Month: March 2004

I found the following link via al-Muhajabah. It’s a great article that talks about a Mormons perception of Islam. A must read.

As an American who sometimes ruminates on the role of God in our society, I find the debate over the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools interesting. I can’t separate whether I’m okay with the pledge because it does not violate constitutional separation of church and state or because I believe that it is in fact God’s authority that really provides inalienable rights. If it’s the former, then I don’t really have a problem. However, if it’s the lattter and “one nation under God” is fine with me personally, then I shouldn’t be okay with it as…

Navroz Mubarak. Happy New Year. Today, March 21, is the Persian New Year and is also marked by Shi’ah as a religious holiday. Still trying to figure out the history behind it. This year’s resolution is to represent who and what I am faithfully and honestly. Let’s start with “I am a Muslim.” Happy New Year.

It looks like Captain Yee will not be charged with anything. The fifth column brush that was getting ready to paint the entire Muslim community should not be rinsed and ready to be put away. However, if you read the article, you know it’s just poised over the canvas. The choice to not prosecute Yee was not based on the lack of evidence of his guilt, but because it would be a national security risk to reveal the evidence, so they are just going to put him back on active duty. I can’t wait to come back through the looking…

Rep. Henry Waxman helps the Bush administration prove it never lied about Iraq. At least that’s probably how it will get spun. In reality he’s crafted a report on the 237 misleading statements made in 125 public appearances by senior members of the administration. You should download it and read at least the executive summary.

I know that Friedman’s views aren’t universally popular in this forum, but I particularly enjoyed this op-ed from today’s NYTimes.

Who knew we were so popular?

Thankfully Donald Rumsfeld has proven the case for the Iraq war. I’m glad this administration is restoring dignity to the Office of the President of the United States of America.

I found this military intrusion into civilian affairs and subsequent events worthy of note. Especially since this is the type of conference that I might have attended had I been in Austin at the time.

Here’s an interesting thought. During the Islam in America Conference Muqtedar Khan made an interesting observation. Let’s say there are six million Muslims in the US (I think the number is closer to 7 million, but let’s be conservative). The average income of Muslims is $50,000/year. That means the Muslim American economy is $30 billion dollars. Now, I grant you, not all those 6 million are working, or of working age. Let’s say only 1/3 of Muslim Americans are earning, so that’s a $10 billion economy. Not all of that is disposable income. I’m going to say only 1/5 of…