Only 40% Muslim Americans believe Arabs responsible for 9/11 … Yes it is time to “reach out” and talk together why many Americans oppose a mosque near Ground Zero?

Cameron Jackson

Did you know that only 40 percent of American Muslims believe that Arabs were responsible for 9/11 attack? The rest — 60%– either said that they did not know or put the blame on Israel or the United States. To check those figures out, see Notes page 346 of God is Not One by Stephen Prothero published 2010.

Remember O.J. and his trial? Best as I recall, more than 50 percent of Black Americans thought O.J was innocent compared to very different figures for non-Blacks. Is there something comparable going on? Is this the My guy, My Culture,My Hero can do no wrong?

Yes, it does seem time to “reach out” and converse again about 9/11 and why many Americans oppose a mosque 2 blocks from Ground Zero.

Z.J. Hafeez, the first Muslim to run for statewide office in Florida, speaks at UNLV Thursday. Hafeez, who has become a spokesman for the Muslim community, tells fellow Muslims to reach out to others to foster better relations.

JOHN GURZINSKI/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Fear and distrust of Muslims has reached a peak not seen since right after 9/11, and the only way to defeat it is through intensive outreach.

That was the messagee Z.J. Hafeez, a 26-year-old Democratic lawyer who is the first Muslim to run for statewide office in Fl
“Not enough people are speaking up,” Hafeez said. “We need to be vocal. We need to show people who we really are.”

Hafeez, who has lately become something of a spokesman for the Muslim community, presented “Islamophobia 101” to a small group that mostly consisted of students.

The event was sponsored by UNLV’s Muslim Students’ Association.

“It seems like the entire world is talking about Islam in America,” said Fatima Khan, vice president of the group. “This is the time to address people’s concerns and to inform them of the truth.”

Controversy over a proposal to build an Islamic cultural center and mosque near the ground zero site of the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City has inflamed anti-Muslim sentiment, Hafeez said. And media attention on a Florida minister’s plan to burn copies of Quran helped perpetuate unfair representations of Islam.

Such attention helps create an “us versus them” mentality, Hafeez said.

“The media is doing a great public disservice by promoting this clash.”

Many politicians have added fuel to the fire instead of speaking up for the rights of Muslims and talking about their teachings of peace, he said.

“Terrorists don’t represent Islam,” he said. But “it’s the extremists whose voices are heard the most” in the media.

“Islam is being hijacked by lunatics,” Hafeez said. “They have tried to steal my religion from me. I say no.”

Hafeez said he learned as a college freshman in 2001, the year of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, that the only way to stop that from happening was to speak out.

“I was the visual representation of the Muslim faith,” he said.

People began asking him questions, and as they learned more from him about Muslims they “began to open up their minds as to what a Muslim was.”

“You should speak up as well,” he told the audience. “We are trying, but we have to try harder. We have to, even though we shouldn’t have to. The solution is these discussions.”

Muslims need to become more involved in their communities, he said, so that the broader community can see Muslims are like everybody else.

They also need to host more events such as the “rally for peace” held on Sept. 11 this year in front of the Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse.

The Islamic Society of Nevada organized the rally, which included a prayer vigil for victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

“We have to come out and demonstrate to people that we are no different than they are in condemning terrorism,” said Aslam Abdullah, the group’s director.

The 9/11 event drew about a hundred people and included members of the interfaith community.

Amin Nash, president of the Muslim Students’ Association, said he would embrace the message Hafeez delivered Thursday.

“The controversies around the nation are showing … people don’t know that much about Islam,” he said. “It’s a Muslim’s duty to educate other people about our religion.”

Contact reporter Lynnette Curtis at lcurtis@review journal.com.

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frank .thompson wrote on September 18, 2010 09:07 PM:
mr. hafeez: when your own “holy book”, the quran, says that it is all right to lie to the infidel to further islam, why should i believe a word you say. allah is an idol, and mohammud was a false prophet. obey acts 2:38

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Cadusha wrote on September 18, 2010 08:15 AM:
Tell me why there is NO muslims speaking out against the terror and telling them to stop. I have not heard one.

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Bob.harris wrote on September 18, 2010 07:19 AM:
He said . “It’s a Muslim’s duty to educate other people about our religion.” Which is exactly what Muslim’s are required to do and that is by any means needed including and up to removing any other opinions, dont be fooled this is not just a religon but a entire way of life

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pmmart wrote on September 18, 2010 07:11 AM:
Z.J. Please explain why the Muslims go into areas and ,while commiting suicide kill innocent men,women and children? Tell us why Muslims think that this action will give them a sure path to heaven? Tell us why no other religion teachs their members this? Tell us why these acts are not due to any race or nationality? Tell us why these aren’t the acts of ‘a few radicals’ but the acts of thousands of Muslim believers against tens of thousands of innocent people including your fellow Muslims? Some of US want to understand!

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TONY wrote on September 18, 2010 06:39 AM:
GET OVER IT……BO IS A MUSLIM

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Max wrote on September 18, 2010 06:18 AM:
“Come on down and get aquainted at our Mosque. Free bomb belts to all our new guests.”

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