Gambia supporters left out in the cold

Gambia supporters left out in the cold
Feds fear they won’t leave after soccer tourney

TorontoSun.com – Canada – Gambia supporters left out in the cold

afrol News – Gambia President “not welcome in Ghana”

afrol News – Gambia President “not welcome in Ghana”

Assalamu alaikum, the above linked article details Ghana’s displeasure at the Gambian government’s refusal to fully cooperate with the investigation of the mysterious deaths of 46 Ghanaeans on 2005. Many people feel as though the government had a hand in the deaths of these people.

SA To Go on the go

Assalamu alaikum, got the below article from the Serotek blog. Glad I’m not the only one excited about this product.

BBC | Access 2.0

CAIR: Georgia Muslim Barred from Court Over Islamic Scarf

Attack that killed kids might have missed target – Nightly News with Brian Williams – MSNBC.com

Officials: Military knew children were present but considered risk worth it
Attack that killed kids might have missed target – Nightly News with Brian Williams – MSNBC.com

Assalamu alaikum, why am I not surprised that the “official” story has changed regarding this? Whenever there is an incident like this, when innocent civilians are killed, or, whenever a supposed senior member of whatever group you’re choosing to target and label a terrorist today is reportedly killed, should we believe that story?

Because personally, every time some story is reported of some “high value target” being killed, I wonder if it is true, I wonder if it is just some poor innocent person just minding their own business.

Whatworse is that I wonder if the US military even cares how many innocent people they kill as long as they “get the big fish”, as it were. According to this article, it doesn’t seem like they care at all.

And yet, people want to talk about the inhumanity of Islam, when Islamicly, it is not permissible to kill innocent civilians. Hmmm, that is something the terrorists really need to learn. And our military too. I mean, I don’t know much about warfare and “colateral damage” but there has to be something that can be done to lessen the chance that innocent people are going to get killed! Isn’t there?

This reminds me of a conversation I had with my dad, regarding this, and I brought this point up to him, and he was pretty much like, “weel we gotta get teh bad guys and it’s unfortuante but sometimes innocent people have to die”, and then he added, “most likely they are a bunch of terrorists and probably would have killed us anyway”, or something like that. And then he said something to the affect of, “we should just go over there and nuk ‘em all, ’cause they came over here and atacked us”. I remember him also saying that the only reason he thought I was against the Iraq war was because it was Muslims we were fighting. And no, that was not *the only* reason, or maybe even *one* of the reasons I was against the war.

But what I’m wondering is, how many of these people in the military, who are in charge of operations like this, hold the same views as my dad? And I won’t even touch what my dad, and other non-Muslims who know me, actually *really* think about me, and probably say to themselves behind my back, but would never say to me to my face? Just a thought, not that it really matters or that I can do anything about it, but I still wonder from time to time.

RACIST GROUP LINKED TO PBS ‘MODERATE MUSLIMS’ DOCUMENTARY –

CAIR calls on producers to repudiate group’s ‘hate-filled agenda’

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/28/07) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on the producers of a PBS-sponsored documentary on “moderate
Muslims” to repudiate their alleged ties to a racist group that seeks to impose prison terms for “adherence to Islam” and that questions whether women
and African-Americans should be allowed to vote.

David Yerushalmi, the president and founder of the Society of Americans for National Existence (SANE), recently published an online article in which he
claims to be the attorney for Frank Gaffney, Alex Alexiev and Martyn Burke, the producers of the controversial PBS documentary “Islam vs. Islamists: Voices
from the Muslim Center.”

SEE: The Convergence Between the PC Elite and the Jihadists
http://www.saneworks.us/The-Convergence-between-the-PC-Elite-and-the-Jihadists-article-457-11.htm

The taxpayer-supported documentary linked to the founder of SANE has been criticized as agenda-driven and biased. An article in the Arizona Republic newspaper
quoted the executive producer for the PBS series that funded the documentary as saying the film had “serious structural problems (and). . .was irresponsible
because the writing was alarmist, and it wasn’t fair.” (4/10/07)

In February of this year, SANE offered a policy proposal that states in part:

“Whereas, adherence to Islam as a Muslim is prima facie evidence of an act in support of the overthrow of the US. [sic] Government through the abrogation,
destruction, or violation of the US Constitution and the imposition of Shari’a on the American People. . .It shall be a felony punishable by 20 years in
prison to knowingly act in furtherance of, or to support the, adherence to Islam.”

SEE: A SANE Act to Deal with the Islamic Threat to America’s National Existence
http://www.saneworks.us/SANE-Immigration-Proposal-article-379-1.htm

Other articles on the SANE website make racist statements such as:
“There is a reason the founding fathers did not give women or black slaves the right to vote.”

SEE: On Race: A Tentative Discussion, Part II
http://www.saneworks.us/On-Race-A-Tentative-Discussion-Part-II-article-64-25.htm

Another SANE article states: “Is there something unique about the Black American (or, at least the Black New Yorker) that leads him to murder so disproportionately
and to most often kill and victimize his own? Do we see patterns of Black culture that arise out of Africa and the wanton murder of blacks by blacks there?
Why have the colonized blacks of the African continent, after having acquired their freedom and independence, so willingly slaughtered their own and live
in despicable disease and squalor despite a land of enormous riches while Indians of the Indian sub-continent have successfully moved from British rule
to democracy and relative civility even in a country that still maintains social inequalities as a fact of their culture?”

SEE: Murders in New York City and the Race Card
http://www.saneworks.us/Murders-in-New-York-City-and-the-Race-Card-article-53-9.htm

“The producers of ‘Islam vs. Islamists’ should cut all ties to this racist group and repudiate its hate-filled agenda,” said CAIR Communications Director
Ibrahim Hooper. “American taxpayers should not be forced to fund, even unknowingly, those who promote religious and racial intolerance.”

CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 33 offices, chapters and affiliates nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair.com
; CAIR Communications Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair.com
; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, E-Mail:
arubin@cair.com

You Can’t Make This Stuff Up!

Assalamu alaikum, note the below quote from an article in the Daily Observer newspaper, from an article entitled Jammeh Cures HIV Patients.

“I Yahya Jammeh, my name is the Holy Quran.  Am not claiming to be a prophet but I can raise my hands that from the origins of man up to date am the first
President who is called Yahya Jammeh.  And in the Holy Quran, it is stated that  ‘Ya yahya’ meaning you Yahya holds on to the Holy Quran and make sure
the truth prevails.  Am not afraid of anything except the Almighty Allah.  From the date when the first results of the PCR were announced, they called
me all sorts of names.  I have been the subject of negative western press.  But the greenest and the best tree in a plantation, that is a tree which is
germinated in a place where there is more fertiliser.  What do I mean by that, all the negative propaganda, all the bad names that they call me is the
fertilizer for the tree call Yahya Jammeh.”

Huh? And there is more where that came from! I’m telling you, I could not make this stuff up even if I wanted to! This absolutely makes no sense to me! What is he talking about? I mean, I could *try* to make snese of it, but, uh, what?

The Case According to Dakar

Assalamu alaikum, the title above makes reference to an article which appeared in the Gambia Journal online newspaper, seeming to give the Senegalese side of things regarding allegations made in the Gambian newspaper the Daily Observer.

All I can say is the article in the Gambia Journal seems to suggest Gambian involvement in the conflict in the Casamance region of Senegal and that Senegalese envoys went to the Gambian governemnt to present the evidence they had to this affect, and it was after this that The Gambia, via their news media, started making claims about Senegal wanting to destablize The Gambia, even going so far as to accuse Senegal of human rights abuses in the Casamance comparable to those going on in Darfur in Sudan.

At any rate, I found this article very interesting reading, and if what is being said in this article is true, then the ongoing situation bares watching.

Selected Headlines from The Gambia Journal Online Newspaper

Assalamu alaikum, well, here you go, instead of putting each linked article in a separate posting, you get them in one posting. And here are the headlines of interest to me, at least for now anyway, and my, well “reactions” to them. I’m sure this is going to make me look silly/stupid. Oh, well.

Lo And Behold! Our Tolerance For Each Other’s Faith An article opining that the religious tolerance of Christians, Muslims, et al., in The Gambia may be under threat.

Hundreds of foreigners arrive for Kaninlai Festival So it’s the “Kaninlai Roots festival” now? It used to be known, and thought it was still known, as the “International Roots Homecoming Festival” or something like that. But oh, I guess since this is Yahya Jammeh’s home village, well, gotta name it differently, I guess. Seems as though instead of making this about those in the African diaspora “coming back to their homeland/roots”, as it were, it’s now about Yahya Jammeh. Well, just like a dictator, I guess. BTW, this article also mentions the absence of any Senegalese representation in the make-up of the cultural groups who have come to participate.

Two Weeks of Revelries Kicks off on Friday Actually I think it was this article that mentions Senegal’s absence in the festival, I know it was either this article or the one linked above it. But anyway, this article is another article about the Kaninlai festival, but from a different angle.

Press Rights Group Takes President Jammeh to Regional Court While this seems to be a good thing, I’m wondering what really affect or good this will do, as far as the journalist is concerned? Even if he is ordered released, etc., that doesn’t necessarily mean that the Gambian government will necessarily comply with that order.

Sign of Shortages As Tension with Dakar Escalates Uh-oh, this can’t be good. The Gambia’s accusations against Senegal seems to me to be rather like a small child teasing a dog, or someone teasing a large animal, or basically, trying to get someone who is bigger than you to fight iwth you. And if you do that, if you provoke the bigger person/animal/whoever to fight with you, then you’re going to end up pretty beat up! In the case of The Gambia, I can’t see anything good to come out of The Gambian government/their mouthpiece the Daily Observer’s accusations against Senegal. And it will, as always, hurt the average everyday person the worst.

..::The Gambia Journal Online::..

..::The Gambia Journal Online::..

Inspirational / Touching Quotes

Assalamu alaikum, the below quotes really touched me, I got them from an email list I’m on and am posting them below.

Haven’t they seen that God expands and restricts the provision of
anyone at will? Surely there are signs in that for people who
believe. [30: 37]

Shame is a clear sign of faith, and the faithful are in Paradise.
Shamelessness is a sign of suffering and cruelty, and the cruel are
in Hell. [Tirmidhi]

Those who are truly alone and in exile are those who are not
connected with Him through belief and submission, or attach no
importance to that relation.
[Badiuzzaman Said Nursi]

Who is Really Rich?
He who curbs his desires will always be rich enough. That man is
rich whose pleasures are cheapest. To be satisfied with what
one has; that is wealth. He who is content in his poverty is
wonderfully rich.

Fear is like a candle whose flame helps a person distinguish
goodness from evil; and fear of God allows a person to turn away
from evil. Those who fear mere creatures flee from them; but those
who fear God flee to Him. [Rabi'a al Basaria]

Why It’s Not Just a “Muslim Issue”

Assalamu alaikum, Umar Lee so eloquently shows why the recent incidents at Dar Al Hijra aren’t just a “Muslim Issue”, namely because the group behind these incidents appears to be nothing more than a white supremacist organization, who uses code words, etc., to hide their real agenda. But not doing such a good job.

Anyway, if this group is indeed trying to visit every masjid in America, everyone should be vigilant.

Serotek Releases First Web-based Accessibility Tool

Assalamu alaikum, yes, you’ve read right. Actually, I received this in my email last week, and meant to post about it Friday, and just didn’t get around to it.

But basically, Serotek has released a web-based screen-reader, or I should say, a web-based version of System Access called System Access to go. you simply visit this link and a voice will come up and tell you to press “Enter” to begin. At which point a couple of boxes pop up where you have to click “Run”, or hit the Alt+R key combination, and then you can either do a trial, request a ten-minute demo of the product, or type in your existing account information, assuming you have one, which I do.

Once you do that, System Access comes up and not only gives you access to the Web, and such, but also gives you access to the whole computer, i.e. desktop, taskbar, etc., as well. And it does this by not really having to install anything on your computer, or the computer you’re using. Once you shut System Access down, it’s off the computer completely.

Now I’ve not been to Serotek’s website to see how much this would cost, but this could conceivably be an option for people who can’t afford screen readers such as Jaws or Window-Eyes. And also would make many public computers accessible to blind or visually impaired people who may need to use a computer to do work, to check email, etc., but can’t or don’t want to install a screen reader such as Jaws or Window-Eyes onto the machine.

It has been said that Serotek’s motto is “accessibility anywhere”, and I think by launching this product (which is still in beta by the way), they are going a long way to implementing that motto and making it a reality.

CAIR Seems to Address Dog Guide Issue (Alhamdulillah)

Assalamu alaikum, I’m glad to see CAIR taking steps to address the Muslims and dog gudies issue! Especially as a Muslim who has used and intends to use, a dog guide in the future. So Alhamdulillah and much kudos to CAIR for this step.

SOLD-OUT CAIR-MN BANQUET A SUCCESS -
TOP
Group helps educate Muslim cab drivers about guide dogs

(ST. PAUL, MN, 6/17/2007) – The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today announced that more than 200 people turned
out on Saturday for its 1st annual banquet in Woodbury.

The sold-out event included speeches by CAIR officials and representatives of the FBI and the ACLU, state and national elected officials such as Rep. Keith
Ellison (D-MN), and the president of the Minnesota chapter of the American Council of the Blind (ACB).

The ACB representative and his guide dog were driven to the event by the Muslim owner of a taxi company, a symbolic gesture that is part of CAIR’s effort
to educate Muslim drivers about the religious obligation to accommodate passengers with guide dogs.

“We thank the Minnesota community for its tremendous support in our first months of operation and hope to work with people of all faiths on future initiatives
of benefit to our state and nation,” said CAIR-MN Communications Director Valerie Shirley.

CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 33 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR Minnesota Communications Director Valerie Shirley, Tel: 763-226-5866; E-Mail:
vshirley@cair.com
; CAIR Minnesota Board Chairwoman Lori Saroya, E-Mail:
lsaroya@cair.com
; CAIR Minnesota Executive Director Omar Merhi, E-Mail:
omerhi@cair.com

Net Music Countdown: Akon Apologizes To Gwen Through Song

Assalamu alaikum, yep, Akon has written an apology song, apologizing to many people according to many reports on the Net, , i.e., his mom, his wife (you mean he’s only got one? sorry couldn’t resist that one), the girl in Trinidad he danced with, etc., etc. Anyway, I’ll need to find the lyrics, but if you wanna search and find them yourself the song is called “Sorry, blame it on me”. or something like that.

And I was ready to, especially after hearing the song “Mama Africa” (no it’s not a remake of the Garnet Silk song). I was like ready to say, “OK, Akon, perhaps I let the media reports get the best of me. Perhaps I was wrong, sorry, for writing all this stuff I wrote about you.” Then, there was this part of the song where he says something like, “even though the blame is on you, blame it on me”. And I was like “huh?” I had this image flash through my mind of the man who is abusive or otherwise done wrong. He’s just got done cheating on his wife/girlfriend, or beating her or something like that, and then he says “oh I’m so sorry, I’ll never do it again, and then proceeds to tell her how it was all her fault he had to do it anyway. Perhaps that was not the intent of the song, but that’s what it remind me of. And given that the song was most likely written before Akon supposedly threw a fan off the stage, well, hmmm, you want to say that at the very least this guy doesn’t seem to think before he does / says things.

Perhaps I’m putting my own cultural/religious values on someone I shouldn’t be. Perhaps I have put him on some kind of pedestal because I thought he was a Muslim, and thus I expected him to act in a certain way. Perhaps because he is from Senegal, I expected him to act and carry himself in a certain way, because of the Gambians/Senegalese that I knew. And perhaps I was wrong about all of this!

Perhaps I just took what was being reported/talked about and ran with it, and I had no business saying anything. Yeah you can say Akon said x, y and z and then proceed to write/comment about it, but what good does that do? Does it really concern me? What right do I have talking about someone like I know them? Like they’re some kind of friend or acquaintance of mine? I’m sure I could just say, “Oh, I’m giving nasiha” or something like that, or I’m speaking out on someone who’s “giving Islam a bad name”.

But in actuality, I’m using him and his antics as an outlet for all of my frustrations I’ve had regarding men, all of the ill treatment I’ve had, etc. I’ll just put that out there and be honest about it. All the bad brothers I’ve read about, all the stuff they’ve done, Akon’s supposed “polygamy”, well, that just made him the target for all of my pent up frustration, anger, whatever you call it! Yeah, I know that is strange, maybe, but well, as I said before, I just reminded me of all the abusive, no-good “brothers” out there, and well, perhaps it’s really not for me to say anything about it.

And I started thinking on how awful the press can be, how they like to always put someone up on a pedestal, only to knock them down. I remember at first when Akon was heralded as the guy who was once a criminal, in prison, and who turned himself around. Now, they want to make an R. Kelly out of him.

I guess the only “nasiha” I could give would be to tell him to please just be careful what you say and what you do, think before you do anything! Because when you’re in the limelight like that, people are watching everything!

But hey, I’m not saying anything new that I’m not sure plenty of people have not told him already. I just keep thinking how we are commanded as Muslims to checking things out before we pass on news that we here, and how we should leave what does not concern us. So yeah, Akon may be every bit like the “bad brothers” I know/read/hear about. But I have to ask myself, what right do I have to come on a blog and talk about someone I don’t even know? Perhaps this will be something Allah will ask me about on Yaum-al-qiyama. Perhaps this is something that will weigh against me on the Day of Judgment. And at that time, I won’t be thinking about what Akon was doing!

Anyway, I’d write more but it’s 3:30 in the morning, I’m tired, and I’m sure everyone’s just tired of hearing about this already.

Net Music Countdown: Akon Apologizes To Gwen Through Song

Malicious Slander « Tariq Nelson

Assalamu alaikum, Tariq has updated us on the situation with Dar Al Hijra by informing us that people have now thrown rocks at the masjid, etc. And this is hwere it all starts.

When you look at genocies, ethnic cleansing, the Holocaust, things like that, you find that they don’t start overnight. It starts with incicents, articles, etc., just like htis. May Allah protect us from this!

I don’want ot sit here and seem paranoid, however, I think that we as Muslims need to be truthful yet vigilant, and most importantly, rly on Allah and make dua.

Malicious Slander « Tariq Nelson

CAIR: Wash. Times Promotes Hate Group that Would Outlaw Islam

ACTION ALERT: WASH. TIMES PROMOTES HATE GROUP THAT WOULD OUTLAW ISLAM -
TOP
‘Adherence to Islam’ would be punishable by 20 years in prison

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/14/07) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today expressed concern about an article published by Insight magazine,
a website owned by the right-wing Washington Times newspaper, that offered a sympathetic portrayal of an anti-Muslim hate group that advocates making “adherence
to Islam” punishable by 20 years in prison.

The hate group, Society of Americans for National Existence (SANE), is supporting the so-called “Mapping Shari’a in America Project” devoted to spying
on 2,300 Islamic institutions in the United States.

SEE: Private Undercover Team Exposes Nationwide Network of Radical, Anti-U.S. Islamic Centers
http://www.mappingsharia.us/Insight-Magazine-Mapping-Sharia-Project-Uncovers-Jihadists-near-DC-article-438-67.htm

In February of this year, SANE offered a policy proposal that states in part:

“Whereas, adherence to Islam as a Muslim is prima facie evidence of an act in support of the overthrow of the US. [sic] Government through the abrogation,
destruction, or violation of the US Constitution and the imposition of Shari’a on the American People. . .It shall be a felony punishable by 20 years in
prison to knowingly act in furtherance of, or to support the, adherence to Islam.”

SEE: A SANE Act to Deal with the Islamic Threat to America’s National Existence (SADITANE)
http://www.saneworks.us/SANE-Immigration-Proposal-article-379-1.htm

SEE:
Original Article

In its report on the mosque spying project, Insight magazine falsely claimed: “Hundreds of Islamic centers in the United States have become a hot-bed of
extremist activity; they promote violence, terrorism and hatred against America.”

Earlier this week, CAIR accused the Washington Times of “agenda-driven reporting” for falsely suggesting there has been a drop in that organization’s grassroots
support. CAIR says its membership, donor base, annual budget, and attendance at fundraising events has increased each year.

SEE: CAIR Accuses Washington Times of ‘Agenda-Driven Reporting’
http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=2775&theType=NR

Many Muslims have expressed concerns about repeated instances of anti-Islam bias in the Washington Times’ reporting and commentary.

The paper has in the past refused to publish CAIR’s responses to its Islamophobic content.

SEE: CAIR Says Washington Times ‘Hypocritical’ on Press Freedom
http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=2624&theType=NR

CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 33 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to promote justice, enhance
the understanding of Islam, and empower American Muslims.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
ihooper@cair.com
; CAIR Communications Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair.com
; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, E-Mail:
arubin@cair.com

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE. This publication WILL use hostile messages to further defame the Muslim community.)

CONTACT the Washington Times to express your concern about that newspaper’s apparent support for an anti-Islam hate group that advocates criminalizing
Islam in America. Please include your name, address and a phone number.

GOT TO:
http://video1.washingtontimes.com/contact-us/contact_us.php
COPY TO:
info@cair.com

MAILING ADDRESS:

Letters Editor
The Washington Times
3600 New York Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002-1947

—–

Outlawing Islam?

I wrote the below post in a bit of a hurry, my apologies for that, as I don’t think it does my thoughts/feelings justice. But here it is all the same. Inshallah, I’ll try to update/edit it later.

Begin post:

Assalamu alaikum, well, hey, wow, where do I start with this one? Umar Lee and Tariq Nelson have blogged about an incident at the Dar-al-Hijra Masjid in the DC area, where a man supposedly said shahadah, and then wrote a report in the Washington Times? that was an outright fabrication to say the least!

I’d seen something in the CAIR emailer about the Washington Times promoting a group that wanted to outlaw Islam, but sadly, it seems, I just thought “oh I’ll read it later”.

The fact that a man went to a masjid, outwardly converted, and then turned around and wrote a piece in a prominent US newspaper saying that the masjid was some sort of a “terrorist recruitment center” (my words not his), is just well, I’m saddened and angry!

I mean, as a convert to Islam, I know how, when you first become Muslim, people are so kind to you, they do whatever they can to help, or at least in my case they did! I can only imagine that it was the same for this guy, judging by both Umar Lee and Tariq Nelson’s accounts of what went on that day.

And to be so taken advantage of by this man, only to be lied and slandered about in a newspaper, is well, I really hurt and feel for these people! To display such kindness, generosity, etc., and then to be lied about, well, I really don’t know what to say.

And what also gives me pause is that not only was this article published in a prominent, albeit Conservative-leaning newspaper, but that this article was published by someone who belongs to a group who wants to outlaw Islam. OK, everyone, we’re not just talking about terrorism, we’re not just talking about extremism here, or, should I say, we’re not just talking about using the venere of “terrorism” and “extremism” to go after people, we are talking about outlawing the practice of Islam itself. That means no praying, no fasting, no zakat, no hijab, no none of that, unless you want to spend 20 years in prison. They are ostensibly wanting to make a particular religion, and belonging to that religion, a felony! And before you say, “oh but the Constitution won’t allow that”, or something to that affect, just think of the Japanese internment camps, CoIntelPro, the radiation experiments on unsuspecting, the disabled, etc., where was “the Constitution” then? If you’re in fear, or if you have hatred in your heart toward a particular group of people, you’ll find all kinds of ways of justifying your behavior, all while claiming to live in a “free country”, just go and ask the African-American population about that. I’m saying this only to say that Muslims really need to be vigilant, and not just say “oh it can’t happen here”, because to me, it can happen anywhere! And if my memory serves me correctly, the Holocaust didn’t just happen overnight, there were, indeed stepping stones to that! Including defamatory articles in newspapers.

Umar Lee also refers to some email correspondence he had with the man who took shahadah, and it reminds me of the conversation I had the other day with “GloryToTheLord”. Perhaps the conspiracy theorist in me is not as dormant as I thought, because I started thinking, “who is this GloryToTheLord”, exactly? Perhaps it was the same sort of person who would come into a masjid, pretend to convert to Islam, and then go back and write some sort of dishonest “they’re all a bunch of terrorists and this is why” article?

Was GloryToTheLord really trying to “debate” with me, or trying to provoke something more? Because it was awfully funny how they pushed, and pushed, and pushed, until all of a sudden, when I absolutely said I wouldn’t tolerate this anymore, when I absolutely said that violence was not condoned by Islam, etc., etc., they just said “I’m sorry I’ll leave you in peace”.

Well, perhaps that was all it was, just someone who popped into a Muslim’s blog with “serious questions about Islam”. And if this is the case, I’m wondering to myself, what kind of impression did I leave? I shudder to think. Because in my aggravation at being preached at about my own faith, I don’t think I acted in the best way that I could have. Not to mention leaving any kind of positive impression (though I’m not sure what kind of *good* impression I could have made, judging that their questions already pointed to their negative feelings toward Islam and practicing Muslims).

But what can you do, when you have people in a prominent newspaper lobbying to have Islam, the religion itself, outlawed? Banned? Criminalized? I don’t even want to link to the article, I don’t even want to link to the various sites, etc., that Umar Lee and Tariq talk about. Just go and read their and others’ accounts of what happened. Very interesting, but very sad as well. I’m starting to get the “I wonder if this was on Fox News” feeling, and then, in turn, starting to wonder if my family saw it, and then wondering what they thought of it? Only becuase I wonder sometimes how many non-Muslims, family, friends, acquaintances, and coworkers alike, *really* think of me?

Do they *really* support me? Are they “OK” with me but not necessarily supportive of my lifestyle choice to be a Muslim? Or do they say one thing to my face and then say something completely different behind my back? Let’s just say that Islam is “outlawed” and/or that Muslims begin to be rounded up in large numbers and put into camps or deported somewhere? Would I have help and/or support, or would my non-Muslim friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, etc., be the first ones telling the authorities where I am, or pushing me toward the waiting trucks, trains, buses, etc., to take me to those camps? Or, would they be saying something like “oh you can just take off your hijab, renounce Islam, go back to the way you were before, no one would know the difference”.

Who knows, but no matter what happens, I will not give up my Islam, because all of this stuff on earth doesn’t matter! It is the Questioning, the Day of Judgment, it is Allah that truly matters! All we can do here is live as best we can as Muslims, display patience and perseverance, etc., while still standing up for ourselves. And as of now, Inshallah, right-minded people of good conscience will stand up and say that this kind of thinking is unacceptable, that it is no different than racism, anti-Semitism, and any other “ism” that wants to exclude, marginalize and eliminate a whole group of people.

Senegal continues to destabilise Gambia – Daily Observer Newspaper – Online Edition

Senegal continues to destabilise Gambia – Daily Observer Newspaper – Online Edition

allAfrica.com: Gambia: The Bombshell (Page 1 of 1)

The Daily Observer report that Gambian dissidents are receiving the support of the Senegalese government has struck many Gambians like a thunderbolt from
nowhere.

allAfrica.com: Gambia: The Bombshell (Page 1 of 1)