Muslims in Chicago joined their Christian brethren in condemning and opposing the slaughter of Christians in Iraq. (hat tip: Robert Spencer)
Beyond the Comfort Zone: Passion and Peril at a Pro-Christian Rally
by Ahmed Rehab
Yesterday, CAIR-Chicago staff and interns participated in a rally alongside the Assyrian community of Chicago to condemn violence against Iraqi Christians. The rally was organized in response to the massacre of dozens of Assyrian Christians in Baghdad on October 31st.
It was a tricky decision for us. We knew that there could be anti-Muslim sentiment at the rally that would put is in a precarious position, but we decided that our disdain for the heinous acts of Al Qaeda far exceeded our concern for personal inconvenience.
We decided that the right thing for us to do was to act on our values and our sincere feelings of camaraderie with our fellow human beings in times of anguish. We wanted to raise our voices as Muslims in support of the Assyrian community and against terrorists who purport to act in the name of our faith.
Al Qaeda does not have reverence for any innocent life, including those of Muslims. It is a fact that they have bombed many more Mosques in Iraq than churches.
While we were weary of the possibility that some people at the rally could lash out at us, Muslims-at-large who condemn terrorism, we were not interested in seeing ourselves as victims. The only victims we were prepared to recognize were the 52 innocent souls that were claimed by the recent church bombing, and the many others – Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and otherwise – claimed by terrorism.And so we set out with signs including “An Attack on Your Church is an Attack on my Mosque,” “American Muslims, Iraqi Christians, One Blood,” “My Brother is an Assyrian,” “We Stand with Iraqi Christians,” and “Muslims for Peace.”
We held our signs up high and marched in solidarity with the predominantly Assyrian Christian crowd.
The reaction we got was mixed.
In an interesting scene that summed up my experience, I was asked by one man if I was a Muslim. I said “Yes, I am.” He then asked, “Am I impure?”
I joked, “I don’t know did you shower this morning?”
He dismissed the joke and asked me if I thought “his blood was impure.” I told him, “why would you expect that, you’ve never met me, I am here supporting you, what about me leads you to ask me such a question?” He told me, “You said you are a Muslim.” I told him, “so what?” He said that Muslims believe this sort of thing. I told him that he had been grossly misinformed, “you’re blood like all innocent blood is holy to me.”
Another man interjected and started yelling that I was “unwanted” there, motioning with his arms for me to leave. As he continued to yell at me, my attention was drawn to something that touched me. A young woman a few yards away leaned down on a stroller she was pushing and started to sob uncontrollably.
At first, I thought it had nothing to do with us but my intuition told me otherwise. I asked here, “what’s wrong, why are you crying?”
She said unable to hold back her tears, “I am so sorry you and your friends have to deal with idiots like that, this man does not represent us, I am so embarrassed. This is so wrong.”
Here I was standing before a stark display of contrasts, extreme animosity on one end and extreme compassion on the other.
In a single powerful moment, I was reminded yet again at the absurdity of those who generalize about any one group of people. Here were two people of the same religion, color, and ethnic background standing side by side rallying for the same cause — and yet they could not be any more different.
I hugged her and tried to comfort her, “Trust me, I know, we have our share of idiots too, everyone has them, most people here have been kind.”
And it was true. Many in the crowd were genuinely happy – almost relieved – to see Muslims standing with them at this rally. Some smiled, some nodded, others simply said “thank you!” It reinforced my feeling that our participation was extremely important.
While there were other incidents – one lady held a cross up to my face and told me I was a “bad Muslim” for condemning terrorism which is “in my Quran”, two people told us that we are going to hell for not accepting Jesus as our Saviour, some guy yelled profanities and was held back by a girl half his size, another called for reciprocal violence – in every single instance, someone else would take a strong stance, telling the others to back off and apologizing.
As we made our way back to the office, we were chased by two girls. “Can I ask you a question?” one of them said. “Can I just give each of you guys a hug?”
We met back in the office for an evaluation.
I learned that my colleagues’ experience mostly mirrored mine.
Despite the bigotry of some, we all felt strong solidarity with most people. We felt as if the Assyrian community, with its good and bad, was our own.
It is of no surprise to any of us that there are some negative feelings among some Arab and Assyrian Christian communities regarding Islam and Muslims. Part of it is understandable to us, given the ugly acts by saboteurs claiming to act in the name of Islam. Part of it is due to the opportunistic work of preachers like father Zakaria Boutros who make a living out of telling Arabic-speaking Christians that Islam is an evil religion. Part of it still is due to the lack of dialogue and engagement between our faith communities, and that was the part we resolved to try to change.
Assyrians have a long and proud history that goes back to one of the earliest civilizations in the world. They live as a religious minority in their indigenous homeland. For centuries, they have coexisted peacefully with their Muslim neighbors. But at other times, especially now, the instability and violence is leaving them feeling frightened for their loved ones and overall vulnerable. Some of them blame Al Qaeda, others demonize all Muslims, and others still blame the United States and its wars.
One thing we must never allow is for the bad amongst us – terrorists, extremists, ideologues of exclusion and hate – to succeed in turning the rest of us against each other. We must condemn them, ostracize them, and disempower them. The way to do that is to strengthen our relations, and stand with one another. That is the only way to spell defeat for the agents of hate.
We must emerge from our comfort zones and stand together as one against all forms of violence, ignorance, and intolerance.
When Christians are attacked, they should NOT have to rally alone. We must rally along with them. When Jews are attacked, they should NOT have to rally alone. When Muslims are attacked, we should NOT have to rally alone.
November 11th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Bad news for the bigots
November 11th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Sorry the bigots insulted you
that was wrong, but it’s good you went
November 11th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
As Ahmed said, this could have backfired spectacularly. Good on Ahmed and the others for expressing the condemnation of the murderers, and support for the Assyrian Christian community that ALL Muslims wish they could express so openly.
It is essential that Muslims oppose evil in whichever way they can.
November 11th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
You did the very right thing and acted in a very procative way.
November 11th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
It’s very saddening to hear about the plight of the Iraqi Christians. It’s good to see Muslims join in this rally.
November 11th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
And the bigots will still say muslims dont condem Al Q.
Their are none so deaf as those who choose not to hear.
Well played in Chicago
November 11th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
More of the same please! People complain we don’t protest about this enough, lets do it again and again!
November 11th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
the Prophet pbuh strictly forbade the destruction of monasteries etc, yet you see these wierd events, most people with the zeal to fight for Islam would have the zeal to understand it – unless they had been wronged and acted out of anger – the first question a detective asks is – who benefits???
and you will see that it is not the image of Islam.
then you might want to find out who set up “al-qaeda”???
and you find it was al CIAda
November 11th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
@abz2000 proof please
November 11th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
i meet a lot of christians and i talk about Islam, and when i have given Qurans and said things like: you hear a lot of propaganda about Islam, here’s the source”, i have even had them say: “oh my God, i’ve wanted to get my hands on one of these for a while now but i didn’t know who to ask” i get smiles and thanks, people are interested – especially because they know propaganda and vilification when they see it – and because they realise that Jesus is a revered Prophet in Islam.
events like these unislamic acts only create divisions, ignorance of islam and blind enmity, i wonder who plans and carries out these attacks, remember the “christmas day bombing”? coincidence???
try to rationalise it and think if this is the mindset of a group who claims to want to spread Islam throughout the world.
i think the answer’s there
November 11th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
reply to mindy1: click on my name and click on the link: crimes against humanity, where you will see images of national security adviser bzignew brzezinski holding a gun with osama bin laden, whos family were building the u.s military bases in saudi arabia, also research the cold war and the exploitation of the afghan mujahideen and their transformation from freedom fighters to mercenaries,
peace,
abz
November 11th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
@abz2000 I clicked and I saw paranoia
November 11th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
@mindy you clicked and you saw facts presented clearly, you couldn’t dispute them so you resorted to an old tactic called labelling and villification
November 11th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
abz and Mindy, I don’t want this to descend into conspiracy debate, lets stick to the message of this piece which is to condemn AlQaeda and its atrocious actions against Christians in Baghdad.
abz, I see no value in trying to say the CIA is behind AlQaeda, I also don’t think it is true. During the Afghan-Russian war, no doubt the CIA funded Mujahideen groups and probably lent support to Bin Laden and cohorts, but to say that AlQaeda is bankrolled by the CIA at the moment is more than far fetched it is very wrong.
November 11th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Excellent action and touching reflection. Thanks Mr. Rehab. And thanks Mr.Spencer for alerting us to this story. You are good for something after all.
November 11th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Thats right, we are holding it down in Chicago…. Im was upset I wasnt able to make it out. What an interesting experience tehy had. Keep up the good work peeps..
mike
wheres JB and his master of taqiyya claims.. in 5.4.3.2.1. HERES BOB!!!
November 11th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Good for Rehab. I’m glad that the threat of anti Muslim feeling at the rally did not stop CAIR Chicago from holding this rally.
It’s awful. I wish more could be done for Iraqi Christians, but the truth is the country is in turmoil. It’s appalling that they are being singled out like this. or even blamed.
I do hope Iraqi authorities do something, or at least people help them. This is really troubling.
By the way, how did Robert Spencer alert you? I could hardly believe my eyes when i saw him hat tipped?
November 11th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
BMD asked, “By the way, how did Robert Spencer alert you?”
Would like to hear that story too …
November 11th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Syed said, “Would like to hear that story too ”
Well nevermind – just checked out the JW article by Spencer
November 11th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
When Christians are attacked, they should NOT have to rally alone. We must rally along with them. When Jews are attacked, they should NOT have to rally alone. When Muslims are attacked, we should NOT have to rally alone.
Great Quote, May Allah Guide Us all towards peace
November 11th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
Maybe we should look at facts instead of trying to shrink from controversy, if you YouTube terrorstorm and scroll to 55:22 you will find that David shyler, the former mi5 agent has testified that mi5 tried to use alqaeda and fund them in an assassination attempt on gaddafi, that’s not “theory” mate, that’s facts
November 11th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Iam happy that you all took a stance and decided to protest againt evil.
I think it goes to show you. The people who were there for the same cause as you, welcomed your support.
However, we must understand too, that those who told you ‘you are unwanted’ or ‘that you will go to hell for not beliving thier religious posistion’ were not there for the intention of protesting against the violence.
As usual, haters, pundits, bigots and radical religious belivers come to hide the evil in thier own hearts by disquising it, and blending in with the good hearted. They are trying to rationalize how they can be good, when they know what they are doing, or beliving is a lie.
Some come for an excuse for making poor decisions in thier lives, and want to blame someone else.
Of course as well, some come because they can make industry of hate. The come to sell thier wares, get camera time, and gain fame for thier otherwise miserable lives.
I think…from a safe distance, I see that the only thing wrong about America, is the wrong people are controlling the conversation.
I think LoonWatch is exposing those people.
November 11th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
I’m so touched by this article! Thank you for posting this! May more of us Muslims join in on rallies against violence no matter what religion. Let us show that we are against all types of terrorists! Let us be brave enough to stand with the Jews, Christians, Hindus, atheists, etc. against violence of any kind! Peace!
November 12th, 2010 at 12:14 am
Thank you Ahmed Rehab for the leadership and thank yoy loonwatch for posting inspirational stories
November 12th, 2010 at 1:30 am
I take the opposite few to proclaim I don’t think it was a good idea to go to this protest unless invited by the organizers, although I agree completely with the sentiments of the Muslim who did go. In my opinion, your voices could have been put to better use with a strongly worded statement against the violence along with sending that statement to the representatives of those who organized the protest which you attended. Your presence, though tolerated or well received by some, was a distraction, a lightening rod as it were and most likely did very little for those with deeply entrenched notions of Islam and Muslims. I salute you and the efforts you’ve made to make Islam more understandable by the American public and my wish is for your continued success.
November 12th, 2010 at 3:04 am
abz2000.com:
You are one of the countless proofs that Muslims are depressingly prone to succumbing to ridiculous conspiracy theories.
I am embarrassed to say that at one point I, too, longed to get lost in the world of CIA false flag operations (not that those don’t exist), “illuminati” and a “global jewish cabal” bent on our subjugation. It’s simply an easy way out of the harsh reality. Thankfully I’ve matured from that hate-filled stage.
It doesn’t matter whether or not acts such as the attacks on the Church, are unislamic. The very FACT is that some Muslims are doing it, on an alarmingly regular basis, across the world. The sooner we realize that our “brothers” are very much culpable in the formation of the islamophobic climate, the sooner we can start taking out the trash from our own “Ummah.” We may even come to see that we are subjugating ourselves.
Failing that, I honestly don’t think we have any hope. Right now we’re just a pitiful bunch really. We have no strategy and no answers. Hell, we’re not even asking the right questions. All we have are conspiracy nutjobs, apathetic fools and whining idiots like myself. Yay for us! =)
November 12th, 2010 at 3:11 am
Sourin
Wow I thought that I was a depressive type.
The answer is love
Its all you need.
Now you have to find the question
November 12th, 2010 at 5:09 am
@Sourin Mahbub
Deep words, it gives you hope…
If I may, two remarks :
- it does matter to know if attacks on the church are islamic. If you deeply condemn them and if the answer is yes, given that Koran is perfect and as a result immutable, you should either drop out that religion or make it evolve (good luck !)
- Sir David talks about love as a solution. Maybe but in that case, head for christianity, Jesus was far more convincing than Muhammad on that matter…
November 12th, 2010 at 7:26 am
The Muslims in the Non-Muslim world have started feeling the heat under their feet now and have started to fool the unbelievers by their hypocritical gesture to give the impression that Islam is peace.Only fools can trust the Muslims.Islam and Muslims represent the evil and ugly face of humanity.Did you notice any Muslim coming out in any Muslim country condemning those atrocities against the Christians committed by Muslims in Iraq?Did you see any Iraqi Muslim coming out againt that horrible atrocity? It is all a gimmic by CAIR to hide its UGLY face of hyporcisy.I would rather trust a poisonous SNAKE than a Muslim.Period.Has any Muslim ever condenmed Mohammad for murdering 900 Jews of Quraiza tribe?They always have a good excuse rather than admitting that Mohammad was a ruthless and callous murderer.
November 12th, 2010 at 7:35 am
@Halal, why do you come on this site if you hate Muslims so much?
November 12th, 2010 at 7:45 am
@Halalpork
I partially agree with you, there should be no compromises with that dead end cult.
But don’t forget that born-muslims are also victims of their background. They are human as we are even if they fool us and themselves as well.
We can find some very valuable persons among muslims, even the fanatics.
I am confident that a high percentage of them could evolve.
November 12th, 2010 at 7:58 am
Hypocritical Pork
Did you notice any Muslim coming out in any Muslim country condemning those atrocities against the Christians committed by Muslims in Iraq?
The OIC which speaks for the entire Ummah (every Muslim and Muslim majority country including Russia is a member) condemned the iraqi attacks, and even the Muslim Brotherhood warned people not to follow Al Qaeda’s propoganda to kill Iraqi Christians.
“Has any Muslim ever condenmed Mohammad for murdering 900 Jews of Quraiza tribe?They always have a good excuse rather than admitting that Mohammad was a ruthless and callous murderer.”
No one condemns traitors being put to death for treason.
Have you ever condemened the violence in the Old Testament? Joshua Bin Noon’s conquest of Israel for example? Why should Muslims condemn the traitorous enemies of the Prophet who broke their covenenat (treason carried the death penalty even in the USA) when Joshua Bin Noon comitted mass murder against innocents?
Hypocrite aren’t you? Here are some choice excerpts from your hero Ali Sina’s website riduculing the Bible
http://www.faithfreedom.org/faq/17.htm
Judaic and Christendoms. Also these two religions are in decline. They will die on their own without my help.
faithfreedom.org/faq/53.htm
“As for the Judaic holy books being violent, yes they are. Actually if you read the Pentateuch, especially the Joshua you get nauseated of that much genocides and violence. Judaism for all intent and purposes is dead. It is nothing but a set of rituals and a feel good factor. The thinking Jews consider those stories as fables. So really Judaism does not threaten anyone. It is just foolish to believe in such nonsense book of fairytales. ”
Yes both Judaism and Islam are stupid religions but there is a big difference. Jews are not set to conquer the world, but Muslims are. Islam is not a personal religion. It is a plan to take over the world
Judaism is no threat to anyone; Islam is a danger to human race. ”
faithfreedom.org/faq/3.htm
I don’t believe in any religion. The very concept of God sending messengers to save us or to be known and worshipped is absurd.
faithfreedom.org/faq/58.htm
I have invented my religion. In this religion I am the prophet and the only disciple.
May be I should say I believe in my own intelligence to unravel the truth. And since the truth is infinite, my work is never done. I am constantly discovering new realities and learning new things.
What is important to me is not to be a follower. You could say I have risen to the rank of a prophet. Of course I am a prophet only to my self and to no one else.
November 12th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Sourin, I disagree. Majority of us do condemn terrorism but we do need to speak out more and the rallies are the way to do it. This one was a great start plus we get press which we wouldn’t otherwise if it was just us Muslims protesting against violence.
Bigots like the two above think we’re either lying or we are not true Muslims so we should leave our religion. Despite these fools, we should continue rallying against violence WITH people of other faiths. JMHO.
November 12th, 2010 at 8:44 am
@ Mindy 1:You could make a good follower of the Jewish Messiah who taught :Even love your ENEMIES:I am sorry,I am not that perfect.I grieve when the Christians are persecuted and murdered by the Muslims because of their faith.Try to live among the Muslims in a Muslim country for a change and that will certainly change soft mind.Try to log on to Asia News for persecution by your beloved Muslims.Come out of the well of Ignorance .Please grow up mentally for a change as well.Basically,you are not a bad soul.Just a good DHIMMI.
November 12th, 2010 at 9:46 am
Assyrian leaders respond to Ahmed Rehab:
http://www.ahmedrehab.com/blog/2010/11/a-voice-of-reason-assyrian-leaders-respond/
November 12th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Jihadbob spencer and halalpork and the rest of them aint gonna like the Assyrian leadership’s exchange with Ahmed
November 12th, 2010 at 10:05 am
“This has been an emotionally difficult week for the Assyrian Christians in the US, and we have felt especially vulnerable and helpless as we watch our defenseless brothers and sisters attacked and murdered”
Indeed. They try, poor fellows, to gather help from everywhere.
But don’t fool yourselves, they know the root of their ordeal.
November 12th, 2010 at 10:27 am
@Ahmed Rehab ;You are a damned hypocrite when you talk about the protection of Monastery in Sanai.You failed to mention that a Mosque was to be built on the groungs of Monastary in that deal.Same thing happened in Syria where a Mosque was built on part of the ground of Church where head of John-the Baptist has been burried.You Muslims don’t even blink when you tell lies,just like SNAKES.I could write a book with your similarities.
November 12th, 2010 at 11:08 am
halalpork said, “I could write a book with your similarities.”
Imagining a book written by halalpork – CAPS, pRofanity and INSANity
November 12th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
halaldork, the Mosque in the monastery was not built until much later and it was at the initiative of clergy to accommodate Muslim workers.. if you ever visit, you’ll see that it’s a tiny thing, hardly a mosque that competes with any part of the monastery, but a small prayer space
November 12th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Eternal:
“it does matter to know if attacks on the church are islamic.”
The answer is an unequivocal NO. The only ones who seem to think so are either soi-disant intellectuals with a clear anti-Islamic mandate, and the Islamic equivalents of Fred Phelps.
Cue some idiot referring to some event in a third-world country to “prove” me wrong.
November 13th, 2010 at 2:01 am
@ Eternel
@Sourin Mahbub
“Deep words, it gives you hope…
If I may, two remarks :
- it does matter to know if attacks on the church are islamic. If you deeply condemn them and if the answer is yes, given that Koran is perfect and as a result immutable, you should either drop out that religion or make it evolve (good luck !)”
There you have it folks, from the incoherent loon herself. The only good Muslim is an ex Muslim, eh? If the attacks on the church are unislamic and we condemn them, why would we leave Islam? Read what you type more carefully before you hit “Submit Comment”. i noticed every time a Muslim condemns the unislamic actions of his.her coreligionists eternel and halal pork chime in thinking we were criticizing Islam itself, in the hopes that they can somehow “get through to us” and make us leave Islam.Clever.
Allahu A’lam
@ halalpork
“The Muslims in the Non-Muslim world have started feeling the heat under their feet now and have started to fool the unbelievers by their hypocritical gesture to give the impression that Islam is peace.”
Must be an imaginary heat we are feeling. Just keep blaming all the evils of humanity on Islam as works in our favor to show the world just how loony you and ilk are.
“Islam and Muslims represent the evil and ugly face of humanity.Did you notice any Muslim coming out in any Muslim country condemning those atrocities against the Christians committed by Muslims in Iraq?Did you see any Iraqi Muslim coming out againt that horrible atrocity? It is all a gimmic by CAIR to hide its UGLY face of hyporcisy.”
First you rhetorically ask if muslims condemn what happened in Iraq, knowing full well that a majority of us do. Then accuse CAIR of hypocrisy for their condemnation? LOONY.”
“Has any Muslim ever condenmed Mohammad for murdering 900 Jews of Quraiza tribe?They always have a good excuse rather than admitting that Mohammad was a ruthless and callous murderer.”
Maybe you were in the hospital with food poising for eating halal pork so you missed it when it was discussed here, so i won’t rehash it…..Muhammad(saws) didn’t murder the Banu Qurayza, so there is no need to condemn an act he didn’t commit
Allahu A’lam
November 13th, 2010 at 3:26 am
“The answer is an unequivocal NO”
Good to know but I’m afraid that’s only your point of view.
The trouble is too many muslims think and ACT differently. And they go by the Koran as well.
November 13th, 2010 at 3:29 am
“Good to know but I’m afraid that’s only your point of view.
The trouble is too many muslims think and ACT differently. And they go by the Koran as well.”
It is the majority opinion from what I can make out unless you have developed mind reading skills and want to prove to me otherwise. And no, they don’t go by the Qu’ran when they do that.
November 13th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Jack Cope Says:
“Good to know but I’m afraid that’s only your point of view.
The trouble is too many muslims think and ACT differently. And they go by the Koran as well.”
“It is the majority opinion from what I can make out unless you have developed mind reading skills and want to prove to me otherwise. And no, they don’t go by the Qu’ran when they do that.”
No matter how many time you tell the loony ones otherwise they will just ignore and repost the same refuted argument! The only good that comes from it is that other readers can see how loony they really are!
Allahu A’lam