American Muslim journalists must organize and join forces to put America on the right track 

American Muslim journalists must organize and join forces to put America on the right track *

By Ali Baghdadi
(Arab Journal, Chicago - email:  arabjournl@aol.com)
July 17, 1998

To empower ourselves as Muslims and organize as Muslim journalists in America is no longer only a nicety but an absolute necessity. It is a matter of survival.  In the aftermath of the dismantling of the Soviet Union and the designation of Islam as the new enemy, the question that we Muslims as must confront here in the Western Hemisphere is to be or not to be!

The real issue that faces us as a Muslim community in America today, to a great degree, does not differ from the issue that faces the Muslim nation as a whole. We are all targeted by those who control the tools that formulate the views of the American people. We are portrayed by the news media and movie and TV industries, among many things, as backward savages, people that are not responsible and cannot be trusted, enemies of Western civilization, terrorists who are willing to blow up the world with weapons of mass destruction.

We as Muslims are here in America to stay.  We have become a part of the American life, structure and fabric. While preserving our culture, values and religious beliefs, we must be involved in American concerns. We must benefit from the system, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to the fullest. We must overcome fear, which some of us inherited from centuries of slavery and others brought from our native countries, the majority of which are ruled by dictatorships. We must look after our welfare and future of our children as American citizens.  

Though Islam is the fastest growing religion in America and, due to its simplicity and universality, and finds recognition and acceptance particularly among African Americans, Muslims continue to suffer from racism, discrimination, stereotyping, bias, harassment, and violence. Muslims continue to be used as scapegoats to achieve political objectives. The Oklahoma bombing and the TWA crash have demonstrated that the American press, which is dominated and controlled by the Israeli lobby, is quick to link and blame American Muslims for everything that is unpleasant and destructive. 

I have been in this country for almost 38 years. I have always been a law-abiding citizen.  Two of my children served in the US Armed Forces and were willing to die to defend the United States against its foreign and domestic enemies. Yet, a week ago, as only one example, I was singled out, stopped and questioned at O'Hare airport by federal authorities.  I fit a certain profile, which is that of a terrorist.  I am a Muslim.  

There are Muslims who are in jail today who have committed no crimes against the United States.  Dr. Abdul Rahman al-Ashqar, a Palestinian economist, is on a hunger strike in a prison in New York for refusal to testify against Muslims in the Middle East who conduct political activities that harm Israeli interests. A few weeks ago, the federal government confiscated Muhammad Saleh's $1.4 million assets, which included his house and car.  Salah, a Palestinian car salesman living in Chicago, served five years in jail in Israel after being charged with aiding Palestinian widows and orphans in the occupied territories. 
Muslims have been deported without the chance of examining charges or confronting witnesses. Mosques were desecrated, homes were destroyed and businesses were burned down.  In most cases, convictions and even arrests were not made.

An annual report released by the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) a couple days ago showed an18 percent increase in total incidents of violence against Muslims and a 60 percent rise in discrimination cases.

Though improving the working conditions and future of Muslim journalist is a worthy cause; our organization must not be structures as a union. 
Journalism is a very honorable profession that must have high and noble goals. We must serve our country, the United States of America. We must bring the truth to the American people who themselves are victims of lies, distortion, misinformation and brainwashing.  Peace and justice for all members of the human family must be our primary focus.  As commanded by the Quran, we must also be kind to our planet.

The great majority of Americans trace their roots deep into Europe. They consider themselves as a modern extension of European civilization. Likewise, we as American Muslims must preserve and strengthen our ties to the Muslim World. While preserving our identity as US citizens, we must hold tight to the rope of God and not separate from the 1.2 billion Muslims worldwide.
Though we are Americans, culturally, ideologically and spiritually we are a part of the Islamic Nation.  We enjoy the same religious beliefs and moral convictions. We share the same Holy Book and believe in Muhammad ibn Abdellah as the last Prophet. What goes on the other side of the ocean affects our lives and existence as Muslims. When Muslims in the East are unfairly attacked, we must realize that we are also being attacked. When the followers of Prophet Muhammad are viciously mocked thousands of miles away, we must understand that we are also being mocked. When they falsely accuse Sudan of slave trade and of committing genocide against Christians in the south, they do not only attempt to discredit Sudan but also us.

Muslim journalists, if they organize, can make a difference. They can impact positive changes at home and abroad.  They can combat forces that do not have the interests of the American people at heart. 

The task is difficult but not impossible!  It may be frustrating but challenging and eventually rewarding.  It requires energy, determination and sacrifices. Yes we Muslims can do it.  We have what it takes.  We have the numbers and education. We excel, as individuals, in every field. We hold key positions at almost every large corporation. Our scientists work on all aspects of technological projects.  Almost every college or university is staffed with Muslim professors.  Muslim doctors practice in almost every private or public hospital. Our contribution to this country and its economy far exceeds our numbers.  We also have our natural allies, the African Americans, Latin Americans and the Natives.

When it comes to issues that affect our planet, war and peace; freedom, justice and equality; we must not be defensive!  We must not be apologetic. We must be true to our religion and be forceful and on the attack in the pursuit of good.  We must clearly and forcefully oppose the double standards in US foreign policy.  We must join anti imperialist forces to oppose militarism, blackmail and intimidation conducted against smaller and less fortunate nations.  We must formulate alliances to force an end to economic sanctions. 
We must stand with progressive groups in solidarity with the people of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Nigeria, Cuba, North Korea and other nations that refuse to capitulate to the will of Washington.  We must not shy away from supporting leaders who insist on safeguarding their countries' resources, and independence.  We must leave no doubt that Nelson Mandela, Muammar Qathafi, Saddam Hussein, Muhammad Khatami, Omar al-Bashir, Hassan al-Turabi and Najmuddin Erbakan are our brothers and must be respected. 

As Muslim journalists, we must play smart!  We must learn from our adversaries, who, due to our weakness, apathy and isolationism, were instrumental in using the American system to win support for unjust and racist causes.   We must work with others to bring about changes that will put America back on the right track.   We must unite and build bridges with forces of good to make America, not only the most powerful but also the most moral nation.  But we must organize now!

* (From a speech delivered by Br. Ali Baghdadi in a Muslim Journalists' conference at Atlanta on July 17)

««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»
 BACK TO CONTENTS PAGE
««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»

Disclaimer: The file contained in the box above or displayed in a separate window from a link in the box above is NOT owned nor implied to be owned by BeYoND THe iLLuSioN. Most files at BeYoND THe iLLuSioN are originally from public Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) which were popular in the days before the Internet or from gopher, web, and FTP sites from the early days of the Internet which no longer exist today. Essentially, all files were acquired from the public domain in one for or another.

However, there have been occasions when copyright protected material has appeared on BeYoND THe iLLuSIoN without permission of the copyright holder. In these instances, we have and will continue to remove the copyright protected file as soon as it is brought to our attention. This can now be done using our Report Copyright Material form. Fill out the form, and the webmaster will be notified of the situation.

There are also times when files found on BeYoND THe iLLuSioN have a real home somewhere else on the Internet. In these instances, we will gladly replace the file with a link to its true home whenever it is brought to our attention. If you know of the true home of any of these files, you can use our Report Original URL form to bring it yo our attention.