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Published October 13, 2007 -
Glendale News Press - Los Angeles
Time
IN THEORY
Musings about a resolution on
Ramadan
A congressional resolution recognizing the Islamic
holy month of Ramadan as important is reportedly being touted by U.S.
Muslims as an important sign that they are gaining acceptance in America and
becoming part of the fabric of the country. But Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.,
argued that the resolution is nothing more than an example of political
correctness, which he reportedly said has captured the political and media
elite in the U.S. What do you think?.
A congressional resolution recognizing Ramadan is
certainly an act of political correctness, but then again, so are all
these types of resolutions. What else can you say about them? It’s not
like they’re advocating one belief system over another, they merely
recognize a portion of reality. In so doing, they’re bringing a level of
comfort to members of our community — other Americans.
We need to stop being scared to face reality.
There is a sizable Muslim population in America. And the beauty of
America and her “dream” is that there is room for everyone in this
country. I have heard the argument that “those countries” would never
allow or grant non-Islamic minorities the equal status or recognition
with the mainstream religion.
But to me, that’s exactly the point.
We are not like the other countries. That’s what makes America great:
its ability to incorporate so many into something greater than the
components that make it up.
Ironically, this week’s news headlines pointed to another recognition
resolution regarding the Armenian Genocide.
We witnessed the sad demonstration of denial by the political
establishment, the president included, which wanted to compromise truth
and justice for the sake of politics.
You can’t escape the reality of an organized, systematic annihilation of
one group of people by a government. Its called genocide.
And a great country like America, with all of its greatness, cannot be
intimidated to not speak the truth.
Fr. Vazken Movsesian
Armenian Church
In His Shoes Mission
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In Context (as appeared in print)
The unanimous congressional
resolution of Oct. 2 recognizing the month of Ramadan, the
Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, is
another watershed event for the tradition of religious
pluralism in our country. As strife and conflict dominate
the sensational headlines of press coverage about Muslims,
there is a more authentic story of American Muslims becoming
a natural part of our society’s mainstream. The real issue
is our shared human and democratic values in an informed
American society.
The congressional resolution should not come as a surprise,
as it is an expected outcome of the American Muslims’
efforts for societal integration and inclusion.
Recent examples include former President Clinton hosting the
first official “iftaar,” or breaking of the daily fast,
during Ramadan with Muslim leaders at the White House — a
tradition that has continued with the Bush administration;
the election of the first Muslim to the U.S. Congress, Rep.
Keith Ellison of Minnesota, who used a Koran owned by Thomas
Jefferson from the National Archives for his swearing-in
ceremony; and a new interfaith tradition emerging during
Ramadan called “fast-a-thons” that started on college
campuses in 2002 where non-Muslims participate for a one-day
fast to raise money for local homeless charities. This year
an estimated 75,000 non-Muslims participated.
Locally, the Rev. Ed Bacon and several parishioners of All
Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena fast in solidarity with
Southern California Muslims for the entire month of Ramadan
— each year since Sept. 11, 2001.
This past Oct. 5, Amira Al-Sarraf, the school head of New
Horizon School, an independent Islamic school in Pasadena,
participated in the State Department’s official iftaar
honoring American Muslim educators. Al-Sarraf sat with
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as the leader of the
first Islamic school in the nation to receive the National
Blue Ribbon Award.
Muslims formed the Islamic Congregation of La Cañada
Flintridge in December to become a beacon of peace and
mutual understanding among neighborhood residents and the
greater community. The harmony of diverse faith groups
joining together in ethics, community service and
citizenship is part of advancing the tradition of religious
pluralism in our country. I invite Rep. Tom Tancredo and all
to reach out and get to know your American Muslim neighbors
and associates on a personal level to play a part in the
greatness of our American experiment.
LEVENT AKBARUT
Islamic Congregation of La Cañada Flintridge
It is important for us to remember that our country was
founded on the values of tolerance and respect for all
beliefs. With this in mind, it is completely appropriate for
Congress to recognize the Islamic holy month of Ramadan,
especially since there’s a sizable Muslim community in
America.
Furthermore, since the Congress already offers recognition
to major holidays of many other religions, it would be
disingenuous to exclude this one.
I see this as a welcome symbol of the peaceful intentions of
the American people and their elected representatives toward
those of the Muslim faith.
Since the U.S. military action in the Muslim countries of
Iraq and Afghanistan — as well as our approach to other
issues troubling the Middle East — have sometimes been
misconstrued as anti-Muslim, this initiative offers proof
that our legislators aren’t engaged in some anti-Muslim
crusade.
One can certainly analyze and debate the merits of U.S.
foreign policy, but it’s vitally important for all to
recognize that our actions haven’t been motivated by
religious bigotry.
Now we can only hope that Islamic countries will reciprocate
the Congress’ goodwill gesture by passing resolutions that
recognize the religious rights of Christians, Jews and other
faiths within their own borders. Very few Muslim countries
currently acknowledge other faiths, and some are openly
prejudiced against non-Muslims.
The road to world peace is essentially a two-way street.
Harmony can be achieved only if we come to respect the
cultural ways of others and let everyone worship as they see
fit. With this resolution, America has effectively
reaffirmed its commitment to religious liberty; it is high
time that Muslim nations make such a commitment.
RABBI SIMCHA BACKMAN
Chabad Jewish Center
I am first and foremost a Christian. Secondly, I am an
American. These two labels once went together; not that we
lived in a theocracy, or that everybody truly embraced Jesus
as their lord and savior, but we testified with our hands on
His Bible, our Senate opened with a Christian blessing, the
Constitution was dated from the first Christmas (i.e., “In
the year of our Lord . . .”) and the Pilgrims’ stated
purpose in the Compact was the “advancement the Christian
faith.”
My point is that our nation, however much certain people
wish to deny it, began and sustained with a belief in the
true and biblical God; not Zeus, or Ra, Odin, or even the
Allah of Ramadan.
For Congress to endorse other gods essentially repudiates
the exclusive claims of the One that we have known and are
known for. Such resolutions should not be made anyway, but
officially recognizing Islam as “one of the great religions
of the world” when it is an imported belief system that
denies all the essential tenets of Christianity is too much.
Islam denies the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, that Jesus
is the Son of God, and especially, that He is God, the Son.
We are at war with Muslims abroad, and we worry about their
intentions here. Christians have no divine mandate to
destroy those who oppose Jesus, but we do have biblical
warrant to support America. Is this true of Muslims? They
have yet to resolve as one voice to denounce the violence
and intentions of jihadists, terrorists and Sept. 11, 2001.
Now, I don’t deny that we have become quite the pluralistic
society, but should we exalt the foreign religions to a
place on par or even above our own? We should sincerely love
our Muslim neighbors, but just as sincerely oppose Islam.
THE REV. BRYAN GRIEM
Senior Pastor
MontroseCommunityChurch.org
A congressional resolution recognizing Ramadan is certainly
an act of political correctness, but then again, so are all
these types of resolutions. What else can you say about
them? It’s not like they’re advocating one belief system
over another, they merely recognize a portion of reality. In
so doing, they’re bringing a level of comfort to members of
our community — other Americans.
We need to stop being scared to face reality.
There is a sizable Muslim population in America. And the
beauty of America and her “dream” is that there is room for
everyone in this country. I have heard the argument that
“those countries” would never allow or grant non-Islamic
minorities the equal status or recognition with the
mainstream religion.
But to me, that’s exactly the point.
We are not like the other countries. That’s what makes
America great: its ability to incorporate so many into
something greater than the components that make it up.
Ironically, this week’s news headlines pointed to another
recognition resolution regarding the Armenian Genocide.
We witnessed the sad demonstration of denial by the
political establishment, the president included, which
wanted to compromise truth and justice for the sake of
politics.
You can’t escape the reality of an organized, systematic
annihilation of one group of people by a government. Its
called genocide.
And a great country like America, with all of its greatness,
cannot be intimidated to not speak the truth.
FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN
Armenian Church
In His Shoes Mission
It’s a great day for America and for tolerance in America.
Frankly, I’m surprised there were no dissenting votes, but I
am very happy that there weren’t.
The promise of America is to all Americans, not only white
males, as it once was, and not only to white Christians, as
some would still like it to be.
St. Paul, in a very inclusive statement, says that in Christ
there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free.
I like to think that about America, too. Regardless of a
person’s race, gender, or creed, all are welcome here.
The recognition by the U.S. House of Representatives of the
Islamic holy month of Ramadan is another step in extending
the promise of America to all.
Keep in mind the words of our Pledge of Allegiance:
“. . .with liberty and justice for all.” What part of the
word ALL does anybody not understand?
THE REV. C. L. “SKIP” LINDEMAN
Congregational Church of the Lighted Window
United Church of Christ
La Cañada Flintridge
Politically correct politicians are under the microscope for
many current trends, i.e. from banning trans fats in school
cafeteria foods to recognizing the Islamic holy month. If
these politically correct lawmakers’ actions result in
healthier children and peaceful communities due to
acceptance of all faith traditions, then this trend is
laudable.
Recognizing the holy month of Ramadan was simple to do and
didn’t cost the taxpayers anything. Even though the United
States is a sovereign state, all Americans are also world
citizens. Isn’t it time to think globally and act with
compassion and respect for all people’s rituals and faith
traditions planetwide?
Scientologists follow a common sense moral code, which
includes respecting the religious beliefs of others. L. Ron
Hubbard wrote, “If all the brightest minds since the 5th
Century B.C. or before have never been able to agree on the
subject of religion or anti-religion, it is an arena of
combat between people that one would do well to stay out of.
In this sea of contention, one bright principle has emerged:
the right to believe as one chooses.
“‘Faith’ and ‘belief’ do not necessarily surrender to logic;
they cannot even be declared to be illogical. They can be
things quite apart. Any advice one might give another on
this subject is safest when it simply asserts the right to
believe as one chooses. One is at liberty to hold up his own
beliefs for acceptance. One is at risk when he seeks to
assault the beliefs of others, much more so when he attacks
and seeks to harm others because of their religious
convictions.”
Let’s embrace religious diversity together with our
families, friends and Congress — and beware of those who
poke fun at or try to discount the acknowledgment of
another’s sacred beliefs. Americans united in religious
celebration will make this country stronger.
Assalamu alaikum. Peace be upon you.
CATHERINE EMRANI
Volunteer Minister
Glendale Church of Scientology
I think most of us appreciate the
freedom of religious practice our country affords. That
means, of course, that I am honor-bound to be respectable to
others of different faiths, and to recognize their right to
believe as they wish.
Islam has gotten a lot of press post-Sept. 11, 2001, so
recognizing it may well be a matter of political
correctness. I’d certainly be uncomfortable, though, if
Christianity had attracted attention in the same manner, and
I’d be vocal about it.
A few folks may want to turn our country into a theocracy in
line with their beliefs about God, but that’s not my
concern. I am confident that when Jesus Christ returns, He
will by Himself establish His kingdom on a worldwide scale.
I’m happy to know that according to His promise I’ll be a
part of it, and not cast out of it.
What I think is offensive to many religious people is the
modern societal pressure upon us to accept all faiths as
equally valid and true. I follow Jesus Christ because I
believe He alone is the truth personified, He alone is the
way to know God. I accept other faiths’ right to exist, but
I reject the notion that their prophets are on a par with my
wonderful Lord.
PASTOR JON BARTA
Burbank
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