Despite my responsibility as a citizen to keep informed, it’s getting quite difficult to read the news these days. I often find myself having to take a break from reading because I am overcome by anger, bitterness, or despair. And never mind the effect it’s having on my ability to do other work. However, I came across an op-ed yesterday, by a supporter of the war in Iraq, that made some very good points. What I liked most about it was its focus on where do we go from here. Regardless of whether or not you support the war in Iraq, we must all focus on the future and how to make it better – first for all the innocent men, women, and children who have been placed in harms way, second for those Iraqis who deserve a better chance, and third for all of us Americans who so far have been made less safe in the world by this conflict and the way in which it has been handled.
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Islam and Hip-Hop
Two articles by Ted Swedenburg on Islam and Hip-Hop. One on the 5% and one on the international context. Man knows his stuff, and it helps mark a new face of Islam that’s growing world-wide, the Western Muslim. No more gharabzadegi for us, we sit (un)comfortably in all worlds.
Wajahat Ali and the Doha Debates
While we were in Doha for the MLT Conference, we were able to attend a special session of the Doha Debates. The topic was “Motion: This House believes that political Islam is a threat to the West.” Wajahat Ali, of AltMuslim and Goat Milk, has done a nice write-up of the issues discussed. He was also gracious enough to make me sound intelligent. I have his permission to include his original questions, and my responses, below. 1) How would you personally define “political Islam” and “the West?” Do you think the debates adequately defined these two terms? The problem with…
The fragility of Muslims
Keep to forgiveness (O Muhammad), and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant. – The Qur’an, Chapter 7, Verse 199 What would the Prophet have done given the presence of those cartoons? Most probably smiled and turned away. Why are Muslims getting so worked-up about the works of ignorant cartoonists from the boondocks of Denmark? Is Islam so weak that we need to kill each other demonstrating our anger at an insult at the Prophet? Is the legacy of the Prophet so weak that we have to condem every Tom Dick and Lars when they insult him? Is Allah…