Hateful Protests Undermine American Values
By Waqas Syed
Irvine, California (March 3, 2011) – Hateful protests recently held against the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Relief fundraising dinner shed light on growing Islamophobia in our country and the participation of elected officials in this frightening trend.
EXPOSED: Anti-Muslim Protestor’s Hate Speech Video (Must Watch!) – Video
Hate Comes to Orange County – CAIR
U.S. flags, signs at protest of Muslim event – OC Register
Calif. Protesters Demonstrate at Islamic Fundraiser – CBN News
OC protesters rally at Islamic fundraiser – ABC News
ICNA was established in 1968, and through ICNA Relief we have launched numerous projects to assist struggling populations in the United States. Our social services include hunger prevention, disaster response and relief, women’s housing and family counseling, as well as emergency financial aid and funeral/burial assistance. We have teamed with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the American Red Cross, NECHAMA and other relief agencies and consistently work to bring aid to those in need. Our annual dinner last week in Yorba Linda was a means to further our local efforts and raise funds to fight homelessness and abuse.
As American Muslims, we have witnessed a rise in Islamophobia and its devastating repercussions across the nation, with mosques and homes being vandalized, Muslims being physically attacked, and the American Muslim community being subjected to Congressional hearings a la McCarthy—blatant acts of hate rooted in anti-Islamic sentiment. Islamophobia has undermined the values binding us together as Americans—freedom, liberty, justice and equality. From Temecula to Murfreesboro to New York City, the manifestation of this fear has become increasingly apparent.
A child covers his ears as the shofar is blown, a sound that one protester says, “(announces) to the enemy that God’s army is coming.”
Deborah Pauly, local Councilwoman & Vice Chair of the OC GOP referred to organizers and attendees of the event as “enemies of America” and “unwelcome invaders.” “I know quite a few Marines who would be very happy to help these terrorists (i.e. organizers and attendees) to an early meeting in paradise,” she said. She called the dinner “pure, unadulterated evil,” and compared it to a terrorist event urging the crowd to “pick a side, we must stand strong… we must resist evil.”
To protesters, I remind you that prejudice and fear mongering will simply incite hatred. It is only through civil dialogue that we will be able to create an atmosphere of mutual understanding and peace. We must leave bigotry behind and work toward an Orange County that promotes cooperation, collaboration and respect for one another and ultimately upholds the American values of inclusion and fair treatment. The future of our nation depends on these principles, as our children will belong to a more diverse and multicultural society than our own. They will need to learn respect and tolerance to coexist with their fellow Americans, and the responsibility to teach them lies with us; what will remain of these honorable traits if they are already in such short supply?
These qualities should be foremost represented in our elected officials, yet it is with great disappointment that we witnessed Congressmen Ed Royce of Fullerton and Gary Miller of Diamond Bar being complicit in the toxic, inflammatory rhetoric that was spewed against the half million American Muslims they have sworn to protect. Their participation in such rallies is inappropriate and irresponsible, to say the least, and essentially shows a lack of leadership and judgment.
To Congressmen Ed Royce and Gary Miller—it is your civic duty to represent all constituents, yet time and again you have stood beside those who seek to strip American Muslims of their fundamental rights. You distribute flags at a rally against our fundraising dinner, but do not extend that service to the dinner itself. You speak out against American Muslims in Yorba Linda, but do not speak for us. Your biased actions contribute to a climate of hate and intolerance, and suggest that American Muslims are somehow less American simply by virtue of their faith. I urge you to revisit your oath and uphold the constitution and your responsibility to the citizens of your district.
Waqas Syed is a long time resident of Orange County and the current Deputy Secretary General of ICNA. E-mail:
[Photo Credit: Orange County Register]
Let us recall Ms pauly from being a council woman and an official of GOP-She doe not deserve it to the least.
I am an East Indian American and I am republican and I am against terrorism. I was embarassed to see what happened to the members of your association. Here you are trying to help those in need and this is what your organization has to suffer through. I felt so much pain watching your children go though that aweful path to the building. Those politicians involved and protesters should be ashamed.
Sorry about those wackos. Thanks for supporting those in need.
To those of you who have commented above, a heart-felt ‘thank you!’ Watching this pack of wolves (audaciously draped in the Stars and Stripes – as though it is theirs to claim) is quite jarring on the senses and leaves me clueless about where to start with such naked impudence, such small-mindedness. What they are saying about Islam and Muslims couldn’t be further from the truth. Shariah law in the United States? Muslims can’t even decide when Ramadan starts or who to elect to their board of directors, let alone implement Shariah law across the United States of America. ‘I bet you beat your wife up every night?’ You’ve got to be kidding me! Seriously?
What troubles me just as much is two members of Congress not not seeing a problem with it all, and adding to the fuel by showing support of their activities. Troubling to say the least! Surely, they must know better.
[...] Hateful Protests Undermine American Values Preview: “Hateful protests recently held against the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Relief fundraising dinner shed light on growing Islamophobia in our country and the participation of elected officials in this frightening trend.” [...]
America! Wake up and understand this is by far a welcome party for Al-Qaeda Activist. You have some extremist in every religion, they will lay down their life to protect it. In this case, putting enough fuel to turn ones head around and make him do crazy stuff would be a unfortunate incident.
Protest, mockery, insult to one’s religion will ignite the fire for revenge. Treat others the way you like to be treated. That’s is what I learned from the “Proper” context of Islam. I think these protest does not reduce the problem, it expands it by two-third proportions.
As a Christian I would like to thank your organization for all you do by helping those in need. I hope that a few uneducated folks who do not know the true meaning of love, service, and mission will not deter you from carrying on the important work that you do.
All what anyone can say is as the prophet SAW said when he was prosecuted by his own people “Forgive them God, as they don’t know”.
I disagree with the harsh word sent aginst the protestors. I will just enlight them with more knowledge. Obviously their knowledge about Islam is reflrcted only of what they see and hear from what is going on from the radical muslims (muslims?). Islam is all about equality, unity, and peace as it had been throughout the history.
No religion should be built or stand on hate to anyone, regardless of what other ethnic, religious, or social background is.
It is so nice to live in a diversiied world, so we have to cherish this gift from god and not take is as an insult.
I am a grandchild of holocaust survivors. I am also a social worker for a youth homelessness prevention/intervention program. There are no words that can accurately reflect how truly appalling the behaviour of these protestors was. As a fellow human being I am truly sorry that those families had to endure such hatred.
I think it horribly ironic that people complain about the antagonizing and violent ideology of Islam, yet every protest I see involves hateful and vitriolic speech directed from others at Muslims, who are peaceful and even welcoming of those with opposing views in an attempt to create understanding.
I wish more people would simply tone it down. Not everyone will agree with the teachings of a religion, but this message goes far beyond that. It is not American, it is not what the country or its constitution represents, and it makes me sad to see them treat fellow Americans this way.
While I do not think any plea for civil discourse will be answered by the type seen in the footage of the dinner event, it is a nice gesture, and I admire the patience of so many people who have to put up with this sort of thing every day; and for every one of them, there are countless others who are open-minded, accepting and welcoming to others, even if we do not fully understand them. This too will pass.
Keep it up. Peaceful discussion and the offer to teach are two important things that they who would call themselves patriots would do well to follow. Sanity and reason are not as loud of voices as bigotry and hate, but they do exist, and from one sane person in the world, you are welcome here, and have our support.
I apologize for these disgusting people.
I just sent Deborah Pauly this message:
Ms. Pauly: I am shocked and disgusted by, and condemn unequivocally, your horrifying hate speech against Muslims. One of the lessons of the Holocaust for humanity is that never again must any nation allow itself to be pulled over to the dark side by the forces of irrational hate. That you use your son, a marine, as a weapon in your bigotry makes you all the more of a disgrace to our entire nation. I wonder if you realize that the Sears Tower in Chicago, an icon of the American heartland, was structurally engineered by a Muslim. Shame on you. I intend to contact the Muslim groups you protested and let them know that you are dishonorable and that I support their liberties in our society. Is there anything anybody could say to you that would make you comprehend how hateful and vile your views are? I am truly appalled by your behavior. Sincerely, Scott Rose