Category: Healing

Healing -physical, spiritual, inner

Moderate Islam voices in America? See list of names and organizations.

Are there “moderate” Islams that support the U.S. Constitution and freedom?

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I really like the following. Having for the fist time read most of Koran … simply reading the Koran … the Koran seems quite anti-Other and quite violent. I as a psychologist, a woman and an American citizen do not want to go back to life and values of the 7th century.

I’m glad that that there appears to be “moderate” Islam voices in America.

The following list of persons says that only the individuals — not the organizations — support the organization. Then why not just put the names of the persons and not list the organizations? I do not get that. Do you?

My next question: how many in the list are women and how many are men that support this organization. I tried to identify woman names by last letter -a which is not a very good way. I know that full well as my first name is Cameron. Not easily guessed as male or female.

I hope that the organization can tell me what proportion of women are listed below:

“We affirm the right of free speech for Molly Norris, Matt Stone, Trey Parker, and all others including ourselves.

As Muslims, we must set an example of justice, patience, tolerance, respect, and forgiveness.

The Qur’an enjoins Muslims to:
* bear witness to Islam through our good example (2:143);
* restrain anger and pardon people (3:133-134 and 24:22);
* remain patient in adversity (3186);
* stand firmly for justice (4:135);
* not let the hatred of others swerve us from justice (5:8);
* respect the sanctity of life (5:32);
* turn away from those who mock Islam (6:68 and 28:55);
* hold to forgiveness, command what is right, and turn away from the ignorant (7:199);
* restrain ourselves from rash responses (16:125-128);
* pass by worthless talk with dignity (25:72); and
* repel evil with what is better (41:34).

Islam calls for vigorous condemnation of both hateful speech and hateful acts, but always within the boundaries of the law. It is of the utmost importance that we react, not out of reflexive emotion, but with dignity and intelligence, in accordance with both our religious precepts and the laws of our country.

We uphold the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Both protect freedom of religion and speech, because both protections are fundamental to defending minorities from the whims of the majority.

We therefore call on all Muslims in the United States, Canada and abroad to refrain from violence. We should see the challenges we face today as an opportunity to sideline the voices of hate—not reward them with further attention—by engaging our communities in constructive dialogue about the true principles of Islam, and the true principles of democracy, both of which stress the importance of freedom of religion and tolerance.

SIGNATORIES:

1 Prof. Hassan Abbas, Quaid-i-Azam Chair, South Asia Institute, Columbia University
Anisa Abd el Fattah, Founder and Chairwoman, National Association of Muslim American Women (NAMAW)
2 Khaled M Abdel-Hamid, MD, PhD, writer
3 Ammar Abdulhamid, Executive Director, Tharwa Foundation
4 Imam Johari Abdul Malik, Director of Outreach, Dar-Al-Hijrah Islamic Center
5 Salma Elkadi Abugideiri, Co-Director, Peaceful Families Project
6 Aly R. Abuzaakouk, VP Minaret of Freedom Instit., Managing Editor “Democracy Watch” of CSID, Dir. of Foreign Relations: Network of Arab Journalists
7 Mehnaz M. Afridi, PhD, Adjunct Professor (Judaism, Islam & Genocide Studies) Antioch University
Asma Afsaruddin, PhD, Professor of Islamic Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington
8 Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, PhD, Director, Minaret of Freedom Foundation
9 Ahrar Ahmad, PhD, Professor of Political Science, Black Hills State University
10 Prof. Akbar S. Ahmed, PhD, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University
11 Osman Ahmed,PhD, President Islamic Society of Essex County, Newark, NJ
12 Prof. Parvez Ahmed, PhD, Fulbright Scholar & Assoc. Prof. Univ. of North Florida
13 Levent Akbarut, Steering Committee member, Islamic Congregation of La Canada Flintridge
14 Barbara Al-Bayati, Co-Founder, Orphan Whispers
15 Aman Ali, writer, stand-up-comedian
16 Javed Ali, founder and publisher, Illume magazine
17 Wajahat Ali, playwright, journalist, and producer of “Domestic Crusaders”
18 Sumbul Ali-Karamali, JD, LLM (Islamic Law), author of “The Muslim Next Door”
19 Shaykh al-Hajj Dawud Ahmad al-Amriki, Director, Muslim America
20 Salam al-Marayati, Pres., Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)
21 Shahed Amanullah, Editor-in-Chief, Altmuslim
22 Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Law, Emory University School of Law
23 Patricia Anton, Board member, Muslim Peace Fellowship
24 M. Saud Anwar, Co-Chair, American Muslim Peace Initiative
25 Abdul Cader Asmal MD, PhD, Past President, Islamic Council of Mew England
26 Aref Assaf, PhD, President, American Arab Forum
27 Hussam Ayloush, Exec. Director, CAIR Greater Los Angeles Area
28 Robert Azzi, photojournalist, writer
29 Imam Yusuf Badat, Islamic Foundation of Toronto and Mathabah Foundation
30 Laleh Bakhtiar, PhD, Scholar-in-Residence, Kazi Publications
31 Hazami Barmada, Pres, American Muslim Interactive Network (AMIN)
32 Bahar Bastani, M.D., Professor of Medicine, S.L.U., Secy. General Shia Islamic Education Center, VP of IMANA-St. Louis
33 Victor Ghalib Begg, Senior Advisor, Chairman Emeritus, Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan
34 Zahra Billoo, Director, CAIR San Francisco Bay Area
35 Jannah bint Hannah, activist, al-Fatiha Foundation
36 Farah Brelvi, Board of Directors, ACLU-NC
37 Arsalan Bukhari, Executive Director, CAIR-WA
38 M. Ali Chaudry, PhD, President, Center for Understanding Islam (CUII)
39 Kamran Cheikh, Activist, Committee member, Muslims for Peace, Justice & Progress (MPJP), researcher for Deen Research Center (DRC)
40 Noor-Malika Chishti, Vice Chair, So. CA Committee for a Parliament of the World’s Religions, Representative, the Sufi Order International, Member, World Council of Muslims for Interfaith Relations
41 Sakina Cornell, Risk Management Coordinator, PSA Healthcare
42 Vincent J. Cornell PhD, Asa Griggs Candler Prof. of Middle East and Islamic Studies, Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies, Emory University
43 Robert D. Crane, JD, author of numerous books
44 Prof Golam Dastagir, PhD, Visiting Research Scholar, New College, University of Toronto, Canada
45 Almoonir Dewji, blogger – “That We May Know Each Other”
46 Mustafa Stefan Dill, blogger;/PR/social media analyst for Muslim issues; musician
47 Ramsey El-Moslimany, member, Board of Directors, Islamic School of Seattle
48 Lamia El-Sadek, political and human rights activitist
Mohamed Elsanousi, Director of Communications and Community Outreach for the Islamic Society of N America (ISNA)
49 Mona Eltahawy, journalist
50 Dr. Hashim El-Tinay, President, International Peace Quest Institute (IPQI)
Aziz Enhaili, Political analyst, columnist for Tolerance.ca
51 Yusuf Estes, Chaplain ret., author of many books, public speaker
52 Prof. Mohammad Fadel, PhD
53 Fatemeh Fakhraie, Editor-in-Chief, Muslimah Media Watch
54 Ali Galedary, Assistant Principal, University High School, Los Angeles
55 Mike Ghouse, President, World Muslim Congress
56 Iftekhar Hai, President, UMA Interfaith Alliance
57 Asma Hanif, Executive Director, Muslimat Al Nisaa
58 Rabia Terri Harris, Founder and Coordinator, Muslim Peace Fellowship
59 Hesham Hassaballa, M.D., author, journalist, blogger – “God, faith, and a pen”
60 Amir Hussain, PhD, Professor of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University
61 Iftekhar Hussain, Chair, Board of Directors, CAIR-PA
62 Arsalan Iftikhar, author, human rights lawyer, blogger – “The Muslim Guy”
63 Jeffrey Imm, Director, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)
64 Ghazala Irshad, journalist, blogger – “The Floating Lotus”
65 Nakia Jackson, writer
66 Anjum Jaleel, writer
67 M. Zuhdi Jasser, MD, President, American Islamic Forum for Democracy
68 Safi Kaskas, President & CEO Strategic Edge
69 Mohja Kahf, PhD, Assoc. Professor of Comparative Literature, Univ. of Arkansas, author “The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf”
70 Dr. Asad U Khan, President, Islamic education Foundation of Manitoba
Mohammed Azhar Ali Khan, C.M., O. Ontario, President, Muslim Coordinating Council of the National Capital Region of Canada
71 Prof. Muqtedar Khan, PhD, author of several books, Blogger – “Globalog”
Farah Kinani, Journalist, blogger – “Global Voices”
72 Scott Kugle (Siraj al-Haqq), PhD, Prof. of Islamic Studies, Dept. of Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies, Emory University
73 Shaikh Ahmad Kutty, Resident Senior Scholar, Islamic Institute of Toronto
74 Faisal Kutty, Visiting Asst. Prof. of law, Valparaiso University School of Law and Adjunct Professor of Law, Osgoode Hall Law School (Toronto)
75 M. Junaid Levesque-Alam, writer, blogger – “Crossing the Crescent”
76 David Liepert, M.D., blogger and author of “Muslim, Christian AND Jew”
77 Afaun Mandol, Board of Directors, MuslimFest
78 Radwan A. Masmoudi, PhD, President, Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy (CSID)
79 Melissa Matos, President, Al-Ghazali Legal Society, Saint Louis University
Prof. Uzma Mazhar, writer
80 Shelina Merani, community activist, artist, blogger “Muslim Presence”
Ruxana Meer, Esq.
81 Yahya Merchant, Interfaith Worker, Outreach contact for Islamic Center of Conejo Valley CA
82 Melody Moezzi, JD, MPH, writer and attorney
83 Muna Abshir Mohamud, author, editor
84 Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore, author of many books of poetry
85 Ebrahim Moosa, Assoc. Professor of Islamic Studies, Dept. of Religion, Duke University
86 Ann El-Moslimany, PhD, Islamic School of Seattle
87 Lt. Col. Abdul-Rasheed Muhammad, U.S. Army Chaplain
88 Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, President Sound Vision
89 Arman Musaji, artist
90 Sheila Musaji, Editor, The American Muslim (TAM)
91 Muneeb Nasir, President, Olive Tree Foundation, Editor IQRA Canada
92 Q. Amin Nathari, National Representative, Islam in America Movement (IAM)
93 Ahmed Naumaan, PhD, Director, Karsaz Inc.
94 Imam Abdul Hai Patel, Dir. Interfaith Relations, Canadian Council of Imams, Muslim Chaplain University of Toronto & York Regional Police
95 Aziz H. Poonawalla, PhD, scientist and blogger – “City of Brass” on Beliefnet
96 M.Waheed-uz-Zaman Rana, Imam, Prof. Emeritus, Dept. of Surgery, Saint Louis University
97 Hasan Zillur Rahim, PhD, journalist
98 Shaykh Ahmed Abdur Rashid, The Circle Group
99 Prof Hussein Rashid, PhD, blogger – “Religion Dispatches”
100 Shafi Refai, President, United Muslims of America
101 Irfan Rydhan, Co-Founder of Muslim Unity Foundation
102 Muhamed Sacirbey, lawyer, diplomat, writer
103 Louay Safi, PhD, Common Word Fellow, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Christian Muslim Understanding, Georgetown University
104 Ghulam Abbas Sajan, Director Islamic Ahlul Bayt Assembly of Canada
105 Robert Salaam, blogger – “The American Muslim”
106 Raquel Evita Saraswati, activist, writer, blogger
107 Sarah Sayeed, President of One Blue
108 Vernon James Schubel, NEH Distinguished Teaching Professor of Religious Studies, Kenyon College
109 Sophia Rose Shafi, MA, MTS, doctoral candidate (Islamic Studies), writer
110 Shahla Khan Salter, Chair of Muslims for Progressive Values Ottawa, Canada
111 T.O. Shanavas. MD, Vice President, Islamic Research Foundation, author
112 S. Abdallah Schleifer, Distinguished Prof., Dept. of Journalism & Mass Com, American University Cairo
113 Ricka Shorish, M.S., R.N., volunteer/consultant, Avicenna Community Health Center
114 Jihad Shoshara, community organizer and activist, Chicago
115 Jafar Siddiqui, blogger – “Penjihad”
116 Prof. Laury Silvers, PhD
117 Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, PhD, Sr. Lecturer, Islamic Studies & African American Religion, University of Florida
118 Prof. Ibrahim B. Syed, PhD, President of Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc., author
Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, Nat’l Director, Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances, Islamic Society of N America (ISNA)
119 Dr. Mahmoud Shawky Taman, Islamic Society of Northern Wisconsin
120 Haris Tarin, Director, Washington DC Office Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)
121 J.Tayeb, MD, President, CAIR-MI, ISNA founders committee member, Vice chair, HUDA free Clinic, Detroit
121 Pamela Taylor, Co-founder Muslims for Progressive Values, Panelist for On Faith
Tayyibah Taylor, Editor, Azizah Magazine
122 Mahdi Toourage, PhD, Assistant Prof., U of Western Ontaio
123 Tarik Trad, writer, humorist, photographer, artist and activist
124 Asma T. Uddin, Attorney, The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and Editor, Altmuslimah
125 Joya Uraizee, Associate Professor of English, Saint Louis University
126 Wahida Valiante, President, Canadian Islamic Congress and Chair of Islamic History Month Canada
127 Jason van Boom, Host of “Islam and Authors”, writer
128 Amina Wadud, PhD, consultant on Islam and gender, visiting scholar Starr King School for the Ministry
129 Danya Wellmon, Co-Founder Women Transcending Boundaries interfaith group
130 Svend White, blogger – “Akram’s Razor”, activist, writer
131 G. Willow Wilson, author of “Butterfly Mosque” and “Air” graphic novel series
132 Ani Zonneveld, President, Muslims for Progressive Values

NOTE: If you are a Canadian or American Muslim and would like to add your signature, please send an email with your name, title, and organizational affiliation (if any) to tameditor@aol.com — The list of signatories will be updated daily and the most recent list can be found HERE.

NOTE: All signatories are signing as individuals and not on behalf of the organizations with which they are affiliated

Read more: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2010/09/29/good-news-north-american-muslims-take-a-stand-in-favour-of-free-speech/#ixzz12gAClWWu

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Aptos psychologist: In America we take exercise of religion for granted and yawn… see what happens in Egypt when a Christian mom has twins…

Egyptian Court Grants Custody of Sons to Coptic Mother
But twins will keep father’s Muslim identity in their records, creating future problems.
LOS ANGELES, July 1 (CDN) — A Christian mother in Egypt has won custody of her twin sons from her estranged husband, who had converted to Islam and claimed them according to Islamic legal precepts.

The now 15-year-old boys, however, will still be considered Muslims despite their desire to remain Christian.

On June 15 the Egyptian Court of Cassation ruled that Kamilia Gaballah could retain custody of her sons Andrew and Mario, even though the father converted to Islam and the boys’ religion also changed as a result.

If the court does not allow them to return to Christianity, the family will open up another court case, said their older brother George Medhat Ramses.

“Up until now the court said they would have the right to choose their faith,” said Ramses, 21. “But if they don’t, we will start another trial. This is the only way.”

The decision overturns a September 2008 ruling by the Alexandria Appeals court that had granted custody of the twins to their father, Medhat Ramses Labib, due solely to his conversion. During this time Gaballah lived in constant fear police would take away her sons.

The ruling also affirmed Article 20 of Egypt’s Personal Status Law, which states children should remain with their mother regardless of religion until age 15, over that of the Hanefi School of Islamic jurisprudence, which says that a child must be granted custody to the Muslim father in an inter-religious marriage once he or she becomes 7.

But the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) advocacy group noted that while the court ruled a woman cannot be denied custody of her children solely on her Christian faith if her husband converts, children can still be removed from her home if there are “fears for the child’s faith.” An ex-husband or his family could easily exploit this clause, the human rights group said.

According to Gaballah, the trial was not a matter of custody rights but was religious in nature from beginning to end.

“My opponent is not only my divorcee; my opponent is everyone who hears this story and wants Andrew and Mario to become Muslims,” said Gaballah, according to Copts United advocacy group.

Mario and Andrew turned 15 in June. On their 16th birthday, they must apply for Egyptian identity cards, which factor heavily into Egyptian daily life. Barring another court battle, their religion will still be registered as Muslim.

Because of this predicament, the court verdict that granted the twins’ mother full custody only solved half of their problems, said Naguib Gobraiel, a lawyer familiar with the case.

As registered Muslims, they could face harassment while attempting to practice their Christian faith. And while they could marry Christian women, their future children would be registered as Muslims, following the Islamic dictum that children take the religion of their father.

“The court didn’t give them the right of freedom to choose their religion,” Gobraiel told Compass. “We must ask ourselves how the children are permitted to stay with their mother but must follow the religion of another man.”

Until then the family is worried that the court will not allow Andrew and Mario to return to their Christian faith and are taking every precaution. Last Wednesday (June 24) they appealed to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to have their birth certificates state their Christian faith. They had been recently changed to retroactively show the boys’ birth status as Islam.

A Longstanding Battle
The controversy began in 2007 when a court ordered the twins to take Islamic education within the Egyptian school system due to the conversion of their estranged father from Christianity to Islam.

The twins refused to take their Islamic religion exam required to pass the next grade. “I am Christian,” each boy wrote on a make-up test in July. They turned in the exam with all of the answers left blank.

Their father converted to Islam and remarried in 2002. He changed the religion of his sons to Islam in 2006 and applied for custody even though he had not lived with the family. According to sharia (Islamic law) custody of minor children and influence over their religious status belongs to the Muslim parent.

The case reflects the tension in Egypt between civil and religious law. While Article 47 of Egypt’s civil law gives citizens the right to choose their religion, Article II of the Egyptian constitution enshrines sharia as the source of Egyptian law. The same tension has inhibited recent attempts by other converts to change their official religious status from Islam to Christianity.

Rights groups said the court order is good news for Gaballah and the twins, but it does nothing to address discriminatory policies of Egyptian law that attach a child’s faith to a parent who chooses to convert to Islam.

“It is regrettable, however, that the highest court of the country chose to treat the symptoms and ignore the root causes of the problem – changing the religious affiliation of Christian children whose parents convert to Islam without the slightest regard for their will or that of their Christian mothers,” said Hossam Baghat, director of the EIPR, in a statement.

Gaballah has fought with her ex-husband over alimony support and custody of sons Andrew and Mario in 40 different cases since he left her and converted to Islam so that he could remarry in 1999.

END

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President Obama issues proclamations like Emperor Augustus? “in those days a decree went out frm Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered…All went to their own towns…Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth …to the city of David called Bethlehem…”

Obama-Care requires all non-profits to register with IRS & give 1099's

DrCameronJackson@gmail.com

Is there is a resemblance between President Obama and Emperor Augustus who, 2010 years ago, required everyone to register where they were born?

Because the Emperor proclaimed they must, Joseph took pregnant Mary to Bethlehem…. And now, in 2010, Obama-Care tells every non-profit organization that they must trudge over to the government and register afresh with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

There are a million and a half non-profit organizations in the U.S. Because of Obama-Care all of them must register afresh with the IRS. And, all non-profits who do $600 of business with anyone must give that person a 1099. Did you know that failure to re-register with the IRS can result in lose of non-profit status and a huge fine?

So — if you support or know of any tiny non-profit out there be sure to tell them of President Obama’s proclamation: Go to the city of Washington and register with the government! Modern day Emperor Obama requires that you register! Or stand to lose non-profit status and pay a fine.

Only 63% of all non-profits are registered with the IRS. That means that 1/3 are not. So, because of Obama-Care, roughly 500,000 non-profits must — for the first time — journey to Washington and register with the IRS. And every non-profit must take the time — which means money — to fill out the new form.

Do you support repeal of Obama-Care? Vote out every Democrat — including Sam Farr — that voted for Obama-Care.

For some exact figures on non-profits go to:
urban org

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Therapy center rather than a mosque at Ground Zero proposed by Drums and Disabilities

Excellent idea to have a therapy center rather than a mosque at Ground Zero. See recent article in New Patriot Journal 9-19-2010 by Cindy Chafian reprinted from The Daily Right.

Bad idea to make therapy free — better to make it sliding scale and everyone pays according to an agreed on formula.

Instead of Hollywood stars and well known folks, get community involvement and require parent/family participation from all using the center.

It works fine to have some pay more. The proposed therapy center at Ground Zero needs to attract families with money and stability and connections who want to get behind the goals of the project. Get those people on the board.

Again — don’t make it “free”.

The above advise is based on my five years experience starting and running a child care center in Santa Cruz, CA to assist homeless families get on with their lives. The name is Calvary Childcare Center and – 20 years later – it is still serving the community.

I learned that children’s lives could be turned around with as little as 4 hours child care 2 days a week. I learned that ‘free-bees” are not the way to motivate people to change their lives.

The impulse and motivation of DAD’s offer are authentic. And the timing is right.

Just get the pricing right. And get personal involvement by every family served. I support the therapy center’s overall goals. And many, many people can get behind the idea. written by Cameron Jackson

See the following story about the proposed therapy center:

Non-Profit Organization Proposes Ground Zero Mosque Compromise

Written By: Cindy Chafian
Published: 9/19/2010
“New Jersey based Non-Profit organization Drums and Disabilities is prepared to move forward with plans to build a state of the art therapy facility in the location where the Ground Zero Mosque is currently slated to be built.

“Weeks ago, Pat Gesauldo, an accomplished, award-winning drummer and CEO of D.A.D. presented Governor Patterson, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Imam Faisal Rauf and property owners Sharif El-Gamal, and Hisham El-zanaty with his proposal, timeline and plan to build the center.

The State-of–the Art Therapy Center will offer free physical and cognitive therapy services for children whose parents were victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Police, Fire, and Rescue workers who might now be disabled, and for the wounded troops from the Tri-State Area.

As of yet, no one from Governor Patterson’s or Mayor Bloomberg’s office has even bothered to return calls from Gesualdo about joining efforts to reach a less controversial use of one of the last remaining buildings directly impacted by the attacks from 9/11. (The top of the building was damaged by the landing gear from one of the planes during the attack.)

Property owners Sharif El-Gamal and Hisham El-zanaty as well as Imam Faisal Rauf recently turned down Donald Trump’s offer of $6 million to purchase the building, claiming that the building was worth almost 4 times that amount.

Gesualdo respects the right to build the mosque in this location but feels that his idea would be a much more reasonable compromise for the community and country. He describes the facility as one that “will be funded by our own organization, our own community, and our own Government. Additionally it will offer free therapy services for special needs children whose parents were victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Police, Fire and Rescue Workers, and wounded troops.”

Gesualdo has reached out to Trump hoping to join efforts and his support as well.

Through private, state and federal grants and donations, Gesualdo is willing to come to the table with an offer of $12 million. This is double what Donald Trump came to the table with last week. and a 3 times the amount the current owners purchased the property for a little over a year ago.

Critics of Gesualdo and his plan have raised questions as to the timing, funding and motivation of his proposal. He addressed those concerns with me in an interview yesterday.

The Daily Right: There are those who would question why you have chosen now to get involved. Why have you chosen now to build the center? What motivated you to propose your center here vs. somewhere else?

Gesualdo: I have been searching for a building to build a DAD Program Therapy Center in the Ground Zero area and lower Manhattan for 3 years. What not a better location then to offer our free therapy services for 9/11 victims? This building is the last remaining building that was directly damaged by one of the planes as it flew into the twin towers. No one should tear it down, whether it be the mosque developers, or an American construction company.

My motivation for this purchasing this specific building is because I offer a truly healing opportunity for this location. We help children and adults with Autism, Dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, Tourette’s, Aspberger’s Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, ODD, OCD, and other disabilities, to develop retention, coordination, self-esteem, fine motor skills, and physical and cognitive functioning.

We currently offer our program, which is conducted by doctors, teachers, and special needs service providers in schools, hospitals, and community centers throughout the world.

TDR: You say that this facility will provide free therapy services for special needs children from those affected by 9/11 as well as military members and their family. How will your organization be able to provide these services free of charge?

Gesualdo: We plan to build a state-of the-art non-profit therapy center that would offer free therapy services for special needs children whose parents were victims of 9/11, free therapy services for the Police Officers, Firefighters, and Rescue Heroes who are now disabled as part of 9/11, and free therapy services for wounded troops from Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and the Wounded Warriors Project. We can offer our services to these victims for free, because we will offset the cost with other paid therapy services and income from this building. Additionally, we have a team of therapists willing to donate their services for free.

TDR: $12 million is a lot of money. How do you intend to raise the money if Trump or anyone else won’t get involved?

Gesualdo: I have countered Donald Trump’s original offer of $6,000,000.00 with my own offer of $6,000,000.00, to raise the purchase the mosque property at Ground Zero, with an offer of $12,000,000.00. I have recently invited Donald Trump to join forces with me in this effort, by using our combined donations. If he does not wish to join me, then I will raise the $12,000,000.00 through our own efforts of our non-profit organization, with part private and public funding.

TDR: You are hoping to raise the funds through the generosity of everyday American’s who are willing to support your vision. What happens if you raise the $12 million and those who currently hold the rights to those properties decide not to relinquish those right or move the Islamic center/mosque?

Gesualdo: I have put the offer on the table for mosque developers and leaders Imam Rauf, Sharif El-Gamal, and Hisham Elzanaty, and privately and publicly encouraged them to discuss this purchase price. I am not starting a fund raising effort now, and only will when the mosque developers accept my offer. At that time, and only at that time, will our fundraising campaign begin for the purchase of the mosque property. Our fundraising campaign and financial management is independently over seen from myself and the DAD Program, by a major CPA firm.

TDR: If those who claim to want to reach a reasonable solution to this controversial issue decide not to accept your generous offer, will you build your center in a different location? If so, won’t those who donated on behalf of the project being built at this specific location feel betrayed?

Gesualdo: I would be more then happy to build a therapy center, and offer the same services anywhere, and have been looking at different locations in NY, NJ, and CA. for the past few years. Each specific fundraising campaign will be focused for a specific location only. Therefore, the money raised from the fundraising campaign to purchase the mosque property, will be used to purchase the mosque property only. A fundraising campaign for the Mosque property will begin when the mosque developers agree to a purchase price with me, and at that time only.

TDR: How can you guarantee that the money donated by everyday American’s will be used for the purpose they intended?

Gesualdo: The nice thing about working on this specific project, is that I want all people to feel they have some part in saving this building. Since we are a 501 (C)(3) non-profit organization, anyone who donates can use their donation as a write off. It is mandatory that everyone knows exactly how much money we have raised, and the current amount at all times, which will be disclosed publicly, constantly. Donors may also wish to remain anonymous. The fundraising campaign and financial management for the purchase of the mosque property at Ground Zero is independently over seen from myself and the DAD Program, by CPA Michel Karu and the major CPA firm of Levine/Jacobs & Company. We will also have a separate Board of Directors for the Therapy Center, which will be comprised of many of the celebrities, sports stars, executives, and community leaders, and police officials who currently take part in our program.

If those who are currently in the middle of the controversial issue surrounding the Ground Zero Mosque truly are interested in achieving a compromise that all communities are satisfied with, it would appear as though Mr. Gesualdo’s offer would achieve just that.

What better use of this property than a non-profit organization who has a proven track record of giving back to the community? This offer would enable those currently holding the rights to the property to put their money where their mouth is, so to speak. It would truly show the American citizens, all of whom were affected by the attacks from 9/11 in one way or another, that this Imam and his associates really are about mending fences,healing and moving forward.

If they reject this truly altruistic offer by Gesualdo and the D.A.D. program then it will show America and the rest of the world that they really don’t care what they feel, rather they are only in it for themselves.

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Elaph, most respected electronic daily in the Arab world, says 58% readers object to building mosque at Ground Zero

Iman Iman Rauf returned early to the U.S. He asserts cancellation of the Ground Zero Mosque risks our soldiers, our troops, our embassies and American citizens in the Muslim world. So, is Rauf’s mosque project a matter of national security? Are his remarks largely a veiled threat by an Islamic militant radical?

“This self appointed bridge between America and the Arab-Islamic world is a false witness to the sentiments in Islamic lands” says Fouad Ajami in the WSJ 9-20-2010. Ajami says that Rauf’s sentiments do not match those of many in the Arab world.

A survey by Elaph, the most respected electronic daily in the Arab world, shows 58% object to building the mosque. Elaph asked its readers whether America was a “tolerant” or “bigoted” society. The split was 63% to 37% that America is tolerant.

There are problems with the above numbers. Elaph’s readers can read. In contrast, over 60 percent of the Arab world cannot read. And those millions of illiterate Arabs can be readily inflamed by militant, radicalized imams. such as Rauf.

If 58 % don’t support the mosque then the other 42% do — and these are educated Arabs. Add to that 42% the opinions of illiterate Arabs and probably more than a majority of Arabs do support a mosque — at Ground Zero and anywhere.

We have to stand up to veiled threats by immans such as Rauf. Discretely and prudently. The mosque is not a matter of national security. However, perhaps it is in our national interest that Arabs learn English and are exposed to Western values. What this country offers to the world is liberty and freedom.

How is the United States communicating directly with illiterate Arabs? Is there a modern equivalent to the Radio Free Europe of years ago? How about broadcasting over the Internet the great movie classics with English at the bottom to encourage learning our language? Why not use the Internet to broadcast our language, our values, our freedoms?

One Islamic conqueror who acted prudently:
In 638 A.D. the Caliph Omar went to Jerusalem to accept the city’s surrender. Patriarch Sophronius, the city’s chief magistrate is by Omar’s side. Prayer time comes for the Caliph Omar and he asked where he could put his rug. At the time he asked he was inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Told he could stay where he was Caliph Omar refused because his followers, he said, might then claim for Islam the holy shrine of the Christians. The right to put a mosque at Ground Zero is not prudent nor wise.

It is in our natioal interest that the world can read. When people can read the Koran they can learn for themselves what Mohannand said. This might reduce – or break – the power of the imams such as Imam Rauf who interprete the Koran for those who cannot read.

An example of do what I say, not what I do in the Koran:
Mohannand had 9 wives when he died. Yet, Mohannand told his followers that they can only have 4 wives. Those who read the Koran will discover that Islam is a man’s religion both in this world and the next.

Rather than send people like Imam Rauf overseas, better that the State Department spent money to reduce illiteracy. Then the 60% of illiterates in the Arab world can read the Koran for themselves.

Give Arab/ Islamic women a choice how they want to raise their families and what values they will follow. Make Arab/ Islamic literacy a top priority.

Cameron Jackson drcameronjackson@gmail.com

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Aptos psychologist: Do you want Islamic sharia law that OKs beating wives and cutting off hands for those who steal? Let’s not return to 7th century life.

Support more mosques in your local community?

About time Americans get educated about Islamic law and how it can affect your local American community. Take a few minutes to read 10 reasons why NOT to have Islamic law affecting you and those you love.

By the way, the prophet Muhammad had nine (9) wives when he died. Yet he told his followers that they could only have four (4) wives. Is that an example of do what I say, not what I do? Some call that hypocrisy….?

Muhammad beat his wife A. and ok’s beating wives who are “high handed”. Wife beating ok? Not in my view.

Have we not evolved beyond the nomadic, violent values of 7th centurry?

Read more as to why Islamic sharia law should be rejected in America and other countries.
Continue reading “Aptos psychologist: Do you want Islamic sharia law that OKs beating wives and cutting off hands for those who steal? Let’s not return to 7th century life.”

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‘Make no graven images of God’ is standard Old Testament. Make a picture of Islamic prophet Mohammand results in death?

Currently, there are a multitude of pictures and sculptures of Jesus — the Son of God — in Roman Catholic churches. Growing up in Asia, I remember seeing a beautiful 100 foot long golden image of Buddha. Clearly, many religions do routinely have images and statutes of God and prophets on display.

In contrast, some churches forbid or do not have any graven images. Best as I know, Episcopal churches and Protestant churches typically do not put graven images — statutes or pictures — in their churches. Yet, no Episcopalian or fundamentalist church threatens the Roman Catholic church with death or other retributions for their graven images.

Whether they should or not, many religions do make graven images of God and God’s prophets. And, they put those graven images in their homes, temples, churches. There are no graven images of God in Jewish synagogues. At least in recent history, the Jews have never attacked Christians or other religions because of graven images or pictures.

Should the Islamic prophet Muhammad be an exception? Should a picture of Muhammad – or a contest to make many pictures of him supportive of free speech result in death threats? It did. Recently, Molly Norris – who sponsored a contest to make a multitude of pictures of Mohammad — went “underground” due to Islamic death threats.

In the Islam-ist world, pictures of the Prophet are forbidden. Make a cartoon of him or jest about the Prophet — yes, that can result in a death threat.

There have been many political ideologies — and yes Islam is a political ideology — that seek to dominate the world by violence and intimidation. Telling the world ‘no graven images’ of Muhammad or dire effects will occur is one more instance.

For sure, America can require Islamic mosques/ community centers to abide by American laws. For example, America does not allow Mormons to have multiple wives. Likewise, America can require mosques/ community centers to act similarly as others do: provide charity to the local community and reach out to other Faiths.

How can your church, synagogue or faith organization “shake hands” with local Islamic mosques? How can your faith organizations encourage a local Islamic faith organization to join the 20th century world and support common spiritual, religious goals? Specifically, get a commitment against jehad, against death threats, and a commitment for tolerance, compassion and the equal treatment of men and women.

Maybe that might be something to put on the agenda for Outreach in your church?

written by Cameron Jackson DrCameronJackson@gamil.com

See the following:

“Everybody Draw Mohammad Day was a 2010 protest in support of free speech, specifically in opposition to those who threaten violence against artists who draw representations of Muhammad.

It began as a protest against censorship of an American television show, South Park, “201” by its distributor, Comedy Central, in response to death threats against some of those responsible for the segment.

Observance of the day began with a drawing posted on the Internet on April 20, 2010, accompanied by text suggesting that “everybody” create a drawing representing Muhammad, on May 20, 2010, as a protest against efforts to limit freedom of speech.

U.S. cartoonist Molly Norris of Seattle, Washington, created the artwork in reaction to Internet death threats that had been made against cartoonists Trey Parker and Matt Stone for depicting Muhammad in an episode of South Park.

Depictions of Muhammad are explicitly forbidden by a few hadith (Islamic texts), though not by the Qur’an.[1]

Today, Catholic Churches have images of Jesus on a cross. Episcopal Churches and Protestent churches do not have graven images of God in their church. Episcopalians and Protestants do not make death threats on Catholics for hanging a statute of Jesus crucified on a cross.

“Postings on RevolutionMuslim.com (under the pen name Abu Talha al-Amrikee; later identified as Zachary Adam Chesser) had said that Parker and Stone could wind up like Theo van Gogh, a Dutch filmmaker who was shot to death by a Muslim extremist. The individuals running the website later denied that the postings were actual threats, although they were widely perceived as such.[citation needed]

Norris said that if people draw pictures of Muhammad, Islamic terrorists would not be able to murder them all, and threats to do so would become unrealistic.

Within a week, Norris’ idea became popular on Facebook, was supported by numerous bloggers, and generated coverage on the blog websites of major U.S. newspapers. As the publicity mounted, Norris and the man who created the first Facebook page promoting the May 20 event disassociated themselves from it. Nonetheless, planning for the protest continued with others “taking up the cause”.[2] Facebook had an “An “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day”” page, which grew to over 100,000 participants. A protest page on Facebook against the initiative, named “Against ‘Everybody Draw Mohammed Day'”, attracted about the same number of supporters. Subsequently, Facebook was temporarily blocked by Pakistan; the ban was lifted after Facebook agreed to block the page for users in India and Pakistan.
In the media, Everybody Draw Mohammed Day attracted both support from commentators who felt that the campaign represented important issues of freedom of speech, and the need to stand up for this freedom, as well as criticism from other commentators who found the initiative crass, juvenile, and needlessly offensive.

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Obama puts foot in mouth equating a mosque at Ground Zero equal to a Temple or church says Brahimachara

Dreams of which fore-fathers?

What if the original colonists to America for 3-4 generations had all been of Islamic faith?

Imagine America founded by true believers of Islam. Since there is only Allah and one Faith, no other faiths would have been allowed in America. Like Saudi Arabia, which has no Christian churches, America would have only mosques. Had American been founded by Islamic believers, pedophilia (sex with pre-pubescent girls) would be OK, women would not have equal rights to men and America would not be a democracy. And on and on.

Obama just does not get it. Islam is principally a political ideology that seeks conquest through war. And non-believers at best — if followers of the Book– are to be humiliated and forced to pay a tax as a non-believer.

Now Obama has offended Hindus by equating mosques with temples. See below.

“A Hindu Temple and a Islamic Mosque is not the same thing. Obama should apologize for his misleading statement.: Brahmachari

(This message has been sent to the 9/11 protest organized by Hindu Human rights Watch from Upananda Brahmachari, Editor, Hindu Existence)
Barack Hussein Obama does not know about the Reality of Radical Islam.

“How could he really understand the difference of a Christian Church, a Hindu Temple and an Islamic Mosque?

I do not know extensive about Christianity and Jesus. But I believe that there is no scope of hatred preaching from the services of a Church. May it be for Justice, Peace and Love. And the Hindu Temples are the abode of peace and spirituality which embrace everybody in the fold of highest philanthropic attributes.
But the Mosques are the workshop of devils who want only Jehad to destroy the civil society to capture this world under a monolithic Islamic pattern. They don’t know democracy, not peace, love, brother hood anything with the non-believers. Mosques are the epicentre of all Islamic hatred, disharmony and the catastrophe for us. It is an arsenal of Allah to end up humanity.
“The mosques are our barracks, the domes are our helmets, the minarets are our swords, and the faithful are our army”… as they think so, why do you think different Mr. Obama?
The whole American Nation is against the proposed mosque near Ground Zero, where over 3000 innocent lives were lost under a complete Islamic massacre. And you are allowing a refuge of those radical Islamists in the name of Ground Zero Mosque. The rest of world is also against such aggression of Islam in NYC and USA.

Equating Hinduism with Islam, you did a Himalayan blander. Mr. President of US, you should apologize and keep the Ground Zero Mosque ever restrained.
There should be no Mosque at Ground Zero. Repeat, No Mosque at Ground Zero.
Brahmachari is available at hinduexistence@gmail.com or at +919007543148

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Pedophilia – sex with children – is OK according to Quran? Yes says Islam-Watch.org

Islam-Watch exposes Islam as a false religion that is anti-democratic and opposed amongst other things to equality for women. Islam permits sex with prepubescent girls. See below:

“Conclusion: Quran 65:4 obviously stipulates Iddah to divorced prepubescent girls. Moreover, the Quran prescribes no waiting period or Iddah for a divorced woman, who makes no sexual contact with her husband. Therefore, divorced prepubescent girls need to observe Iddah, simply because sexual contact has occurred between her and her husband. This proves beyond any scope of doubt that the Quran endorses pedophilia, the most abominable and perverted of all sexual crimes.”

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What a dismal life so many Muslim women endure. Islam is a man’s religion and women treated so poorly. How can Western women reach out to Muslim women so that Muslim women have choice?

So few Muslim women speak out against their condition.

In A God Who Hates Wafa Sultan describes her grandmother’s life. Her husband, the grandmother’s husband, took a second wife after his sons died. The grandmother had to walk ahead of the couple and later had to serve the wife and stay in the background.

Some current info about Wafa Sultan follows:

Counterpoint: In defence of Wafa Sultan
Posted: March 12, 2010
By Joanne Hill

“Tarek Fatah has used the National Post to present a one-sided, inaccurate and potentially dangerous editorial about statements made by Dr. Wafa Sultan during her March 3rd debate in Toronto with Dr. Daniel Pipes.

“Mr. Fatah’s article is not an unbiased report: it is an opinion piece full of loaded terms such as slur, attack, hateful, anguish, Islam haters and vitriol. He misquotes Dr. Sultan and presents as fact a conclusion that is not supported by any of her statements: a conclusion that I believe puts her life in danger.

“I am a freelance reporter; I covered the debate between Dr. Pipes and Dr. Sultan for the Jewish Tribune. I have an audio recording of the entire event, including the Question and Answer period, so I can state with complete accuracy what was and was not said by Dr. Sultan.

“Mr. Fatah assumes the authority of a mind-reader to reveal what he claims is Dr. Sultan’s hidden intention. Given his first-hand experience of the eagerness of some Muslims (or “Islamists” if he would prefer) to issue death threats against anyone who is perceived as threatening Muslims, there are three reasons why I find it disturbing that he would attribute to Dr. Sultan this motivation: “Perhaps the answer she had in mind was too outrageous even by her own standards: Force Muslims to convert or die.”

This is disturbing, first of all, because Dr. Sultan said nothing that would lead the listener to come to this conclusion. When asked during the Q&A, “How do you get Muslims to reform? Do you expect them to convert to another religion?” Dr. Sultan replied:

“Give them the freedom to choose: that’s all I’m asking for. Give them the freedom to search, to ask, to be exposed to different sides, different values, different lifestyles. I can tell you from my very own experience, what has helped me to reform myself is being exposed to Western values and being free to express my conclusion. I always compare between my life under Islamic Sharia and my life as a free woman in America and I write about that on my website in Arabic. So when you expose people to different [sic], and you give them the freedom to choose, that’s all we need in the Islamic world. I’m not asking [them] to convert to a different religion; I’m asking to grant them the freedom to choose, the freedom to be, to follow whatever path they want to follow. That’s all.”

Second, this is what Dr. Sultan said at the conclusion of the Q & A:

“I’m not speaking up against Islam to please anyone but my conscience. We suffer a lot under Islamic Sharia. It is not fair. Enough is enough. We need to live our lives as human beings. I want you to know I’m not here to incite anyone against Muslims. Muslims are my family: my Mom, my brother, my sister. You know, I cannot peel off my own skin. I feel sorry for them because they are victims of a very hateful ideology. Really, if you take a look at any Islamic country, what do you see? Nothing but miserable situations, especially women who are living in this society. So I am speaking up to save them, looking for a better future for them. And believe it or not, when it comes to my readers in the Arab world, I feel it is easier for me to address my thoughts than to penetrate the Western mind. People in the West live by the Western ethical code which doesn’t allow them to judge people based on their religion – and there’s nothing wrong with that-but they need to know that Islam is not merely a religion: it is also a political ideology and that’s what I am fighting. That’s what I am speaking up against. And I hope one day, the future for our generation in the Muslim world will be much better than the life I lived under Islamic Sharia in Syria.”

And third, the terrible, secret motivation which Mr. Fatah attributes to Dr. Sultan is in fact a commandment made by Mohammed to his followers regarding non-Muslims:

“Fight in the name of Allah and in the way of Allah. Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war… When you meet your enemies who are polytheists, invite them to three courses of action. If they respond to any one of these, you also accept it and withhold yourself from doing them any harm. Invite them to (accept) Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them… If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands. If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah’s help and fight them.” (Source: Sahih Muslim Book 19, Hadith #4294.)

There is more.

Contrary to what Mr. Fatah writes, Dr. Sultan did not say: “Muhammed was a child rapist.”

Rather, she said: “As a married man, Mohammed raped Aisha when she was nine; he was 54.”

If Mr. Fatah is hurt by this statement, perhaps he should consider the source: Islamic doctrine. I challenge Mr. Fatah to deny this.

When she said, “There is no moderate Islam,” Dr. Sultan stated quite clearly, more than once, that she was quoting the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who said in 2007 in response to the term “moderate Islam”: “These descriptions are very ugly, it is offensive and an insult to our religion. There is no moderate or immoderate Islam. Islam is Islam and that’s it.”

Again, perhaps Mr. Fatah should take umbrage with Mr. Erdogan unless he, like the people who took Macleans Magazine to the “human rights” courts, would suggest that it is no longer permissible in Canada to quote Muslims when they have said something unpleasant about Islam.

I was paying close attention throughout the debate and at no time did I see Dr. Sultan sneer. She did not say, per Mr. Fatah, “I am ‘clean’ of Islam.”

Dr. Sultan was speaking of the long, difficult process of breaking free from a religious upbringing that has been embedded in one’s psyche from childhood. She said, “It is not an easy process: it is very tough. I still behave, in many ways, as a Muslim. I debate in a way [that] I am right and everybody else is wrong.” This drew laughter and applause from the audience. Dr. Sultan continued, “So it’s under my skin. I don’t follow a specific religion. Of course I believe in God and I am empowered by Him.”

Mr. Fatah writes that he was “traumatized” by Dr. Sultan’s words. If this is truly the case, I would suggest that Mr. Fatah’s sensitive feelings render him too delicate for this Western society in which he has chosen to live, because we in the free world are not required to continually couch our statements in qualifiers or cushion our strong words. Dr. Sultan spoke plainly and strongly about her personal experience as a woman raised in an Islamic country under Sharia law. Contrary to Mr. Fatah’s characterization, she was funny, down-to-earth and as far from hateful as one can get.

Besides, even if Dr. Sultan does hate Islam, what business is that of Mr. Fatah’s? Is she not entitled to her express own opinion? As a Christian, I was irked when Dr. Pipes said that Christianity “started on a much lower base” than Islam. But so what? Only a fool would deny the history of crimes committed by Christians against Jews.

Why was Avi Benlolo required to spend at least 20 minutes after the debate placating the hurt feelings and smoothing the ruffled feathers of a self-described “hardened secular Muslim” who is supposed to be on the side of freedom of religion and freedom of speech?

I see at the bottom of Mr. Fatah’s article that his upcoming book is entitled, Unveiling the Myths that Fuel Muslim Anti- Semitism. On the night of the debate, Mr. Fatah informed Avi Benlolo (in my presence) without a trace of irony that his new book was going to be called, Why We Hate Jews.

Unlike Mr. Fatah, I will not presume to know his motivation in saying that to Mr. Benlolo or in writing his misleading editorial about Dr. Sultan. I will say, however, that I believe he owes Dr. Sultan, this newspaper and its readers an apology and a retraction.

National Post

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