Civic

Pledge for "Intimidation-Free" Campuses for Jewish Students Debated

October 11, 2002

Source: The Chapel Hill Herald

On October 11, 2002, The Chapel Hill Herald reported that "College presidents who declined to endorse a pledge against campus anti-Semitism... including Nan Keohane at Duke and N.C. State Chancellor Marye Anne Fox - faulted the manifesto for its lack of 'symmetry,' meaning it didn't also decry threats to Arabs and Muslims... UNC's James Moeser was among the nearly 300 college presidents who signed the New York Times advertisement sponsored by the American Jewish Committee... Moeser noted he would have been 'happier' if the...

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CAIR Conducts Sensitivity Training Workshops for Arlington Virginia Schools

October 11, 2002

Source: Council on American Islamic Relations

On October 11, 2002 the Council on American Islamic Relations issued a press release that stated, "TeamWorks, CAIR's diversity training division, today conducted a sensitivity training workshop for Arlington Virginia Public Schools. More than 180 teachers and teacher assistants participated in the training during an in-service for the school district. For more information, contact: Nancy Hanaan Serag at 202-488-8787, ext. 6052"

Diana Eck Speaks about Efforts to Maintain Interfaith Friendship

October 9, 2002

Source: USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002-10-09-peace-personal_x.htm

On October 9, 2002 USA Today reported that "the attorneys general for California, Nebraska and Texas report surges in hate crimes in the past year, largely a result of a post-Sept. 11 backlash against Muslims and Arabs... 'There is no doubt that tension and longstanding turbulence in other parts of the world transfer into relations in the United States,' says Diana Eck...

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Wiccan Sues Chesterfield County on Charges of Discrimination

October 9, 2002

Source: The Richmond Times-Dispatch

On October 9, 2002 The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that "Cyndi Simpson, a Wiccan, [wanted] to offer an invocation at one of the [Chesterfield, VA] Supervisors' meetings.    Members of other religions give invocations at Board meetings as a matter of routine. But the Supervisors turned Ms. Simpson down, evidently deeming Wicca not the right type of faith. Chairman Kelly Miller termed it a 'mockery,' and Supervisor Renny Humphrey made a crack, wondering whether Ms. Simpson was a good witch or a bad witch."

Reactions to Falwell's Statement "Mohammed was a Terrorist"

October 8, 2002

Source: The Nation

On October 8, 2002 the Nation reported that "The conservative Baptist minister (Jerry Falwell) tells correspondent Bob Simon that he has concluded from reading Muslim and non-Muslim writers that Islam's prophet 'was a- violent man, a man of war... I've said often and many places that most Muslims are people of peace and want peace and tranquility for their families and abhor terrorism... Islam, like most faiths, has a fringe of radicals who carry on bloodshed wherever they are. They do not represent Islam'... In response to Falwell's...

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Faith-based Initiative Opponents Fear Hiring Discrimination by Religious Groups

October 8, 2002

Source: The Boston Globe

On October 8, 2002 The Boston Globe reported that "A coalition of civil rights groups and liberal House Democrats has mounted an aggressive lobbying campaign to block President Bush's faith-based initiative in the Senate unless the bill explicitly prohibits religious charities from discriminating when hiring... The White House does not want the anti-discrimination language added, because some House conservatives and many evangelical groups have said they will not be able to support the faith-based legislation if it bars religious...

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Religious Groups Speak Out Against War with Iraq: Oct. 2002

October 8, 2002

Source: The Interfaith Alliance

http://www.interfaithalliance.org/rresource/iraq/ltr.htm

On October 8, 2002, The Interfaith Alliance issued a letter to President Bush "on behalf of the boards of directors of The Interfaith Alliance and The Interfaith Alliance Foundation and the 150,000 members of these organizations who come from over 50 different...

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Thich Nhat Hanh Leads Peace Walk in Tennessee

October 7, 2002

Source: The Commercial Appeal

On October 7, 2002 The Commercial Appeal reported that "hundreds of people followed a Buddhist monk on a slow walk through Overton Park Saturday morning. 'Peace is something you can contemplate every day, and walking is one way,' said Thich Nhat Hanh, the Buddhist monk who led Peace Walk 2002."

Calls for Idaho Law Enforcement to Increase Protection of State's Muslim Community

October 7, 2002

Source: The Idaho Statesman

http://www.idahostatesman.com/story.asp?ID=22290

On October 7, 2002 The Idaho Statesman reported that "a national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group is calling on Idaho law enforcement officials to step up protection of that state’s Muslim community following an incident in which a Muslim woman died in a fire that may be bias-related. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), says the weekend fire maybe the second time in a...

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Reactions to Falwell's Statement "Mohammed was a Terrorist"

October 6, 2002

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On October 6, 2002 The Houston Chronicle reported that "more than 100 Muslims demonstrated outside a local CBS affiliate Saturday to protest a 60 Minutes interview in which the Rev. Jerry Falwell brands the prophet Muhammad a 'terrorist.' According to an article on the CBS Web site, the comments appear in a segment on Falwell and conservative Christians' support of Israel, and their belief that 'the turmoil in the Middle East is a harbinger of the second coming of Christ.'"

Bush Administration Awards Grant Money to Faith-based Service Groups

October 6, 2002

Source: The Boston Globe

On October 6, 2002 The Boston Globe reported that "the Bush administration is giving $25 million to 21 groups, including several that are deeply religious in nature... The grants represent the first tangible result of President Bush's 'faith-biased initiative,' which stalled in Congress amid fierce debate over how religious programs can take government money without running afoul of the constitutional separation of church and state... Several religious groups were among the grant winners, including Virginia-based Operation Blessing...

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Religious-oriented Funds Becoming More Popular after Accounting Scandals

October 6, 2002

Source: The Boston Globe

On October 6, 2002 The Boston Globe reported that "Disillusioned by the accounting scandals that helped decimate stock prices, a growing number of investors are seeking comfort in mutual funds that match their religious values and offer respectable returns. Religious-oriented funds screen out or avoid investing in, companies whose products or services conflict with core values of religious faith. The number of religious-oriented funds has more than doubled in the last three years, from 16 in 1999 to 38 this year, according to...

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Reactions to Falwell's Statement "Mohammed was a Terrorist"

October 6, 2002

Source: American Muslim Council

On October 6, 2002 Eric Erfan Vickers, Executive Director of the American Muslim Council issued a press release that stated, "I expect this nation to demand decency in the public discourse over religion. I expect my country to hold our heroes sacrosanct, and I expect America to have the politeness to say it is sorry when it makes a mistake, even a well-intentioned one. I expect this from leaders chosen under a democracy that contains a Bill of Rights, and I expect it as well from the everyday people whose spirit of being...

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Pledge for "Intimidation-Free" Campuses for Jewish Students Debated

October 4, 2002

Source: The Associated Press

On October 4, 2002 The Associated Press reported that "more than 300 university and college presidents have signed a petition calling for 'intimidation-free' campuses so pro-Israeli students will not be hassled for their beliefs, a Jewish advocacy group said Friday... 'In the past few months, students who are Jewish or supporters of Israel's right to exist... have received death threats and threats of violence,' the petition says... Muslim advocates and some educators are concerned the petition, which will be released Monday by...

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Pat Robertson's Charity to Receive Federal Grant

October 3, 2002

Source: The Associated Press

On October 3, 2002 The Associated Press reported that "a charity founded by Pat Robertson is to receive $500,000 in the first wave of grants under President Bush's 'faith-based initiative,' which the religious broadcaster had criticized. In March, Robertson said on his '700 Club' television show that the program to give federal money to religious organizations that provide social services was a 'Pandora's box' that could make legitimate religious charities dependent on government and finance cults that 'brainwash' prospective...

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