About 5 years ago I moved to Ashland, OR. While our house was being built, I had the privilege to meet a man by the name of Pete Seda, who at the time was nothing more than our landscaper. Then I started high school and a week later the events of 9/11 unfolded before all of our eyes. My teacher (bless her heart) decided that it would be a good idea if we visited a local islamic activist so we could better understand the misrepresentation of Islam that had occurred. When we got there, we were greeted by his camel and his son who I was introduced to by a mutual friend. As a class, we walked into a tent and sat on a carpet when the speaker came into talk; I was astonished when I saw that it was my landscaper. As he began to talk, the passion in which he spoke had a visible effect on everyone, we were hooked on every word he said. Not only did Pete talk about Islam as being a religion of Peace, he also changed the way every single kid in that room looked at religion in general. When he concluded his speech, he showed us his pamphlet that he wrote and distributed nationally (especially to the US Boarder Patrol in Canada because they subjected every Muslim to intense scrutiny). Pete spoke at my Church during a 9/11 memorial, and the way he spoke moved people to tears.
Over the next year or two, I saw Pete Seda at many peace events, and memorably saw him with his camel march through downtown Ashland during the 4th of July to much applause and delight. However, one morning I was shocked when I woke up and his name and picture were on the front page of the paper. He had fled the country with his son because he was being investigated for the financial support of terrorist groups in Chechnya. In reality, he gave money to the charity while they turned around and funded these groups without his knowledge.
Now, Pete Seda's lawyers are filing a suit against the government.
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2006/02/islamic-charity-sues-to-shut-down-nsa.phpthey allege that the government illegally wiretapped the conversations between the foundations lawyers in Oregon and D.C. during the investigation. This is where you come in, because Pete Seda changed so many lives by simply advocating peace and telling others about Islam, I want you to try and focus as much national attention as you can on this case. Copy this story and post it where ever you can, write LTTEs, or even something small like telling someone. This is a very personal issue and anything you can do will be much appreciated.
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