CPAC Interview with Ali Hasan, Muslims for America
While I was at CPAC, I had the chance to speak a couple times with the folks from Muslims for America. I was able to get a brief interview with one of the founders, Muhammad Ali Hasan about his group and what he and his fellow members are doing.
I admit that when it comes to Islam, I am wary. There are far too many Muslims group who quickly and easily apologize for the violence and oppression that is committed every day under Islam. Far too many Muslim leaders here in America will say that the Islamists are not representative of the majority of Muslims but they never manage to cleanly separate themselves from them.
Mr. Hasan’s group seems to be different and refreshing. Muslims for America seems to very clearly set itself apart from groups like CAIR. Mr. Hasan and the other folks at the booth with him were quite emphatic in their conversations that they are Americans and Muslims and that the two things go together very well. Indeed, the group’s main goal is to encourage American Muslims to assimilate into their communities. It’s an interesting approach and I think it deserves encouragement.
So here’s my interview. Comments, as usual, are welcome.
Related posts:
- Anti-Islam Blogging
- I Don’t Care About Nidal Hasan, But I Do Care About Islam
- Don't Call Those Islamist Terrorists "Islamic" say Muslims.
- Hating Islam
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Wonder what they thought of the protest @ the showing of Fitna and Geert Wilders visit.
I heard him talk about that in an interview before I spoke to him. He's not seen Fitna yet and is going largely from news reports. He did say that his impulse is that Wilders took a lot of things bout of context and may have gotten actors to portray some of the Imams. He did say that he wanted to see the film before he had a firm opinion on it, though.
I'd says he misinformed about Wilders and, to a large degree, defensive on the subject. In all, though, I think his group is moving in the right direction.
Jimmie,
It was great–again–to meet you last week.
I'm glad you posted this interview. I find myself very frustrated with the conservatives who refuse to accept that there can be "non-crazy" Muslims. We're getting closer to a peaceful Iraq every day, and when that happens, we'll have a strong and faithful ally–if Americans can keep it.
When I interviewed Brigitte Gabriel in October, I asked her how America can make the most of its new ally because of this very concern. (http://catherinefavazza.com/2008/10/09/interview-with-brigitte-gabriel) I know that Islamic extremism is a grave threat to democracy and peace worldwide–but I don't think that every Muslim person is a grave threat to democracy and peace.
Keep in touch!
I think our best allies against Islamism are American Muslims. All we can really do, though, to draw them in is let them know that there's a place for them here just like there's a place for everyone else. They have to take the next step to become part of the American culture – participate in the give and take that's made us as strong as we are.
It was great to meet you as well. Looking forward to doing so again soon.
>>They have to take the next step to become part of the American culture – participate in the give and take that’s made us as strong as we are.>>
And what do we do about those who share the muslim brotherhood's ideals of working within the American system to impose shari'a law within 100 years? We know they're there – how do you separate the sheep from the goats – so to speak?
To be honest, I'm not sure that islam is compatible with democracy. If it's them or us who dominates in the US, I'd rather it be us. It may be that islam has to change internally…is that possible? I don't know.
As far as I'm concerned, they have a _huge_ barrier to overcome for me to learn to trust them – _any_ of them.
I am surprised you are not fully informed as to this groups contribution at CPAC regarding freedom of speech. They distributed fliers attacking Fitna. And now we learn they have never seen it! There are no actors and all of the material is accurate. Have you seen it? In fact, their fliers were fodder for Robert Spencer at the event to show just how much muslims are in self-denial of their immans. A little self-reflection would help the world and their people who live under tyranny.
See here:
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2…
They stayed and watched the film. What do they think of it now? Have they the courage to denounce the fatwa or is that an exercise to far in free speech for these muslims of peace?
The specifics of the movie (which I have seen, and written about) aside, it doesn't seem like MfA is attacking free speech at all insofar as they used their own free speech to attack something with which they disagreed. I don't have a problem with their passing out flyers regardless of whether or not I agree with them. Free speech all around is fine with me.
And I never said that "they" didn't see it, only that the one person I interviewed had not.
Catherine, what peaceful Muslims there are are frightened to say anything. This is the issue. So, by their silence, the "peaceful" or "moderate" Muslims are enabling the "radical" Muslims to do their thing.
Islam is fanatical concerning the Koran, the Sunnafi and the Hadiths. Islam, cannot, by its own nature, "reform" itself to be peaceful in the world.
If the "majority" of Muslims are peaceful, then they'd better make themselves known… but they will not.
"By their fruits shall you know them." You know Who said that.
testing
To quote you speaking to Rick Moran, "They [CPAC attendees] are not intolerant, but it is easy, and lazy, to say they are." How convenient for you to turn around and post an interview in which a muslim states "Europe is red-lining muslims," American muslims are "afraid I'm not going to be accepted" at political gatherings, and his "Uncle Grover" Norquist advises if there is a muslim sitting there "racist" things wont be said.
MfA muslims only want to know, "What can I do to help?" Cross the pro Hamas line and stand with me outside of the Israeli embassy in support of their right to exist or if that is too much for your delicate religion of peace, organize a line denouncing the rockets and mortars from Gaza. This muslim is at CPAC to enforce what he preaches, "Actions speak louder than words." Like MfA passing out material stating free speech is a "cat fight," showing Fitna is un-American, and referring to Mr. Wilders as a "foreign element?"
See fliers here:
http://thesilentmajority.wordpress.com/2009/03/02…
You actually dispute that Europe is "red-lining" Muslims? I would say that's a very evident fact.
As for the rest of the links, I think you need to simply make your point instead of barraging me with links.
Look, you want Muslims to protest the Islamists. I say that we should encourage them to crawl before they sprint. A huge number of Muslims in this country are not that far removed from Islamist nations. Their religion, which they cherish very much, is publicly in the hands of killers. I'm willing to cut groups like MfA some slack while they get their feet underneath them. When their local candidates start advocating Shari'a in schools and try to pass ordinances to make women cover their heads all the time, I'll denounce them as strongly as I have denounced it in the past. Until then, though, all I'm suggesting is that we give them a little room and see what they're about before we demand that they match your level of outrage.
A tale of two CPACs seems to include more people with "a huge pair of blinders" they really need to lose. May I suggest some reading on "Uncle Grover:"
—Endorsing no discussion (sound familiar) about race and Rev Wright – 1/21/09:
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2009/01/n…
—Security-undermining strategic alliances – 1/5/09:
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/01/05/the-gops-gro…
—Not willing to debate – 7/26/08:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/021954.php#com…
—Muslim Protégés – 6/3/08:
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.as…
—Partner in crime Jack Abramoff – 1/3/06:
http://michellemalkin.com/2006/01/03/the-a-bomb-d…
—All my critics are racist while my friends need bail – 12/9/03:
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GU…
I don't see redlining in Europe as an issue exclusive to muslims when their leaders are calling for ghettos from the UK to the Netherlands and sharia law for them instead of integration. Not to mention hundreds of violent protests with nary a countering muslim voice.
The links provide you with parallel lines to sharia schools such as the one in VA who only recently changed texts that no longer call for violence. These links show you how much "room" we have given them. I agree that actions speak louder than words. It is time they take positive action. Just showing up no longer counts these many years after 9/11. Furthermore, MfA endorsing the UK ban on Mr. Wilders is not a step in the right direction.
I'm sorry I appear to be expressing "outrage" to you. I am simply one of those unwashed masses who you support in getting our voices listened to and not just heard. I guess my point is you are a hypocrite to allow someone to call us racist but call out another for it. If CPAC enthusiasm was anything, it was exemplified by the 13 year old young man who stated so eloquently, "It's about principles." From one shining Tea Party to the next.
If this is how you really feel about Fitna: "This is perhaps the most important and timely thing I have ever posted on The Sundries Shack," how do reconcile promoting this clip of an organization that calls Fitna's supporters un-American and racist?
You worry web sites have been taken down for posting Fitna. Are you hedging your bets?
Maybe YouTube imams are your target audience:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGA…
Type Muslim+woman+beating into an online search engine and you get a monster’s parade of what I call “YouTube imams” explaining how to beat a woman according to “Islamic teaching.”
I'm pretty sure I've explained my thoughts about this group sufficiently. Crawl first, walk later, run last. I think you're expecting far more of them than is reasonable.