Civic

California Parents File Complaints Over Teachings about Islam

March 4, 2002

Source: USA TODAY

On March 4, 2002, USA TODAY reported that "parents in two California school districts have launched an effort to have a seventh-grade social studies textbook altered or removed, charging that it contains Islamic information that amounts to proselytizing... The Pacific Justice Institute, a non-profit legal defense organization specializing in religious issues and parental rights, filed two administrative complaints on behalf of parents in the San Luis Coastal Unified and Lemon Grove school districts. Complaints may be filed in at least...

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Religious Pluralism Seminar at University of Southern Maine

March 4, 2002

Source: The Portland Press Herald

http://www.portland.com/news/local/020304fatih.shtml

On March 4, 2002, The Portland Press Herald reported that on Sunday March 3, "200 people participated in an interfaith seminar called 'Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Search for a New Religious Pluralism in Maine and America'" at the University of Southern Maine. "The point of the...

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Atlanta Assembly Addresses Interfaith Dialogue and Public Policy

March 2, 2002

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On March 2, 2002, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "about 60 Atlanta community leaders from across the religious spectrum met... to get to know each other's faiths... The assembly was an outgrowth of a group started by President Eisenhower in the 1950s. The national American Assembly... meets biannually to debate and form consensus around U.S. policy... The regional assembly is new. Its first topic was planned long before Sept. 11 --- back when leaders decided to tackle the increasing...

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American Muslims Celebrate Eid ul-Adha Nationwide

March 2, 2002

Source: Los Angeles Times

On March 2, 2002, the Los Angeles Times reported that "the Council on American-Islamic Relations has started a campaign to register more than 100,000 Muslim voters before the November elections... The effort began on Eid al-Adha, the Islamic Feast of Sacrifice, which comes at the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Voter registration drives were planned for California, Washington, D.C., Michigan, Missouri and Ohio... Since Sept. 11, the council has encouraged Muslims to express their opinions to policymakers."

Citizens Act Locally to Support Muslim Neighbors

March 1, 2002

Source: Spirituality and Health

The Spring 2002 edition of Spirituality and Health featured a story on the "huge outpouring of support" from the community after a window at the Islamic Center of Toledo was shot on September 11 in an act of vandalism. Cherrefe Kadri, president of the large mosque, said "YES-FM, a Christian radio station in the Toledo area, had contacted me, wanting to do something... They called out on the airwaves for people to come together at our center to hold hands, to ring our mosque, to circle our mosque, holding hands, to pray for...

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The Ten Commandments in the Public Square

February 26, 2002

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On February 26, 2002, The Houston Chronicle reported that "for the second time in a year, the Supreme Court refused Monday to review a lower court's ban on displaying the Ten Commandments on government property, leaving states in confusion over whether such monuments are constitutional... Attorneys general in nine states, including Texas, had urged the court to hear the matter to resolve conflicting court opinions around the country. Judges in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin have forbidden Ten Commandments monuments on...

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Louisiana Town Covered with "Jesus Signs"

February 24, 2002

Source: The Times-Picayune

On February 24, 2002, The Times-Picayune reported that "more than just a declaration of faith, the hundreds of new Jesus signs [in Franklinton, LA] are in direct, if not defiant, response to a lawsuit filed last month by the American Civil Liberties Union, which forced the removal of some other religious signs that proclaimed 'Jesus is Lord Over Franklinton' at entrances to the city... The suit was initiated by New Orleans resident Linton Carney, who was driving through Franklinton last year and said he was offended by the...

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American Muslims Celebrate Eid ul-Adha Nationwide

February 23, 2002

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

On February 23, 2002, The Sand Diego Union-Tribune reported that "thousands of Muslims streamed into the San Diego Convention Center yesterday morning to pray about God's greatness and hear speeches extolling the virtues of their religion -- and of women in their faith... While Islam recognizes differences between men and women, 'it also affords them equality,' said Tehseen Lazzouni, one of the speakers at the Eid al-Adha holiday observance... In her talk, the 32-year-old San Diego resident said under Islam,...

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New Zen Monastery to Open in Oregon

February 23, 2002

Source: Los Angeles Times

On February 23, 2002, the Los Angeles Times reported that "a Zen Buddhist organization has received approval to open a monastery and seminary here in a vacant elementary school... The Clatskanie School District Board agreed to a lease with the Portland-based Zen Community of Oregon. The group will pay $3,000 a month in rent for up to two years, with an option to buy the building for about $1 million."

Outrage Follows Robertson's Remarks on Islam

February 23, 2002

Source: The Seattle Times

On February 23, 2002, The Seattle Times reported that "religious broadcaster Pat Robertson drew criticism yesterday from Arab Americans and others for describing Islam as a violent religion that wants to 'dominate and then, if need be, destroy'... Robertson made the comment Thursday on his '700 Club' television program... 'The rhetoric is exactly the same as traditional anti-Semitism. All you can do is change the word 'Jew' to 'Arab' or 'Muslim,' ' said Hussein Ibish, spokesman for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination...

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Muslim Organization Holds Voter Registration Drives

February 23, 2002

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On February 23, 2002, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "at a Muslim festival marking the end of the hajj, the thousands of faithful who gathered in the capital's huge Armory were called to more than just prayer. They also were exhorted to go back to their communities and become voters... 'We've never heard this announcement here before,' said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations [CAIR]... The call to the ballot box on what is called the 'feast...

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Outrage Follows Robertson's Remarks on Islam

February 22, 2002

Source: The Interfaith Alliance

http://www.interfaithalliance.org/Newsroom/press/2002/020222.htm

On February 22, 2002, Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy of the Interfaith Alliance issued a press release "Robertson’s Characterization of Islam: A Disgrace to Religion, Harmful to Healing Nation." It read, in part: "Islam, Christianity and Judaism all adhere to teachings that espouse the common values of peace, compassion and human dignity. Islam, as all other religions...

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American Muslims Celebrate Eid ul-Adha Nationwide

February 21, 2002

Source: The White House

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/02/20020221-4.html

On February 21, 2002, The White House issued a press release containing the following remarks from President Bush: "I am pleased to send warm greetings to Muslims across the United States as you celebrate the Eid al-Adha holiday... During this special time, our Nation is reminded of the remarkable contributions of American Muslims to our history, culture, and...

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Supreme Court Hears School Voucher Case

February 20, 2002

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0220/p01s02-ussc.html

On February 20, 2002, The Christian Science Monitor reported that "by focusing on the concept of government neutrality toward religious groups rather than mandating a hands-off relationship between church and state, the [Supreme] Court has blurred the line barring tax revenues from flowing to faith-based schools... Today, the nation's highest court takes up a case involving a...

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"In God We Trust" to be Posted at Schools

February 20, 2002

Source: USA TODAY

On February 20, 2002, USA TODAY reported that "patriotic fervor in the wake of the terrorist attacks has helped revive an effort to post the words 'In God We Trust' in every school in the nation... 'This has exploded because of 9/11,' says Donald Wildmon, president of the American Family Association... Leaders of the fundamentalist Christian group have been working for three years to persuade states to display the national motto in school libraries, cafeterias and classrooms. The group even pledged to defend in court any legal...

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