A TV show portraying real Muslim-American families who are proud members of America's melting pot. Sounds like a pretty good idea, right? Showing both Muslims AND America in general that we CAN all get along. Seems to me that is about as American as we can get.

However right wing America won't stand for tolerance and acceptance of differences. They are boycotting companies advertising on the show and Lowes, for one, caved to their racist, anti-American demands.

From BBC News:

Home improvement retailer Lowe's is facing criticism after removing advertising from a reality TV show showcasing American Muslims.

The company pulled ads from All-American Muslim after complaints from the Florida Family Association.

The cable TV show portrays the lives of five families in Dearborn, Michigan, a city known for its Muslim and Arab population.

Lowe's issued an apology, but did not say it would re-advertise on the show.

The North Carolina-based company said in a statement it apologised for having "managed to make some people very unhappy".

"It appears that we managed to step into a hotly contested debate with strong views from virtually every angle and perspective," the firm said...

Wait...a "hotly contested debate?????" What debate? Whether racism or tolerance is better? Whether Muslims should be treated like people? Exactly what side is Lowes coming down on here?  read more »

In times of crisis, men and women of conscience have a choice to make: to be silent, or to be heard. We live in such times, and these choices are upon us.

New York City is a city of immigrants; there's a statue in the harbor about that, and the shining ideals of how America is to welcome those new to our shores. That welcome, however, is somewhat curtailed during depression and war, and this is where your choice comes into play.

The Nation:

The Associated Press has been doing some good investigative reporting lately. On August 24, the AP broke the news that the CIA and the NYPD are combining forces to spy on Muslims in New York City. Since the CIA is prohibited by law to collect intelligence on American citizens, this is more than newsworthy. It’s probably unconstitutional, which explains why the NYPD has, according to the report, kept these activities secret.

This is no ordinary program, nor does it seem to be merely about sharing expertise.

According to the report, the NYPD dispatches “rakers,” the NYPD term, into a “human mapping program” to monitor the daily lives of Muslim Americans in the places where ordinary living transpires, such as bookstores, cafés, bars and nightclubs, without the hint of criminal wrongdoing. The police department also employs “mosque crawlers,” who scrutinize imams and their sermons, and have gathered intelligence on cab drivers and food cart vendors, jobs commonly associated with Muslim workers.

New Yorkers, understandably after the carnage of the 9/11 attacks, are wary of terrorism. This is right and fitting and proper. What is not right, however, is to use the broad brush of a fear of terrorism against an entire faith group. We deserve better than this, we are better than this, and above all, we are a nation of laws that obtain equally to all of us.

If you believe in this idea, of equality under the law, or perhaps even that hoary old concept of a presumption of innocence until guilt is proven in a court of law, please stand up, this Friday, and make your voice heard.

RALLY & FRIDAY PRAYER TO STOP NYPD/CIA REPRESSION OF MUSLIM COMMUNITIES

Friday, November 18, 2011
12 - 4 PM
Foley Square (Worth St between Lafayette & Centre St.), NYC

12pm: March from Occupied Wall St. (Zucotti Park)
1-2pm: Jummah Prayer
2-4pm: Speakers & Performances

Our Demands:
1. An immediate end to all racial, ethnic and religious profiling.
2. The dismantlement and disclosure of all warrant-less surveillance operations.
3. An independent commission to investigate all NYPD, CIA and FBI operations against the Muslim community.
4. The immediate protection of our right to freedom of worship, free speech and free association.
5. The equal protection, under the law, of Muslims and all people of New York.

'Equal protection'; what a concept.  read more »

This is a cool upcoming event on Friday, January 14th at 7 PM in Park Slope, Brooklyn (particularly given the levels of intolerance and hate speech in America today):

On the Friday night before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we will see how Jewish values and international human rights standards grapple with issues of discrimination and tolerance in a diverse society and, in particular look at our obligations as a Jewish community to address Islamophobia.

There will be a slightly shortened Friday night service led by Rabbi Bachman and Noah Aronson, joined by a special inter-generational CBE choir. Following straight on from this there will be food and a panel discussion with Daisy Khan from the American Society for Muslim Advancement, Iain Levine from Human Rights Watch and Rabbi Bachman. The panel will be moderated by Lisa Miller, the Religion Editor at Newsweek.

Please come and join us for this exciting event. For further information and to RSVP please contact Isabel Burton at 718-768-3814 ext. 243 or iburton@cbebk.org

A list muslim scholars, clerics and artists have signed a letter of support of Free Speech to all victims of religious radicals including Molly Norris, Matt Stone and Trey Parker. From The American Muslim (TAM):

A DEFENSE OF FREE SPEECH BY AMERICAN AND CANADIAN MUSLIMS

We, the undersigned, unconditionally condemn any intimidation or threats of violence directed against any individual or group exercising the rights of freedom of religion and speech; even when that speech may be perceived as hurtful or reprehensible.

We are concerned and saddened by the recent wave of vitriolic anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic sentiment that is being expressed across our nation.

We are even more concerned and saddened by threats that have been made against individual writers, cartoonists, and others by a minority of Muslims. We see these as a greater offense against Islam than any cartoon, Qur'an burning, or other speech could ever be deemed.

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.  read more »

They hate us for our freedoms...that's what they told us about the Islamic militants. Of course the reality is much more complicated, but as a first approximation it makes a good sound bite. Fine...for purposes of argument, let's say they DO hate us for our freedoms.

So why are we giving into them by giving up so many of our freedoms? If they hate us for our freedoms, why don't we embrace and cherish those freedoms as an act of defiance against the extremists?

Instead, Bush and Co. did all they could to reduce freedoms Americans enjoy, increasing surveillance to levels unparalleled in free societies, trying to eliminate habeas corpus, advocating torture, trying to avoid jury trials, etc. Bush did his best to surrender our freedoms that he claims extremists hate us for. Obama has reversed some of the worst of Bush's attacks on our freedoms, but not enough. More needs to be done.

But Americans are now in the habit of surrendering those freedoms that we claim Islamic extremists hate us for. The latest is attacks on religious freedom.  read more »