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Better Muslim Than Gay
01-Oct-2010
Lately I've been hearing a lot about how much my people are under attack in America today. The thing is, though, as an American Muslim, I don't really feel under attack. Annoyed? Sure. But attacked? No.
Despite all the controversy surrounding the construction of the Park51 Center in downtown Manhattan, for example, the fact remains that it will still be built. Mayor Bloomberg and President Obama have both staunchly defended our right to build it and most of the center's most vociferous opponents have either never set foot in Manhattan or belong to some extremist political or religious group -- the exact same kind of group from which they claim to be "protecting" Americans by protesting the construction of the center. In short, no matter how loudly these bigots protest or how viciously they insult us, we still have the law and our leaders on our side.
Meanwhile, I just had lunch with a friend who can't even get married or serve openly in the military in this country, who has nowhere near the same 14th Amendment equal protection rights that I do as a Muslim American woman, and who can no longer afford his HIV medications because his social security payments are too high for him to qualify for Medicaid. Just like me, my friend is an American citizen, but unlike me, he doesn't share the same rights and privileges that said citizenship ought to guarantee.
Given the option, my Muslim faith teaches me to fight blatant injustice over irritating bombast any day, so today, that means that my friend's predicaments take some serious precedence over my own. I don't care how loudly or callously people insult me, so long as they can't control or significantly restrict my rights in a way where I have no legitimate means of legal recourse.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that it's easy being a Muslim American today. Far from it. What I am saying, however, is that as a Muslim American, my obligation is to defend the rights of the most marginalized and persecuted citizens living in my great country -- and as it stands, despite all the nasty name-calling, I'm not one of those citizens.
It is from this position of relative privilege that I sense a strong religious and civic obligation to address the most pressing injustices that face our nation today and beseech the rest of my community to do the same. I know that many Muslims, as well as Jews and Christians, may think that homosexuality is wrong based on their readings of their religious texts. And while I wholeheartedly disagree with them, I still appeal to them to follow the greater teachings of our respective faiths. Is it not a greater sin to deny people their basic human and civil rights based on an alleged sin that only God is qualified to judge?
As a Muslim, it is my sacred duty to promote peace, justice and compassion above all other moral values, and as such, I am obligated to fight for the rights of the most persecuted among us. Likewise, as an American citizen and an attorney who has taken a solemn oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution, I feel equally bound to concentrate my energies where they are most urgently needed.
So, in keeping with the lessons of my respective legal and religious educations, I hope you'll forgive me if I ignore the epithets directed at me and my people for now and focus on fighting for my friend's right to marry his partner, share his health insurance, serve his country with honor and enjoy all the basic civil liberties that I already do.
First published in www.HuffingtonPost.com.
AUTHOR
Melody Moezzi is an attorney, author, speaker, activist. Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MelodyMoezzi
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Ali P
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Sat Oct 02, 2010 01:19 PM PDTSome people are left-handed.
Is that unnatural?
Should we force them, to do it 'naturally', using their right hand?'
Yes it is very unnatural and must be stopped as an offense to nature.
Specially in the use of Aftabeh and related procedures.
Hmmm...
by Ali P. on Sat Oct 02, 2010 12:07 PM PDTSome people are left-handed.
Is that unnatural?
Should we force them, to do it 'naturally', using their right hand?
"[G]ay is a natural anamoly"
by خلفای راشدین on Sat Oct 02, 2010 10:04 AM PDTReducing the issue of "gayness" to something similar to "male pattern baldness" is really gay and fancy.
Maziar
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Sat Oct 02, 2010 09:53 AM PDTI don't get your post. Did you mean to post it to this thread?
WRONG
by maziar 58 on Sat Oct 02, 2010 09:08 AM PDTthe whole subject of comparig this to THAT is a WRONG .....
there is a huge under ground movment to challenge America's FIRST AMMENDMENT by such manuvering the future American's RIGHTS. Maziar
Mash Ghanbar
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Sat Oct 02, 2010 03:47 AM PDTBeing Gay is a "god" given condition; not a choice. Being Muslim is a choice. That is the big difference. When you chose something you are responsible for your actions.
Regarding Muslims achiivements: This has been posted many times. When you look at contributions to science; medicinde; literature; and so on Muslims lag behind. I am not making this up.Why does little Israel manage to beat 100 time as many Muslims and not even break a sweat?
Regarding tolerance:You know what najis means. I have a jewish friend who tole me back in Iran people would avoid him when it rainded because he was najis and raind water splashing from him was impure. This is just one example. How about the demand that people become Muslim to marry? How about the death fatwahs for anyone who leaves Islam. How about death for anyone who writes a book critical of Islam.
Islam teaches people that Muslims are superior. It makes them think highly of themsleves and low of other people. This is what prevents people from self examination and improvements. Why improve if you are already perfet?
My friend I am not your enemy. Open your eyes and tell me if anything I say is hatred or just a statement of facts. I know many good Muslims. They are good despite the teachings. of intolerance.
VPK
VPK
by mash Ghanbar on Fri Oct 01, 2010 09:12 PM PDTTwisting? hey ! you are the one who even mentions (or even thinks about the concept of twisting)
Dooste man. This is not about islam and its actions. It is simply about what u said.
What does "the Low achievement of moslems" have anything to do with "they hate anyone who won't conform to islamic rules" ??? what is the connection there? Weaving and twisting as we Type eh?:)
You denied that being Gay is Unnatural and you deemed it as a hate statement. Well. it is the same here. Mr. Zalmat basically put out a full-of-hatred and insults statement to Islam and you said "perfectly said" Meaning that you admired and approved it. The IT being the hate statement. No need to Go over the History of Islam and all that other stuff... Bro.
Mash Ghambar
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Fri Oct 01, 2010 08:06 PM PDTNo you are twisting things around. It is Islam's own actions that gives it a bad name.
The first post here was that of hate against gays. I responded and got more bs from the poster. I then pointed out the truth of vast bigotry in Islam. Fact it man: they hate anyone who does not conform to Islamic rule. I did not make this up and am just telling the truth. Therefore it is perfectly fine to point out the low achievement of Muslims. It happens to be true. It i
Maybe they would open their eyes and do something about it.
Or get angry and dig more into ignorance.
VPK
by mash Ghanbar on Fri Oct 01, 2010 05:01 PM PDTAren't you spreading hate towards Islam by agreeing with Zamyad?
i mean. Over at the bottom you preach to Kholafa that he is being a hater and then here you go...
Think about it:)
Well said Zamyad
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Fri Oct 01, 2010 02:30 PM PDTWhy are the Muslims always intolerant and full of themselves? No people have more ego with less accomplishments.
Nothing is worst than being a Muslim
by zamyad on Fri Oct 01, 2010 01:51 PM PDTgay is a natural anamoly, you cannot change it. On the other hand you can always drop this barbaric, cultish, violent, misogenist and tazi religion called islam.
Your opinion
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Fri Oct 01, 2010 12:45 PM PDTis not a measure of what is natural and what is not. Been around since the beginning of nature. Is around in animals and humans. It is natural and you can stamp your feet if want.
been around since beginning of time
by خلفای راشدین on Fri Oct 01, 2010 12:01 PM PDTPassage of time does not alter an unnatural act into natural.
Homosexuality
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Fri Oct 01, 2010 11:54 AM PDTis part of nature. It has been around since beginning of time and will remain. You do not have to like it but it ain't going away. Even if AN and his thugs killed all of them new ones will be born.
PS,
By saying they are "unnatural" you are preaching hate. Maybe you don't see it but you are being untruthful. It is like saying "I am against violence" while beating someone.
Pure and simple gays
by خلفای راشدین on Fri Oct 01, 2010 11:44 AM PDTLet's roll back to sept-10-2001, when talking about religeon was not as fashionable as it is now. Never mind the religion.
Homosexuality is unnatural. But before diving on the flag button remember I don't advocate any hatred towards gays.