Effing Hate E-Mail

I just received an e-mail that was forwarded by a freeper relative of my husband's whom I don't believe I have never met. It demands that we "Patriotic Americans" boycott the Muslim Eid holiday stamp, because "To use this stamp would be a slap in the face to all those AMERICANS who died at the hands of those whom this stamp honors." :grr:

My blood is boiling. It's soooooooo tempting to ask her what sort of soap she uses to make her neck such a lovely shade of red. But that won't help any, I'm sure.

Nevertheless, I feel the need to reply to this email and cc it to everybody on her forward list. Perhaps tomorrow when I've calmed down a bit. I want to try to compile some statistics about American Muslims to send her...things like the number of Muslim Americans who died on 9/11, brief stories about Muslims who went out on a limb to help others that day, and Muslim Americans who are serving overseas right now.

Any insight, stories, or links to sites with facts and figures would be most appreciated... you have

Muslims were the police, firefighters and first responders ...

This kind of hate disgusts me .

I want to tell her x-number of Muslim Americans died trying to rescue people from the Twin Towers...

Muslim Americans right now are the new Communists.
Jesus, we NEVER learn, do we??

last week. I quickly filed it where I keep other important e-mails of this type, along with the penis enlargement ads, mortgage ads etc. Right in the old trash file. These knee jerk reactionaries are the ilk that fuel the FOX News machine's number one rating. Trash as well.

it's what runs in their veins. pure and simple if they aren't ranting and raving about someone or thing, actively hating, their lives are empty.

rational thoughts will never get through to them, i've tried before the reaction ? "You can't tell me Saddam had nothing to do with the terrorist attacks." (with a heavy redneck accent) it's just picking up from an already solid base of xenophobia

"The Crusades"...

Torquemada and the Inquisition...

Hitler was a Christian who put "God is with US" on the belt buckles of his troops...

Salem Witch Trials, and "The Burning Times" in EU, brought about by the book "Malleus Malificarium" (The Witch's Hammer)

And the list goes on, but of course, the person who sent you this screed choses to focus only on Benny Hinn and "That sweet pink-haired lady I see on TV..."...

My step-mother used to forward me garbage email advocating (not convincingly) things like prayer in schools and saying the pledge and stuff like that. I got fed up with it and did just what you were thinking of doing. It felt mildly good, but in the end I just felt kinder bad, because she's just ignorant and more than anything I felt like I was just trying to point out the fact to everyone (which when I gave it some thought I realized wasn't a nice thing to do).

NICE.

No sense doing anything more than that.

Most recently here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=185631

Dear ****, (name deleted to protect the ignorant)

There are a few facts about this stamp business which you may not be aware of.

First of all, the stamp is an October 2002 reissue of a 34 cent stamp which came out 10 days before 9/11. There are also stamps which recognize Christmas, Hannukkah, Kwanzaa, and Cinco de Mayo. This stamp is being reissued not to honor terrorists; but out of respect for one of many ethnic/religious groups of Americans.

Islam has been present in this country for over 100 years. If you're interested in a well-written brief history of Muslim Immigration to America, you'll find one here: http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/muslimlife/immigrat.htm
It's interesting to note that about 30% of American Muslims are African-American converts to Islam.

American Muslims were among the victims of 9/11. They were also among the first responders to the atrocities. Yes, there were Muslim firemen and policemen frantically trying to assist people in leaving the Twin Towers; and American Muslims who worked tirelessly to locate the remains of victims after the disaster. Muslim American groups across the country rallied together to condemn the attacks on 9/11, proclaiming that those responsible were not true to Islam. Yet in spite of these facts, Muslim homes, and places of business and worship have been vandalized. The people themselves have been threatened and subjected to the same intense scrutiny that Asian-Americans were during WWII.

In today's Washington Post there was an article ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11020-2003Sep14.html ) about a group of American Muslims who honored the victims of 9/11 by taking up a collection for the National Capitol Area Food Bank, which you and I may well require should hurricane Isabel follow the course meteorologists are suggesting.

Those responsible for the heinous attacks on 9/11 were about as Moslem as Paul Hill or Eric Rudolph was Christian...or the group of people that recently crushed an autistic child recently, to exorcise a "demon" from him. And those American Muslims who are working hard to make this country a better place are more "Christian" than many Christians I know. I think a stamp which recognizes their most holy day is a fitting tribute to a brave group of Americans.

****, I hope you'll re-think your view of the U.S. Islamic community. They're fighting to take back their religion from zealots just as many are striving to take back Christianity from hatemongers who seem to have not heard Jesus' words at all..."Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".

Love,
Cousin Brenda