Date Posted: Wednesday, February 21, 2007

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

RALEIGH, NC - Feb. 21, 2007 (MASNET) For there to be dialogue in the dictionary sense we must understand the concept of dia meaning two or between or across and logos speech or ‘what is talked about’. Dialogue is, thus, speech across, between or through more than one person. It requires a specific kind of interaction. Within this logic, it is not so much a specific form of question and answer, but at its core is the kind of social relation that connects its participants. It involves certain virtues and emotions. One is interest: In being with our partners in conversation, to engage them with us, there is more going on than talk about the overt topic. There is a social bond that entails a commitment to the other.

When the principal of Enloe High School first called, I was not available to take her call. Beth Cochran left a message which basically said that what had occurred was a huge and unanticipated mistake and she hope that I would contact her as soon as possible. I did so first thing in the morning. As promised, Wake County School Board Susan Parry member called Enloe and relayed my promise that the Muslim community would be amicable to a fair solution which would involve repairing the damage done by the actions of Kamil Solomon, from the Kamil International Ministries Organization. Before I could suggest a schedule of possibilities, Ms. Cochran invited MAS Freedom Foundation to coordinate a schedule of presentations with the social studies department and a comprehensive plan that would include a variety of tools to educate non-Muslims about Islam on range of issues. She stated that the instructor involved had no clear agenda to disrespect Muslims or the religion of Islam. The guest speaker did not have any prior approval to distribute the pamphlet involved in the controversy. The entire project commenced with the intention to promote diversity. Unfortunately, some situations are not foreseeable and can regretfully turn what was meant to be a constructive situation into one in which people are offended.

Naturally, as Muslims, we are offended when information is disseminated that not only misrepresents our religion, but insults it. We are further harmed when our children must sit in an environment, which puts them at an uncomfortable disadvantage. Hopefully something positive can come from this situation. We now have the opportunity to assist in a program in which non-Muslim and Muslims can learn from qualified sources of educational support and we can utilize one of the most important aspects of the Sunnah, which is dawah. When we speak, they will learn!

It is time we move beyond a state of being armchair warriors. Activism is clearly calling and it time a make our move. We cannot afford to let others define who we are or what we believe. You can compare this to shooting yourself in the foot. We only harm ourselves and our silence is used as a tool to present the most negative image of Islam.

MAS Freedom Foundation is here and so is the need for your participation.

Are you ready?

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The Freedom Foundation is the public affairs arm of the Muslim American Society (MAS), a national grassroots religious, social, and educational organization. MAS is America's largest grassroots Muslim organization with over 50 chapters nationwide. Learn more at www.masnet.org 

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MAS Freedom Foundation

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URL: http://www.masnet.org/index_publicaffairs.asp

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