A Note to Erika Menendez
To Erika Menendez,
The names of the 9/11 hijackers are: Mohamed Atta, Waleed al-Shehri, Wail al-Shehri, Abdulaziz al-Omari, Satam al-Suqami, Marwan al-Shehhi, Fayez Banihammad, Mohand al-Shehri, Hamza al-Ghamdi, Ahmed al-Ghamdi, Hani Hanjour, Khalid al-Mihdhar, Majed Moqed, Nawaf al-Hazmi, Salem al-Hazmi, Ziad Jarrah, Ahmed al-Haznawi, Ahmed al-Nami and Saeed al-Ghamdi. They are no more. The mastermind Osama bin Laden is not alive either.
The average Hindu or Muslim had nothing to do with 9/11. So enough of “beating up” Hindus and Muslims. Sunando Sen (may he rest in peace) should never have died the way he did.
However, the real mastermind of the 9/11 attacks was not even Osama bin Laden. It was hatred — a vile hatred of people who are different. Unfortunately, that is alive and well in our community. I see that in you. I see that in people who bomb our places of worship. I see that in people who denigrate others for being who they are — a particular religion, ethnic group, nationality or sexual orientation.
I have devoted my life to inter-religious reconciliation. I think we can do better than hatred. Are you with me?
Thanks,
Jahnabi
Faith Inspires: Muslim Heroes Highlights Leaders In The Muslim Community
This week’s Faith Inspires highlights the work of Muslim Heroes, an organization that highlights ordinary Muslims all over the world who are making a positive difference in their communities.
Saud Inam, founder and executive director started Muslim Heroes as a blog on the heels of the Park51 controversy in New York City. Inam was frustrated by rising Islamophobia in the United States, victimized mentality among Muslims in the post-9/11 world and the Muslim-American community’s response to attacks on Islam and Muslims. Unsatisfied by defensive responses and explanations of who Muslims were not, Inam sought to define who Muslims were. However, he found there was no clear answer.
Muslim Heroes started as a response to the question, “If Muslims are not terrorists, who are they?” Saud Inam told The Huffington Post. Inam started by putting a spotlight on the inspirational work and contributions of ordinary Muslims from diverse backgrounds.
To continue reading, click here.
Source: The Huffington Post
This photo makes me very happy. It’s not always that we see someone holding a banner embracing their Muslim and LGBTQ identities, and therefore this is very encouraging. Hope this image gets out, so many Muslims can see this woman smiling at us and holding up that awesome banner. May we always be proud of who we are. — Jahnabi
Marching with Queers Against Israeli Aparthed
Completely agree. One of the flaws of liberal feminism is that it often assumes that covering one’s body is equivalent to oppression and that’s certainly not the case everywhere. Definitely not a fan of forcing women to wear the hijab or niqab, but for those who do it can be a very liberating experience. - Jahnabi
Assistant Religion Editor, The Huffington Post.
Meditations, Observations And Photos
