American Muslims at
Their Best Are Compassionate
By Tahir Ali
Members
of Quake Relief Work Committtee of Worcester Islamic
Center |
There are five moments of
great unity in the life of the American Muslim Community
since 1990.
The first came in 2000 during the US presidential election,
when America witnessed Muslim Americans acted in unison,
voted in large numbers for one presidential candidate in
that close race, and thus became universally recognized
as the genuine swing vote that had altered the outcome of
that election. That was a UNITY of political empowerment
and strategic participation.
The second moment was after 9/11, when Muslim Americans
came together to build bridges of understanding and amity
between their homeland – the United States –
and the Muslim world. That was a UNITY of hope, healing
and reconciliation.
The third moment was the 2004 presidential election, when
inspired by a nationwide consensus on the ‘civil rights
plus’ agenda, the American Muslims became the most
cohesive voting bloc in America as 93 percent of the American
Muslims voted for the same presidential candidate and for
the same set of issues. It even bridged the gaps between
immigrant and indigenous Muslims. That was a UNITY of strategic
calibration and consensus-based cooperation (It can also
be characterized in another sense as a UNITY of Indignation
and Retribution).
The fourth moment was collective American Muslim response
during post-Katrina relief effort. While the Muslim world
contributed $1.6 billions to Katrina relief fund –
a fact by and large ignored by the mainstream media - American
Muslims contributed yet another $10 millions for the same
purpose. That was a UNITY of patriotism, compassion, and
humanistic universalism.
And now since 10/8, the Muslim-Americans have come out in
large numbers in support of the earthquake victims in Pakistan
and surrounding regions and may end up raising more than
a $100 million. This is a UNITY of faith, compassion, and
affinity.
Members of Quake Relief Committee
of Islamic Center in Framingham |
This unity of faith, compassion,
and affinity was acknowledged and applauded in a congratulatory
remark made by Pakistan’s Ambassador Jehangir Karamat
when he said, “Working on its own, the [American-Muslim]
community has been able to collect as much as $77 million
for earthquake victims."
Here in Massachusetts, according to Dr. Abrar Syed, Director
of the Human Development Foundation of North America (HDFNA),
people have donated over a quarter million in cash and another
million in kind, "I raised $6000 in just 60 seconds,
and the donations keep coming in" Syed said. He is
encouraging people to channel their donations through HDFNA
"because we have over 100 volunteers, seven centers
and people on the ground in quake affected regions in Pakistan."
This is more or less the same ebullience displayed nationwide.
The Islamic centers are becoming the main focal point in
converging such activities that range from collecting funds,
medicines, blankets, tents and other needed materials.
Inspired by the example of Muslim countries who have contributed
about 70% of the total international aid – more than
twice the amount donated or promised by the US, Europe,
Japan and China - to quake victims in Pakistan, American
Muslim organizations were prompt in responding to this unfathomable
tragedy. (Parenthetically, we must also acknowledge that
Cuba has provided 200 medical doctors - the largest number
supplied by any single country).
It is a great honor for the entire Muslim community that
the Islamic Relief has been named by various US and international
agencies as “the lead relief organization” for
helping quake victims in Pakistan. The Edhi Foundation and
the Hidaya Foundation are doing an equally stellar job.
The Pakistan American Democratic Forum (PADF) is focusing
on resource mapping and strategic resource development.
Their work includes lobbying the US government for more
helicopters, passage of HR 4073 that will allow undocumented
Pakistanis to travel to Pakistan and still return under
docket control, nationally-coordinated efforts to keep American
media engaged and fellow American updated about the revival
and rebuilding process in the quake devastated areas. The
PADF is also working with American corporations and foundations
to obtain pro bona or low-cost services and materials needed
for reconstruction.
In his inaugural address in 2000, President Bush had said,
"America at its best, is compassionate." Now we
can proudly add, "American-Muslims at their best, are
compassionate."
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