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American Muslims Strive to Become Model Citizens
Spiegel Online ^ | September 13, 2007 | Marc Hujer and Daniel Steinvorth

Posted on 10/01/2007 3:35:30 AM PDT by america4vr

After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Muslim immigrants were seen as a potential threat in the United States. They have since become model citizens -- and now they want a greater say in politics. Why shouldn't we wear head scarves?

It is almost 1 p.m., time for noon prayers, and Abdul Malik Mujahid, 55, is in his office on the second floor of Chicago's Downtown Islamic Center, preparing for his sermon. On his desk are a Koran, a pad of paper and a Blackberry. A telephone rings in the next room as people hurry through the corridors.

Soon Mujahid takes the elevator to the fourth floor, carrying the text of his sermon under his arm. The 200 men waiting for him in the prayer room are dressed in jeans and in suits. They have slipped away from their offices for lunch, removed their shoes and staked out their spots on the carpet. Now they want to hear Mujahid's Friday sermon.

He nods to the congregation. Mujahid is a short, elegant man. His gray beard is carefully trimmed and he has a smooth voice. He turns toward Mecca and recites the Fatiha, the opening Sura in the Koran. Then he quickly gets to his point: "My brothers, we can all contribute to reducing our energy consumption," he says. "That must be your very own jihad, your fight against global warming." When he speaks he sounds like Al Gore, the former vice president of the United States and the man who is now leading America in the battle against climate change. "This wonderful country," says Mujahid, "depends on its immigrants. Show that you are good Americans and good Muslims."

(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: americanmuslim; americanmuslims; assimilation; europe; integration; islam; islamiclaw; islaminamerica; moderateislam; moderatemuslims; muslims; puffpiece; racism
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1 posted on 10/01/2007 3:35:34 AM PDT by america4vr
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ping for future.


2 posted on 10/01/2007 3:37:52 AM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: america4vr
Hate crimes against Muslims jumped by more than 1,600 percent in the following year.

Probably went from 2 to 32, in a country of 300 million.

3 posted on 10/01/2007 3:38:16 AM PDT by Sherman Logan
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To: america4vr

Of course, this is Der Speigel, which paints our troops as war criminals.

This is all BS.


4 posted on 10/01/2007 3:43:46 AM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
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To: america4vr

The part in question here is what model are they following? Since the child molester walked the earth, there has been only one allegiance that a muslim will die for, the cult of islam. This is the same cult that teaches that non-cult folks are given two choices, become slaves or die. This is a totally unacceptable belief system in thw 21st century. I suggest that followers of islam also be given two choices; leave this continent or leave this earth.


5 posted on 10/01/2007 3:45:23 AM PDT by ByteMercenary (9-11: supported everywhere by followers of the the cult of islam.)
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To: america4vr

Stiving to be model citizens huh? More like taking over this country, starting with the schools. Demanding foot baths, prayer times, controlling the food, no jello, or bbq, and holidays.

Be afraid of any Muzzie, be very afraid.


6 posted on 10/01/2007 3:46:13 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek
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To: america4vr
"They have since become model citizens -- and now they want a greater say in politics. Why shouldn't we wear head scarves?"

Oh yes, that's what a "model citizen" does, trash the American way of life and try force it to become the same as the crap hole they came from. what a joke this article is. Since 9/11, "muslim "model citizens have been committing- or attempting to- acts of jihad at an alarmingly increased rate, 3200% !!!!!

7 posted on 10/01/2007 3:49:02 AM PDT by Nathan Zachary
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To: Sherman Logan
Probably went from 2 to 32, in a country of 300 million.

You're probably right that the increase is insignificant relatively, which is why the author left out the basis for the statistic and just cited the percentage.

Then there's also the fact that sensitivity toward hate crimes toward Muslims probably increased and many crimes involving Muslim victims may have been classified as a hate crime today, whereas previously it may have not been.

However, given the civil rights record in Muslim dominated countries, it should always be noted in any article about hate crimes involving Muslim victims in the United States, that Muslim terrorists commit hate crimes against non-Muslim civilians on a daily basis throughout the world without there being any repercussions for the perpetrators, and often state sponsored hate crimes in those nations is recognized by parades and celebrations.

As a demographic, Muslims have a long way to go before they can fully rehabilitate their public image, and just being model citizens is NOT sufficient. If Muslims want to fix their public image, they have to start by being the first in line to openly and rigorously reject Extremist and violent Islam. Until they do this as a group, merely pretending to civil activism isn't going to do much.

8 posted on 10/01/2007 3:51:19 AM PDT by coconutt2000 (NO MORE PEACE FOR OIL!!! DOWN WITH TYRANTS, TERRORISTS, AND TIMIDCRATS!!!! (3-T's For World Peace))
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To: Sherman Logan
"How 9/11 changed America: In statistics".

Around 470 soon after the attacks and seems to have stabilized at around 150. Still small, but higher than it was before the attacks.

9 posted on 10/01/2007 3:51:21 AM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu
"Mujahid"= one who fights in a jihad, modern use for "Muslim guerilla insurgent".

The plural is "mujahideen".

All muslims in the west are mujahideen.

This Mujahid fellow is brazen enough to adopt a name descriptive of his role in life.

They're a cancer. Deport them.

AV

10 posted on 10/01/2007 3:54:35 AM PDT by Atomic Vomit
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To: Sherman Logan

Also, while the United States has 300 million people, and 150-470 people out of a population of 300 million is tiny, you could also write that the Muslim population of the United States is around 3%, or about 9 million. So, using that, you could write 150-450 crimes out of a population of 9 million, which remains a minuscule amount, but not quite as small as writing 150-450 out of 300 million.


11 posted on 10/01/2007 3:56:14 AM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: america4vr; dennisw; Yehuda; Lijahsbubbe
When he speaks he sounds like Al Gore...

If that doesn't raise a red flag, nothing will.

12 posted on 10/01/2007 3:56:26 AM PDT by Thinkin' Gal
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To: Sherman Logan
Hate crimes against Muslims jumped by more than 1,600 percent in the following year

That just means more fabricated complaints were made.

13 posted on 10/01/2007 3:59:07 AM PDT by airborne (Proud to be a conservative! Proud to support Duncan Hunter for President!)
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To: america4vr
Well, I'm all for any one, any group striving to be model citizens of the USA..
I would never harbor any preconceived notions about any group who are deemed model citizens but always the lingering feelings of ambiguity make the issue of Muslims as model citizens a point of contention.

I'm not totally convinced as to what their ultimate aspirations are. Just as Jews are portrayed as being duplicitous about their loyalties to Israel versus the USA, so, too, Muslims might always be regarded with suspicion as a fifth column.

I don't know. The lack of any emphatic, enthusiastic denouncement of terror, the ubiquitous statement of but, under certain circumstances that always rears its ugly head whenever a Muslim condemns terror but never does so unequivocally, without qualification, remains a sore point in embracing Muslims as fellow citizens.

Do they really support the concept of democracy, of religious tolerance towards others? Their record across the globe proves otherwise.

14 posted on 10/01/2007 4:00:00 AM PDT by america4vr
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To: america4vr

When all things are considered I’d just as soon not have a mooselimb living next door, or even in the same city.
Especially when you consider the percentage of terrorists that are mooselimb (nearly %100), as opposed to say Hindus or Christians where there is nearly % 0.


15 posted on 10/01/2007 4:01:02 AM PDT by Joe Boucher (An enemy of Islam)
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To: Nathan Zachary
How is dressing up in a headscarf trashing the American way of life? Would agree that people should dress more American. But this is not only a fault of Muslim immigrants. It is largely South Asians who keep their 'ethnic' dress instead of using American/Western attire. Meanwhile, immigrants from Eastern Europe have been donning headscarves since the late 1800's.

It would be trashing the American way of life to insist that American have to put on headscarves. However, individuals have the right to dress as they choose, as long as it is legal.

(P.S. They should not use headscarves, just arguing with the idea that it is trashing the American way of life).

16 posted on 10/01/2007 4:03:17 AM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: america4vr
"Show that you are good Americans and good Muslims."

Not possible to be a member of a totalitarian fascist death cult and an American citizen.

17 posted on 10/01/2007 4:03:49 AM PDT by isrul (Lamentations 5:2)
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To: coconutt2000
When it comes down to where the rubber meets the road, all Muzzies will stick together against the infidel. No amount of image change will ever convince me that the bottom line for them is convert or die is not their ultimate goal.
18 posted on 10/01/2007 4:06:18 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek
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To: america4vr
Kudos on a balanced post (this is an opinion, people--to 'all').
19 posted on 10/01/2007 4:07:04 AM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: Coldwater Creek

It is early, not enought coffee yet.


20 posted on 10/01/2007 4:08:35 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek
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