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San Mateo County Times, October 16, 2008
www.insidebayarea.com/search/ci_10728633
Building trust between American Muslims and Middle America
By Iftekhar Hai
I HAD NEVER been to America's heartland. So when I got a phone call from a Muslim board member of the Crescent Peace Society of Kansas City, Mo., inviting me to travel there to be a keynote speaker last Sunday, I jumped at the opportunity.
The nonprofit organization was founded by an Indian doctor whose son was very afraid to go to school in 1995 after hearing news reports that the Oklahoma City bombing was committed by Muslims.
Of course, we all found out later that Muslims were not involved. Nevertheless, the early rumors were flashed all over the nation, leading many to believe that Muslim terrorists had committed the crime.
Much to my astonishment, I found out that the immigrant Muslim community in Kansas City is highly educated. Almost all the people that I met had Ph.D.'s or were medical doctors.
When I arrived in Kansas City, I fell in love with the beauty, cleanliness and layout of the city.
The general population was dressed modestly neat — not like San Francisco, where anything and everything goes.
Missourians have values that resonated with my conservative values of being raised as an Indian/Pakistani Muslim.
I was surprised to realize that representatives from Congregation Beth Shalom and Village Presbyterian Church were a part of the board of directors.
All this was overwhelmingly reflected in their interfaith message of "enhancing the understanding of Muslim culture through education and cultural activities."
As part of building trust and relationships between American Muslims and Middle America, I attended services at two places of worship.
Last Saturday, I attended services at Beth Shalom Temple, a conservative branch of Judaism, and on Sunday I attended services at Village Presbyterian Church.
That same night, I spoke about community building among Abraham's progeny, a speech that elicited heartfelt applause that is still ringing in my ears.
Praying together with conservative Jews and Christians was spiritually uplifting.
Rabbi Robert Tobin not only allowed me to personally witness the Torah, but promised to do more to enhance understanding between Muslims and Jewish Americans.
All the Christian, Jewish and Muslim Missourians want me to come back again and see how we can grow beyond exchanging pleasantries and sharing food.
I must say, in all honesty, that the heartland of America is rising to higher values of love, compassion and hospitality.
To all American Muslims, my message is one of hope not despair.
Be patient and persevering, and bring all the best that your Islamic tradition has to offer.
I have no doubts that when the rhetoric of the election is over on Nov. 4, you will see the light at the end of this tunnel.
Iftekhar Hai is the president of the United Muslims of America Interfaith Alliance.
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Kansas City Star Oct. 13, 2008
Beyond the Rhetoric of Hate
By Lewis Diuguid, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
Yard signs promoting Sen. Barack Obama's candidacy for president are being damaged, stolen or destroyed in the Kansas City area. In addition, a billboard went up in West Plains, Mo., with a caricature of Obama with a turban. It included his middle name, Hussein. The offensiveness on the campaign trail is increasing with some crowds even saying violent things.
That's why it was a relief Sunday night to hear Iftekhar Hai's calming speech at the Crescent Peace Society's annual Eid Celebration and Awards Dinner. He told hundreds of people at the Ritz-Charles in Overland Park to embrace the pluralism of America.
"The time has come for us to come together," said Iftekhar Hai, who lives in the San Francisco area and is the founder of United Muslims of America Interfaith Alliance - Interfaith Relations. "Americans are really destined to lead the world whether we like it or not. God has placed that responsibility on all of us. You bring the best of the different traditions of East, West, North and South."
People just have to appreciate the strength of the nation's diversity and respond in a peaceful way. Vandalizing and stealing yard signs and putting up defaming billboards hardly counts.
Submitted by LewisDiuguid on October 13, 2008 - 2:40pm.
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Bill's 'Faith Matters' Weblog
Bill Tammeus writes about matters of religion and ethics.
Justice, justice, justice. . .: 10-16-08
Justice, justice, justice. . .: Bill Tammeus weblog, 10/16/08
http://billtammeus.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/10/over-the-years-here-on-the-blog-and-in-my-column-ive-tried-to-make-the-point-that-interfaith-dialogue----which-i-consider-t.html
Over the years, here on the blog and in my column, I've tried to make the point that interfaith dialogue -- which I consider to be terribly important -- does not mean that those who participate in it compromise their own faith in any way.
Rather, it means that participants come into such discussion to know and to be known.
But it's a hard message to get across because so many people seem to think that interfaith discussion means participants are searching for some kind of syncretistic, common-ground faith in which no one holds any beliefs that offend others. Others think the only reason to hold such discussions is to try to convert other participants to their faith.
So I was glad the other evening to hear a Muslim speaker affirm my position.
'You don't have to give up anything that you have,' said Iftekhar A. Hai (pictured here), who spoke to the annual meeting of the Crescent Peace Society.
Iftekhar Hai, a native of India who lives in San Francisco, is president of the United Muslims of American Interfaith Alliance.
The idea that people who engage in interfaith dialogue need not abandon their own faith is especially important in the United States, which Hai described as 'a land of pluralism.' And yet within that religious pluralism, he said, one can find lots of common beliefs and practices. For instance, when Muslims fasted during the just-ended month of Ramadan, they were not engaging in a practice unique to Islam. Rather, fasting can be found in many faiths, including Christianity and Judaism.
Hai told Muslims attending the CPS dinner to visit houses of worship in traditions beyond their own to become more familiar with other faiths. There, he said, Muslims will find both differences and commonalities. Among the values shared by Islam, Judaism and Christianity, he said, is 'the same message: Justice, justice, justice.'
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