Fighting domestic violence cannot be tackled in isolation. It requires an approach that involves our families and communities in a systematic, hands-on manner. Here are ways Muslim families and communities can start.
It tends to be a hush-hush topic, but let's face it: the Muslim community is not immune to domestic violence. In fact, domestic violence transcends all demographics and can be found in your own backyard.
Hate never limits itself to one stop. It keeps looking for the new targets. Just as KKK targets were not limited to African-Americans as it attacked Catholics, Jews and other immigrants, the current phase of hate, ethnic bigotry and religious intolerance is looking for new targets.
After the 9/11 attacks, at the request of churches, Sound Vision issued a guide on how they could help their Muslim neighbors during that difficult time. Since then, we have not felt the need to do that again - until now.
Islamophobia like other forms of racism and religious or ethnic intolerance, is not the problem of its victims It is a societal problem. Unless we as a nation speak out against it, educate others about it, and fight, it will continue to perpetuate.
Pakistan was hit with devastating floods in 2010. These are some ways Muslim students did help, along with ideas of more they can do in future humanitarian crises to assist those affected.
Concerned parents might ask, “If I wouldn’t allow my son to see a movie with sex or violence, then why would I allow him to read a book with the same themes?” The logic seems sound at first blush, but it overlooks one important difference: these books are being presented in the classroom setting, not simply as frivolous entertainment.