Muslim-Americans welcome bin Laden death

Source: Contra Costa Times (CA)

Muslim-Americans throughout the local region welcomed the death of Osama bin Laden, whose actions on Sept. 11, 2001 led to a marked increase of fear and intolerance against the followers of Islam.

The months following the World Trade Center attacks saw a steep rise in the number of hate crimes directed toward Muslims in the United States, according to FBI statistics. The instances have declined since then, but "Islamophobia" and hate crimes against Muslims still persist, with 128 anti-Islamic hate crime offenses recorded by the FBI in 2009.

The attitude of some Americans after 9/11 toward Muslims had a life-changing impact on Farheen Dayala, a journalism student at Cal Poly Pomona and an activities coordinator for the university's Muslim Student Association.

Dayala was 11 and a resident of Diamond Bar when the attacks happened. "Because I looked Muslim, they did call me a terrorist, and kids would ask me if Osama Bin Laden is my uncle," said Dayala, now 21. "I would get snide remarks like that in junior high school."


Read more: http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_17977738?nclick_check=1

I have no more respect for Islam than I do for any of the other so-called religions.

However, I know that good people from the Christian religion are embarrassed about Terry Jones, the Phelps and many others. It is not surprising that good people from the Islamic religion were embarrassed by OBL and the way many like him bastardize their religion.

Religion, in my humble opinion, is a farce. However, there are many good people that are involved in all religions just as there are many assholes and zealots.

Despite my ill feelings toward religion I have felt deep sorrow at times for Muslim Americans who have been lumped into one big pile..."Potential Terrorist".

Thanks for your comment!

right wing evangelicals who thrive on hate of one group or another which then makes all Christians fair game to be despised, scorned, and ridiculed. I wonder how this makes the DUers who are practicing Christians feel?

Atheist do when they are lumped together & stereotyped in certain ways...Yes, the blame can be passed around if that is what you were actually saying?

"... just as there are many assholes and zealots." is a tad off. Those that follow religions, as well as those that do not, have far more individuals that are good decent people. It is a few that get all of the attention, so it appears if there is a huge number of miscreants and zealots. The reality of the situation would put it somewhere say 40-1 of those who want to just be left/leave others alone. Since the miscreants get the attention, people are prone to miss the good that many do. Religious or not, people have some form of "moral code", (varying among individuals), and this guides most decisions. Fortunately, the majority of people are good and decent people through every culture. Y+They go about their lives quietly doing what they can to alleviate suffering, they are just rarely heard of.

On the other hand, buffoons like the Phelps', do things to specifically draw attention, when they really be obscure footnotes.

If you read the full sentence again - I never stated that the numbers were equal.

I simply said there are good and bad in all walks of life.

We agree completely - I just wanted to clarify my statements.

it's just that sometimes things get murky, it's easy to see the bad because we're hit with it all of the time, seems like the media just doesn't care about the people who do things, except during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I could never even attempt to number of good people from all walks of life I've met, that's how I came up the nominal figure of 40:1, I figure 40 good, quiet people for every one bombastic moron.

Edited for typo: :blush:

It makes sense for them to welcome his death.

By Kari Huus: updated 1 hour 26 minutes ago

Far from mourning the death of Osama bin Laden, most Muslim-Americans are celebrating his demise, saying they have no sympathy to spare for a man who indiscriminately slaughtered people of all religions and launched their community into a decade of distrust and discrimination.

"A lot of (Muslim-Americans) feel, first and foremost, catharsis and relief," said Wajahat Ali, a Muslim-American writer and attorney in the San Francisco Bay area. "Relief because Osama bin Laden was a global symbol of terror and indiscriminate violence.

"… It's also a relief because he symbolizes (those who) hijacked Islam, legitimizing his ruthlessness (using the) religion. … His name and the photo (are) imprinted on the collective consciousness of the world."

Islamic leaders contacted Monday by msnbc.com said they saw justice in killing bin Laden and emphasized that he was not one of their own.

A lot more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42869844/ns/world_news-death_of_bin_laden

Published: Tuesday, May. 03, 2011 / Updated: Tuesday, May. 03, 2011 11:12 AM
Muslim event in Oregon canceled due to threats
The Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. --

Muslims from Oregon who had planned to celebrate the death of Osama bin Laden in downtown Portland Monday night canceled the event due to threats.

The Islamic Society of Greater Portland says bin Laden's death was a relief to the community because he did not represent their non-violent beliefs.

Spokeswoman Saba Ahmed told KGW that it canceled the gathering in Pioneer Courthouse Square after receiving hateful, extremist emails.

She says it might be more appropriate to have a peaceful healing gathering at the square on Sept. 11.

http://www.heraldonline.com/2011/05/03/3036611/muslim-event-in-oregon-canceled.html