Civic

Mainstream American Muslims after September 11

January 10, 2002

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0110/p15s1-lire.html

On January 10, 2002, The Christian Science Monitor featured the article "Muslim in America." It reported, "For Muslim Americans, the months since Sept. 11 have been a wrenching experience that has brought both the best of times and the worst of times - opening the door to broader acceptance in US society, but then in effect slamming it on their fingers at a time when they might be...

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Federal Court Stops Govt. Funding for Christian Rehab Center

January 10, 2002

Source: The New York Times

On January 10, 2002, The New York Times reported that "in a case widely seen as the first legal challenge to the constitutionality of President Bush's religion-based initiative, a federal court in Wisconsin has ordered the state to stop giving money to a drug and alcohol addiction program that relied heavily on Christian spirituality in its approach to treatment... Faith Works has received nearly $1 million from Wisconsin, much of it during the tenure of [former] Gov. Tommy G. Thompson... In a decision made public late Tuesday,...

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Virginian Teenager Forced to Remove Hijab in Public

January 9, 2002

Source: The Washington Post

On January 9, 2002, The Washington post reported that Enaas Sansour of Virginia said "a male airline security screener at Baltimore-Washington International Airport forced her to remove her scarf last month. In front of strangers... Even though the metal detector, she said, never sounded.. 'No guys are supposed to see my hair until my husband sees it when I get married,' said Sansour, 17... 'It was very humiliating with all those people staring at me like I did something wrong'... the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic...

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Sikh Man to Pursue Lawsuit Against Airline, Airport

January 9, 2002

Source: Newsday

http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/ny-lisuit092542850jan09.story?coll=ny%2Dnews%2Dprint

On January 9, 2002, Newsday reported "Sikh Man to Sue Airline, Islip for Turban Incident." The article noted "A Family Court official who said he was twice barred from flights at Long Island MacArthur Airport in October because he refused to remove his turban during a security check has taken the first step toward suing...

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Interfaith Gathering for Peace Held in Orlando, Florida

January 7, 2002

Source: The Orlando Sentinel

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-locinterfaith07010702jan07.story?coll=orl%2Dnews%2Dheadlines

On January 7, 2002, The Orlando Sentinel reported "World's faiths converge to urge peace, harmony." The article noted, "In the ballroom of the Rosen Plaza Hotel on International Drive in Orlando, the faces and families reflected the changing religious complexions of Central Florida...

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Uproar Over Wiccan Chaplain Hired at Wisconsin Prison

January 7, 2002

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-000001664jan07.story?coll=la%2Dheadlines%2Dnation

On January 7, 2002, the Los Angeles Times reported that in Wisconsin, "a state representative from... West Salem is leading a drive to yank funding for Witch's $32,500-a-year post, saying taxpayers 'shouldn't be forced to accept this hocus-pocus.' Two other lawmakers have joined him in outrage; one...

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Tibetan Buddhist Monks to Create Mandala in DC for Protection of US

January 4, 2002

Source: The Washington Post

On January 4, 2002, The Washington Post reported that "on Jan. 11 to 27, twenty Tibetan Buddhist monks will create a seven-foot-square sacred mandala in sand at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery [at the Smithsonian] for the healing and protection of the United States. The installation will begin with an 11 a.m. opening ceremony on Jan. 11, to be followed by daily sand painting, chanting and meditation from 10:30 to 4:30. Talks on Tibetan Buddhism will be featured daily at noon. The geometric design will then be swept away and...

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Arab American Secret Service Agent Denied Access to Flight

January 3, 2002

Source: American Airlines

http://www.amrcorp.com/news/january02/03_safety.htm

On January 3, 2002, American Airlines issued a press release entitled "American holds firm on protecting the safety of its passengers" in reference to the removal of a secret service agent from a flight. The release stated, in part: "American carries out its security obligations according to the guidelines provided by the Federal government. Those guidelines are applied equally among all passengers,...

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Council on American-Islamic Relations Continues Outreach

January 1, 2002

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On January 1, 2002, The Columbus Dispatch reported that "members of the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations have been trying to teach people about Islam since long before the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States... They say more education is needed because Muslims have not been represented properly in the news media... 'We are the first to say that terrorism is against our religion, so why is it I have to prove my patriotism?' said Ahmad Al-Akhras, president of the Ohio chapter... To curb ignorance about...

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Editorial: "How to Define a Muslim American Agenda"

December 29, 2001

Source: The New York Times

On December 29, 2001, The New York Times featured an editorial by Dr. Mohammed Ayoob, a professor at Michigan State University. He argues that before September 11, the American Muslim leadership rarely condemned extremist Islam. "Behind this silence lies a mind-set that needs to be drastically reshaped. Muslims, especially first-generation immigrants, need to define themselves as Muslim Americans -- with a focus on issues in this country." He continued, "Unfortunately, the appropriation of the Muslim agenda by special-interest...

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Religion Reporters Identify Sept. 11 Terror Attacks as Top Religion Story

December 29, 2001

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On December 29, 2001, The Houston Chronicle reported that "the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and their aftermath dominated the Top 10 religion news stories of 2001 in a survey of religion reporters... The Islamic terrorist [Osama bin Laden] showed 'how easily religion and religious fervor can be hijacked to serve political ends, substituting hatred and intolerance for the compassion encouraged by all of the world's religions,' one voter stated... [In the survey], the top story selected by newswriters was the attack and the...

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Teaching Religion in Public Schools Takes on New Significance

December 27, 2001

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.pluralism.org/affiliates/teacher/index.php

On December 27, 2001, The Washington Post reported that "teaching about religion is tough terrain for public school teachers, but something that a growing number of educators believe is imperative to help young people understand not only the forces that drive human history but also the diversity in their own neighborhoods. Before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks generated new interest in...

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The Spirit of Giving at Christmas

December 26, 2001

Source: The Hartford Courant

On December 26, 2001, The Hartford Courant featured an article on the Christmas dinner and gift giving for those in need at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Hartford, CT. "What distinguished this dinner from previous years, was the increase in the number of volunteers, said the Rev. King T. Hayes, pastor of Albany Avenue church. Forty-eight had signed up to help Hayes said... 'Some are Jewish, some from the Unitarian Church and they are of all races... The bottom line is helping somebody. They feel the joy of helping somebody.'"

Grants to Houses of Worship Damaged by Hate Crimes

December 24, 2001

Source: UPI

http://upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=24122001-033546-7201r

On December 24, 2001, UPI reported on the "Fund to soothe wounds of hate." It noted that "A Sikh temple in Palermo, N.Y., and an Episcopal church in Hanna City, Ill., will receive cash gifts from a unique Boston fund this Christmas ... The Boston Piano Religious Trust gives $500 grants to houses of worship damaged or destroyed in hate crimes." Gobind Sadan USA, a Sikh center in New York, and St. John's...

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