roman Catholic archbishop and the Episcopal bishop)
> as a sign of healing and renewal. The Vicar of Trinity Episcopal Church on
> Wall Street - whose members were there, and whose friends and family were
> lost Sept. 11 - just a little bit away from the site of the blast calls the
> mission of the center "peace and reconciliation, inter- and intra-faith
> understanding."
>
>
>
> The supposition that Imam Rauf or Muslims in general constitute "outsiders"
> who need to show sensitivity to the culture they are entering is ignoring
> the long history of Muslims in our communities. Muslims are as much a part
> of us as members of the dominant culture. It is we who need to learn more
> about our history, we who need to show some sensitivity.
>
>
>
> The Rev. Mary Beth Rivetti, Pullman
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> Amen!
>
>
>
> “Muslims have made an impact on the evolution of American society.
> Historically Muslims have made major contributions, e.g. humanities, the
> sciences, and art. They explored North America 300 years before the
> so-called ‘discovery’ of the New World by Christopher Columbus. They used
> the Mississippi river as their access route to and from the continent's
> interior.”
>
>
>
> http://www.islam101.com/history/muslim_us_hist.html
>
>
>
> A few examples of Muslim life in American history can be found at the above
> link.
>
>
>
> Seeya round town, Moscow.
>
>
>
> Tom Hansen
>
> Moscow, Idaho
>
>
>
> "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
> and the Realist adjusts his sails."
>
>
>
> - Unknown
>
>
>
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